[antizero]

I have an iMac with a 1.25 G4 and the stock 256MB RAM. I run Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Fireworks 2004 MX, Dreamweaver MX 2004, and Adobe Illustrator 10 on this machine and I am content with the performance (could be faster, but it doesn't feel slow until I start doing crazy multitasking). I'd like to get something mobile (on a budget), so I'm looking at older Powerbooks. If I had a 667 G4 and 768MB or 1GB of RAM, would it be comparable in these apps (minus the multitasking - one app at a time)? I don't want to see myself sitting there waiting for the computer to catch up with me, but I'm a cheap-o. I appreciate the help - I'm not the most technologically inclined guy in the world.

[ibook_steve]

Why would you take such a step back in CPU speed? If you're going to do anything cheap for a speed boost, put more memory in that iMac. As for portability and the apps you use, you will definitely *not* like going back to a 667 MHz machine. Get a low-end iBook if you must (at least 1 GHz).

Steve

[antizero]

Originally posted by ibook_steve:
Why would you take such a step back in CPU speed? If you're going to do anything cheap for a speed boost, put more memory in that iMac. As for portability and the apps you use, you will definitely *not* like going back to a 667 MHz machine. Get a low-end iBook if you must (at least 1 GHz).

Steve

I'd take a step back because it's alot cheaper, and I'm po'. I'm content with the iMac as-is, but it's kind of a pain to take on vacation or to meetings . How about an 867 PB? The 1GHz's I've spotted on the used market are still a bit more than I have to spend. I'm not a huge fan of the iBook's - I looked at them in person when I was originally buying my first Mac, and I didn't like the display or overall "feel" of it, if that makes sense.

I'm sorry if these are dumb questions - I don't know any other Mac users to question first-hand, and obviously I'm not going to find the older equipment in a store.

[tkmd]

Originally posted by ibook_steve:
Why would you take such a step back in CPU speed? If you're going to do anything cheap for a speed boost, put more memory in that iMac. As for portability and the apps you use, you will definitely *not* like going back to a 667 MHz machine. Get a low-end iBook if you must (at least 1 GHz).

Steve

Agreed. Memory seems to serve one function when looking at speed of a machine and thats to prevent page outs (OSX using the HD as temporary RAM) This of course, prevents the slowdown what you had described during multitasking, but what you are running, I assume are pretty CPU intensive programs. 667 would IMO seem to drag no matter how much RAM you had. Perhaps an ibook - but if its screen real estate your looking for try to shoot for a faster PB.

[iREZ]

Get an iBook, you said you cant afford newer Powerbooks so why not get an iBook, the 800MHz was almost identical to the 867MHz PB 12" (dubbed firebooks because they get soooo hot) and the 1GHz 12" iBook now is almost identical to my machine a 12" 1GHz PB. Get the iBook and you'll be better off with that then you would with a 667MHz, although I do run the app's you mentioned on my 733 Quicksilver at work(1.5GB RAM), I know it's no match for my 12" 1GHz PB (768MB RAM). 12" PB screen is the same as a 12" iBook. I would either get 1GHz iBook or get a 12" 1GHz PB. As for the screen, I am very capable of using the app's you mentioned on my 12" screen albeit not for a long time (3-4 hours tops and then I give myself a break) but if your going to be using it for that long might as well use your iMac. If your going with the older route, the last Ti's released were pretty darn good computers, look for the 867MHz model or even the 800MHz but I wouldn't get anything slower than that.

[rmongold]

Originally posted by antizero:
I have an iMac with a 1.25 G4 and the stock 256MB RAM. I run Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Fireworks 2004 MX, Dreamweaver MX 2004, and Adobe Illustrator 10 on this machine and I am content with the performance (could be faster, but it doesn't feel slow until I start doing crazy multitasking). I'd like to get something mobile (on a budget), so I'm looking at older Powerbooks. If I had a 667 G4 and 768MB or 1GB of RAM, would it be comparable in these apps (minus the multitasking - one app at a time)? I don't want to see myself sitting there waiting for the computer to catch up with me, but I'm a cheap-o. I appreciate the help - I'm not the most technologically inclined guy in the world.

Not for anything, but I don't think you'd be too bad off if you were to jump into a 667 or 867 PowerBook. I was running quite happily on a 500 Mhz Pismo up until not so long ago, and had that not been broken by the cats (damned pets), I would probably still be using it. Yeah, it'll probably feel a little slow at some tasks, but if you're just looking for mobility and speed is tertiary to portability and budget, I think you'd do fine with one of those TiBooks.

That said, I would suggest breaking up your RAM budget... Instead of going 768 or 1GB in the PowerBook, I'd almost say go 512 MB in both your machines (you'll thank yourself for it later) and then maybe spend any extra on upping the RAM further in the TiBook.

So, all said, TiBook good. RAM in both machines good. Hope that helps.

[wuzup101]

If you know anyone who can get you a student discount new 12" PB base models go for $1399. I'm not sure how much the machines your're considering are going for though. Maybe it would be worth it to save for a little extra time and get one of these...