[skent]

I am interested in ordering a new PowerBook but I am not sure if I should buy a stock PowerBook or build one to order? How much of a performance gain am I going to get by adding the 128 MB graphic memory and upgrading to a 5400 HD? My dilemma is that I live in Washington and can go to Oregon to buy a stock PowerBook and not get charged sales tax. If I do a BTO I get socked with WA State sales tax. I do some video editing and web design work. Any ideas?

[Tomster]

The 5400 rpm drive definitely makes things a bit snappier. As for the vram, do you expect do do much gaming.

And on a different train of thought, do you have any friends that live in Oregon, who, coincidentally, might just order a BTO Powerbook configured exactly the way you want it?

[pdot]

If you can afford it and if you plan on use the laptop for at least 4 years, don't skimp on the BTO. A laptop HD is very expensive and the Firewire ones aren't as fast or very mobile. Also, if you want to replace the HD, there's not much you can do with your old one. You'll want at least 512 MB of RAM. If you plan to upgrade later, make sure you get the 1 stick of 512MB RAM and not the 2 sticks of 256MB RAM. The 128MB vid card is only important if you play high end games or do heavy media work.

[Maflynn]

I'd say go with the BTO, but that may also delay your instant gratification - picking up and using it as soon as you buy it.

For my useage, I wouldn't notice to a great degree a faster HD, and I would add the memory in myself for less then what apple would charge, so a stock configuation worked for me.

I cannot answer definitively about the video card. I do like to play a game or two, but I don't think the PB is really setup to be a serious game machine so unless you doing video work the graphics card may not play into it.

Of all of the configurations its the video card that would have drawn me into the BTO option, but again for what I use my PB for, it doesn't make sense.

So the bottom line is, how are you going to use it, and does saving on the tax and getting some instant gratificatin out weigh the faster HD/more video memory, slower deliver time and tax incurred option.

For the most part it sounds like I'm all over the place, but my vote is on the stock option

Mike

[NYCFarmboy]

Are there any online mac resellers that sell the BTO powerbooks?

I'm very interested in the new G4 12" 1.3 but with a 5400 rpm 80 gig drive instead of the stock 60 gig drive.

[hart]

from small dog electronics:

Specially configured Build to Order Machine

Typical delivery takes 7-10 business days

$500 minimum non-refundable deposit on all Build to Order Machines

Other configurations available upon request - please call Small Dog at 802-496-7171 or send us an E-Mail with your specifications.
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Given that if you're a "serious" gamer, a laptop is not for you, I'm wondering what kind of performance I could expect from the newest 15" powerbooks. Most current game requirements seem to fall well within their specs. I'm in the fourth year with my keylime ibook and really would like to be able to play games on any new notebook I get, at least for a while especially as I spend a good chunk of time away from home and my desktop computer. someone hold my hand here and tell me if I'll get at least some gaming out of the darn thing. This is the only way I could justify the extra $$ over a new ibook.