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Fyre4ce · Sep 28, 2004, 06:43 PM

So, what are the differences between the 12" iBook and PowerBook?

1.0 GHz vs. 1.33 GHz CPU
133 MHz vs. 167 MHz bus
30 GB vs. 60 GB HD
plastic vs. aluminum case
ATi vs. nVidia graphics
bluetooth
$400 in price

Did I miss anything?

ambush · Sep 28, 2004, 06:46 PM

Call me crazy but I liked my iBook's plastic more than this aluminum thingy

Krusty · Sep 28, 2004, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
So, what are the differences between the 12" iBook and PowerBook?

1.0 GHz vs. 1.33 GHz CPU
133 MHz vs. 167 MHz bus
30 GB vs. 60 GB HD
plastic vs. aluminum case
ATi vs. nVidia graphics
bluetooth
$400 in price

Did I miss anything?

"Official" dual monitor support in the PB.
Bluetooth and AP Extreme built in the PB for FREE

DeathMan · Sep 28, 2004, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
So, what are the differences between the 12" iBook and PowerBook?

1.0 GHz vs. 1.33 GHz CPU
133 MHz vs. 167 MHz bus
30 GB vs. 60 GB HD
plastic vs. aluminum case
ATi vs. nVidia graphics
bluetooth
$400 in price

Did I miss anything?

standard airport express. The brand of the card is less important in my mind, the powerbook has 64mb ram, where the ibook has half that.

they come with different 3rd party software too.

Mastrap · Sep 28, 2004, 06:52 PM

The PB has a far superior keyboard. It also doesn't scratch. I've got a 1st gen 12" that still looks as good as it did when I took it out of the box. My iBook on the other hand...

Krusty · Sep 28, 2004, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Fyre4ce:

Did I miss anything?

Didn't you also miss that the price difference is actually $500

(1099 vs 1599) ?

Fyre4ce · Sep 28, 2004, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by Krusty:
Didn't you also miss that the price difference is actually $500 (1099 vs 1599) ?

I was thinking educational price ($999 vs. $1399).

Fyre4ce · Sep 28, 2004, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by Krusty:
"Official" dual monitor support in the PB.
Bluetooth and AP Extreme built in the PB for FREE

The 12" PowerBook for $1599 doesn't come with an AirPort Extreme card, I think.

Krusty · 07:20 PM

Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
The 12" PowerBook for $1599 doesn't come with an AirPort Extreme card, I think.

Maybe not in the education model, but definitely DOES in the consumer model. Check out the tech specs, near the bottom, under Communications
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/specs.html
[edit]
err, this is probably better
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/index12.html
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/wireless.html
[/edit]

Wow, $1399 is pretty nice all in all.

[edit]
one more thing: Weren't the 'books updated in April ? Might be newer models just around the corner if you can stand to wait.
[/edit]

DeathMan · Sep 28, 2004, 07:19 PM

I took to long with my photoshop. (should have gotten the powerbook).
This is from the edu store.

Krusty · Sep 28, 2004, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by DeathMan:
I took to long with my photoshop. (should have gotten the powerbook).
This is from the edu store.

Ahhh, fair enough ... no AE on edu models. Didn't know that. (explains $200 off on the pb vs $100 on the iBook, I suppose)

Speaking of which, wanna buy an AE card cheap ? I just helped a friend buy a Demo eMac from an Apple Store ... looks like they left the AE card in it.

ambush · Sep 28, 2004, 07:48 PM

AIRPORT is HANDY

like... in my car I steal wifi networks with password "admin"

FulcrumPilot · Sep 28, 2004, 08:10 PM

I will go for the footlong pb anyday.

DeathMan · Sep 28, 2004, 08:47 PM

Originally posted by Krusty:
Ahhh, fair enough ... no AE on edu models. Didn't know that. (explains $200 off on the pb vs $100 on the iBook, I suppose)

Speaking of which, wanna buy an AE card cheap ? I just helped a friend buy a Demo eMac from an Apple Store ... looks like they left the AE card in it.

no, you were right. the 1.33 is the powerbook, and the other is the ibook.

Fyre4ce · Sep 28, 2004, 08:59 PM

Damn, you're right! The 1599 model does come with an AirPort card! When I bought my Rev B, it didn't, and I had to fork over the extra $89 for one.

Geez, with the educational discount, the 1599 model goes down to 1399 - that's one heck of a deal, especially with the other promotion they had going (buy a PowerBook and iPod and get another $200 off).

Krusty · Sep 28, 2004, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by DeathMan:
no, you were right. the 1.33 is the powerbook, and the other is the ibook.

Heh, sorry ... my eyes just zeroed in on the right column since that's where the "better" model usually resides at the Apple Store.

Yup, Fyre4ce .. they added it standard in the last rev.

thePurpleGiant · Sep 28, 2004, 09:37 PM

The powerbook doesn't look as girly as the iBook

Go the PowerBook.

Fyre4ce · Sep 28, 2004, 10:24 PM

Does the iBook have a different keyboard than the PowerBook? I know there was one remark made about keyboard quality, and in the Apple Store descriptions, the PowerBook is listed as having a "full-sized keyboard" whereas the iBook is not. Of course, the "full-sized keyboard" may simply be listed to contrast it to the more expensive PowerBooks with backlit keyboards.

FYI, I have a friend and a cousin who are both considering getting Apple laptops. The friend, if he decides to get a new machine, will probably decide between a 12" iBook and a 12" PowerBook. The cousin will probably decide between the 12" and 15" PowerBooks, but the computer is for going away for college next year, so he might decide to wait for the PowerBook G5. By the way, any word from the rumor mill on when we can expect G5 PowerBooks??

thePurpleGiant · Sep 28, 2004, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
Does the iBook have a different keyboard than the PowerBook? I know there was one remark made about keyboard quality, and in the Apple Store descriptions, the PowerBook is listed as having a "full-sized keyboard" whereas the iBook is not. Of course, the "full-sized keyboard" may simply be listed to contrast it to the more expensive PowerBooks with backlit keyboards.

Both have the same keys, and the same number of keys - however some find the iBook keyboard a little 'spongy'. I can say I notice the difference, but it really doesn't bother me. If you are concerned, just go to an AppleStore and try for yourself.

iXavier · Sep 29, 2004, 12:20 AM

My problem is still monitor spanning and the hack just doesn't do it for the iBook. I want true clamshell mode, and for the love of someone, why doesn't Apple just include it in the iBooks? Even extremely cheap PC notebooks have the ability to do clamshell mode, but not the iBook.

Why Apple, why?

x.

MrForgetable · Sep 29, 2004, 12:35 AM

because the ibook lets out heat from it's keyboard? would overheat the computer and die!

i don't know. or they do it to make people fork over the cash for a powerbook.

scaught · Sep 29, 2004, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
Both have the same keys, and the same number of keys - however some find the iBook keyboard a little 'spongy'. I can say I notice the difference, but it really doesn't bother me. If you are concerned, just go to an AppleStore and try for yourself.

the keyboard on the ibook is made to be lifted off the top and back so you can put RAM or an airport card in the thing. so it feels a little spongy/bouncy.

the keyboard on the powerbook is built into the thing. it doesnt lift up or anything. its just there. and its AMAZING. the difference is seriously noticeable. IMO its the best keyboard ive ever used.