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duncan0802 · Nov 4, 2004, 04:02 PM

Ok so Im planning on buying a 12" Powerbook, and I know that people are talking about MWSF and updates and obviously the 12" will only get an update to probably 1.5 g4 but would it be worth it to wait or to buy it now, I am a student so I get the discount and will be getting the superdrive even though I probably wont use it but my question is really is it worth it to wait for the updates, and possibly lower price with the possiblility of getting the tiger release update for free or at a lower price because of my purchase date?
This will be my first Mac so I want to buy this sooner than later but I am willing to wait.

Thanks for your help

mrmister · Nov 4, 2004, 04:42 PM

That's a hard one. I just bought my powerbook 2 weeks ago, but I got a slightly used one and found a good price, which relieved my concerns about the imminent update. I guess what you really need to ask yourself is, "Do I want/need this PB for the rest of November and December?" If yes, then make the jump, because that is really quite a long time to wait. If you have a system you can work with now, waiting will get you a better machine.

duncan0802 · Nov 4, 2004, 04:47 PM

I forgot to add that I currently have a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop that is my main computer for the past 3 years this January and it works find but I would like to get a powerbook since I will be going to school then so this isn't something that needs to happen right now If I do buy it now I will be waiting for another two weeks anyways.

duncan0802 · Nov 4, 2004, 05:26 PM

I forgot to add that I currently have a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop that is my main computer for the past 3 years this January and it works find but I would like to get a powerbook since I will be going to school then so this isn't something that needs to happen right now If I do buy it now I will be waiting for another two weeks anyways.

robby818 · 07:47 PM

I hate to add this in too bec it might only add to the delay but you might want to wait until 10.4 is released in early 2005. If 10.4 is announced at macworld and you buy after macworld you would qualify for a free upgrade. If you buy before 10.4 is announced then you will have to pay another $49 (edu price) for the upgrade. not that bad but kind of sucks to pay another 50 bucks a few weeks after getting your new machine.

Moving from an inspiron 8100 to a 12" powerbook is a pretty big jump. I hope you enjoy the mac.

UPDATE- just read on mac rumors that 10.4 probably won't be released until June 2005 so it may not be a factor in your decision to buy now or wait.

mduser63 · Nov 4, 2004, 08:33 PM

If it makes you feel any better, I'm a student as well, and am planning on buying a 12" Powerbook within the next week or two. From what I've heard, assuming updated Powerbooks are announced at Macworld in January, they likely won't ship until March. So, by the time new PBs are actually shipping, I will have already needed one for school for two months. So it makes just as much sense to buy a PB now as to wait until January. However, my situation is a little different in that I don't have a laptop already, whereas you have one that could get you through those first 2 months of school if you wanted to wait for new PBs in March. With all that said, my personal feeling is that we'll only see speedbumps in January, and won't see G5 'books until mid-2005.

iPoder · Nov 4, 2004, 08:44 PM

Here is something to think about.

Even if Apple announces a PB revision in January, you probably have to wait for about a month to get your hand on the new PB. That will put the PB availability at the end of January.

If you can wait that long, wait. If you cannot, don't.

SEkker · Nov 4, 2004, 09:18 PM

I ordered this PB17 in Jan, 2003 right after Steve J announced the new Al PBs. It arrived Mar 27, 2003, several MONTHS later.

The 12" models were, however, available in Feb.

But if these new machines ARE G5 PBs, or dual core G4s, there will be considerable interest in these machines. Apple will have a hard time ramping up to meet initial demand. But if they are just another speed bump, they will probably be more available.

If you need a machine, then make the purchase. I've purchased at the beginning and at the end of product cycles. My only regret was my TiPB purchase, which was placed because of convenience. I had a perfectly fine Pismo at my disposal, and I could have and seriously considered waiting for the next update to order. The speed bumped TiPBs, with digital video ports, were released two days after my TiPB arrived.

If you can make it another month or two with your current machine, go ahead and wait -- if nothing else, the current machines will be cheaper.

But if you can make good use of the machine in the meantime, place the order! I think these latest machines are some of the best Apple has produced in a long time -- and most of the bugs have been worked out by now.

duncan0802 · Nov 4, 2004, 11:10 PM

Well one more question to add, is there a great amount of difference from 1.33 to 1.5, just based on the information that I have looked at as far as rumors and forums from here, apple-x, appleinsider, macrumors, etc. thats what the most plausable change would be for the 12" were as the 15 and 17 would probably get a higher speed bump, I dont see why the 12 cant have the 1.5 now but Im not steve jobs so I cant make that change now.

buffalolee · Nov 5, 2004, 08:36 AM

Wait until after January MacWorld 2005. You will have to wait, but at least you will have no regrets later on.

laseca · Nov 6, 2004, 01:50 AM

I've been wanting a Powerbook 12" for the last two months. After patiently waiting for an update and not seeing one (only for the iBook), I pulled the trigger and bought a custom built one. I need a Powerbook NOW and waiting until January (and even longer until it start shipping) isn't worth it to me. Sure I'd like to get the latest and greatest but I'd rather not wait any longer. You need it, buy it.