[moep]

Hi Guys,

Here's my short Apple-History:

One year from now, I was a complete PC Gaming/Hardware/Overclocking/Whatever nut. I had a hauling Desktop-machine (dual xeons @ 3.6 ghz, radeon 9800pro, blah blah blah) but needed a portable computer to carry with me.

I wanted the Computer to be small and not too expensive, which always led me back to the Apple 12" iBook... there was just no way around it.
I never saw or used OS X or any Mac before and simply placed the order for an iBook G4 800Mhz when it was released. Well, long story short... I was so amazed by the entire Apple-approach that I sold all my PC stuff one month after I received the iBook.

Now I'm out of school and I've got a job, I really learned to apprechiate the iBook. I love it's portability, but performance and screen-wise it just won't cut it anymore. The iBook was intended as a nifty gadget and turned out to be a complete desktop replacement. Needless to say, the tiny screen and mediocre performance isn't what I want to use over the long haul.

Soo, I'm in the market for a new PB by August. Money should be no issue, since I've saved up for this PB and got a few cool jobs in summer.

I'm now torn between the 15" and 17" Powerbooks.
The PB will be a complete desktop replacement (until the 3Ghz G5s come out ), which is why I'm tending to get the 17". It doesn't seem to be much more expensive either. Not sure on the Portability-Issue, but I think I will be just fine due to the fact that it's so thin. I'm not going to school by bike with it either... just take it with me to work now and then.

However, one thing that concerns me a bit is the "wow" and unintenional "brag" factor, which I'd like to avoid.

Currently, with my iBook G4 12", all I get is an ocassional akward view... "eww, look, a teenie weenie macintosh. Why do you buy such an computer anyway, all you can do with it is type letters and maybe surf the net, that's it."

I'm fine with such comments though, I'm open minded, I like to "think different." A few months ago, i would have reacted the same way.

However, the big PB with it's sleek metal skin seems to be a real eyecatcher. I don't want other people to drool over my pb during meetings or whatsoever.

How are your experiences with the 17" PB?
I haven't seen the 17" in real life yet, which is why I don't really know how high the wow-factor really is.

thanks!

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by moep:
How are your experiences with the 17" PB?
I haven't seen the 17" in real life yet, which is why I don't really know how high the wow-factor really is.

The wow-factor only lasts a few seconds with people. I wouldn't worry about that. It's all in how you use it.

My history: G4 450 PM - 15" 667 PB - G4 Dual 1,25 (and 23" display) - and now a 17" 1.5 PB.

For lounging around the house in different places while getting some work and non-work done, the 17" form factor destroys the 15" as far as I'm concerned. The display is great, and the larger palm rest area really allows you to comfortably hang out on the computer. It's a much more comfortable laptop to work on than the 15". If you have some nice monitor(s) at home and at work, and will always be deskbound (where I use a USB keyboard and mouse), you may not need the larger form factor.

Compared with my Dual 1.25 MDD w/23" display (which I still have), it is rare that I need the extra screenspace. Only for audio and video projects that I am involved in do I absolutely need the 23" (and extra processor).

I highly recommend the current 17" 1.5 GHz model. It's truly a mobile desktop, or as close to one as I've ever seen, though I suggest putting in more memory than the stock 512 MB that Apple supplies. I added a gig or so of generic from Other World Computing, and everything works perfectly.

[f1000]

Originally posted by moep:
However, one thing that concerns me a bit is the "wow" and unintenional "brag" factor, which I'd like to avoid.

You're in for some trouble, then. That 17" PowerBook is going to get you quite a bit of attention, especially from people who already know you well enough to approach you. I've had several women (complete strangers) compliment me on my 12" PowerBook.

Just grin sheepishly and use the opportunity to evangelize the Mac. They won't think that you're bragging; they'll just think that you're crazy.