[SLA313]

Hey, I need help purchasing a new powerbook G4 and also have a few questions. for starters I'm switching from a pc to a mac since I'm now heavily involved in digital audio, particularly protools. I've got about $2000 I can spend. Anyways basically I need a laptop with at least 512 MB, 1-2 firewire ports, 60 GB hard drive, 3 usb 2.0 ports, and a cd burner. Screen size or graphics card doesnt matter, preferably the cheapest. I've been looking at a few and from what I see the powerbooks only have 2 usb 2.0 ports. I was wondering if or which models (out of the 12", 15", and 17") you can add either a pci card or usb 2.0 expansion card too. Another question specifically about the 12" model, on the apple website it says it has a firewire 400 and 1 usb 2.0, but on compusa.com it says the 12" has 2 usb 2.0s, a firewire 400, and a firewire 800, which one is right? Any other advice is appriciated.

[wuzup101]

All current powerbooks have 1 firewire 400 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports. 15" and 17" models also have firewire 800 and have an expansion slot like most PC laptops. Also, the 12" only has 10/100 ethernet while the 15" and 17" have 10/100/1000 Gigabit ethernet.

[chris v]

I'd go with a 15" for sure. I run Logic on mine, and it does pretty well, except for the internal drive, which, at 5400 RPM, chokes after about 10-12 AIFF files in playback. An external 7200 RPM FW drive will fix this up, or you might consider upgrading your internal to a 60 GB 7200 drive. There's rumors of a Hitachi 100 GB 7200 rpm laptop drive, but they're behind schedule shipping, and no real news, there.

[wuzup101]

The internal 100gb 7200rpm drives were supposed to be out before christmas... they should be out soon if that's you're concern. Otherwise I would definitely second the idea of getting an external FW 400 7200rpm drive. Better yet, if you're really serious, I believe they make raid 0 setups w/ 2x 7200rpm drives for FW 800.