[Elektrix]

Hi all,

I may already know the answer to this question, but I wanted to get some confirmation before I do anything.

I bought a 12 inch 1.5GHz G4 PowerBook, combo model, with educational discount, and I'm really enjoying it, for the most part. I love the form factor, and personally I like the screen a lot (after downloading someone else's colorsync profile which made it look less washed out).

However, a couple of things I guess have sort of bugged me, and made me think about the possibility of returning it, eating the 10% restocking fee, and getting a 15 inch powerbook (which would be $1799 with the educational discount).

I think the biggest thing would be that doing anything intensive with it seems to result in the fan coming on and getting VERY loud, and it gets very hot.... to the point that using the PB for anything like watching videos or playing any sort of 3d games is kind of pointless.

I know that would be a silly reason to return a laptop, but I've been thinking more about some of the other merits of the 15 inch PB.

I am curious, would the 15 inch PB's run cooler, or at least not have as loud fans?

I do like the idea of the larger screen real estate. I never cared about it before, but after playing around with GarageBand, and trying to use Photoshop on the 12 inch screen, I do see where it makes a difference.

The other thing I'm intrigued by is the ATI Radeon 9700 Mobility video cards...... one of the other things I like the idea of is being able to play WoW on the go, and I am curious how much better performance would be with a 15 inch PowerBook (I seem to get around 10-15fps in busy areas at 1024x728 on the 12 inch powerbook).

The other option I was dangling with was getting something like the Sony Vaio s360, but despite some of the nice things about that, I just don't want to use Windows, and I much prefer OS X. I was thinking that if the performance of WoW was a factor, and a machine that wouldn't be so loud, that picking up a 15 inch PB for 1799 (plus the $150 I'd be eating in restocking fees) would be a nice option if it would perform as well, or at least comparable to, the s360.

Anyway, any advice anyone could offer would be much appreciated. I am still not totally sure what to do, as I do really like the form factor of the 12 inch PB, and I would be sort of concerned that the 15 inch PB isn't really as "portable".

-Elektrix

[roadracr]

I have the latest version of the 15-inch G4 PB (1.67 GHz with 128 MB VRAM). I will say that this machine is quiet. I am sure the fans are running, but I rarely hear them.

On the topic of heat, however, my 15 gets very uncomfortable to use on my lap. I usually put a pillow or my laptop sleeve under it as a thermal barrier.

I'm not a gamer so I can't advise you there. I do, however, find that the 15 is a good portable - I did not purchase the 17 because I personally found it a bit too unwieldy as a portable.

Good luck.

[Elektrix]

Thanks. I might head out to the Apple store again this weekend and try and spend some more time with the 15 inch model.

I am also sort of curious about how much boosting the RAM from 512MB to 768 or 1.25 gigs in the 12 inch model would help in certain areas (i.e. increasing the framerate in WoW).

-Zadillo

[robby818]

I think that you will be happier with the 15". I presume you bought your 12" at an apple store. if so you might talk to a salesperson and explain your predicament. since you are exchanging and not returning you might get the restocking fee waived. its not apple policy but there are always exceptions to the rule. i wanted the 12" but after looking at the 15" i think it is a better value. the only dowside is a price tag approaching $2000- that is a lot of money for a laptop today but what can you do. if you find the 15" to be quieter please let us know. the reason why your 12" is so noisy is bec of the gaming- it's cpu and gpu intensive and so the fans are working overtime to cool your system down. if you play the same games on the 15" i would expect it to sound pretty much the same but maybe the larger case provides for better cooling.

[Elektrix]

Thanks. Yeah, I did buy it at the Apple Store (the one in Tyson's Corner, Virginia). I could try and explain that, see if they'd waive the restocking fee since I'd be buying a 15 inch model. That would be nice at least. I'd still be spending $400 more to upgrade to the 15 inch model, but it would be better than spending $400 plus a $150 restocking fee.

I will go down there again this weekend and try and compare it more and see what I think.

Thanks!