[mduser63]

I'm looking to purchase a laptop soon. I had been strongly leaning toward the 12" Powerbook, but when the iBook updates were announced I changed my mind. Now however, I'm not sure. I'd like recommendations from others. Cost is of course a factor, as it would be for any college student, but I do have the money for either the Powerbook or iBook.

I'll mainly be using the laptop for the following (in addition to the usual websurfing, email, iTunes, etc):
Webdesign with Macromedia Studio MX 2004
3D Modeling with Blender 3D
Basic image edting (most likely using GIMP as Photoshop is too expensive)
Matlab
Possibly pro-level video editing at some point.

So which is it? Powerbook or iBook? I'm leaning toward the Powerbook at this point, but the iBook sure has a nice price (and looks nice too!)

Thanks!

P.S. This will be my first Mac of my own. I'm using a Mac now, but it's a fairly old Powermac, and it actually belongs to my Dad

[wilsonng]

With the type of software you're describing (3d modeling, web design, video editing), you have to get the PowerBook.

On the road you'll love the portability of the 12" PB. When you need the screen real estate, hook up the PB to a 17" or bigger monitor and you'll immediately double or even triple your screen real estate. Most of the time I just use the built-in LCD.

Whenever I need more screen real estate when I'm doing some database work and image editing, I hook it up to my 19" monitor at my home office or the company's 17" monitor that was provided for me to use.

The iBook can only do mirror display (what is shown in the LCD is also shown on the external monitor).

I use the LCD to show my various tool palettes and maybe a help screen or something else. I use the external monitor for the brunt of my work.

Once you've tried a dual monitor display, you'll never go back.

[MrForgetable]

Powerbook.

[Randman]

PowerBook, though if you can afford a larger one, 15 or 17, you'll be better off. Also, you can get student discounts on Adobe products and Photoshop Elements is also reasonably priced. If you're going to do any design work, get PS (and plenty of ram, another reason to get a 15 or 17).

[wilsonng]

Yes, I'd definitely get the maximum amount of RAM if you're doing video, web design, and image editing. The 12" only has one open RAM slot for a total of 1.25 GBs of RAM. The 15" and 17" has 2 open RAM slots for a total of 2 GBs of RAM.

If portability is a desired feature, the 12" is nice. But if you want to do web design, video editing, and imaging editing without being tethered to a monitor and a desk, then get the 15".

My personal work style usually has me just doing Microsoft Office work, e-mail, internet while on the road (either in a hotel room or at a client's office). If I want to do work that requires screen real estate, I usually hook up to my external monitor. That's usually when I'm at the office. Thus I got the 12".

However if I didn't want to be tied down to a desk, I'd opt for the 15". With that being said, I can't use my laptop on my bed. I find working with my laptop on my bed is not conducive to productivity as I'd rather be asleep or with my wife in the bed rather than my PB. Sorry, PB, you're relegated to 2nd class in my life ;-)

No matter which size laptop you'll get, you'll learn to adapt to it.

[mduser63]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be going with the powerbook. One more question though. Is the upgrade to a 5400 RPM (80 GB) HD worth the money, or is the 4200 RPM drive adequate? I do plan to max out the RAM.

[d4nth3m4n]

you posted this in the PB forum, i think that speaks for itself. you already had your mind made up.

[jamil5454]

IMO, the iBook is plenty powerful enough, but if you have the money, go ahead and get something more futureproof. Although, I'm sure there are still a number of users out there with a G4 500 TiBook doing the same thing you're going to be doing.

BTW, have you tried Alias Maya PLE for Mac instead of Blender? I find it a little easier to use, but i've heard that the Blender interface is very efficient once you get used to it. And The GIMP is great, too. Almost as good as photoshop. I've been doing some light 3d modeling/gaming on my iBook with a 32mb 9200 and haven't noticed anything unbearable yet.

[MRTrauffer]

Originally posted by mduser63:
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be going with the powerbook. One more question though. Is the upgrade to a 5400 RPM (80 GB) HD worth the money, or is the 4200 RPM drive adequate? I do plan to max out the RAM.

I would recommend highly, the 5400 drive.

From some benchmark tests that I've seen, there is a very noticable difference.

I also recommend upgrading the video card as well. (that is if you're going to get the 15" or 17")

Been using my 15" for editing in FCP4, no complaints.

[V12]

if you have the money for a powerbook get one, if anything it will last longer technology wise. that why i choose my pb over hte ibook

[wilsonng]

Look at the graphics card. The new iBook's ATI Radeon 9200 that came out isn't on the list of graphics cards that can take advantage of OS X Tiger's Core Image technology.

Tiger will run on the new iBooks but it won't take advantage of Tiger's graphic acceleration.

It's better to get the PowerBook since their cards will take advantage of Tiger's Core Image technology.

The programs that were listed in the first post will definitely need to take advantage of Tiger's Core Image. I'm not sure if the programs have to be updated to take advantage of it or if it just passes it to the graphics card to take care of it.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html

Originally posted by V12:
if you have the money for a powerbook get one, if anything it will last longer technology wise. that why i choose my pb over hte ibook