[sghms]

I have a 17" PB Rev A with 1Gb Ram. I have been pondering trading it in for 12" PB (Superdrive,80gb, AE included,768Mb RAM) and 20" Cinema Display. The price including trade in is £600.

The other option available is to get a 12" (Superdrive,80Gb, AE, 768MB) and a 17" Display for £300.

Any help appreciated. I would like the portability of a 12" but I don't know whether I will mind losing all that screen space or whether an external display will make that regret a moot point...


I put a similar post up a few days ago, but the details of the trade in changed, so I tried to delete that thread before I started this one, but was unable to do so

[The Jackalope]

Sounds like a great plan to me. If anything, you will suddenly have a powerbook that is truly portable, and still have great screen real estate when you are home. Of course the added advantage is that you will have 2 screens when at home as well, so if you are using something like Painter, Photoshop, etc, you can keep your pallets on the smaller monitor and the work area on the larger.

There is also the Bookendz dock that will make it easier to hook up everything when you get home (great if you have external firewire devices, etc) instead of doing all the cords one by one. At least when they finally release the rev. b powerbook dock.

The only think I can think of that you might not like about getting the 17" Apple LCD is that it isn't widescreen, as the 17" Powerbook's monitor is. That's about it.

[sghms]

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
Sounds like a great plan to me. If anything, you will suddenly have a powerbook that is truly portable, and still have great screen real estate when you are home. Of course the added advantage is that you will have 2 screens when at home as well, so if you are using something like Painter, Photoshop, etc, you can keep your pallets on the smaller monitor and the work area on the larger.

I hadn't thought about using both screens for Photoshop et al as you have suggested. Thanks for the tip

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
There is also the Bookendz dock that will make it easier to hook up everything when you get home (great if you have external firewire devices, etc) instead of doing all the cords one by one. At least when they finally release the rev. b powerbook dock.

From the website it seems to suggest they are
shipping for the Rev B model at the end of the month. They do look good but a bit too pricey for me

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
The only think I can think of that you might not like about getting the 17" Apple LCD is that it isn't widescreen, as the 17" Powerbook's monitor is. That's about it.

That is true, Do you think its worth saving up and getting the 20" display later then, instead of the 17" now? My dealer will quite happily do a straight swap for the powerbooks, the £300 was for display

[The Jackalope]

Originally posted by sghms:
I hadn't thought about using both screens for Photoshop et al as you have suggested. Thanks for the tip

You're welcome!

From the website it seems to suggest they are
shipping for the Rev B model at the end of the month. They do look good but a bit too pricey for me

Yeah, it's more of a convenience thing. I'm going to hold off on getting one until I get an external monitor myself. I just like the idea of not having to hook up the power, monitor, usb, printer, and speaker cables over and over again.

That is true, Do you think its worth saving up and getting the 20" display later then, instead of the 17" now? My dealer will quite happily do a straight swap for the powerbooks, the £300 was for display

After playing around with a 12" hooked up to the 20" cinema display at a local Apple store a bit yesterday, I would go for it if I had the money. See if you can haggle him down another £100-£200, it can't hurt. After all, the 17" Powerbook is worth a lot more than the 12".

[sghms]

I would try to haggle him down further, I already had to beat him over the head to do a straight swap on the 17" to 12" front. Initially he wanted to charge if I upgraded the HD (80Gb) and RAM (768Mb). I have already had him knock £150 so I get the upgrades free.

He isn't shifting on the monitor prices though. I would love to get the 20" display, however I don't think he is going to budge much. Also to buy a DVi to ADC cable costs £79 at the apple store

So I am looking at some 17" displays, speceifically the Hercules 920 DVI Pro and LG 1710b. I am leaning towards the LG at the moment as they seem equally good and the LG includes a DVI cable. It will cost ~£300 for that and that is pushing my budget as it is

So I am tempted to hold onto my cash and wait for the 20" to drop in price.

What to do ?

[The Jackalope]

Don't expect the 20" to drop in price until at least the WWDC. A friend has told me that the new versions of the new LCDs won't be out until then (aluminum enclosures). He's a recently ex-employee of apple.

Frankly, if you want it now, go ahead. I love my 12" (make sure you are getting the 1ghz. rev. B model) because of it's portability. Sure I would probably enjoy the 15" screen better, but I don't think I would want to lug it around. The combo of the 12" and the 20" external is a winner, unless you need more RAM and a faster processor.

Just think about some of the extras you might have to purchase just in case, such as a firewire hub (only one FW port on the 12").

[sghms]

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
Don't expect the 20" to drop in price until at least the WWDC. A friend has told me that the new versions of the new LCDs won't be out until then (aluminum enclosures). He's a recently ex-employee of apple.

Hmm, that's interesting, will bear that in mind

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
Frankly, if you want it now, go ahead. I love my 12" (make sure you are getting the 1ghz. rev. B model) because of it's portability.

It is indeed the 1Ghz model with a superdrive, 768Mb RAM, 80Gb HD and AE Card

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
Sure I would probably enjoy the 15" screen better, but I don't think I would want to lug it around. The combo of the 12" and the 20" external is a winner, unless you need more RAM and a faster processor.

I think I will holf off as you suggest and wait for the display to drop in price and then get the 20"

Originally posted by The Jackalope:
Just think about some of the extras you might have to purchase just in case, such as a firewire hub (only one FW port on the 12").

Yes good point, may well need a firepoint hub

[danbrew]

you're not getting any great deal for a straight-swap. there's a reason that Apple charges $1599 for the 12" and $2999 for the 17". You can't convince me that adding ram and AE to the 12" makes up for the almost twice as much cost of the 17".

Your dealer is doing you no favors - you'd probably be better served to sell your 17" and then just purchase the 12" on your own - from another dealer, of course.

[sghms]

Comparing prices in $ does make it seem not that great a deal, I agree.

However in the UK, the 12" machine (SD,80Gb, AE Card and 768Mb RAM) I am going for comes to £1673.19. And the new 17" retails for £2399.00.

I however don't have the new 17", I have the previous model and it is 8 months old. So I am thinking it is worth around £1800 or so. If so yes I have some more leeway, but not much I think. Anybody who thinks I am wildly off my estimates, please feel free to correct me

[sghms]

After much pondering I have decided to stick with my 17" as people have said the screen sacrifice would be too much

Cheers for everyone's help

Bring on those G5 Powerbooks