[circa76]

Hi,

I'm considering purchasing a 12" iBook (with the 1.2Ghz G4).

My question is that I've heard that tiger is coming out soon and I'm just wondering what *major* improvement will tiger bring over Panther?

The reason I ask is because the 12" iBook will not be able to run Core Image due to the outdated video chipset. While that isn't a big deal for me, I'm wondering if I should just wait until an iBook comes out that can do Core Image.

But other than Core Image, will tiger be bringing any major improvements over panther? Or even better, are there any issues with panther that a possible switch candidate such as myself will get stumped with?

Thanks!

[AB^2=BCxAC]

If you can, try to go find a used 12" Powerbook if Core Image support is that important to you.

Edit: Let me restate that. Getting an iBook is an entry level affair. You can't really expect the longevity for OS support that you tend to get with a pro-level machine. However, even G3 macs without support for Quartz Extreme (like the first dual USB white iBooks) have handled OS X nicely for years after being seemingly obsolete. Core Image is too new to understand its impact, but it likely will effect Photoshop and anything graphics intensive starting with any new version of those apps post-Tiger. So not soon into 2005, but maybe by this time next year. That gives you a year, at which point you may want to trade up to something with more oomph. If you're trying to work with a budget, look at the specs you want and decide what models meet the bare minimum. Apple's website tells you what Tiger needs for Core Image, so look at what models are carrying those cards. I think that to stay a little ahead of the curve is hard to ask of an entry level model. But consider getting a refurbished model from Apple, too. If you want a G5 (like I'd recommend at this point), don't forget to look long and hard at the new iMac G5 as well as the towers.

[chris v]

The iBooks were just updated yesterday, and it's going to be at least the end of March before Tiger is released.

If you want to hang out until next April to see if the next rev. of iBooks will support core image, go ahead, but I say if it's not that critical for what you do, there's no reason not to grab one now. There's no real show-stopper with either the iBook, or OS 10.3, unless you're a hard-core gamer, but that's another topic.

I'm sure the current crop of iBooks will have no problems with 10.4, (core image and core video aside) when it's released, so buy one now, and upgrade the OS next spring.

[olePigeon]

This is what it says on Apple's page:

The performance gains and features supported by Core Image ultimately depend on the graphics card. Graphics cards capable of pixel-level programming deliver the best performance. But Core Image automatically scales as appropriate for systems with older graphics cards, for compatibility with any Tiger-compatible Mac.

I'm a little confused about this statement. Does that mean you'll still be able to get Core Image on, say, a 9200 on an iBook (since it's Tiger-compatible), but you just won't get all the nifty features and speed benefits?

[typoon]

Originally posted by circa76:
Hi,

I'm considering purchasing a 12" iBook (with the 1.2Ghz G4).

My question is that I've heard that tiger is coming out soon and I'm just wondering what *major* improvement will tiger bring over Panther?

The reason I ask is because the 12" iBook will not be able to run Core Image due to the outdated video chipset. While that isn't a big deal for me, I'm wondering if I should just wait until an iBook comes out that can do Core Image.

But other than Core Image, will tiger be bringing any major improvements over panther? Or even better, are there any issues with panther that a possible switch candidate such as myself will get stumped with?

Thanks!

It depends. The general rule is if you NEED it now then get it and don't wait. If you can wait you can wait but their will always be something better that comes out, and you may decide to wait again. Then you would keep waiting and not get anything.

I think one of the biggest improvements in Tiger will be Spotlight. But that should be able to run no matter if you have full core image support or not. Also a little finer improvement for me will be Mail and the smart mailboxes. Another improvement should be speed. If it holds true then Tiger should be faster than Panther as Panther was faster than Jaguar. You may find that Tiger is not that compelling an upgrade for you and just stick with Panther. Panther is a very capable version of OS X.