[Mallrat]

I'm looking for opinions on which laptop is best for the writer on the go in NYC.

I write screenplays (hence the name Mallrat), novels, essays, and of course e-mails. As every new yorker knows, they are plenty of Starbucks on every corner and other coffeee houses with wireless Internet to go and write.

I'm looking for what you think (espically if you are a writer). Main issues to me are the availability of extra accessories like batteries, being able to use Final Draft software (screenplay software), being able to use Mac OS X, wireless and I really want a laptop a light laptop.

I'm considering --

older g3 ibook (clamshells)
current g4 ibook (12 inch)
powerbook 12 inch
powerkbook 15inch
old powerbook TI powerbook

and I even like some of the SONY and IBM laptops I've seen.

I wish apple made a laptop as small as the eMate used to be or as small as PC laptops... however, having a full sized keyboard is important to me.

Has anyone seen these: http://www2.alphasmart.com/ I know they wouldn't run Final Draft, but for novels or essays pretty sweet.

I guess I can't go wrong with any apple laptop, but I love to hear your thoughts.

Right now I'm using my imac g4 to write and it's great, but it would be nice to get some fresh air once and awhile.

Thank You.

[yogi]

Battery life of iBooks is excellent, better than the powerbooks. Also durability, as iBook is built to be more rugged than the pBook.
Those electronic typewriter things look kind of limiting to me-not upgradable, limited in function-as a pro writer you should have some means to track and manage projects, contacts, clients etc, so I'd avoid the typewriter thingy unless you are REALLY cash shy.
As to Sony etc PC laptops, well, they are really a fish of a different color. I think the advantage of the Mac is a much better user experience, it allows you to concentrate on creativity, instead of system maintenance and all the other BS that attends the PC experience.
Go MAC and you'll never go back!

[yogi]

oh yeah, and I think I remember seeing a review of Final Draft in Macworld mag, so im pretty sure it'll run on a Mac.

[D'Espice]

If you wanna go Mac, go new iBook G4. Better battery life and more than fast enough for what you'll need. You don't really need a PowerBook since that'll not only be more expensive but not at all faster for your needs. Get a new 12" iBook, it has a great keyboard and weighs 5lbs, Airport Express built-in and you can always get an additional battery for another 5-6h

[macman88]

yeah i would agree with going with a new ibook g4. you will have tiger, the airport signal is better then those of the powerbooks, battery last longer, durability, and cheaper. for 1150, you can get-
1.2 ghz g4
60gb hd
512 ram
airport
combo drive
tiger
ilife 05

[sminch]

i'm a writer and use an ibook 12, which has been sweet as - small and portable, but with a decent sized keyboard and more than enough power (with 768 mb ram). a powerbook would be total overkill, i imagine, so unless you do something else that requires the extra performance it would likely be wasted $. ibooks are also meant to be a lot tougher so if you're carting it around a lot that'll be a concern.

i'm sure you could find a laptop which is slightly lighter than the g4 12, but not with comparable battery life and usability. i totally rate this machine.

sminch

[icibaqu]

12" ibook - new. that's your answer.

also note that if you want to write in a fourbucks coffee you'll have to subscribe to something with tmobile or something. it's not free wireless at all.

[Mallrat]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like a new ibook G4 is the front runner.

I think I'm down to that or a powerbook. I really love the keyboards.

I was also wondering about getting a bigger screen though. I find it helps me in writing to have 2 pages open at the same time, and I can easily do that with my 20inch imac.

Does any find the 15inch screen to be a bonus?

[Randman]

I'd agree with the iBook 12 as sounding the best for your needs.

[sminch]

not sure if the 15 would really work with two pages open at once - i can totally see that it'd help, but by gum that'd be some small text. i've always found that vertical screen real estate was more important than horizontal, which means if anything that the 14 ibook would be the winner. that said she's a bit clunkier than the 12...

the 15 powerbooks is one hell of a lot more expensive than the 12 ibook - the difference would fund some serious coffee time, i reckon.

sminch

[yogi]

When Im writing on 14inch iBook, I keep one page size window open for work, a second half-width window for notes, random thoughts, out of place phrases etc. I find this works quite well with limited screen real estate.

[brettcamp]

I'm a writer, too, though I don't use Final Draft as I'm a journalist. I currently use a 12" Powerbook, which is terrific. But since you already have an iMac at home, that obviates the main advantage of the Powerbook -- its DVI output -- over the iBook. (I use mine at home with an external display and like the sharper DVI connection over analog.)

The Powerbook keyboard is also superior to the iBook's, but that alone wouldn't justify the extra expense of the Powerbook, not to mention its slightly inferior battery life, durability and Airport range compared to the iBook. So since you're going to be on the go a lot, I'd probably go with the 12" iBook -- more rugged.

I know what you're saying about the extra room a 15" model would give you, but boy you'd pay a high price for it. I too keep a lot of notes out to the side of my main text entry field, and admittedly the 12" Powerbook's screen is more cramped in this respect than my 17" external display's. But it's not a big problem, really, and the convenience and portability of the 12" size greatly outweighs it. So I'd agree with the consensus here: 12" iBook.

[D'Espice]

Keep in mind that the 14" iBook as the same resolution as the 12" iBook - 1024x768. That said, you won't be able to see more on the 14" than on the 12", you'll only see things a bit bigger

I'm not sure tho whether you will be able to have two pages open at the same time on the 15". It'll probably be too small. Plus you'll need to find an app that allows you to have the pages right next to each other instead of one below the other. I think Pages does that, pretty sure Word does not. Here's a thought. Go check these laptops out at the next Apple Store. That way you can make sure text is not too small on the 15"

[ChasingApple]

Clamshell all the way, more comfy to type for long extended periods of time, excellent battery life, and extremely durable. Go for the G3 Clamshell 466Mhz SE

[Randman]

Your sig is way too tall there.

Secondly, while the clamshells were great (I had a graphite), the G4s are the way to go these days.

[D'Espice]

@ChasingApple: http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...ure+guidelines

Secondly, I agree with Randman. Buying a clamshell today is not the way to go. They're slow, they only have an 800x600 12" display and they're old.

[ChasingApple]

Originally Posted by D'Espice

I agree with Randman. Buying a clamshell today is not the way to go. They're slow, they only have an 800x600 12" display and they're old.

I dunno about that, he is a writer, not a mathmatical crunching scientist. How much power is needed to use a text based app? Apple states Tiger will run on an SE iBook Clamshell, but writing something is out of the question? hehe.

800x600 is fine for a text editor, I think people have been spoiled by high resolutions that are indeed nice (Im in 1440x900 right now) but really all these high res's grant us is the ability to have multiple apps open and fully viewable at the same time, something not even required anymore since we were given EXPOSE in our OS. You do remember F9 right?

Pick which one you like the most, I guess it all depends on taste, if you like the Clamshell, get one, they are perfect for writers (when they were released and even now D'Espice) Grab an older Powerbook or newer one if you want some serious power in a portable, or get yourself an iBook G4 if that suits you. All will do the job, have great battery life, and cause everyone around you to stare and be jealous.

Cheers

[finboy]

Originally Posted by ChasingApple

I dunno about that, he is a writer, not a mathmatical crunching scientist. How much power is needed to use a text based app? Apple states Tiger will run on an SE iBook Clamshell, but writing something is out of the question? hehe.

Cheers

I'm not betting on Tiger performance on an SE. Scary thought.

Otherwise, I gotta agree. For writing, the clamshell beats the 12" hands down. I know -- I use both every week. A clamshell's 800x600 native is so much easier to see.

Reason #2: they are indestructable.

Reason #3: big keyboard.

Make sure, though, that you get one with a bright backlight.

[D'Espice]

I guess you haven't read that he's considering to get a 15" PowerBook in order to have two pages displayed at the same time - good luck achieving that on an 800x600 display

Otherwise I agree, the Clamshell is not bad for writing. Yet the current iBooks aren't bad either. Compared to the PowerBook 1400's keyboard they both pretty much suck though. Other than that, the Clamshells are bigger, heavier and their battery does not last as long as the iBook's battery.

[Mallrat]

Originally Posted by D'Espice

I guess you haven't read that he's considering to get a 15" PowerBook in order to have two pages displayed at the same time - good luck achieving that on an 800x600 display

Otherwise I agree, the Clamshell is not bad for writing. Yet the current iBooks aren't bad either. Compared to the PowerBook 1400's keyboard they both pretty much suck though. Other than that, the Clamshells are bigger, heavier and their battery does not last as long as the iBook's battery.

I'm considering all. I've always loved the clamshell for typing as well. Actually I'm @ work now and they happen to have an old clamshell blueberry. I played with it and the screen resolution is quite small.

But the keyboard and plam rest still kick ass. I don't know about taking the old toliet bowl with me to Starbucks, but at least I'd be unique (all i see is ibook and powerbooks).

I'll love the ibook clamshell keyboard, but with better resolution.

And the 15inch would be nice (I've always loved the Ti powerbooks as well), but I don't know how great they are for typing.

I'll still leaning toward an ibook g4 12inch.

But I like hearing opinions. Thanks.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by Mallrat

but with better resolution.

"better resolution" means everything's smaller and harder to see. After looking at computers 8+ hours per day for about 15 years now, I'm really starting to see the value of having larger screen fonts and no interpolation.

[ChasingApple]

I know the Clamshells have 800x600, but after typing on it for hours I bet you will appreciate how large and easy it is to read on it

And your hands will thank you!

[Randman]

The clamshells were nice for typing but once you figure in their computing speed, hard drive size and battery life, they start to lose their appeal. Not to mention their weight. If you're talking old school, might as well opt for a pismo so you can at least hot swop the battery.

[Mallrat]

What's wrong with the clamshell battery life? I thought it was close to the current ibook line.

the clamshell were/are fantastic for typing. that's what made me always want one.