[kdixey]

I have been using an old 466 clamshell that I souped up (unitl it died) and recently have been using an old tibook 400 that is on loan to me (and it has to go back now). I've been using Macs for a number of years but I haven't really been keeping up on the newest hardware lately. I am primarily a writer, but I am studying nature photography and filmmaking and I use my Mac quite a lot to process video and graphics.

What I am struggling with, is if it would be better to pickup a used powerbook, a new ibook or would an older ibook (800 or 900) be sufficient. I'm a student (with a new son) so I'm on a pretty limited budget. Right now I'm leaning toward the 12" ibook or a 14" 933. I realize that the ibook has some definite compromises as far as performance, but I really can't afford the additional money to step up to a new 12 or 15 powerbook.

I did a few searches on this forum and the powerbook forum to see if this has been covered, but didn't find quite what I was looking for.

Any thoughts?

[polendo]

My advice to you is to get a Powerbook. Nevertheless, if you prefer the iBook, get the G4, otherwise it could be more expensive on the long run.

regards

[kdixey]

I got no beefs with the powerbook, I'd love to get one. I just can't swing the extra $400. I considered a refurb 867 12" but I had heard that they were problematic. Also, I need my laptop to be pretty tough (as I do a fair amount of field work) so I have to say that I am probably leaning abit more toward the ibook for that reason.

You've got a good poiny about the G4.

Thanks

[iREZ]

Check the refurb page at the Apple store, they have 1Ghz 12" PB for much less then the educatioin discount, but the iBook G4 seems like it'll fit your needs just fine.

[kdixey]

I went to the local Apple dealer and looked at the ibook ad powebooks side by side (I probably should've done that before). I liked the 14" ibook and the 12" powerbok the best. I thought the keyboard on the powerbook was VERY and the ibook was pretty close (both better than the tibook I've been using). I have to say that I was less enthused about the 12" ibook although i can't put my finger on why that is. I felt the ibook would hold up better under field use than the powerbook, and I suppose I would also care less if the ibook got scratched up.

I noticed PowerMax has the ibook 933 as a refurb.

Thanks or the input

[Luca Rescigno]

Personally, based on how much I have simply enjoyed using pro machines vs. consumer machines, I would much rather have a used PowerBook than a new iBook. The pro machines I've owned have been a dual 500 and a dual 450, and my consumer machines were a brand-new iBook G3/800 and a brand-new eMac G4/1 GHz. I far preferred the old PowerMacs over the new iBook and eMac.

Try to find a used 800 MHz TiBook if you can. Those should be fairly inexpensive for what you get, but they are still awesome machines.

[mrgreen4242]

Well, the price for the 14" iBook is really a steal, when you factor in the educational discount... its right around $1300 for a brand new 933mhz with 640MB of ram, less if want to do the RAM upgrade yourself after you buy it. It has a better video card than the 12" PowerBook, so if you do any gaming or other 3d intensive stuff, that'll help.

The only things you don't get are the extra L2 cache (would make a bit of difference in video and image processing) and a superdrive (you can always get an external DVD burner if you want one).

If I were choosing between a 14" iBook and a 12" PBook, I would get the iBook. The 15" Pbook is where the differences begin to show between the consumer and pro lines.

Plus, the iBook is reportedly a little sturdier (doesn't dent/scratch liek the PBook does) and it also comes with AppleWorks, which is nice if your office suite needs are moderate enough that you don't require MS Office.

Just my $.02

Rob

PS I wanted to add thins link to a review/benchmark of the 800Mhz iBook... http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/i...G4_review.html

[kdixey]

Thanks for your 2 cents.

The more I think about it, the more attractive the 14" 933 becomes. I went and looked at the ibooks and powerbooks and while I thought the 15"
powerbook was incredible, I didn't find myself all that impressed with the 12" powerbook (perhaps more accurate top say I wasn't bowled over by it). Maybe its because I wear glasses, but that 12" screen looks mighty small to me. It's VERY sharp, but I found the 14" screen also quite sharp and much easier to read.

I realize the powerbook will have better performance, but considering I'm working on a 400 mhz rev A tibook, anything will seem fast by comparison. Right now I'm leaning toward a BTO 14" 933 with the educational discount. I'd probably max out the RAM, HD, add Bluetooth and get an Airport Extreme card while I was at it.

I did like the keyboard on the powerbooks better than the ibook, but I didn't find the ibook keyboard bad (just not quite as nice). The main thing that I would miss on the powerbook is the ability to drive an external monitor, although I rarely use that on my current powerbook so that may be one of those features that sounds like I would use but really don't.

[Luca Rescigno]

I would suggest that since you're definitely getting a laptop, it might be a good idea to get a stand of some kind, as well as an external keyboard and mouse. Maybe just pile up a bunch of books on your desk and set the laptop on top of them, so the screen is at a good height (top edge at eye level). Then connect the keyboard and mouse and you've got the much better ergonomics of a desktop. The problem with laptops is that you have to hunch over them to use them on a desk, and it's not good for your neck and back. Also, you'll like having a full-sized keyboard instead of the laptop one.

I agree that the 14" 933 MHz is a good choice. The 12" PowerBook will beat it at basically everything, but the 14" does have the more readable screen, and it costs less. Getting Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, and the largest available hard drive is also a good choice. The only thing you might want to do to save a little money is buy your RAM from someone other than Apple. If you go to NewEgg.com and order a 512 MB Crucial SO-DIMM (the same stuff Apple would ship if you maxed the RAM), it's $120, and you can keep your 128 MB SO-DIMM and perhaps sell it. Apple charges $150 to remove the 128 MB and add the 512 MB. It's actually not that bad of a deal, but RAM is easy to add, so you should at least consider buying from somewhere else. But typically, Apple charges FAR more than everyone else for RAM, and in this case, they only charge slightly more, and you get the convenience of having it pre-installed. It's up to you.

[kdixey]

Yeah, I typically buy RAM from Transintl.com. I noticed they have a 1GB RAM chip for the ibook that's pretty tempting. They were one of the first companies to say you could put more than 320mb RAM in the old clamshell ibook (and it worked reliably for years).

Thanks

[webb3201]

Not to draw flames, but if you are not worried about intensive grahic stuff, look at the 900 Mhz G3 14" iBook. I have one in the house (wife's) and I don't notice much difference between it and my 12" rev B Powerbook (or my Ti 1 ghz) when doing basic stuff.

You can get those for under a grand.


edit: whoops, I just read about the film stuff. Go G4.

Although I remember when the Pismo's were capable Editing machines for field work...the G3 ibooks are better than those so if you dont mind a wait, it could still be an option.

Kevin

[kdixey]

Good point.

You know, it's interesting you mention the G3 -G4 thing. I also remember when 500mhz Pismos were used in doing some editing for movies uisng Final Cut Pro. I would imagine an 800 or 900hmz G3 ibook would be a good deal faster than my current rev A tibook 400 and I've done quite a bit of FCP editing on that (crappy firewire speed an all).

I am certainly willing to consider a G3 because it wil get the job done better than nothing. If I can swing a G4 I'd prefer it and the slot loading Combo drive, Bluetooth and Airport Extreme don't hurt either.

Thanks

[typoon]

How bout using an edu discount? If you are a student you can show them your student ID and Drivers license and they will give you the EDU discount. pretty cool. You can get an 800 MHz G4 iBook for around 999. That'll save you money to get the other accessories for it.

I would get any one of them with a G4 since it will make your life less painful when using iLife or doing Graphics or video.

When I was looking to get a new laptop, I had my Brother use his EDU discount to help me get my Powerbook. I saved about 300 dollars on it. For me that was my deciding factor. If I was paying full retail for it I would have gotten the iBook.

[Mrjinglesusa]

14" 933 Mhz iBook with Bluetooth and Airport Extreme. You will NOT be disappointed. I bought this same computer back in November and haven't regretted it one bit. Added a 512 MB RAM chip from Crucial ($99, free shipping) and this thing just flies. I use MS Word, Adobe CS apps, play games (Heroes IV, Civ III, etc), web surf, email, etc. and this thing has never hung up (even with most of those running at once). For the price (especially with EDU discount) you can't beat this computer. Oh, you can try, but you CAN'T beat it!

[mrgreen4242]

Originally posted by kdixey:
The main thing that I would miss on the powerbook is the ability to drive an external monitor, although I rarely use that on my current powerbook so that may be one of those features that sounds like I would use but really don't.

You are in luck... as long as your external monitor can take VGA output, you can drive it with the iBook. The default settings only allow you to mirror the built-in display, but thats only because Apple 'hacked' the video display to not span the desktop accross 2 displays, in order to have mroe seperation between the 'professional' powerbooks and the consumer ibooks... Good news is that there is a hack for the hack ;-) and you can get your ibook to span your desktop across 2 screens pretty easily now.

There's links to it all over the place... do a quick search and if you can't find it post back here and I will see if I can locate it again.

Rob

PS I am looking more and more at the 14" iBook myself!

[kdixey]

Thanks for all the input everyone, after looking into the educational pricing, refurbs and used pricing for the various options (and taking into consideration what I can realistically afford) I have pretty much decided on a BTO 14" ibook 933 with an upgraded HD Bluetooth and AE card and Applecare. Oh yeah, and a 1gb RAM chip from transintl.com

After going back one final time and looking at the 12" form factor I came to the conclusion that it was just not for me. It's very nice, super portable and has a VERY sharp screen but just too tiresome to read (remeber I do a lot of writing) for my less than perfect vision. That means either the 15" powerbook or the 14" ibook. I think the 15" powerbook is an amazing machine but alas it is simply too far out of my price range no matter how you slice it and since this machine is going to have to last me through the next few years (as I figure to be broke all the way through my Masters and field work) I felt the ibook represented the best value. Going the ibook route means I can upgrade some software and still have some money left for a Canon Digital Rebel or maybe a used 10D in the not too distant future.

Anyway, thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I can't wait to have my own machine again.

I'll check back in when it gets here and share.

[jadekitty24]

I had no idea you could obtain a 1 gig memory chip!! Glad to know that:-)