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larrinski · Apr 19, 2008 , 11:10 AM

I currently have a 2.0Ghz Macbook, and it has had a few warranty issues. The HD is possibly going to fail soon(weird OSStatus -36 error), and I have had a few of those pesky cracks, and the keyboard had a glitch. I am feeling bad that I ever sold my 12" Powerbook. I really loved it, but wanted to get an Intel laptop, but didn't want a 15" or 17" Macbook Pro. I really should have just kept my 12" Powerbook. I love it's portability, sturdy construction, and it was fast enough for me.
But now that I have had the Macbook for about 9 months, is it a crazy idea to sell it and buy a 12" Powerbook? They seem to be dropping in resale value, and the 1.25 - 1.5Ghz ones are going for about $450-$500 now. I could still get $800 for the Macbook...
Just looking for feedback on what you think...

Faust · Apr 19, 2008 , 11:22 AM

Your MacBook is still under warranty I assume. You could have all those defects taken care of by Apple.

What are the pros/cons of downgrading to the Powerbook for you? Therein should lie the answer.

From a technical point of view, I'd never downgrade to a lesser capable machine. I don't see the advantages, particularly not if it were to be my only machine.

Cold Warrior · Apr 19, 2008 , 11:23 AM

Keep sending it back for repairs under warranty, and get AppleCare before you hit 12 months. Then when it keeps failing, demand a new aluminum MacBook b/c your current one is a lemon.

larrinski · Apr 19, 2008 , 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Keep sending it back for repairs under warranty, and get AppleCare before you hit 12 months. Then when it keeps failing, demand a new aluminum MacBook b/c your current one is a lemon.

That is what I am also thinking... The same thing happened to my imac G5. Apple replaced it with an intel imac. I have until August to get AppleCare, but I also bought it with my MasterCard and they do double the warranty up to 2 years at no cost.

What are the pros/cons of downgrading to the Powerbook for you? Therein should lie the answer.

I think the Metal notebooks are more durable. I ride my bike to work everyday and though I have a good TimBuk2 bag, the Macbook seems a little fragile. I do crave a smaller laptop as well. I really wished that the Macbook Air came out as a 12"...

OreoCookie · Apr 19, 2008 , 03:18 PM

In my experience (various PowerBooks, iBooks and a MacBook Pro), `metal books' are as durable as consumer notebooks by Apple (which have a sturdy metal frame and durable polycarbonate plastics). I would definitely advise against getting a PowerBook. And why do you wish the AirBook was 12", have you seen one? They're small, really small.

larrinski · Apr 19, 2008 , 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

In my experience (various PowerBooks, iBooks and a MacBook Pro), `metal books' are as durable as consumer notebooks by Apple (which have a sturdy metal frame and durable polycarbonate plastics). I would definitely advise against getting a PowerBook. And why do you wish the AirBook was 12", have you seen one? They're small, really small.

I haven't had the same experience with my Macbook. The plastic isn't as durable as metal. I now have a small crack at the back of the hinge. The Macbook Air has the same dimensions doesn't it? 13.3" widescreen. It would take up the same room in my bag. I thought the only difference was that it was thin. I have been eyeing up a few ultra portable laptops(and getting rid of Windows for a Linux distro). I would really like to get a laptop in the 2 to 3 pound range with wifi. The Macbook Air would be perfect in the 12" form factor IMHO. Though I may consider it in it's 2nd generation state...It was almost perfect.

OreoCookie · Apr 20, 2008 , 07:20 AM

No, it is a lot, lot smaller (I've seen it live yesterday, it's incredibly small), because it's much thinner than a regular laptop -- and much lighter. Think of a folder with a papers, that's it!

I've never had problems with the cases of the various iBooks I've owned, but my ProBook's wrist rest looks worse than that of my iBook (discolorations, signs of wear, etc.). I also have a dent in my case (result of a bike accident) -- although it's a miracle, my ProBook survived with just a dent (I had way more serious injuries than my computer

). But I would definitely trust a MacBook's case as much as a ProBook's. Plastic can be more durable as metal, depending on the stresses you put on it. But plastic will react differently. I won't dent, it'll break, but it can endure more stress than metal (which is why carbon fiber frames of mountain/race bikes can be tougher than aluminum). But on the other hand, it's more flexible, too. Especially polycarbonate which is used in the i/MacBooks (same as on my D80).

shrugs* · Apr 21, 2008 , 10:52 PM

If it wasn't for the speed, I'd still have my 12" PB today. I think about her everyday. I know where she lives... 2 owners later. I know. Where. She. Lives.

No, you're not crazy.

larrinski · Apr 21, 2008 , 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by shrugs*

If it wasn't for the speed, I'd still have my 12" PB today. I think about her everyday. I know where she lives... 2 owners later. I know. Where. She. Lives.

No, you're not crazy.

Thanks! If money wasn't an option(which most of the time, it most certainly is), I would give the Macbook to my son, and buy a 12" powerbook. I may just have to wait a while, until I find one for a really good price...

Kyros · Apr 21, 2008 , 11:44 PM

I'm definitely starting to feel the lack of speed compared to something like a MacBook on mine, unfortunately, and mine's a fully loaded last-generation model. It might be that I just installed Leopard, I have to say, I'm starting to think about just going all the way back to Panther for the speed.

OreoCookie · Apr 22, 2008 , 02:02 AM

Yesterday I worked on my old PowerBook G4 (15", 1.25 GHz) again, running Tiger (not Leopard), and I was reminded how slow these things are compared to what you can get today. Stay with your MacBook or get an AirBook, but don't downgrade to the year before yesteryear's machine.

peeb · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:23 AM

I have not been impressed with the speed of the MacBooks compared to my last get 1.67 Powerbook, frankly. Now, a lot of that may be to do with Rosetta apps, but I'm not interested in swapping out my PB for an MB. MBP, maybe.

OreoCookie · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:38 AM

If you're comparing cpu-heavy apps, the performance will be identical.
Forget about Rosetta apps, you should compare native apps. Having a second cpu core really helps responsiveness, too. Even if an app decides to hog one core, there is still a second one around

peeb · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

If you're comparing cpu-heavy apps, the performance will be identical.

I'm comparing Office 2004, OmniGraffle 6, iPhoto etc.

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Forget about Rosetta apps, you should compare native apps.

No thanks, I'll compare the apps I actually use.

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Having a second cpu core really helps responsiveness, too. Even if an app decides to hog one core, there is still a second one around

I'm sure that's true, at least in theory, I haven't noticed that to be very true when comparing the two machines I'm talking about though.

Big Mac · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:54 AM

You're not crazy to want to go back to the real thing.

/ducks and runs for cover.

peeb · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:57 AM

Big Mac, I find it funny that we almost always agree outside the PL!

Big Mac · Apr 22, 2008 , 10:59 AM

Yeah, it's almost eerie.

OreoCookie · Apr 22, 2008 , 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by peeb

I'm comparing Office 2004, OmniGraffle 6, iPhoto etc.
No thanks, I'll compare the apps I actually use.

If you use iPhoto 6 or newer, of the three you mention, only Office 2004 is actually using Rosetta.

peeb · Apr 22, 2008 , 11:24 AM

Well, I guess that Rosetta is only a partial excuse then!

SpaceRockness · Apr 23, 2008 , 01:21 AM

As a 12" PowerBook owner, I wouldn't suggest anyone to downgrade as the Intel Macs mop G4 machines in many situations with Rosetta and that boost/responsiveness is useful(Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, HandBrake, etc) and 12" PowerBook G4s & 12"/14" iBooks maxed out at 1.25 GB of memory(Tiger is the safest bet, Leopard will be painful). Now if you compared a G5 iMac/Tower to Intel, the gap of Rosetta performance with Adobe CS/CS2 is quite awful... my university stupidly went first gen Intel+CS2, ugh! If you want the most value for the dollar, get a last gen iBook G4 which had the ATI Radeon Mobility 9500(64mb vram) since it'll run laps around the 12" PowerBook with the nose bleed slow Mobile Nvidia 5200 gpu when using Dashboard.

Only benefit I'd see with a PowerBook G4/iBook G4 these days is 3rd party power adapters, they're cheaper and far more reliable than the Apple ones which had weak cables prone to cracking/failing. Until Apple allows 3rd party Magsafe adapters into the market for MB/MBP, it'll be the single issue of me staying away from another Apple notebook as a classmate had a magsafe catch fire in a CompSCI class!
At the moment I'm carrying two notebooks(12" PB & Thinkpad T61).

peeb · Apr 23, 2008 , 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceRockness

PowerBook G4s ... (Tiger is the safest bet, Leopard will be painful).

Leopard is faster than Tiger on most G4s, although I'm not sure how much RAM you need to make this a sure thing.