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twentyvfun · Feb 26, 2005, 06:54 PM

The old one was 1.33GHz and the new one is 1.5GHz. Is there a big difference? The old one had 256 MB and the new one has 512 MB. I mostly just browse the internet and use iTunes and watch some DVDs...maybe some word processing or excel. Is 256 enough? I DON'T edit videos or anything like that. I am an engineering major (2nd year) so I am assuming eventually I'll have to use some sort of engineering programs. Is the old 12'' PB fast enough? What about the screen? Do you strain your eyes when using it?

iREZ · Feb 26, 2005, 07:50 PM

If your in need of saving some cash then go to Amazon and get the Rev C 12". The MHz difference is nearly nil, and just about everything else is the same except for BT 2.0 which just about everybody could careless about and the scrolling trackpad (which is now available for all 12" PB via the hack here in the Powerbook forum). The only major boost is the HD speed, but you could get the older one and shell out some cash and install a HD yourself if your really in need of a faster HD. For what your looking to do, I'd advise you save yourself some cash and opt for the 1.33 model and up your RAM to 512MB (256MB chips are pretty darn cheap, you could probably find somebody here at the forums willing to sell you the one they got with their book for really cheap. Your call.

jamil5454 · Feb 26, 2005, 08:40 PM

The 256mb on an iBook is built-in. I added a 1gb onto my iBook and now I don't have to worry about too many open programs!

Hooray.

iREZ · Feb 26, 2005, 10:08 PM

Just saw that your from UCLA (I'm an SC fan but my GF goes to UCLA....go figure). If that's the case don't even bother checking out the Apple store, if I were you I'd check out Ackerman (I'm sure you know where that is) and see if they have any special deals for you bruins. When I bought my Powerbook, I had my GF get me more of a discount that Apple offers on their website, and on top of that I got Applecare for only $99 which is a steal in my opinion. I remember a month or two ago they were selling G4 1GHz 12" iBooks for only $600 brand new. Just make sure to visit Ackerman before making any purchases from Apple directly. Yeah yeah I know you guys put a whoopin on us on Thur.....just wait till next year (shakes fist in air).

jmagic · Feb 26, 2005, 11:45 PM

those are some AWESOME deals, with UT had deals like that

[APi]TheMan · Feb 27, 2005, 01:01 AM

While I don't have a new 12" Powerbook, I can definitely say that the jump from 256 -> 512 megabytes of RAM will be noticeable. You can really never have too much RAM. I recently installed a gig of RAM in my 15" 1.25GHz Aluminum and it screams now.

twentyvfun · Feb 27, 2005, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by iREZ:
Just saw that your from UCLA (I'm an SC fan but my GF goes to UCLA....go figure). If that's the case don't even bother checking out the Apple store, if I were you I'd check out Ackerman (I'm sure you know where that is) and see if they have any special deals for you bruins. When I bought my Powerbook, I had my GF get me more of a discount that Apple offers on their website, and on top of that I got Applecare for only $99 which is a steal in my opinion. I remember a month or two ago they were selling G4 1GHz 12" iBooks for only $600 brand new. Just make sure to visit Ackerman before making any purchases from Apple directly. Yeah yeah I know you guys put a whoopin on us on Thur.....just wait till next year (shakes fist in air).

Ackerman is selling the old 12'' powerbooks with superdrive for $999.

iREZ · Feb 27, 2005, 01:17 AM

Are you kidding me!!!!!!! You jump on that and you jump on that right away!!!!

twentyvfun · Feb 27, 2005, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by iREZ:
Are you kidding me!!!!!!! You jump on that and you jump on that right away!!!!

LOL I'm guessing it's a good deal. They are also selling the old 15'' Powerbook with Superdrive for $1799. I'm torn between the two.

mduser63 · Feb 28, 2005, 02:33 AM

Get the $999 12" PB as soon as possible (so they don't sell out). I have one that I bought in November, 2004 for $1700 and love it. I can't believe how good of a deal $999 is. That's the same as a 12" iBook with a Combodrive and a slower processor is right now!

iREZ · Feb 28, 2005, 03:04 AM

...or pick one up for me and I'll kick ya $50 for giving a fellow MacNN'er a deal

connollyck · Feb 28, 2005, 05:05 AM

that beats my schools deal. I get the new 1.5 12" with superdrive for 1399 and their old 1.2 12" for 1199. Not sure if it has superdrive or not.

twentyvfun · Feb 28, 2005, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by connollyck:
that beats my schools deal. I get the new 1.5 12" with superdrive for 1399 and their old 1.2 12" for 1199. Not sure if it has superdrive or not.

So I went to go buy it yesterday, and they told me that it's actually the 12'' with combo drive that is $999. *grrrrr!!!* Now I think I should just get the NEW 12'' with combo drive from Amazon, they have the $150 rebate.

bleee · Feb 28, 2005, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
While I don't have a new 12" Powerbook, I can definitely say that the jump from 256 -> 512 megabytes of RAM will be noticeable. You can really never have too much RAM. I recently installed a gig of RAM in my 15" 1.25GHz Aluminum and it screams now.

The speed jump from 512 to 1.25GB is also very noticeable, almost night and day. I'd recommend anyone who can afford to max out their ram do it.

segfault66 · Mar 1, 2005, 02:06 PM

Originally posted by twentyvfun:
So I went to go buy it yesterday, and they told me that it's actually the 12'' with combo drive that is $999. *grrrrr!!!* Now I think I should just get the NEW 12'' with combo drive from Amazon, they have the $150 rebate.

The PowerBook 12" 1.33GHz for $999 is still a great deal. The 1.5GHz for $1349 after rebate will be $350 - 35% more in price for a 13% speed increase, BT 2.0, 60GB 5400 RPM hard drive, an extra 256MB RAM, two finger scrolling.

If you buy the 1.33, you can use the $350 to buy 1GB RAM (~$180), an 80GB 5400 RPM hard drive (~$140 and you must be very handy with lots of small screws), and a FireWire case for your old drive (~$40). Okay, that adds up to $360.

You can apply the trackpad iScroll2 driver to get two finger scrolling on the 1.33GHz.

If you didn't qualify for the EDU discount, the difference would be $150. That's much tougher.

iREZ · Mar 1, 2005, 02:19 PM

I wouldn't fret about all the stuff above...especially the replacing your HD by yourself idea (it'll void your Applecare). Get the 1.33, use the extra cash for 1GB RAM, install the iScroll2 driver (for two finger scrolling), and use the other $200 for accessories, you'll need it. iPod mini/shuffle, iCurve, BT keyboard+mouse, speakers, external HD, nice case/bag, etc..... are just some of the stuff that comes to mind.

donniedarko · Mar 1, 2005, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by twentyvfun:
The old one was 1.33GHz and the new one is 1.5GHz. Is there a big difference? The old one had 256 MB and the new one has 512 MB. I mostly just browse the internet and use iTunes and watch some DVDs...maybe some word processing or excel. Is 256 enough? I DON'T edit videos or anything like that. I am an engineering major (2nd year) so I am assuming eventually I'll have to use some sort of engineering programs. Is the old 12'' PB fast enough? What about the screen? Do you strain your eyes when using it?

The one thing that everyone ignored was that you said you are going for engineering. that means most likely that you will use windows only programs such as autoCAD. that's just something to think about.

skelotar · Mar 2, 2005, 12:14 PM

With 1.25 G of ram or even 512 mb, you should be fine running virtual PC on your laptop to get to your autocad and other "engineering" programs.

I have a 15" PBook 1.33 512/RAM and I run multisim (electrical engineering circuit design/simulation app) over windows XP in VPC 7 without a hitch. Its actually not that slow.. I just need more ram.

Worst case scenario, there are tons of engineering labs you can go to and use the pc's to do your work. Here (univ of central florida) we have VNCs that allow you to access the engineering apps on the school server from home, which is again another option for you..

good luck