[Ken6800]

Hello peeps, hope you have room for one more in your fine little community! Currently typing this on a 15" Ti 550mhz and I feel it is time for an upgrade! I have decided within the next week to purchse a new laptop but I am however saddled with a few questions which I hope some of you will be kind enough to answer.

I'm probably going to get one of the new 12" Powerbooks, yet I am still worried about certain things, plus an ibook is sitting at the back of my mind, due to the cheaper price and it being light and all. Nyways, my questions!

1. I hope to use iDVD and iMovie quite a bit and I was thinking that I wont be doing much DVD burning on the road, so why not purchase an external DVD burner drive I can leave at home with my 17 inch monitor that I hope to hook up the Pbook to. Imagine my consternation when I heard rumors of those Apple programs only being compatible with the proprietary Superdrives that they put in their own machines. Is this true and should I shell out the extra dough for a Superdrive in my PBook?

2. Durability is an issue for me, and Apple seems to be pushing their IBooks as the "rugged" range for people who move around a lot. I am probably going to be moving around with my new laptop quite a lot and I am worried about dents and stuff. My 15" Ti looks horrendous at the moment- peeling paint and a busted Combo Drive that only works half of the time (I shall get Applecare this time!). So... is the iBook better for those like me who move around a lot? Then again, mobility is tops for me when getting a new machine, so I'd like to hear your views! And... then again, you cant get Superdrives in 12" iBooks...

3. Which looks cooler, a PBook or an iBook?

Basically, it comes down to the Superdrive and portability/durability. Thanks for your time guys! Would help if you let me know about how you fixed up your particular setups just for perspective!

[iREZ]

The superdrive is necessary if you want to burn your iDVD stuff, but now you could work on your projects in iDVD and then transfer them to a computer that does have a superdrive for burning them. If you protect your PB, you should be fine when it comes to being a mobil user, even though the iBook does have a shock cushions on their HD. I put my PB in a sleeve and then in a laptop bag and I never find myself babying it as much as I thought i would. I definetely think the Powerbook looks cooler .

[eatinwokout]

The superdrive is def. a must in my opinion. I can't count the number of times that I've used it for misc things other than iDVD (backup, pics, music, etc). So either route you take, iBook or PB, I would recommend the SD. As far as looks, I picked up a rev. C, while my gf picked up a iBook at the same time. I defin. give apple props for having the available SD on ibooks. The PB def has a more solid feel to it. IMO the PB can look sophisticated and professional at the same time.

This is my thought:

iBook = cute...ooooh aaaah

PB = refined...whoa, wow

[Ken6800]

Hrmmm... I see... Yeah I was thinking the same thing about the Superdrive. I know I will definitely use iDVD, and I suppose I do need it... it means a lot more money though

I suppose the Powerbook does look more professional, as it should do. You're right the ibook does have that "cute" wow factor, since it was made for students, school stuff etcetera.

Problem is I am finishing my degree soon and starting an office-type job in September, so I'm between that cute and professional factor. Another 400 pounds isn't chump change either, especially as I was intending to spend another 200 on AppleCare, and I really wanted mobility; hence the 12" iBook or 12" Powerbook really... *groan*

Anyways, what do you other guys think, as I am all for different people's opinions!

[hodaddy]

just grin and bear it, mate. if you need to use iDVD then you really have no option but to get the powerbook. FWIW, it works great. i've done several personal movies i've left with friends and family while on trips. theyre always completely blown away by what i wring out of the little p'book.

[troymurray]

Get the SuperDrive PowerBook now and buy the AppleCare in 6 months as you have 1 year to purchase it.

[mishap]

Get the external DVD Burner drive... i got an external 8x LaCie for the same price it would cost me to put a superdrive in my new powerbook (and i can use the extrnal on on my other 2 laptops)

Read this thread to see how to get iDVD 4 to work with external burners. It isnt a hack--it is an easter egg built into iDVD.

[sillydog701]

If you really need to use iDVD, and you have superdrive on your desktop (PowerMac), you don't really need to buy the PowerBook with superdrive.
You can still run iDVD on the PowerBook with combo drive, just need to transfer the movie out for burning.

I saved myself some cash on the new PowerBook 12" 1.33 without the superdrive, since I haven't burnt many DVDs in my dual 1.42 yet.

[Ken6800]

Well, that certainly changes a few things if I can burn with an external! I should probably save the money... i could live off tins of beans for a superdrive... but then

[Dr.Michael]

Durability:

I carry my powerbooks around a lot (at least twice a week). I always put them in a neopren bag (tucano, Higoto) and thus prepared into my Samsonite overnight case. Rarely into my backpack.

My TiBook 500 MHz survived this treatment for 2.5 years and my 12 inch powerbook survives since last october.

Both look as if they were new.

[JKT]

Originally posted by Ken6800:
Problem is I am finishing my degree soon and starting an office-type job in September, so I'm between that cute and professional factor. Another 400 pounds isn't chump change either, especially as I was intending to spend another 200 on AppleCare, and I really wanted mobility; hence the 12" iBook or 12" Powerbook really... *groan*

Pounds? Are you in the UK and doing a degree? Then you must be in higher education? If so and if you didn't know already, you can get a hefty discount on your purchase by shopping via the HE store for individuals

Shipping is free at the moment - here are the prices:

PB 12" Combo = £988.18

PB 12" Superdrive = £1,117.43

An alternative for you to consider although it may be getting a bit too pricey for you - get the low-end 12" iBook (£702.65) plus an eMac (£621.58) with superdrive = £1324.23 total

[Ken6800]

Good God that is a massive saving! 1,200 quid for a superdrive PB? I'll have some of that!

Yeah I am doing a Masters degree in London, so I suppose I would be eligible for a HE discount. I always thought that the HE discount would be the same as the education discount?

And I can't seem to access the site; I suppose it has to be done from my university network?

[Ken6800]

In fact, I've just realised how big a saving it is. The regular education discount lists a 12" Powerbook at 1,194.98. The HE education discount is 1,117 pounds.

Bargain. I suppose I could stretch my budget for another 100 pounds.

Thanks for the info JKT.

And Dr. Michael, I too have looked after this Powerbook Ti but the paint peeling off makes it look like I've dragged it through a hedge backwards. Thank God for anodised aluminium.

[JKT]

Originally posted by Ken6800:
Good God that is a massive saving! 1,200 quid for a superdrive PB? I'll have some of that!

Yeah I am doing a Masters degree in London, so I suppose I would be eligible for a HE discount. I always thought that the HE discount would be the same as the education discount?

And I can't seem to access the site; I suppose it has to be done from my university network?

I think you probably do have to be accessing it via your university... I've never tried outside of mine so I can't say for sure.

The HE discount has recently got much better - it was fairly similar to the education discount, a little more but not much. I think Apple is trying to corner more of the HE market for themselves as OS X has enabled them to do so, along with the Virginia Tech supercomputer buzz.

I just got my PB this am - saved about £300 altogether over the normal price

[heresiarh]

stick with the pbook if you can afford it.