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fisherKing · Jan 22, 2003, 09:10 PM

tekserve in nyc has them

but no superdrives yet

(and no 17" yet)

i played with it, here are some thoughts...

the left side is very hot (as a lefty, that sucks)

it is sitting next to an ibook. it looks...different, not necessarily better.

feels good, seems heavier than i expected.

i think it's the under-the-hood thing i find valuable: speed, baby, speed.

i want one (altho i may have to learn to use the trackpad with my right hand)

i guess time to say goodbye to my beloved pismo...

seanyepez · Jan 22, 2003, 09:43 PM

I only wish it had a better screen and L3 cache.

fisherKing · Jan 22, 2003, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
I only wish it had a better screen and L3 cache.

me too, but...i think i will get one (when the superdrive is available...and i pull off a bank robbery)

at least i can do dual monitors...sweet.

seanyepez · Jan 22, 2003, 09:55 PM

I'd get one if I could drive my ACD from it without a third-party adapter.

BrunoBruin · Jan 22, 2003, 10:39 PM

I'd get one if I could drive my ACD from it without a third-party adapter.

I wouldn't mind needing an adapter if the 12-inch had DVI-out.

TheIceMan · Jan 22, 2003, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by fisherKing:
tekserve in nyc has them
but no superdrives yet
(and no 17" yet)

i played with it, here are some thoughts...

the left side is very hot (as a lefty, that sucks)
...

This was also noted of the 12" model at MWSF a few weeks ago. People said it was hot because it's been on the whole day and that it's been sitting under the lights. Hopefully it's not too unbearable. My 15" PB is on 12-16 hours everyday but the only warm spot (which is very small) is near the power button (by the right speaker). Hmm. I know the 12" model is smaller than the current 15" PBs, but still.

TheIceMan · Jan 22, 2003, 10:54 PM

[edited: didn't mean to double post]

fisherKing · Jan 23, 2003, 12:52 AM

my pismo runs all day, doesnt get very hot (well sometimes)

the 12" at tek serve is obviously on all day too; i saw it around 330pm...

and the left side was pretty hot (workable, but again, as a lefty, a bit of a nuisance)

still i want one.

Superchicken · Jan 23, 2003, 01:14 AM

Good thing I'm a righty

shouldn't be to bad for how I hope to use mine.... spun down HD while in class, sitting on my desk with an external keyboard and second monitor in the dorm

penmanila · Jan 23, 2003, 03:15 AM

here's a very nice set of picturs of the new albook 12" taken by a friend who works at the new jersey apple store; they got them in a few hours ago: http://homepage.mac.c om/erniea/PhotoAlbum19.html
(if i didn't do the html right on that URL, please cut and paste it on to your browser)

icruise · Jan 23, 2003, 03:57 AM

I fixed the above link.

http://homepage.mac.com/erniea/PhotoAlbum19.html

icruise · Jan 23, 2003, 04:03 AM

Nice pictures by the way.

TheIceMan · Jan 23, 2003, 05:21 AM

Originally posted by Icruise:
Nice pictures by the way.

Yes, great pictures. From seeing the wires and cords coming out of the side, I wish they had put the ports in the back. It would have looked alot cleaner. Just my humble opinion.

seanyepez · Jan 23, 2003, 05:37 AM

Me too. I refuse to buy a new PowerBook because the smaller, workable model doesn't have VGA or DVI output without an adapter and the larger, behemoth model is dotted with ugly ports. My 15-inch PowerBook is awesome.

icruise · Jan 23, 2003, 05:47 AM

I think the side-mounted ports make more sense for a machine that you will taking with you often. Reaching behind the computer to plug or unplug things gets annoying ifyou have to do it every day. On the other hand, if you will be using the machine as a mobile desktop, the rear-mounted ports are probably preferable (too bad they couldn't do that for the 17").

seanyepez · Jan 23, 2003, 05:48 AM

Well, congratulations on becoming an addict!

The new hinge on the 17-inch PowerBook is very smooth. It's too bad they had to sacrifice the covered ports for it.

chabig · Jan 23, 2003, 10:52 AM

The ports cannot be on the back of the machine due to the way the hinge works. All in all, I'd say the hinge is about the best I've seen on a notebook and the tradeoff is well worth it. Side ports are actually quite convenient, by the way.

Chris

fisherKing · Jan 23, 2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by chabig:
The ports cannot be on the back of the machine due to the way the hinge works. All in all, I'd say the hinge is about the best I've seen on a notebook and the tradeoff is well worth it. Side ports are actually quite convenient, by the way.

Chris

ports....hmmm. what i'd like:
a bluetooth mouse, bluetooth printer.
blutooth pda (okay, these are out there).

one usb hookup, one firewire.

then i won't have to look at the spaghetti of cables (like those nicely hidden behind my pismo)

Gee4orce · Jan 23, 2003, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
I only wish it had a better screen and L3 cache.

Define "better".

I've used my iBook day-in, day-out for 18 months+ and the screen (which AFAIK is the same as the 12" PB) is superb.

Perhaps you meant "bigger" ?

Agreed about the L3 cache, but I won't miss that.

icruise · Jan 23, 2003, 11:38 AM

I think he meant better resolution. I agree that the screen itself is great.

Bostic · Jan 23, 2003, 12:21 PM

What is the power supply like on the 12" Powerbooks? How big is it and the length of the cords, or do all Apple notebooks share the same style of adaptor?

JustinD · Jan 23, 2003, 12:29 PM

It looks like the same power adapter from current pics - if it IS the same white square adapter, I sure hope they changed the design a bit. On few I've got around, the point where the connector for the 'book does into the adapter, has become dislodged, and regularly sparks. Zowie!

Graymalkin · Jan 23, 2003, 01:07 PM

Thats what happens when they don't give you a grounded power supply

Those pictures are really awesome, much better than the ones on Apple's site. They made me want my Powerbook to ship sooner! I understand with the AP Extreme and hard drive change they have to give it to a factory monkey but still, I want it sooner! The keys on the keyboard look really cool, are they aluminum or plastic? Are they as slippery as they look (particularly the left side keys) or do they cradle your fingertips decently? I'm also wondering about the system software included, is the OSX disk a real Jaguar disk or just a crappified recovery disk? I plan on nuking the drive as soon as I play with it and repartioning it. I'm wondering if I'll need my Jaguar disks or if I can use what came with it (since my Jag disks will probably go with my Lombard on the for-sale table).

Thanks for increasing my desire to have my Powerbook!

daSilVetZ · Jan 23, 2003, 01:23 PM

I had just finally managed to convince myself into keeping my iBook, and now these pics have shattered my resolution

skyman · Jan 23, 2003, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
I'd get one if I could drive my ACD from it without a third-party adapter.

Sean,

You must be loaded with cash. You have bought every PowerBook that has been introduced and now you want a 12" PB.

Spread the wealth DUDE!

skyman · Jan 23, 2003, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by chabig:
The ports cannot be on the back of the machine due to the way the hinge works. All in all, I'd say the hinge is about the best I've seen on a notebook and the tradeoff is well worth it. Side ports are actually quite convenient, by the way.

Chris

I AGREE!

rjc3 · Jan 26, 2003, 01:05 PM

I just saw a 12" at the Wauwautosa, WI - Mayfair Mall Apple Store. Does anyone else think the keyboards are different between the iBook and 12" PBook? I swear the Powerbook keys were smaller. I originally assumed that the PBook keyboard was simply a painted iBook keyboard, but after seeing them next to each other, I think they are different keyboars altogether. Has anyone else noticed the difference in keyboards?

icruise · Jan 26, 2003, 01:09 PM

The new powerbook keyboards are completely different from previous models. The keyboards are no longer removable like the ibooks and tibooks, so they feel less shaky and the keys are a different shape as well.

Homer1946 · Jan 26, 2003, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by rjc3:
I just saw a 12" at the Wauwautosa, WI - Mayfair Mall Apple Store. Does anyone else think the keyboards are different between the iBook and 12" PBook? I swear the Powerbook keys were smaller. I originally assumed that the PBook keyboard was simply a painted iBook keyboard, but after seeing them next to each other, I think they are different keyboars altogether. Has anyone else noticed the difference in keyboards?

They are definitely different keyboards. The iBook keyboard has a spongy feeling since it lifts out to access memory and the aiport card. It also lacks a dedicated CD eject key. The Alu 12 keyboard does not lift out since you get to the memory and card from the bottom. This allowed apple to build more support under the keyboard. The alu 12 keyboard also lacks the little retractable clamps which allow you to rapidly remove the keyboard, and it has a dedicated eject key and a monitor spanning/mirroring key. I believe the keys themselves are also improved for a more positive feel.

It also seems from the order page that the superdrive comes with a different keyboard than the combo drive, although I can't imagine why.

-R