Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Fyre4ce · May 27, 2002, 08:25 PM

Check <a href="http://www.barefeats.com/pb8.html" target="_blank">this</a> out.

Looks like the new PowerBooks are really quick! I think if I were in the market for a new laptop I'd get one now. Apple hit everything on my wish list, but I wish they'd hit the screen resolution thing a little harder; we're still pretty far behind PC's. And I'm still a little dissatisfied with the speed. PC laptops now clock over 2 GHz. I haven't seen a direct comparison betweem the 800 (no slouch for sure) and a high-end PC machine, but I'm pretty sure we'd still be behind in performance.

But anyway, I'm posting not to criticize Apple's hardware, but to praise it. I think you'll agree with me when I say the new machines are all-around very solid and a worthy upgrade from the previous.

n_lim · May 27, 2002, 09:01 PM

Wow! Those benchmarks ARE impressive. Looks like the 800 is the real deal. What I was really surprised by is how much the Rev. B 667 (of which I own) held up against the Powermac 800 and the new iMac. I wouldn't have thought the results would be so identical between the iMac and the Rev. B, but perhaps that 100 vs. 133 bus speeds really do make a difference.

n.lim

Nep2ne · May 27, 2002, 09:21 PM

N/C

[ 05-27-2002, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Nep2ne ]

skyman · May 27, 2002, 11:00 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by n_lim:
Wow! Those benchmarks ARE impressive. Looks like the 800 is the real deal. What I was really surprised by is how much the Rev. B 667 (of which I own) held up against the Powermac 800 and the new iMac. I wouldn't have thought the results would be so identical between the iMac and the Rev. B, but perhaps that 100 vs. 133 bus speeds really do make a difference.

n.lim<hr /></blockquote>To bad they could not include the new Ti 667. Now that would have been interesting.

cmoney · May 28, 2002, 12:15 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
Check <a href="http://www.barefeats.com/pb8.html" target="_blank">this</a> out.

Looks like the new PowerBooks are really quick! I think if I were in the market for a new laptop I'd get one now. Apple hit everything on my wish list, but I wish they'd hit the screen resolution thing a little harder; we're still pretty far behind PC's. And I'm still a little dissatisfied with the speed. PC laptops now clock over 2 GHz. I haven't seen a direct comparison betweem the 800 (no slouch for sure) and a high-end PC machine, but I'm pretty sure we'd still be behind in performance.

But anyway, I'm posting not to criticize Apple's hardware, but to praise it. I think you'll agree with me when I say the new machines are all-around very solid and a worthy upgrade from the previous.<hr /></blockquote>Nah, the resolution on the new 800 is perfect. I really hate those Dells that have 1600x1200 on 15" screens. It's absolutely unreadable. (But 1600x1200 on that Sony with 16" screen is okay.) I think there would be more people complaining about going with significantly higher resolution than people who would appreciate it.

This is one spec where going higher isn't necessarily better. Not until we get an OS that can scale everything correctly (so 144 dpi doesn't necessarily mean 1 millimeter tall letters).

Joel · May 28, 2002, 12:24 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
PC laptops now clock over 2 GHz. I haven't seen a direct comparison betweem the 800 (no slouch for sure) and a high-end PC machine, but I'm pretty sure we'd still be behind in performance. <hr /></blockquote>Right, but have you compared the size of those 2 GHz monsters? If you fit one of those suckers in a 1 inch enclosure and I bet it'd melt. I'm sure if Apple wanted to, they could put out a monster like that with dual G4's that was comparable in size--they just aren't trying.

-Joel

NeoMac · May 28, 2002, 12:33 AM

That's one bad-ass PowerBook!

It's sad to see the G4 iMac do so poorly. It's troublesome. If I owned one, I would be pretty ****ed-off.

Fyre4ce · May 28, 2002, 12:51 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Joel:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
PC laptops now clock over 2 GHz. I haven't seen a direct comparison betweem the 800 (no slouch for sure) and a high-end PC machine, but I'm pretty sure we'd still be behind in performance. <hr /></blockquote>Right, but have you compared the size of those 2 GHz monsters? If you fit one of those suckers in a 1 inch enclosure and I bet it'd melt. I'm sure if Apple wanted to, they could put out a monster like that with dual G4's that was comparable in size--they just aren't trying.

-Joel<hr /></blockquote>Oh, believe me, you don't need to tell me that! I don't think there's a single PC laptop that's as nice of a package as the PowerBook. If they are small, light, and stylish, they are lacking in features and overpriced. And if they have decent features and are fast, they are really heavy and oversized. The PowerBook's got it all.

But I'm not sure the average consumer feels this way. Darn, gotta go. Well, you get my point.

rampant · May 28, 2002, 01:29 AM

Actually, I think the Presario 2800 is on par with the Titanium in terms of style and all that crap. Very similar features, and it even one up's it in a few areas (speed) but it's not quite as thin, and it still doesn't and never will run OSX. <img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" />

seanyepez · May 28, 2002, 02:11 AM

Fyre, you're comparing a desktop-replacement Dell/Sony to the thin, (though full-featured) TiBook.

The size of those Sony notebooks is staggering. Upon using and seeing one in person, I was shocked as to why Sony thinks these machines are marketable. Who's going to use a nine-pound brick on the road?

Apple doesn't have the luxury of varying their product line. Sony and Dell can. Sony and Dell produce super-slim notebooks and desktop replacements. The PowerBook can do anything the VAIO/Dell can do. Granted, it won't be as fast, but it'll be easier on your back to take the machine places. With the VAIO/Dell, you're stuck at your desk if you have any intention of having children. The ball-crushing weight of the Dell Inspiron 8200-series and Sony VAIO GRX-series notebooks is painful.

While the desktop-replacement Sony's are extremely fast and pack gorgeous screens, I would never get one. They're simply too heavy. I'd take a PowerBook G4 over one any day.

There aren't real 2-gigahertz PC notebooks out yet. There are Pentium 4 notebooks clocking in at 2.4 gigahertz, but those use desktop P4's. This means they generate substantially more heat and drain a bit more power. These notebooks are especially not portable. One of them actually doesn't have a battery (the ECS Hugebee notebook).

Be happy with this revision. I'm going to pick up my 800-megahertz PowerBook G4 tomorrow. I could have chosen any other notebook, but I'm heart-set on the extremely stylish, stunningly slick PowerBook G4.

Mac Zealot · May 28, 2002, 02:16 AM

Frankly ,i think sony and dell are selling these 'desktop replacements' to do just that.

Replace the desktop with what? A portable desktop. Though it needs a moving company to lug around, it's still portable.

I am also picking up a powerbook g4 this fall, the 800 probably, just because of it's sheer portability and great power. They in no way compete with the sony or dell options, especially if you put them next to each other.

Why do you think sony doesn't compare their top of the line laptop to apple's?

rampant · May 28, 2002, 10:13 AM

well, frankly, pc manufacturers don't need to compare, because theu have no need to and the buyers don't care

GeneShifter · May 28, 2002, 12:57 PM

Sony/Dell doesn't compare their top of the line computers to the powerbook because they couldn't care less what apple is doing! Dell sells more notebooks than any other pc maker...why would they care about a 5% market share company? Why would they care about changing the design of a computer just because apple has a cool-looking model?
I have a dell laptop and I love it. I also love the powerbook, especially the 800! I want one, but for the things I do, the dell is much better suited for me. I also am not thrilled about the use of titanium that thin...big mistake. OS X is good, but I'm personally more comfortable in Win 2000 and Linux. It is just a matter of choice for consumers and most don't go beyond the price tag.

seanyepez · May 28, 2002, 08:01 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by GeneShifter:
Dell sells more notebooks than any other pc maker...why would they care about a 5% market share company? Why would they care about changing the design of a computer just because apple has a cool-looking model?<hr /></blockquote>Shifter, that's laughable. What did Apple do with its iMac? Were PC designs not dramatically affected by this "5% market share company"?

Dell tried to follow Apple's lead with its "WebPC". Compaq desktops are now translucent. Gateway Astro was an all-in-one iMac clone. EMachines released their blue eOne computer that even resembled the iMac's colors. Future Power even tried to release a clone.

Compaq notebooks now resemble the "101" enclosure used on Pismo and Lombard PowerBooks and the original iBook. Before Apple used sexy curves on its PowerBooks and vibrant colors on its iBooks, no could make sexy notebooks. Now, Dell has color inserts for its notebooks and Gateway notebooks are primarily silver!

Stupid "5% market share companies". Who listens to them?

urrl5201 · May 29, 2002, 08:16 AM

OK OK! enough with the Wintel flaming guys . Look again! They have revised the page to show how the new 667 does compared with the 800, and it ain't no slouch either.

<a href="http://www.barefeats.com/pb8.html" target="_blank">http://www.barefeats.com/pb8.html</a>