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sworthy · Apr 18, 2005, 03:12 AM

When thinking about the current powerbook line there has been a lot of discussion about the 12" powerbook not offering a lot more than the 12" ibook. Obviously, there are a number of differences (which I found useful enough to go for the powerbook), but I don't want to focus on those in this thread. Instead I want to know what everyone thinks about the features available on the 15" and 17" that aren't available on the 12".

Backlit keyboard
better graphics cards
gigabit ethernet
digital audio
firewire 800

Obviously Apple is using the price lining technique as they do with all of their products with incremental bumps up the line with more features, etc. But the real question is: Are all of the limitations on the 12" left off simply due to price lining, or are certain components too hot/large, etc for the 12"?

If so, would a change in the form factor to a 13" widescreen allow more of these features (though obviously not all, as there needs to be differentiation) to be included due to an increased volume? What do you all think?

Randman · 04:05 AM

You can't hot swop a battery on a PB12 as you can on the 15s and 17s.
PB12s can't go to 2GB of ram as you can on the 15s and 17s.
Video card is different.

Fusion · Apr 18, 2005, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

You can hot swop a battery on a PB12 as you can on the 15s and 17s.

No, you can not.

Randman · Apr 18, 2005, 04:04 AM

Doh, typo.

analogika · Apr 18, 2005, 04:12 AM

no pcmcia (pc-card) slot

can you still hot-swap batteries on the 15" and 17"ers? I thought that was only Tibooks?

Most of the functionality missing from the 12" is due to physical constraints. The thing is damn cramped internally as it is (and it's noticeably smaller than the 12" iBook).

Apple has enough difficulty differentiating the 12" Powerbook from the 12" iBook already; I doubt they'd have any interest in artificially closing that gap.

Fusion · Apr 18, 2005, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by analogika

no pcmcia (pc-card) slot

can you still hot-swap batteries on the 15" and 17"ers? I thought that was only Tibooks?

Most of the functionality missing from the 12" is due to physical constraints. The thing is damn cramped internally as it is (and it's noticeably smaller than the 12" iBook).

Apple has enough difficulty differentiating the 12" Powerbook from the 12" iBook already; I doubt they'd have any interest in artificially closing that gap.

Yes, the alu books except for the 12" have hot swappable batteries. Close lid, replace battery, open lid. It's great.

rasmusnet · 10:35 AM

If so, would a change in the form factor to a 13" widescreen allow more of these features

Does anyone produce 13" widescreen displays? If not, could that be the reason why Apple chose to make them in 12"?

sworthy · Apr 18, 2005, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by rasmusnet

Does anyone produce 13" widescreen displays?

I don't know who makes the display, but Sony has a a 13" widescreen notebook link

chabig · Apr 18, 2005, 10:30 AM

To answer the original question, I'd say the 12" Powerbook is mostly limited by size, not my marketing decisions.

Chris

iREZ · Apr 18, 2005, 12:15 PM

i have a feeling that all apple portables are going to have widescreen lcd's by the next two rev's for the sheer fact that steve is trying to pump out HD like there's no tomorrow.

jlgrandam · Apr 18, 2005, 12:34 PM

The powerbook is significantly smaller than the ibook, I have both.

poulh · Apr 18, 2005, 01:08 PM

just bought one and me likes... don't need swappable battery... love the bt with my bt phone

teknopimp · Apr 18, 2005, 02:46 PM

the 12" also lacks a PC slot. i don't need the features the bigger PBs have. to me, the 12" powerbook is not much more than a 12" ibook that can drive a cinema display. and burn dvds. i admit, i just *had* to have it because it looks so cool.

Big Mac · Apr 18, 2005, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by iREZ

i have a feeling that all apple portables are going to have widescreen lcd's by the next two rev's for the sheer fact that steve is trying to pump out HD like there's no tomorrow.

According to the tech specs for the new DVD Studio Pro, a G5 is required for HD DVD playback. That totally sucks for G4 owners, but perhaps the requirement will change.

MartiNZ · Apr 18, 2005, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by teknopimp

the 12" also lacks a PC slot. i don't need the features the bigger PBs have. to me, the 12" powerbook is not much more than a 12" ibook that can drive a cinema display. and burn dvds. i admit, i just *had* to have it because it looks so cool.

I went with the 12" PowerBook over an iBook for the better graphics card, faster and much bigger hard drive, nicer keyboard + scrolling trackpad, SuperDrive, and as you said, looks

. I think the iBook has gone ugly ... the G3 white ones were far more stylish!

As for if I really need the 'more power', well not really, no, but it will be cool to see all the effects properly in Tiger

.

And as for the features left off the 12" PowerBook, I'd say most of them were left off in order to make the machine competitive pricewise with PC laptops, which it most certainly is with the latest revision - and no PC laptops really have those missing features anyway.... Plus I don't miss them, although I can see the backlit keyboard would be really nice - the grey on grey letters are hard to see when it gets dark.