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connollyck · Mar 1, 2005, 12:05 AM

Hey Guys,
After much thought I've decided to go with the ibook, my question now is which one? I know they have the same resolution, so I take that to mean the screen is worse on the 14 inch??? I'm going to use this computer to watch movies, dl music, play music, surf the net, instant messaging, and most importantly writing papers and taking notes in class. I don't need the superdrive. So, which one and why?

gcvt · Mar 1, 2005, 12:41 AM

Since you don't need the Superdrive, the 12" would handle all those tasks quite well. It's also a pound lighter than the 14", not to mention smaller and more portable.

Randman · Mar 1, 2005, 12:48 AM

Best thing to do is head out to a mall and play around with boh, on your lap and on a desk and see what's comfortable for you.

iREZ · Mar 1, 2005, 01:39 AM

If your going to take this to class, go with the 12". If your going to watch alot of movies (I mean alot go with the 14"). I personally would go with the 12"; it's more compact, same resolution, and if I wanted to watch a movie...I'd just buy the adapter and hook that sucker to my television, not to mention use the money I save for extra HD storage or more RAM....we all need more RAM and HD storage.

ghporter · Mar 1, 2005, 08:38 AM

My wife needed a computer for school, so I started researching what was available. My findings were very simple: The 12 inch iBook is the best ultraportable notebook around, bar none. It is lighter and smaller than just about any other notebook, but is still quite powerful and very reasonably priced. The "competition" for this niche is a range of PC laptops like Sony's VAIO line-which are excessively overpriced.

I should note that I was very much a PC person until we got the iBook. I'm hooked on Macs now!

Oh, and you can get the educational discount, which makes the thing even better!

cmeisenzahl · Mar 1, 2005, 10:11 AM

I opted for the 12" w/ ComboDrive. The smaller size makes it much more luggable, particularly if it's going to be a second machine.

Chris

Jawbone54 · Mar 1, 2005, 10:37 AM

Definitely go with the 12-inch iBook. I'm typing up this post on one right now, as a matter of fact. It's perfect for all of my classes, and you're able to save a ton of money by not going up in size. Use the money you'd save for at least 512 MB of RAM. The standard 256 just won't get it done.

Another former PC user who switched over to Mac because of the iBook. Now I own an iPod and I'm getting an eMac for my office.

sminch · Mar 1, 2005, 01:21 PM

i wonder how many switchers the 12" ibook is responsible for. i'm another of them...

i'd suggest going with the 12, so long as the screen isn't too small for you - give it a whirl in the store and see how it goes. i mostly use mine for word processing, internetting, a bit of gaming, and some website design, and it's been perfect. as far as i'm concerned this is the best machine i've ever used and, unless i'm watching a dvd, don't notice the screen being a bit smaller than i'd ideally want. the positive side of the reduced screen size is that the 12 is really light and portable which is all good if you'll be carrying it around with you.

if you need the extra inches then go for the 14. otherwise, spend the money you save on more ram and hd space like jawbone suggested.

sminch

connollyck · Mar 1, 2005, 02:18 PM

so the 12 inch ibook isnt completely underpowered? Thats why i was originally considering the powerbook. My school has a deal for a free 512 ram upgrade 12"ibook for 949. It just doesnt have bluetooth and it has a 30 gig hd, which kind of sucks. I'm considering ordering it on the net and adding bluetooth and a 60 gig hdd.

ghporter · Mar 1, 2005, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by connollyck:
so the 12 inch ibook isnt completely underpowered?

Under powered? Not at all. You will probably want to add some RAM, which makes the iBook peppier, but it's not at all underpowered. Do not make the mistake of equating clock speed for computing power, especially when comparing Macs to PCs; the processor is completely different, and it does things very differently. My wife's 800MHz G4 iBook is plenty powerful.

sminch · Mar 1, 2005, 03:49 PM

yeah, 1.2ghz doesn't sound like much when you compare it to a windows machine running at double that, but in my experience at least the ibook isn't at all lacking in power and performs a lot better than the decent specced windows pcs i use at work. i'm not doing anything particularly power hungry on my ibook but i have no complaints at all about its abilities.

sminch

D'Espice · Mar 2, 2005, 07:38 AM

Just as everybody else in here, I'd suggest getting the 12" iBook. If, and that's a major if, the screen isn't too small for you. Some people consider the 12" display too small to work with all the time. So you better check it out before buying it.
And I can assure you that it is not underpowered. The 30GB harddrive has enough space for everything you need but you better get more RAM. For what you'll be doing, 512MB of RAM will be plentiful. Your school's deal sounds pretty nice though. The question is if you'll really need Bluetooth and the bigger harddrive. You can always get an external Firewire drive with way more than 60GB for the money Apple charges for the bigger internal harddrive. As for Bluetooth, if you really need it go for it.

Mojo · Mar 2, 2005, 11:50 AM

As far as the 12" screen goes, I'm 50 and I use reading glasses when working on a computer (but not for reading for some odd reason-I had to get glasses ten years ago to be able to see the grain when making photographic prints.)

I have used a 12" iBook for slightly over 3 years now and the screen size has never been an issue in regards to the clarity of text. And I keep the screen settings as it came out of the box. When I am reading while kicked-back in my chair I increase the type size so I can see it from 3 feet away.

When I was comparing the 12" and 14" iBooks it was immediately apparent that the 12" had sharper text than the 14". That might be important to someone who will be presumably be doing a lot of typing and reading on their Mac.

Add a $20 cable from Apple and you can watch DVDs (and the Very Cool iTunes Visualizer) on a TV with the appropriate ports.

When I have multiple windows open the 12" screen can seem cramped, but Expose makes it bearable.

I agree with a suggestion made previously: I think that the money is better spent on an external Firewire drive. You can read all about dead iBook drives here and in other recent posts.

And a full-size keyboard might not be a bad idea either, depending on your typing preferences. This keyboard promises action like a PowerBook and iBook keyboard and costs less than $45.

connollyck · Mar 2, 2005, 03:56 PM

Well you guys have helped me decide. using pricegrabber and ebay i just found the lowest prices on the net for the apple wireless keyboard, soundsticks II, the mouse bt, and an icurve. I'm going to order the 12" ibook wiht 512ram, 60gig hd and bluetooth on friday. thanks guys. i cant wait

the_glassman · Mar 2, 2005, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by connollyck:
Well you guys have helped me decide. using pricegrabber and ebay i just found the lowest prices on the net for the apple wireless keyboard, soundsticks II, the mouse bt, and an icurve. I'm going to order the 12" ibook wiht 512ram, 60gig hd and bluetooth on friday. thanks guys. i cant wait

Good choice, the 12" is the best option for students hands down!

D'Espice · Mar 2, 2005, 05:44 PM

Don't purchase Apple RAM, it's ridiculously overpriced. Get it with 256MB and get another 256MB stick of PC2100 RAM or faster somewhere else where it's reasonably priced.

connollyck · Mar 2, 2005, 11:45 PM

its 67 bucks from apple, where else can i get it for cheaper adn be 100percent sure that it will work?

iREZ · Mar 3, 2005, 12:48 AM

Actually $67 for a total of 768MB of RAM aint too shabby. Seems that whenever Apple introduces new PB's or iB's RAM manufatures hike up the price of their RAM because they know people are buying these new machines and are upgrading the RAM on the side. I've only seen a few places that have a lower price than $67 but it's generic RAM. I'd go with that price, unless it only takes you up to 512MB, then by all means go with another dealer.

connollyck · Mar 3, 2005, 01:35 AM

it would be 512 total for 67. crucials like 45. im just gonna buy apples ram and have it done when i recieve teh computer screw it. i might buy a gig in the future if i need it and prices go down a bit

Randman · Mar 3, 2005, 01:39 AM

512 is the bare minimum you should have.

connollyck · Mar 3, 2005, 01:49 AM

you know as far as ram goes. i had a dell p4 desktop system with 512 in it, and i added another 512 expecting something amazing, and i didnt notice a difference at all so i returned it. My apps pretty much loaded at teh same speed. i dont have lots of experience in this area. what is the deal anyway?

Randman · Mar 3, 2005, 02:18 AM

OSX uses ram differently than peecees.

D'Espice · Mar 3, 2005, 04:52 AM

For his needs, 512MB is not the bare minimum but enough. It always depends on ones needs, what good is a gig of RAM for if you only run Word, Safari and Mail, hence only ~400MB are in use? Think about it

Randman · Mar 3, 2005, 08:29 AM

I did think about it. He may not need more right now, but what about 6 months down the line?

iREZ · Mar 3, 2005, 10:45 AM

I still say add 256MB so you could use your machine for the next few months while saving up for a gig stick, or just add 512MB and forget about RAM for the next year or two. It makes no sense for you to spend money on something that is going to depreciate in order to spend more money again later for the same thing that you could've got right off the bat. 512MB is enough, don't get me wrong....but 768MB if you ever decide to do anything even slightly intensive, ie. running 5-7 "real" applications at once.

D'Espice · Mar 3, 2005, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
I did think about it. He may not need more right now, but what about 6 months down the line?

In 6 months, who knows? Maybe he'll need more. Maybe he won't. The bottom line is he doesn't need more right now, and in 6 months or a year or two he can purchase 1gig of RAM for just as much as he'd spend on a 512MB stick today

connollyck · Mar 3, 2005, 12:52 PM

very good point. Yeah im going to stick wiht 512 right now just for the price reason. I've never used more then that anyway so I obviously wont notice a difference. I AM VERY worried about the screens on these apparently getting warped and coming off the bottom of the monitor. I was reading this on macforums,
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/sho...ge=1&pp=15
is this still an issue? Did this happen to your guys' ibooks? This was the reason I returned my last laptop (dell inspiron 6000)

connollyck · Mar 3, 2005, 10:31 PM

Well i did it.
I ordered the 12 inch ibook with 512 ram, 60 gig hd, bluetooth
I also ordered
the mouse bt
apple wireless keyboard
icurve
soundsticks II

I cant WAIT for all the stuff to arrive so I have my new workstation all set up. I'm gonna set up my ipod with dock to it too. Hey does anyone know if any of the above stuff comes with a mousepad?

D'Espice · Mar 4, 2005, 05:05 AM

AFAIK no mousepad but since we're talking optical mouse here, you don't have to bother. It'll work just fine without a mousepad.