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MsLibby · May 31, 2005, 05:51 PM

This morning I was all set to buy my first Mac. I had decided on the 14' iBook with the 512MB upgrade and had planned on ordering it tonight. It was a bit more expensive than I thought but I've heard Macs are worth it.

But then I chickened out!

I found this board and a few other websites and from what I've been reading the iBook isn't worth the extra money because there are so many problems with it. The batteries burning too hot, the hard drives dying after only a year, poor customer service, slow turn around with repairs and an extended care package that is WAY out of my budget. If I were to buy it all I'd be looking at $2135 + 15% Sales Tax. That's Canadian dollars.

I've owned 6 or 7 desktops built by Compaq, Acer, HP, etc and I've never had half the problems I'm reading about here.

I'm now *THIS* close to buying a Toshiba. Am I over reacting or what? I know for a fact I can't afford the extended care package.

Voch · May 31, 2005, 06:02 PM

I've had few of the problems mentioned on these forums, but anything is possible with any computer. On forums like this you'll hear more about the problems than the successes. I've owned a PowerBook Duo 230, Power 120 (PowerComputing clone), G3 Desktop, iBook/500, and PowerBook G4 and I've been happy with all of them (in fact, the last three machines I mentioned are still in use today).

If you're worried about affording AppleCare you can offset it a bit by purchasing a refurbished iBook from Apple (my current PowerBook is a refurb I bought two years ago) and then getting AppleCare for it within the first year of ownership. You could also save a few bucks by getting the 12" iBook model...the 14" model has the same resolution but bigger pixels.

Voch

Gamoe · May 31, 2005, 07:00 PM

MsLibby, I've had/have an Apple //e, Apple IIGS, Power Mac 6100/60 AV, Power Mac 8600/200, PowerBook 1400c/166, an eMac 1Ghz, a 4G iPod, and recently got an iBook 500Mhz, none of which have had any major problems such as the ones you refer to. I can wholeheartedly recommend you a Mac. I convinced a friend a few months ago to go with a Mac for her first PC, and she loves it.

Yes, sometimes there are problems-- but as Voch mentioned, on these boards you hear more the problems than the successes. And guess what?-- There are problems with Dells and other PCs as well-- you probably just don't hear about them as much. Also the Mac has always had good support from its experienced user base. Check out http://www.apple.com/usergroups/find/ to see if there's a user group in your city. I bet you there is, apart from any Apple store near by.

The iBook is pretty solid. And I think it is worth the extra money (though frankly I don't find comparable PC laptops much cheaper). Perhaps you should get AppleCare, but since in my state Apple doesn't offer AppleCare I've never taken it, and have had no problems for it.

pat++ · May 31, 2005, 07:00 PM

As mentioned above, people are posting here when they have problems... So don't be afraid... A lot of people are using their iBooks with no problem !

The iBook is a pretty good machine. I would go for the 12" as well... It's lighter, more portable and has the same resolution as the 14", and it's cheaper !

If I were you I would wait until next week as Steve Jobs might announce new iBooks (probably faster, and maybe cheaper). iBooks are over due for an update...

(my first Mac was a 12" IBook G3 500mhz, and I'm now using a 12" iBook G4 1.2ghz).

To sum up : don't hesitate, go for the iBook, you won't regret it... but wait until next week to see if new models are eventually released at WWDC...

MsLibby · May 31, 2005, 07:16 PM

Thanks guys. I'll wait and see I guess. I used Macs at work years ago and they were so much better than our PC's.

What is this about new models? I hadn't heard anything and the bloke at the Apple dealer didn't mention anything to me about it. Why would they be cheaper?

sminch · May 31, 2005, 07:35 PM

the last time ibooks were upspecced there was a slight price drop as well - it could happen again, and ibooks seem to be due for a minor update at least.

as far as problems go i've had very few worth mentioning, certainly less than on other hardware i've owned, but yip, i've moaned all about those few tiny issues on this forum - the one thing i haven't done is rant and rave every day that it's run perfectly, or posted each time that i haven't had to run a virus scan or worried about getting hit by spyware.

i've had my 12" ibook for six months or so and no way would i want to change back to a windows pc. any brand of computers can and will have problems. apple might recall some batteries or have the occasional screwy hard drive, but i reckon you'd be hard pressed to find any manufacturer that hasn't had similar problems.

if you can find a windows laptop that's cheaper, though, then it might be worth getting it. i've got to say that i hunted for a cheaper windows laptop and had no luck - the ones that were actually cheaper were so poorly specced that there was no competition, and the comparably priced laptops were missing features that the ibook had.

my 2c, anyway. if you do get an apple, i reckon you'll be happy

sminch

Voch · May 31, 2005, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by MsLibby

Thanks guys. I'll wait and see I guess. I used Macs at work years ago and they were so much better than our PC's.

What is this about new models? I hadn't heard anything and the bloke at the Apple dealer didn't mention anything to me about it. Why would they be cheaper?

I'll point you to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide page. It's a history of the various current Mac models. Based on the history of iBook releases, the iBook is long overdue for a specifications bump of some kind soon (but that's not guaranteed in any way, but is based on the history of the model). Basically, the iBook is overdue for at least a speedbump, but as you can see on that page the last PowerBook model's speedbump took longer than expected, too.

The general consensus is: if you need a portable now, buy it...if you don't, wait and maybe you'll get a better machine for the same money.

The Apple dealer, or anyone who works for Apple if they know what's good for them, will not tell you of up-and-coming models. It's been the subject of some litigation by Apple. It's also part of what killed the Osborne computers (scroll down to the paragraph that starts with "The final blow occurred in 1983...").

Voch

ghporter · May 31, 2005, 08:59 PM

One major thing to keep in mind when you survey web boards for information is that most people with good experiences don't post them. Instead, they go on enjoying their good experiences, and sometimes get to help those less fortunate than they are.

There ARE some iBooks with problems. Don't let that scare you off, because the VAST MAJORITY of iBooks just work. And work very well, too!

Randman · Jun 1, 2005, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

One major thing to keep in mind when you survey web boards for information is that most people with good experiences don't post them. Instead, they go on enjoying their good experiences, and sometimes get to help those less fortunate than they are.

That should be made into a sticky and popup whenever starts a post. Key it to the work "help".

Big Mac · Jun 1, 2005, 03:07 AM

With the initial question posed in that manner, I wouldn't have been nearly as nice.

MsLibby · Jun 1, 2005, 04:04 PM

Thanks folks.

I'll hold off for a few weeks to see what is announced and then decide. The 12' model is an option that I hadn't considered. I only wish my local Mac dealer had some demo models available so I could judge the size in person and not from a computer screen. The only thing they have is an eMac they use to show people the software.

awcopus · Jun 1, 2005, 10:28 PM

Have to chime in here that I'm still happily using my iBook 600MHz G3, which I think is about 4 years old now. Great machine. I boosted the RAM and purchased AppleCare when I bought it, but I've never needed any replacement parts. I'm in the market for a new portable the day after this machine stops working. I have a major video editing rig (dual 2.5 G5 maxed out in every way), but for portable computing I only need a word processor, Excel (for logging shots on shoots), the DVD player, Toast (for burning CDs), and I have a kit that connects this machine to TVs.

Love this iBooks. It's been dropped, kicked, intensely jostled, and I have NO dead pixels and no problems other than batteries that expire way too quickly. I recommend the 12" version for its extreme portability. Just love this little guy.