[vprp]

I'm currently planning on purchasing a new laptop. I currently use a 12" iBook. One thing I realized from use of this computer is I need a larger screen. So it's pretty much come down to these choices.

- 12" PowerBook with 20" display
- 15" or possibly a 17" PowerBook

Which one would you go with?

[jamil5454]

Well, it depends on your usage. I personally would get the 12" and a monitor since I'm about to graduate and head to college. But, if you travel a lot and depend on a big screen to get your work done, then get the 15/17".

[Jens Peter]

I have chosen the 12" + external screen combo too. The reason for that, is I need to move my machine between home and uni every day until december, as I'm writing my master thesis now. At the uni, I have a external screen, and when i have saved some money I will buy one for home.

[McFarmer]

I chose the 12" plus external screen too as I also have to carry my PowerBook with me every day and a 15" is noticably heavier and bigger (I had one for years before I got my 12") - in a nutshell the 15" is too clunky to carry every day. However if you have a car and drive then it's OK.

In any case the 12" internal resolution of 1024x768 is simiply a Royal Pain (tm). In captials. This has to be said. OS X just wants more pixels. I loathe Apple for not offering a built-to-order option for the 12" PB with more pixels. They are simply cruel for not doing that. And it sucks balls.

In a nutshell it depends what you want to do. Word and light browsing is doable on the 12" screen but serious Photoshop work or serious coding is just not doable on 1024x768 these days. Let alone 3D apps like Maya. Heck, I've even come across web pages that require a 1280 pixel width... So not even web browsing can be done comfortably on a 1024x768 screen any more these days.
If you have lots of usages like this away from your external screen then dump the 12" idea and go for a 15" PowerBook at least. Not because you need any of its speed or backlit keyboard, it's the screen resolution you need.

And thank Apple for having to carry around more weight than you need to - just because they want you to.

[vprp]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I probably take my laptop with me for travel 4 or 5 times a year. This May/June, I will probably go on my longest trek of 3 weeks but usually, my trips last about a week each. On my trips, I don't do anything serious with it. Just Word, Web browsing, e-mail, etc. I think 1024x768 would be sufficient on the road, although more would be welcome since I do a little bit of graphic and design work.

When I'm not on the road, I definitely need larger resolution. I don't use Maya but I do use Photoshop and do a lot of design work.

I'm wondering, is there a large performance difference between the 12" and the 15"? I know they have different video cards. I'd probably throw a gig of RAM in whatever I got.

[vprp]

So I guess the consensus is 12" PB with external monitor? Any 15" or 17" owners have anything to chime in?

[Randman]

I have a rev c 17 and played with a rev d 12 for a week during an extended review. I prefer the extra screen size and the backlit keyboard and being able to go to 2GB of ram (I have 1.5). As far as portability, I'm typing this in the Los Angeles airport about to fly to Singapore.

[brettcamp]

I went with the 12" + external screen option. See this thread.

[powerbook911]

I suggest the 12 inch with an external display. That is what I have. If I didn't have an external display, I would have got a 15 or 17 inch Powerbook, but I prefer the portability, with a brilliant display, when I'm at my desk.