[sghms]

Hi,

A little background, my 17" 1 Ghz PB screen cracked and also won't turn on after I dropped it in the kitchen

The home insurance company has agreed to pay for a replacement The thing is I will just be sent the cash for a replacement 17" so I can buy whichever laptop I wish with the money.

Now the insurance money will cover for a new 17" 1.5ghz, 80gb (5400rpm) and 1Gb RAM.

However I am thinking of surprising my mum who is just starting to learn how to use computers with an ibook for her and the 12" PB (Superdrive) for myself.

The thing is is she lives overseas with my dad while I am at university. So I only get to spend a few weeks with her at a time and between then all the lessons I have given on how to use a computer she forgets as she doesn't practice on my dad's laptop (PC).

So I thought if I buy her, her own ibook, that will motivate her to use a computer much more regularly She would use it for email, web surfing and writing some documents. I am hoping as she becomes more confident in using the machine she will use it for ichat (with isight) and use the iApps as well.

Now i have a few questions

1) Would the 12" or 14" be better for her eyesight. Sh need glasses for reading and while I realise the resolution is similar on both, which would appear 'bigger' to her eyes ? Or is there really no difference ?

2) I really liked my 17" screen (duh) but i did wish occasionally for more portability and so thought about getting the 12". The concern I have is that I have read here and elsewhere that the 12" screen is markedly inferior to the 17". Is this true or do people who have used both, found the 12" acceptable ? Otherwise i am happy with the 12" specs.

3) Should I just get a 17"

[MrForgetable]

1. 14 would be better, since it is the same resolution, but just a bigger screen (everything is bigger)
2. yes the screen is a little dim, but ehhhh. it's not horrendously bad
3. up to you. i don't know if your mom would like it.

[iREZ]

14" is lots bigger then the 12" when it comes to reading things, although just about every app lets you set percentages so you could view text bigger.

Everyone said my Rev B 12" screen was terrible and I don't get bothered at all unless I'm working on Photoshop (need an external for color corrections).

Try looking at refurbed G3 iBooks at smalldog.com. They've got great prices and that way you could get a 15" 1.33 instead, i dunno.

[sghms]

Originally posted by iREZ:
14" is lots bigger then the 12" when it comes to reading things, although just about every app lets you set percentages so you could view text bigger.

Everyone said my Rev B 12" screen was terrible and I don't get bothered at all unless I'm working on Photoshop (need an external for color corrections).

Try looking at refurbed G3 iBooks at smalldog.com. They've got great prices and that way you could get a 15" 1.33 instead, i dunno.

Thanks to everyone for their advice so far. Please keep them coming

That's good to hear about the 12" screen. And the point from both of you about the 14" screen making things a bit 'bigger' is worth keeping in mind.

Alas I cannot use smalldog as I am in the UK and our mail orders stores are not quite as competitive as our transatlantic cousins's

[Altair]

I would think about getting a 15" pb. It's much more portable than the 17" and still has plenty of screen realestate. I think that you wouldn't like the screen on the 12" after using the 17", especially if it is your main computer.

As for the ibook, maybe you can check the refurbs at apple's online store to see if there are any specials.

[Randman]

I'd get her an eMac instead. You can get 1Ghz models at some places (clearing inventory) for less than US$600. Make sure you can use iChat (can you with an eMac? That I don't know) and get iSights for video chat. Then consider getting Apple Remote Desktop so you can troubleshoot for her from far away (I'm considering the same thing for my Dad cuz I'm working out of the country right now and I want to wean him from Windoze now that he has a basic comfort level with computers).

[urrl78]

There is no guarantee that your mother really needs or wants such a thing unless she has mentioned it to you or someone else. If she doesn't really use it that's money wasted on well meaning sentiment. After all, does she really use your dads PC a lot? That's saying something right there if she is not. What you may be trying to do reminds me of a woman marrying a man and then hoping she will change his habits later. Common sense should tell us it JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. No disrespect to your mother; it's just human nature. She will be trying to learn something outside of PC world and you won't be there to teach her. Let us look into my crystal ball... I see a small, rectangular silvery paper weight in her future. Get my drift?

I would really consider the 15 or the 17" more seriously. You may not get another easy shot at a replacement anytime soon and going from a 17" to a 12" screen could get frustrating and even depressing.