[TimothyJay]

YEY! My soon-to-be first MAC ever!

Ok ok, I've done some research on the iBook and PowerBook, and as much as I would love to get a PowerBook for a laptop, I'm afraid I'm on a very tight budget and would only be able to afford the 12" iBook G4 w/ 1.2ghz.

I'm not looking for a very fast, top of the line notebook/system, because that's where my PC desktop comes in. My main use for the notebook is for travel, just in case I have projects that needs to be done while I'm away for vacation and what not, and basically just to use for surfing the web and the usual chatting on the internet.

In one of my classrooms on campus, we use a PowerMac G4 700mhz 512mb desktop. In my opinion, it runs pretty well. I can live with the use of Adobe programs running on there such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The only difference I notice from the use of the G4 with the use of G5's in our main computer lab is the startup of the programs. But it's only a few seconds or so.

I've read and searched forums here about using iBooks for graphic design, such as using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, but all I can seem to pull up is info from 2 years ago, and nothing recent. Soo... this is where I ask my question:

As a graphic design student, would a 12" iBook G4 1.2ghz suffice?

Although it's lacking in ram, I plan to upgrade it from 256 to 512. I've tested the iBook out in our newly built Apple store here in Jacksonville, FL, but I can't really tell how it runs Adobe softwares since it's not installed on the demo setups. I figured, jumping from the use of a 700mhz system to a 1.2ghz could make a substantial difference. Can anyone fill me in on this for those whose had previous experience with it?

Thanks in advance!

Tim

[iREZ]

If your a serious designer, then up the RAM to more than 512MB total...768MB should be enough for now. As for raw power, I do all my design work on my Powerbook (specs in sig) and it hasn't hit a rough spot yet. The only thing I'd advise against the iBook over the PB is the fact that the iBook only has VGA out and can't do clamshell mode where as the PB has DVI out and can do clamshell (but you mentioned that you'd be using your PeeCee at home so that point isn't an issue. Other than screen real estate on a 12" screen, I'm sure you'll be fine with an iBook. They're terrific machines and you'll notice a significant boost in PS renders compared to the 700MHz machines you use in school.


Read below only if you could wait on your purchase for awhile.


New iBooks are just around the corner (I'd say in the next month to month and a half), so if you could wait then wait. I'm sure all you'll see on the newer iBooks is a faster clock speed and more stock HD space (1.33 40GB for the 12" is my prediction), but you never know if a price drop is in the vicinity and or other free goodies (free BT and such).

[TimothyJay]

Thanks for your reply.

I went ahead and purchased one this morning. I really couldn't wait, shucks, it's my weakness.

But I got a pretty good deal on it from the Apple store. I got a total of $150 off, so after tax and a wireld mouse, my total ended up being approx. $940.

I am a student at a nearby campus, and I got a 10% student discount, but when I looked in my recent, there was an additional $50 discount on the notebook. Perhaps it was a grand opening special, I don't know. I never bothered to ask just in case it was put in incorrectly. I'm happy though.

My question is now then, what kind of ram does the iBook take? The store offered me an upgrade to 512mb for an extra $75, but I think I could do better online.

I searched on Newegg, and I saw some decent prices on 256 and 512 ram. Although I'm not positive on what kind I need. Does it take a 200pin SO-DIMM ram? I read some reviews and I saw someone mentioned he used that on his iBook so I figured that might be correct. Also, how many open memory slots does the iBook have?

[TimothyJay]

What is wrong with me spelling??

Just in case you missed it, I meant to say "wired" mouse, and I meant to say "receipt" not "recent". =] See how excited I am??!?!!?

[iREZ]

I believe you need to find PC2100, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, and 200 pin. I remember getting my 512MB stick for $100 last year, I then sold it for $90 when I purchased my 1GB stick which is worth every cent if you ask me. If you could swing $175 for one, I would totally suggest you go this route so you could take advantage of everything your iBook could offer.

Just so you know, we (MacNN community) don't really care too much about misspelled words, but incase your anal, you could just use the edit button located right above your post to fix 'em.

[TimothyJay]

Thanks. I may look into the 1 gb ram, but for now, I might just go for an extra 512mb, making my total ram 768mb. I found one for about $60 which I may go far.

I installed my Adobe Creative Suite on the iBook, and so far it's running fine for 256. So I'm sure for an extra 512, that would be enough for me for now.

And I assume there's only one available slot for an extra ram on the iBook because when I checked the preferences, there's only one empty slot shown.

I love my new iBook. I can't believe I waited this long to actually own a Mac.

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EDIT
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I just noticed that I only have about 16 gb left in hard drive space, after installing a mere 1.2 gb of Adobe Creative Suite. The capacity of the drive is 27.8gb, so where did the rest of the space go? Could the standard preinstalled softwares installed on the iBook really take up that much space?