[BKKloppenborg]

Hey guys i am confused what to get, i am on a budget, and NEED to get away from this damn Windows Laptop (Would sell after i got new laptop) i would get 800 and will cut down price on laptop... I do get EDU disconts so prices and specs i am looking at are...

ibook
$1,199.00
1.33GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @ 1.33GHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory
AirPort Extreme built-in

Powerbook
$1,399.00
12.1-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
1.5GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR333 SDRAM
60GB Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
Full size keyboard
10/100BASE-T Ethernet
FireWire 400
Analog audio in/out
Mini-DVI out

Um would be using a Mac for: Word proccesing, Web site (Parents want me to make one for them), Video editing (Parents again for trip we went on want to make movie out of it), Watching DVD's, and last Playing Diablo 2, Warcraft 3, Starcraft (I know these would be ok) but Unreal 2004 (Questionable with 32mb vram mabye ok with 64mb vram)

Lets see price for ibook after selling laptop 391.92 (with tax and 100 doller edu spring rebate)

powerbook 608.42 (after selling laptop and 100 doller EDu spring rebate)

Sooo i have having a problem with that damn 32mb Video ram how will it run with all the things i want it to do? Or should i get a 64mb? I know ibooks are getting upgraded (Hopefully soon) i hope and then i heard from many ppl it would get 1.4 ghz and 64mb vram, if this is true should i wait and long as i can (June 17 is last day) and if no updates then what? Thanks, brian

[Ozzpot]

I have the same iBook but a RevA, 933mhz version (and with 640mb Ram). I use it to play UT2004, which is fine at 1024x768 fullscreen and average settings as long as there aren't too many bots. If I want 7 or 8 bots or something (I don't play online) I usually need to turn the resolution down to 800x600. The current model has a CPU 40% faster, so should help a lot with the bot problem. The graphics card remains an issue, but honestly it is okay on a 32mb. You will DEFINITELY need more ram though. 256mb is just about enough to run OSX. Most games will struggle with it, and Video Editing would certainly be a very difficult and painful process. Video Editing is just about the most Ram-hungry thing you can do with a computer. I'd recommend bumping it to 768mb.

If you did this, i'd say the iBook would be perfectly satisfactory for your needs. iBooks have better battery life and are more physically durable than Powerbooks, although they are slightly larger and heavier.

It may be worth waiting a month or so to see if they get a bump in specs though. Hope this helps.

[Big Mac]

The price differential is not substantial, so in my opinion the PB is the better choice.

[iggyboy2]

What is the $100 edu spring rebate?

[Randman]

Get more ram whichever machine you buy. That will be a major factor to consider, but luckily ram prices are dropping lower and lower.

[BKKloppenborg]

Originally Posted by iggyboy2

What is the $100 edu spring rebate?

here

[ajshades]

I would have to recomend buying the ibook.

I have the 14" G4 ibook you are looking at.

I am a student, I do graphic design, website design and have done some video editing.

I do not think the powerbooks are worth the money. The larger screen really made me push for the ibook and not the powerbook.

The powerbooks are overated IMO.