[smelias]

Hi all,

I would like to get peoples opinion on whether the speed bumps and better grphics card are worth upgrading to the new 12 or 15" powerbooks (I can't afford a new 17"), or keep my old 17" 1Gz.

I am thinking that if I keep the 17", I will upgrade some of the components, like the HD and maybe the superdrive (is that possible?)

Thanks

[iREZ]

I'd get a new 15", I don't like the fact that the Rev A 17" only has 256MB L2 cache, I think it only came with a 60gig HD, crappy GPU, and a 1x Superdrive.
I'd tell you to go with the 12" but for someone who's used to a 17" screen, 12" would seem rather confining.

[azdude]

Originally posted by smelias:
Hi all,

I would like to get peoples opinion on whether the speed bumps and better grphics card are worth upgrading to the new 12 or 15" powerbooks (I can't afford a new 17"), or keep my old 17" 1Gz.

I am thinking that if I keep the 17", I will upgrade some of the components, like the HD and maybe the superdrive (is that possible?)

Thanks

All depends on your $$$ situation. If it were me, I'd keep "my" 1GHz PB until the next major Rev at least... but I'm a college student that spends every (precious) spare penny on Apple.

All the spiffy Core Image effects to debut in Tiger next year require ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 or better. If I were you, I'd wait and buy a Tiger-loaded PB (G5?) whenever Tiger is released next year. That way, you'd have new hardware with lots of (graphics) performance margin for whatever comes next, and you won't have to shell out an extra $129 for Tiger a few months after you buy a PB.

[smelias]

Originally posted by azdude:
All depends on your $$$ situation. If it were me, I'd keep "my" 1GHz PB until the next major Rev at least... but I'm a college student that spends every (precious) spare penny on Apple.

All the spiffy Core Image effects to debut in Tiger next year require ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 or better. If I were you, I'd wait and buy a Tiger-loaded PB (G5?) whenever Tiger is released next year.

Well then, that removes the 12". The 15" has the ATI Mobility 9700.

[azdude]

Originally posted by smelias:
Well then, that removes the 12". The 15" has the ATI Mobility 9700.

My apologies, I was only remembering what applied to me.

ATI Radeon 9800 XT
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
ATI Radeon 9600 XT
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5200
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra

[cszar2001]

Originally posted by smelias:
Hi all,

I would like to get peoples opinion on whether the speed bumps and better grphics card are worth upgrading to the new 12 or 15" powerbooks (I can't afford a new 17"), or keep my old 17" 1Gz.

I am thinking that if I keep the 17", I will upgrade some of the components, like the HD and maybe the superdrive (is that possible?)

Thanks

Get a faster HD and upgrade the firmware (gives you a faster Superdrive).
Hardly anybody uses (and needs) the full speed of these machines.
Wait for a fully loaded G5 PB one year from now-Tiger and everything included.

[urrl78]

If it aint broke don't fix it; keep the 1 Ghz. I just swapped to a 1.5 Ghz and still feel the 1 Ghz is well in the league. Hold out for the G5. You will not be in a situation of regretting anything and will have your socks knocked off with the G5 when it comes. By the way my swap was free due to an unfixable problem with my 17" 1 Ghz.

[smelias]

Originally posted by urrl78:
If it aint broke don't fix it; keep the 1 Ghz. I just swapped to a 1.5 Ghz and still feel the 1 Ghz is well in the league. Hold out for the G5. You will not be in a situation of regretting anything and will have your socks knocked off with the G5 when it comes. By the way my swap was free due to an unfixable problem with my 17" 1 Ghz.

What was the problem and how long did it take for them to finally swap it?

[urrl78]

Half the screen was affected with a faint, threadlike mesh of vertical lines. Repairs began I think around the end of May. So it took about a month I guess.

[smelias]

Originally posted by cszar2001:
upgrade the firmware (gives you a faster Superdrive).

What do you mean? Is this firmware something that I get through software download or is it something that I have to download myself?