[IJMcG]

Could someone please convince me to get a PowerBook with 512 mb of ram and a 60gb harddrive versus an iBook with 512 mb of ram and a 60gb harddrive? What are the advantages of the PowerBook that make it cost 300-400 dollars more?


NOTE: Both with 12" screens

[Chuckit]

Pros for the PowerBook

• Faster hard drive
• Built-in support for multiple screens
• PowerBook keyboard is widely considered to be better
• Better video card (PB's will fully support Core Image, whereas iBook's will not)

[hldan]

Originally posted by Chuckit:
Pros for the PowerBook

• Faster hard drive
• Built-in support for multiple screens
• PowerBook keyboard is widely considered to be better
• Better video card (PB's will fully support Core Image, whereas iBook's will not)

You may want to double check this but I know the 15 and 17" models have built-in 10 minute back up battery to protect open applications when switching batteries. The computer goes into sleep mode during the switch. This feature has always been a powerbook only feature. The iBooks will shut down if the battery is removed even for a second. Great feature if you are watching DVD movies and need to switch batteries. Again since the 12" Powerbook is so close to the iBook I'm not sure if it has this feature.

[ddma]

Originally posted by hldan:
You may want to double check this but I know the 15 and 17" models have built-in 10 minute back up battery to protect open applications when switching batteries. The computer goes into sleep mode during the switch. This feature has always been a powerbook only feature. The iBooks will shut down if the battery is removed even for a second. Great feature if you are watching DVD movies and need to switch batteries. Again since the 12" Powerbook is so close to the iBook I'm not sure if it has this feature.

Yes, the PowerBook G4 15 inch and 17 inch models come with backup battery for THREE minutes sleep time during battery change. That's why I always think the 12 inch is "iBook Pro". It lacks of some power user must have features.

[brettcamp]

When there was a sale on new 12" PBs at my computer store last year, for $200 more than a 12" iBook, I got:

• twice as big hard drive (over the standard 30 gig iBook model)
• much better keyboard and more solid feel
• DVI out, which was important to me because I wanted a digital connection to my external flat screen display -- sharper picture.
• slightly zippier performance

OTOH, you also get
• slightly shorter battery life
• slightly worse AirPort range
• somewhat less durability

Although I love my little AlBook, and it was the right choice for me at the time I bought it because of the sale etc., I'd find it hard to justify paying $300-$400 more for one now, and would probably go for the iBook as it's a much better value at the moment.

[Maflynn]

Originally posted by IJMcG:
What are the advantages of the PowerBook that make it cost 300-400 dollars more?

Depends on what you want to do with it. While I like the PB's aluminum case it is rather fragile. Just do a search on people who dropped their PB's short distance only have it dented. Some of those poor souls had the laptop in a case and it was still damaged.

With that said, here's the advantages as I see them
Run the PB closed (with a monitor/keyboard connected)
DVI Port iBooks have VGA.
Desktop Spanning iBooks only have mirroring (I think there's a hack to allow it on iBooks).

You can run the monitor on a different resolution, the iBook its locked into what the ibook has.

Finally, I myself chose the PB 15" and have been happy with it.

Mike