[V.B]

...what I'm about to do - yet another newbie thread asking newbie questions. I'll try to make it as painless as possible, but I make no promises as I'm somewhat computer illiterate and retarded.

Recently, I've been considering making the switch to Mac after being lured by the sexiness and the (apparent) stability and longetivity of the PowerBook. So, since my mother has offered to buy a laptop for me, I've decided to milk her for all she's worth and buy the 15" PowerBook. Despite this, I still feel guilty for making her pay so much money, and I'm endeavouring to keep the cost as low as possible...and here's where I run into trouble.

I would really like to get a PowerBook that's 'fully sick!' i.e. Top specs for everything, but it's a little pricy. I'll only be using my PowerBook for word processing, internet, email, A LOT OF MUSIC (for my iPod), *maybe* watching DVDS and would probably be taking it to uni once or twice a week.

Questions:

1. After years of not having enough RAM, I would (finally) like to have a computer that has a sufficient amount for my use. Is the standard 512mb enough for me?

2. Following on from the question before, I've heard that Apple overcharges for extra RAM and that it's better to buy from a third party and install it yourself. Looking at the Apple site, they charge $202.40 (Australian) for an extra 512mb, is this expensive? And if I do buy RAM from a third party, is it hard to install it into the 15" PowerBook?

3. Is there much difference between having a 1.5Ghz and a 1.67Ghz PowerBook? There seems to be a $200 difference.

4. I've basically decided on getting the PowerBook 15" 1.5 Ghz Combo Drive and upping it with 100Gb, SuperDrive and 1Gb RAM, but this isn't set into stone. Is this a good purchase? The total cost is $3356.10 (Australian) with a Student Discount.

Thanks for all the help!

[analogika]

Actually, the iBook is fine for your needs - you don't need the Powerbook.

My recommendation: 12" iBook BTO with 60 or 80GB hard drive and built-in Bluetooth; then add 512 MB RAM.

Adding RAM yourself is quite easy on the iBooks and absolutely trivial on the Powerbooks.

[Ω]

Originally Posted by analogika

Actually, the iBook is fine for your needs - you don't need the Powerbook.

Yeah but the iBook looks like shi t in comparison, which was one of the reasons for a PB.

For what you are using it for go with the 1.5Ghz. Most likely you can survive without more RAM, though you can always put more in later.

Also make sure you buy applecare. Maybe not now, but definitely before your year is up. A broken PB = lotsa moola.

I use a 667Mhz (1GB of RAM) machine which would have no issues with what you are needing it for.