[daiSho]

hi all... some opinions from the fora would be great, i will be leaving for a 2-month trip to asia this month, and have been debating w/ myself which Powerbook to bring along for weeks now... i have both a 12" and a 17" rev.C, and just cant decide which to bring! i don't think the size of the 17" is all that bad, but is it pretty much a pain to use in a coach seat on a 777? won't fit on the tray at all? the problem is aside from the actual trasit times themselves, i will be fairly stationary once reaching destinations... w/ an office and everything to set up shop in. i keep thinking that the 12" is the logical choice, but can see myself cursing its tiny screen once i've actually made it to my destination...

i've barely touched the 12" since buying the 17", its screen seems so confining for any serious work in comparison... but, its *so* much more portable... any opinion would be great, i need someone else to make to decision for me it seems..!

btw, on a side note, can anyone recommend a good "airplane adapter" for whichever Powerbook i decide to bring, so i can plug in from my seat? thx all..!

[icruise]

If you're going to be traveling a lot, and not just going on day trips from a central base, I would definitely recommend the 12". You will regret the extra weight and bulk, and I would image that whatever computing you would be doing on your trip would not really require the extra screen real estate of the 17".

[iMacfan]

One word for you: Expose!

Make sure that you have an easily accessible button assigned for the functions - it makes the 12" so much more usable. It's one of those rare things - a feature that looks like a gimmick at first, but turns out to be a godsend, you'll find that most are the other way round. I'd say that it effectively doubles the size of the screen why you are using more than one app.

David

[iREZ]

Ctrl+Tab is a godsend in itself as well. I'd take the 12" unless your going to be using apps that require the 17" screen. Even so, just take your 12" vga and dvi plugs along with you and buy an external if it's too small, couldn't cost that much for ya, and you could just sell it back or return it before you come back to the states.

[drive-thru]

Originally posted by iREZ:
Ctrl+Tab is a godsend in itself as well.

Looks like someone uses a PC.

Anyway, if you feel that the sort of computing you will be doing over there would be much more comfortable on the 17 then I would take that. If you can't use it on the plane trip then read a book & listen to your iPod (I'll assume you have an iPod since you own 2 Powerbooks).


It depends what you value most, being able to use your Powerbook on the plane trips, for however long they are, or the real-estate of the 17" for 2 months.

Edit: iREZ makes a good point about the external display, forgot to mention that.

[Xisiqomelir]

17" all the way.

[daiSho]

Originally posted by drive-thru:
Looks like someone uses a PC.

Anyway, if you feel that the sort of computing you will be doing over there would be much more comfortable on the 17 then I would take that. If you can't use it on the plane trip then read a book & listen to your iPod (I'll assume you have an iPod since you own 2 Powerbooks).


It depends what you value most, being able to use your Powerbook on the plane trips, for however long they are, or the real-estate of the 17" for 2 months.

Edit: iREZ makes a good point about the external display, forgot to mention that.

heh, yes, i have an iPod for audiobooks on the plane, i guess it may be worth it to drag the 17" over since the only drawback seems transit-times, which are short comapred to the entire trip duration..!

now, if only i had a case for the 17"..

[anly]

if you are going to be "stationary" once you get there, then you should bring the 17". I'm so used to the screen now, when i look at my friends 15", it looks a bit small. Now imagine starring at a 12". that would be puny

Just a note, not worth busting out your PB in coach, the dude in front of you is gonna crush your screen when he reclines his seat. I was sitting next to a guy with his IBM and the guy in front leaned back, and bam, the lcd was crushed. ( i usually pick the exit seats, those are safe with no one in front )

Cheers.

[iMacfan]

Oh well, if you are going to one place, and thhe PB will end up on your desk permanently for 2 months, the the 17" may be a better idea. However, I had gotten the idea that you would be travelling around within asia, then it's definitely the 12"

David

[daiSho]

Originally posted by iMacfan:
Oh well, if you are going to one place, and thhe PB will end up on your desk permanently for 2 months, the the 17" may be a better idea. However, I had gotten the idea that you would be travelling around within asia, then it's definitely the 12"

David

well, i will be stationary for longish periods, there will be a couple jaunts during the trip though... now, one thing that comes to mind is using my Powerbook in internet cafes; i wonder if the 17" might be too unwieldly to pull out in public places to work on in comparison to my 12"? but it is true, much of the time (not counting transit) the machine will be sitting in one place..

[Randman]

17s work great in Internet cafes. Which parts of Asia are you going to be going to?
More than what size, just make sure you get a good case. I'd recommend the 17 unless you're going to be out most of the time.

[daiSho]

Originally posted by Randman:
17s work great in Internet cafes. Which parts of Asia are you going to be going to?
More than what size, just make sure you get a good case. I'd recommend the 17 unless you're going to be out most of the time.

i'll be in Tokyo for a couple of weeks and then into Thailand for 6 more weeks... Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang-Mai.

i am stumped as to what 17" case to get, i prefer an attache-style case but don't see too much i like for the 17" so far, still looking..