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issandr · Oct 26, 2003, 05:31 PM

I've decided to get an iBook over a Powerbook, mainly because a) I'm not a big Photoshop (or other PowerApp) user and b) it's a lot cheaper.

I mainly use my computer for light web design/blogging, word processing, iPhoto, web and email, some gaming (Ages of Empire, Warcraft III), and a few other tidbits. I occasionally mess about with PowerApps (Quark, Dreamweaver and Photoshop) but not often.

I previously used a 500Mhz iBook, which I loved although it was getting slow. I used it mostly connected to a 17" CRT, big keyboard and mouse and extra peripherals through a USB hub. When I travel with a computer, though, it tends to be for weeks and I rely on it heavily (I'm a journalist.)

I'm now torn between getting the 12" 800Mhz or 14" 933Mhz. Whichever I get I would bump to maximum RAM and HD space, and get Bluetooth.

I like the small size of the 12", and the $200 difference. Will the extra 133Mhz really make that big of a difference? Has anyone gotten around to x-benching these machines? Am I missing something here? Or should I just save the money and buy a nice TV to watch those DVDs on thanks to the included adapter?

Thanks for your help!

webcookie · Oct 26, 2003, 06:03 PM

I just ordered a 12" iBook G4 (haven't got it yet) and had the opportunity to play with one at the Apple store today. I'd say definately go with the 12", just max out the RAM. The 14" just seems so huge. If you're into portability, the 12" is perfect.

icruise · Oct 26, 2003, 06:17 PM

Yeah, the 14" is considerably bigger and heavier and the screen resolution is no better than the 12". I doubt that the difference in speed would be particularly noticeable.

StiZeven · Oct 26, 2003, 07:34 PM

The 14" iBook would be a sweet machine if it had a 1152x864 (or better) screen resolution and a SuperDrive option. The current resolution should be an option, not the norm. I guess if you have vision problems the 1024x768 on the 14" iBook would be nice, but ironically this machine is geared towards a younger skewing crowd.

juusan · Oct 26, 2003, 11:29 PM

I just ordered a 12" also, and I fought with the same question. in the end the 12" was a better choice for me based on price and portability.

like you I'm not a power user, but I occasionally use photoshop and dreamweaver. other than that though, I don't think that running word, mail, and safari would really utilize the extra 133MHz, and therefor is not worth the extra $$

Scooterboy · Oct 26, 2003, 11:33 PM

The 12" would be a sweet machine if it was available with a 1GHz G4.

icruise · Oct 27, 2003, 12:40 AM

Originally posted by Scooterboy:
The 12" would be a sweet machine if it was available with a 1GHz G4.

It would also almost completely overshadow the considerably more expensive 12" powerbook at that same speed. I'm sure they kept it a bit slower for that reason.

khufuu · Oct 27, 2003, 01:06 AM

If you had a 1 year old 700 mhz iBook 12", would you fork over the money for a new 12" iBook at 800 mhz??

Luca Rescigno · Oct 27, 2003, 02:42 AM

Because G3s are slow. I had a G3/800 iBook and it was frustratingly slow, so I bought an eMac 1 GHz. Ahh! What an improvement, easily twice as fast.

discotronic · Oct 27, 2003, 08:48 AM

I have an iBook 700 with 640MB RAM. I don't think that the upgrade would be worth it. I don't see the speed increase being all that much. I get sick of seeing all the post saying that G3's are slow. What is everybody trying to do with their iBook. Video rendering? Hard core graphics and animation? Granted, my iBook isn't as fast as my G4 iMac but it is by no means slow. Just my 3 cents worth.

anaphora68 · Oct 27, 2003, 08:53 AM

A G3 is just fine in my book for what most people do. I've been editing 6MP RAW files with a G3. Granted, it's not that fast but it gets done.

If you're using Photoshop however there is going to be a significant speed bump from a G3 to a G4. It's night and day.

lrb · Nov 4, 2003, 04:07 PM

I am deciding between the 12 and 14 inch ibooks and I have a few questions.

1. Are the keyboards the same size on both of these models?

2. Should I have Apple install the extra RAM when I order it from the Apple store or would a third party vendor be a lot cheaper and is the RAM easy to self install?

Thanks

issandr · Nov 4, 2003, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by lrb:
I am deciding between the 12 and 14 inch ibooks and I have a few questions.

1. Are the keyboards the same size on both of these models?

2. Should I have Apple install the extra RAM when I order it from the Apple store or would a third party vendor be a lot cheaper and is the RAM easy to self install?

Thanks

Irb,

just go ahead and buy the Apple RAM. Third-party RAM is just going to be about $20 cheaper, not worth it in my opinion considering the extra hassle if it's damaged. Buying from Apple, who will install it for you, you're pretty much guaranteed a flawless product.

i.

discotronic · Nov 4, 2003, 11:42 PM

Originally posted by lrb:
I am deciding between the 12 and 14 inch ibooks and I have a few questions.

1. Are the keyboards the same size on both of these models?

2. Should I have Apple install the extra RAM when I order it from the Apple store or would a third party vendor be a lot cheaper and is the RAM easy to self install?

Thanks

I'm not sure about the keyboard.

Check out the price of RAM from somewhere like www.crucial.com. Apple's memory is no more or less reliable. You might find a better deal. If I am not mistaken Apple sells their 512MB module for $200 and Crucial sells theirs for $122. I could be wrong so you might want to check for yourself. Installing the module is easy to do. Flip 2 tabs on the keyboard and remove a couple screws from the RAM cover and pop in the new module.

Kermy · Nov 5, 2003, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by issandr:
Irb,

just go ahead and buy the Apple RAM. Third-party RAM is just going to be about $20 cheaper, not worth it in my opinion considering the extra hassle if it's damaged. Buying from Apple, who will install it for you, you're pretty much guaranteed a flawless product.

i.

Wrong. Apple considers ram a user changeable part. IT is covered under warranty if you change your ram yourself to another brand. Apple doesn't make their own ram, they just get ram chips from other manufacturers. Smart thing to do is to get ram from Crucial (divison of Micron) for cheaper than paying for the brand name of Apple.

I'm a recent switcher (still have a PC desktop but also got an ibook), but hot da*n, Apple must have fed you guys some pretty convincing marketing propaganda for you guys to be this blind. Wow...

issandr · Nov 5, 2003, 01:45 AM

Originally posted by Kermy:
Wrong. Apple considers ram a user changeable part. IT is covered under warranty if you change your ram yourself to another brand. Apple doesn't make their own ram, they just get ram chips from other manufacturers. Smart thing to do is to get ram from Crucial (divison of Micron) for cheaper than paying for the brand name of Apple.

I'm a recent switcher (still have a PC desktop but also got an ibook), but hot da*n, Apple must have fed you guys some pretty convincing marketing propaganda for you guys to be this blind. Wow...

Kermy,

I know that Apple doesn't manufacture its own RAM, and I said you can get cheaper elsewhere. My point was that you'll only save about $20, at least if the RAM prices are similar to the previous generation iBook. Apple sells the RAM upgrade to 640MB for $150, while Crucial sells a 512MB for $131 + shipping. Now, those prices may change since Crucial doesn't yet have the RAM for the new iBook in stock.

And yes generally Apple parts and peripherals are outrageously expensive. If Irb had gotten a PowerBook, I would have said go with Crucial or Ramjet.

Irb,

If you go the third party route, RAM is very easy to install. Just lift the keyboard, unscrew the metal plate and slide it into its slot. Look for instructions (and even a movie) at apple.com/support/. Make sure to remove the battery from the computer first though, and disconnect the AC adapter. And watch out for static.

Luca Rescigno · Nov 5, 2003, 05:02 AM

Apple RAM is only approaching reasonable levels today because of the huge RAM prices. A 512 MB SODIMM has increased by a lot in the last year - last December when I bought my iBook, I got one for about $70, but now they're usually $100 or higher.

Crucial DOES stock RAM for the new iBooks. Maybe it's not listed in the product selector, but iBooks use standard 200-pin PC2100 SODIMMs just like many PC laptops. If the G4 iBooks aren't listed on Crucial's site, then just select the PowerBook 12", which uses the same memory.

One thing to remember when considering an Apple RAM upgrade is that you don't get to keep the original module that they replaced. Going to 640 MB in a new iBook is $150 vs. $130 from Crucial, but with Crucial you also get to keep the 128 MB SODIMM you're replacing. However, I'd have to contend that it really doesn't matter much - 128 MB SODIMMs aren't exactly worth a lot, and the convenience of having the RAM already installed when you get the machine might be worth giving it up. Besides, there's a hassle involved in selling (or trying to sell) the original SODIMM. Oh, also, I am pretty sure Apple gets its RAM from Crucial.

discotronic · Nov 5, 2003, 09:07 AM

Another thing to look at is reselling your laptop in the future. I have noticed that recent iBooks sell for about the same price with or without the RAM maxxed out. If you held on to the 128MB module you could just replace the 512MB with it. Sell the 512MB and probably get more money after everything is said and done. Or if your new laptop used the same memroy you could just use it and save money that way.

patchan15 · Nov 5, 2003, 11:29 AM

i'm thinking of getting a 12" as well. The only thing slowing me down is the LCD -- I've seen my buddy's iBook G3 12" and even at its brightest setting, the LCD seems like it'd be too dim to work with for long hours -- definitely not as nice as my 15" iMac's screen!

Does anyone know if the new iBooks have better, brighter LCD's, with better viewing angles etc.? Or do they ship with the same LCD as the G3's?

fener · Nov 5, 2003, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by patchan15:
i'm thinking of getting a 12" as well. The only thing slowing me down is the LCD -- I've seen my buddy's iBook G3 12" and even at its brightest setting, the LCD seems like it'd be too dim to work with for long hours -- definitely not as nice as my 15" iMac's screen!

Does anyone know if the new iBooks have better, brighter LCD's, with better viewing angles etc.? Or do they ship with the same LCD as the G3's?

I used Both iBook G3 800, Powerbook 12" 1 Ghz, and iBook G4 800.

I can say that iBook G4 s LCD is very bright. The screen of iBook G3 was a little dim, as you noted. You will notice the difference in G4 iBook. Don't worry, have fun!

palmberg · Nov 5, 2003, 03:43 PM

As an aside, I've purchased all of my RAM upgrades from datamem. They're inexpensive, and the modules haven't given me a minute's trouble.

FWIW.