[malique]

Hi

imagine: my mom has a 7 year old PC. I think I can convince her to buy an iBook (I presume it will be the mid level iBook due to its burning capabilities). And I think about adding 256MB of RAM.

Sum questions cause I have no laptop experience.

1. Will 384 MB be enough for Office/VLC/Mail work in OSX? I mean I know it is POSSIBLE but I want to know if I am stunned by the speed or disappointed (see my mac below).

2. Will the iBook be able to play full screen DVD rips (VLC) AND show it to a TV?

3. what is the best way to transport her Data (outlook 98 address book etc) to the iBook? She has just a modem and I presume no ethernet so... I think it might be less than 500MB to move.

4. I think rumours said NEW iBooks might be in the pipe. Best thing (to lower the price) is
to wait till the NEW ones are announced and buy an old one quickly?

I am in Germany here so I ask mostly german experienced buyers. (Gravis maybe?)

Every tip would be welcome.

[Developer]

Originally posted by malique:
1. Will 384 MB be enough for Office/VLC/Mail work in OSX? I mean I know it is POSSIBLE but I want to know if I am stunned by the speed or disappointed (see my mac below).

That's enough. You certainly won't be disappointed, but probably not stunned either.

2. Will the iBook be able to play full screen DVD rips (VLC) AND show it to a TV?

Yes. You need a special cable for video out

3. what is the best way to transport her Data (outlook 98 address book etc) to the iBook? She has just a modem and I presume no ethernet so... I think it might be less than 500MB to move.

Burn the data to CD? There's also a "Move2Mac" package, but it requires USB on the PC.

4. I think rumours said NEW iBooks might be in the pipe. Best thing (to lower the price) is
to wait till the NEW ones are announced and buy an old one quickly?

The old ones won't get much cheaper. The rumored new ones aren't much faster. Buy what you need when you need it.

I am in Germany here so I ask mostly german experienced buyers. (Gravis maybe?)

http://www.mac-kauf.de/index.php?page=preise&produktgattung=4

[malique]

Originally posted by Developer:

> Yes. You need a special cable for video out

hum. composite video to Cinch? what would it cost? I don't have to buy it from apple, do I?

> Burn the data to CD? There's also a "Move2Mac" package, but it requires USB on the PC.

hehe, she has neither the one nor the other... that exactly is the problem.

AND: I don't know how to export an address book out of Outlook 98, I think I remember it hasn't had such a function. A friend needed one day and a shareware "outlook addressbook to vCard"... and had to correct all names manually regardless.

> The old ones won't get much cheaper. The rumored new ones aren't much faster. Buy what you need when you need it.

I can't really believe it. We are happy about ANY price drop.

> http://www.mac-kauf.de/index.php?pag...oduktgattung=4

good hint! Though we will buy it in our city to be able to go to a mac store whenever something is wrong...

thanks. more experiences?

[Developer]

Originally posted by malique:
hum. composite video to Cinch? what would it cost? I don't have to buy it from apple, do I?

You do. Got to www.apple.de -> store (German) -> Zuberhör -> Mobil the second cable.

hehe, she has neither the one nor the other... that exactly is the problem.

You should be able to get a cheap Ethernet card for the PC and a crossover cable for around 15 Euro. Maybe that will do.

good hint! Though we will buy it in our city to be able to go to a mac store whenever something is wrong...

Your local Apple dealer will send the iBook to the Netherlands in case of defect (and Gravis is usually clueless anyway). I think you can just call Apple and they will collect it from you if it's defect even if you bought it mail oder. But I'm not sure about that. It could save you some money.

Ask in the www.macnews.de forum for experiences.

[malique]

for all interested, I found out more:

gravis online NEW webstore (www.gravis.de) has a special offer (till 30.4.2003).

iBook combo 1499,- plus 512MB ram (!) for another 70eu (!!!). p&p is just 6-8 eu.

i hope apple will announce speed bumps this month and gravis will even then make a special iBook offer

[Mastrap]

I posted this in the PB forum but it's relevant for you I think:

K. I've placed an order for a 12" with Apple Germany. I am getting a reburb which arrived at the previous owner with a d.o.a. DVD drive. Meaning it is totally unused, the drive has been replaced by Apple, repackaged and is now on its way to me. I've got 14 days to return it should I decide that I don't like it and rather go for the 15" after all too.

I am getting a disount of $600.

15" are selling at $2100 including all taxes and a years warranty.

17" are selling at $3000 including all taxes and a years warranty.

They only ship to an address in Germany and I will need to get me a UK keyboard sometime in the future, although using the German one isn't a problem for now.

The number is: 0800 2000 136, then 3 at the prompt, then 1112 at the prompt again.

PS: If your credit card doesn't match your shipping address, which is the case for me, I am using my UK card to pay for this, you'll need access to a fax machine - they'd like to see a copy of your name on your credit card statement.

[malique]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
I posted this in the PB forum but it's relevant for you I think:

I am getting a disount of $600.

15" are selling at $2100 including all taxes and a years warranty.

Wow! Thanks a lot for that one! One question, you seem to be from UK? I'd be interested if your $ prices match euro prices. 2100 - 600 is my 1500 (which would match the iBook with combo drive). I need a combo drive btw! Burning is necessary.

CCard is no problem here.

PS: Apple is closed till tuesday, so...

[gator]

Probably a bit late to add, but I have an iBook 800 w/384 ram, and DVD rips do play smooth for the most part, with an occasional lag (I'm not sure if it's a speed issue or an encoding issue).

As developer said, 384 ram will be enough. Don't expect outstanding speed, but it will be sufficient for Office, VLC, Mail, and any other consumer-level Apps that one would want to run.

[euphras]

I wouldn´t recommend Gravis. I know two stores by personal experience and together with their obscure pricing/discount politics it was enough for me to decide not to buy there...

Pat

[malique]

Originally posted by gator:
Probably a bit late to add, but I have an iBook 800 w/384 ram, and DVD rips do play smooth for the most part, with an occasional lag (I'm not sure if it's a speed issue or an encoding issue).

As developer said, 384 ram will be enough. Don't expect outstanding speed, but it will be sufficient for Office, VLC, Mail, and any other consumer-level Apps that one would want to run.

Thanks, Mark - it is not too late! I am happy, this is exactly an experience I wanted to get to know. I think, if I can get 512MB for the price of 70? (about $70) I would be stupid not to buy em. Concerning VLC speed: Did u read VLCs readme? Often people forget t switch off regularly pinging apps like entourage. They cause VLC to lag.

[malique]

Originally posted by euphras:
I wouldn´t recommend Gravis. I know two stores by personal experience and together with their obscure pricing/discount politics it was enough for me to decide not to buy there...

Pat

I mean - it is just a reseller, so...