[Spliff]

My brother has a Pismo Powerbook, and after all these years, it still looks great. It has great contours and the plastic casing has been very resistant to scratches and other damage. Pismo owners are always gushing about their machine's looks and durability.

In contrast, I've seen one-year old TiBooks that looks as if they've been used by war reporters in Iraq. The aluminum Powerbooks I've seen are scatched and dirty with fingerprints. And I've heard complains about acidic body oils causing pits in the aluminum case.

So, should Apple return to Pismo-style plastics for their Powerbooks? Or, perhaps, a mixture of metal and plastic?

[AC Rempt]

While my 12 inch Al book is taking the wear and tear of daily use much better then my TiBook ever did, neither hold a candle to the fit and finish my old Wallstreet still has. The thing looks like it was just taken out of the box.

I love my AlBook, though, and so far, it really has stood up to daily abuse quite well. I do wipe it down often to keep it looking as good as I can, and so far, not a scratch on it. When I finally got rid of it, my Ti looked like it had been whipped with barbed wire.

So if Apple has to go metal, they should stick with Aluminum to be sure.

[Michel_80]

Al finish better than Ti, but the Pismo G3 finish is still the best. Kind like the Thinkpads, still the best.
Having said that, I am still to see a beat up Albook.

[vmarks]

mixed bag.

I have a lombard that looks like it was used in a war zone, a pismo that has it's share of scratches, and an AL that's prettier than either of them.

I think the dark color plays a role, where a scratch on black that reveals the same shade of black is less apparent at 3 feet away.

[hardcat1970]

I think the pismo has that classy curved line look and 12" powerbook is really cool and sexy. But i got to go with the 12" ai because it is pretty durable so far. Compared to my pismo, i cracked the side when i lift it up with one hand, what a mistake and i couldn't believe it was so fragile.

[Link]

I have a lombard that looks like it was used in a war zone, a pismo that has it's share of scratches, and an AL that's prettier than either of them.

That's because your lombard WAS used in a war zone *smirk*

I think that apple had their minds in the right place with all 3 styles.. plastic was nice but heavy, titanium was GREAT but painted and had a cheap plastic frame, and the aluminum is too soft to be of any use.

Personally I'd love to see a TiBook built in the stylings of the albook... anodized metal too perhaps. It'd be stronger than any other laptop on the market at that

[moodymonster]

The ibook is much tougher than the albook. I accidentally knocked my 17" with an ibook, the ibook was fine but the albook has a little dent on the edge of the lid now. It wasn't even a hard knock.

I did see some rumors about an apple laptop made from carbon fibre - that would be cool (and hopefully much tougher).

[Eug Wanker]

Personally I think the Pismo's are ugly, but that's just me.

[Maflynn]

I really think the Ti and the Al's are really cool looking and that's part of the allure of Apple, but yes the metal does show wear and tear more then the plastic. Of course that's just another excuse to trade up yes?

Mike

[mdc]

i am not a fan of the pismo look. i really liked the look of the TiBooks and after having a 12" and now a 15" AlBook i have to say that i much prefer the looks of the AlBooks.

i wipe my powerbooks down after using them for a long time. and they look just as good as the day i took them out their box. i travel with them in a powersleeve (from booq) inside of a backpack so they do not bounce around and are seperate from my school notebook. i hope they stay this new.