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Another "Which Should I Buy?" 12" iBook (899$) vs. 12" Powerbook (1189$)
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Senior User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA
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Okay, so I'm buying a new Laptop for my wife. She is still using my Lombard 333Mhz, and it really has to go. Right now we are looking at two options:
1. iBook 12" from Amazon.com, 899$ after mail in rebate, free shipping and no sales tax
2. Powerbook 12" (last model) from my school, discounted to 1099$ + tax so a total of 1189$
Both come with the combo drive and 256 MB of RAM.
290$ difference
The main differences from her point of view.
1. Processor. the 1.33 GHz in the powerbook is marginally faster, though likely not to be noticed
2. Hard Drive. 60 gigs for the powerbook vs. 30 gigs for the iBook. This is a pretty big difference
3. Different Keyboards - I believe she liked the powerbook keyboard better on a brief test
4. Graphics Card. 32 MB Mobility 9200 in the iBook vs. the 64 MB GeForceGo 5200 in the Powerbook. I think this is the biggest difference, especially since the intial (now removed) specs on Apple's site did not list the 9200 as Fully Supported under Core Image in Tiger.
I don't think she will miss true monitor spanning.
Any thoughts or suggestions? What would you guys do? 290$ seems like quite a bit for what is essentially a bigger hard drive and a better graphics card.
msykes
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Downtown Austin, TX
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With the PowerBook you're also getting:
-real clamshell mode (very useful!!)
-faster system bus (166 vs 133)
-mini-DVI out
I would make the plunge and get the PB. If your wife likes eyecandy at all, the 5200 in the PB will be coreImage compatible which could be useful. Theoretically, the PB should also perform better because the GPU will offload the graphics processing completely and the CPU will be free to do other things.
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Heaven
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::: r00t ::: - 15" PBook / 1.25 GB/ 1.33Ghz
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Forum Regular
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NY, NY
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I was in the same dilemma and I ordered the powerbook. The hard drive and GPU sealed the deal for me. Also the bluetooth was a nice bonus. I plan on using it to watch movies and TV shows on my television so the bluetooth option makes it easier for me to get a keyboard and mouse with having one of those dongle-things.
Plus at $1,099 the powerbook will have a better chance at keeping it's value. Probably does not play much into your decision, but it's nice to have options. I don't know this for a fact, I just presume it (maybe it just makes me feel better .  ).
Also, I like the slightly slimmer design.
Just my $.02.
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iMac 17 800
12" Powerbook Rev. C
20GB 3rd Gen iPod
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: great northwest
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I had / have both of those machines. I decided the Powerbook was a better value when it was $200 more because of the bigger hard drive, much better keyboard, and DVI out. I didn't notice much performance difference, but then I don't use any graphics heavy apps, just surfing, writing, email, iTunes.
I love my 12" AlBook, but I'd hesitate to pay $300 more for the Powerbook, particularly if DVI out isn't important to her (you didn't list it) as it was to me.
The iBook will also be more durable for travel and have slightly better AirPort range and battery life. You can get an external drive if storage is an issue. The PB keyboard is a dream, but the iBook's is OK. You can use the price difference to get extra RAM (which you should do in any case -- at least another 512) and AppleCare.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Status:
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I personally would consider the powerbook. Take her to an apple store and let her test both of them and see what she thinks. That's a great deal on the old 12" models. They will also hold their value longer than the iBook (as previously stated).
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Mac: 15" 1.5ghz PB w/ 128mb vid, 5400rpm 80gb, combo drive, 2gb ram
Peripherals: 20gb 4g iPod, Canon i950, Canon S230 "elph", Canon LIDE30, Logitech MX510, Logitech z5500, M-Audio Sonica Theater, Samsung 191T
PC: AMD "barton" XP @ 2.3ghz, 1gb pc3200, 9800pro 128mb, 120gb WD-SE 120gb
Xbox: 1.6, modded with X3 xecuter, slayers evoX 2.6, WDSE 120gb HDD
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manhattan NY
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My vote is on the powerbook, for all the reason mentioned so far. The keyboard on the new PB model is much more comfortable, and the overall look and feel is more professional.
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Senior User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA
Status:
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Thanks for all the input. I think if it was me I would go Powerbook (like everybody else here), however, the chances of the DVI port ever being used are approximately none, and my wife had another insight.
290$ difference = price of iPod mini + accessories
She'd much rather have an iBook and an iPod than the Powerbook for the same price, which I can't really argue with as she has been lusting over an iPod mini since they came out.
msykes
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