[theTechyDork]

Hey guys!
I'm new here, so first of all I just wanted to say "Hey" to everybody.

Second, I am a 14 year old, and I am searching for my first Mac. I am not sure which is the right one. I am leaning towards an iBook right now, but am concerned about one thing. The fact that it's HDD is at 4200RPM. Will this cause apps to open really slowly? Is the current iBook a good deal? Does anyone regret buying an iBook? Do you have any gripes with yours?

I would be using the iBook for web design, light graphics design, typing homework assignments, web browsing, email, and storing photos and music. What do you guys think? I am assuming you would know better than me, as I never had a Mac before.

Thanks so much!
-theTechyDork

[discotronic]

Do you need a laptop? Is price a factor?

The iBook would work great for everything you want to do. If you don't need a laptop I would recommend going for the eMac instead. It can handle more RAM as well as faster RAM, it has a larger screen, faster and larger capacity hard drive, faster processor and better GPU. Also, it has a SuperDrive which isn't available on the 12" iBook.

An iBook with the closest specs to the top of the line eMac will cost you a little over $1500 with education discount. The top of the line eMac will cost you $899 with education discount.

[pat++]

The iBook will handle everything you want to do pretty well. Applications load in an acceptable time. Make sur you add memory (add 512mb) otherwise you might be disappointed. Mac OS X really need a lot of RAM. And the more RAM you have the more apps you can keep in memory (no need to quit and relaunch).

[theTechyDork]

Thanks for the replies!

I would get:
1.25GB RAM
80GB HDD

Yes, price is a somewhat factor. I'm only 14, so I can't get education discount. As for the Superdrive and HDD space, I already have an external 160GB HDD and 16x DVD Burner.

Any other advice or points to remember? Thanks!
-theTechyDork

[brickcam]

You haven't explained yet why it is you want a laptop, and I agree with discotronic that you can get so much more bang for your buck in a desktop that you ought consider your priorities. Sure, an ibook may be sexier, but if functionality is your primary concern (it's mine!) then go for the eMac all the way. Faster hd and all the rest of it. That said, given your stated application needs, I don't think you need 1.25GB RAM. So if you were really going to buy it, price doesn't seem that much of a concern. You'd do fine with the soldered 256 and a 512 chip on the side. Besides, there are some very inexpensive ibooks available refurbished...

[storer]

Is the need for a laptop a school thing? Some schools require them at a certain age.

I, myself, want mine for all my homework and leisure on the computer at home. We often are away, and I change between my mum and dad's houses so being able to take my homework and files with me will be quite useful. (Won't have to deal with Window's everywhere either!) And we'll soon have a WiFi network at home so I can work anywhere in the house... perhaps homeworking while watching TV is an incentive.

[Mojo]

Hmmm... It would appear that education discounts are available to students in grades K-12, so you should be eligible.

I don't know what the process is for someone in your position, but here is a place to start: http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-500...idual?type=k12

The Apple store currently has 12" 1.2GHZ iBooks for $849 (refurbished).

[storer]

Even though I don't go to an Apple Approved school, the person that I got a quote from gave me education prices anyway.

[doucy2]

dude im almost 16 and i bought my ibook when i was 14
best computer i ever owned
greatest mac ever created
if your interested i can sell it to you
i dont need it because i have another ibook and a emac and im getting a G5
the ibook is12" G3 800mhz 256ram(upgradable to 640) 30gb and a combo drive
i also have a airport card
PM or email me if you are inteested
i can give you a deal since i know how it is buying a 1st mac at a young age