[selowitch]

Which of these would be the fastest for someone who doesn't do a lot of graphics-intensive work but keeps a lot of applications open?[list=a][*]867MHz 12" PB (w/ replacement hard drive at 7200rpm and 768MB RAM)[*]1GHz 12" PB (w/ stock 4200rpm hard drive and 512MB RAM)[*]1.33GHz 12" PB (w/ stock 4200rpm hard drive and 256MB RAM)[/list=a]
I ask this because all three configurations are pretty close in total cost, so if one is faster than the others, I'd probably choose it.
See where I'm going with this?

[chabig]

I'd choose option c. Then in a few months, whenever you can spare $100 you can upgrade the memory to 768MB. But $100 will never increase the processor speed of options a or b.

Chris

[selowitch]

Originally posted by chabig:
I'd choose option c. Then in a few months, whenever you can spare $100 you can upgrade the memory to 768MB. But $100 will never increase the processor speed of options a or b.

True. You can also put the faster hard drive in the 1.33 GHz model down the line.

How significant would the addition of a 7200rpm drive be to any laptop in real-world terms?

[iomatic]

...dang you guys are fast posters!

Originally posted by selowitch:
1.33GHz 12" PB (w/ stock 4200rpm hard drive and 256MB RAM)
...
[/B]

You can always upgrade RAM/HD later (though the HD can't be replaced by you in order not to void the warranty, unless an Apple-Authorized Service Center does so...someone correct me if I'm wrong here...)

[selowitch]

Originally posted by iomatic:
...dang you guys are fast posters!

What can I say? I have DSL and I have no life. :-)

[WizOSX]

I just ordered choice c) today.

I think it would be fastest by a fair margin, especially if you threw in a 256mb SODIMM just temporarily for $65. Remember, also, that c) has 64mb of VRAM. Although that won't matter much for basic applications, it will really help if you hook it up to an external monitor. You can't upgrade the VRAM ever.

[selowitch]

OK, I'm convinced. I'll wait until I can afford the 1.33GHz model. I have $1,000 in the bank earmarked for this, so a few more months and I should be able to afford the 4x SuperDrive model.

[chabig]

I should also chime in that I'm typing this on a new Rev C 12" BTO with the 80GB drive. I actually bought this as an upgrade from my previous Rev A. The new machine has a few great strengths:

1) Full new warranty
2) 50% faster processor
3) Higher capacity battery
4) Come with Airport Extreme built-in
5) Lower power processor is getting about an hour longer battery life
6) Runs cooler
7) Runs quieter because the fan doesn't come on as much
8) Faster superdrive

Is that enough reasons for you? Seriously it is a great machine. I sold the older 867 to a fellow board member here for a good price. It cost me about $600 more than the sale price to make the upgrade but I think it was worth it to me.

And as you said, in time they will start showing up as refurbs.

Chris

[Cadaver]

I just picked up a stock 12" PB 1.33GHz today to replace my aging 600MHz iBook. Add a $123 512MB RAM module from Crucial as well.

It's a beautiful thing. Its remarkably speedy, regardless of the 4200 rpm HD. Apps still open in a couple of bounces. Windows and UI elements are very responsive.

It gets only slightly warm on the left palm rest and left bottom of the case, even after use all day. The only time I've heard the (very quiet) fan come on is when I had multiple programs going at once - an installer, burning a CD and unzipping a large archive of stuff I was moving - AND was charging the battery at the same time. Otherwise, over the last 12 hrs, its been a great machine. And a remarkable replacement for my old iBook.

[shabbasuraj]

just a quick note...revA 12" can only handle 640MB of ram and not 768MB..

[selowitch]

Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
just a quick note...revA 12" can only handle 640MB of ram and not 768MB..

I wonder if, like the iBook, there are actually larger modules that will work but simply were not available when the PB 12" rev. A was initially released. Many of the iBooks that are said to take a max of 640MB RAM actually can handle more if you can find a big enough module.

[Justin216]

This is true. I've read online that the 1Gig modules work fine in the RevAs. They just weren't available in mass production when apple released the RevAs last year.