Considering buying a laptop
I'm thinking about using this year's birthday money toward an iBook. Logie and others have expressed dissatisfaction with their titanium PowerBooks, so I'm thinking an iBook would be more sensible for my needs (and budget!).
• 128MB SDRAM built-in
• 40GB Ultra ATA drive
• DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo
• Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
• ATI Mobility RADEON 7500 w/ 32MB DDR video memory
• Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 included
• 12.1-inch TFT XGA display
Does the computer I've selected sound good? Should I opt for a peecee instead? I love that facetious spelling; I couldn't resist.
- Clancy's blog
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Comments
iBooks rock
I love my iBook, Clancy. It's been a great computer, and they're ever so much cooler now than when I got mine a few years ago. I'd go for another one in a heartbeat. The machine you have described above looks pretty solid, but if you can swing it, I'd hold out for the 14" screen instead of the 12".
-Laurie
I might do it...but I'm going
I might do it...but I'm going to think about it some more. Is the 14-inch screen really worth the $200 more it costs?
Laurie
My suggestion: go to the Apple store in the MOA and play with the different models (CompUSA over in Roseville has them on display, too, but when I was there they only had the 12" available). I'd say yes, the 14" screen is worth the extra cash, especially if you'll be doing much in the way of web/graphic design on it. If it's going to be your primary machine, it just might be a good choice in the long run, you know?
New Powerbooks...
Hey Clance,
Apple just released a new 15" PowerBook. The titanium Powerbooks have been discontinued. These are made out of pure aluminum, and have certain advantages over the old PowerBooks. If I were you, I would spring for the 12" PowerBook over the 12" iBook. One, you get a computer that is much more powerful, and will last you a longer time. I had an iBook, and though it was a great computer, I would have traded it in for a PowerBook in a heartbeat. Not to mention, the PowerBook has a G4 Processor, and the iBook has a G3. Much faster.
Also, if you do go for the iBook, the only difference between the 12" and the 14" screen is the size. Both have resolutions of 1024x768, and by paying more for the 14", you only get bigger icons and no more real estate. Once again, I would go for the 12" PB here, because you can both mirror its screen onto another monitor AND use it as a second monitor, whereas, the iBook can ONLY be mirrored. Also, the PB's have USB 2.0, which will come in handy if you ever get a USB 2.0 device such as a scanner or a printer, simply because it's about 400x faster than USB 1.1, which is what the iBook comes with.
You will be able to get a student discount, and the 12" Powerbook with 256 MB of RAM (which you will need to run OS X with any sort of speed), a 1GHz G4 processor, and a 40Gig HD is only $1399. DO NOT ONLY GET 128MB of RAM. YOU WILL NEED MORE. I would recommend 512 MB if you can afford it. OS X is a beautiful OS, however, it is VERY demanding on resources. The PB 12" IS A GREAT DEAL, and beats the pants off of the iBook. Take my word on this one, for future expandability, for better monitor support, and a whole lot of other reasons I don't have room to mention here, the PB 12" is a MUCH better deal, and I think you'll be happier with it than the iBook.
Hope this helps,
Scott
And if you go the PC route...
Make sure you check out the Dell Centrinos. Not only are they lighter and have built in wireless (which if you don't need already, you will need soon), they run cooler and longer and a 1.3GHz Pentium M is just as fast as a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4.
Macintoshes are definitely cooler, but in the long run, does it really matter which machine you are using? This coming from someone who has used a Mac for years. Buy a machine that will give you the most for the money you are willing to spend. Anything you can do on a Macintosh, you can do on a PC, and vice versa. The rest is just marketing.
Hope this helps, and sorry for all of the advice.
S.
Try Acer's Tablet PC
Currently, I have an iBook,a PC and an Acer Tablet PC. I love them all but am really enjoying the Tablet. As a matter of fact I'm writing this comment on the Tablet using the Stylus and writing Pad while lounging in an armchair-feet up on the ottoman!It is convertible, meaning I can use it as a laptop (with keyboard) or swivel the screen to the flat position and write directly on the screen. It is lightweight at only 3.1 lbs. and the writing recognition is excellent (on this post I've only had to correct the apostrophes.) I take the tablet to staff meetings, use it in class and post to my blog with it (I have a network adaptor card installed so I can be wireless in any part of the house.) I haven't had any problems and think more people should consider tablets instead of a laptop.
Nancy http://npera2.tblog.com
Unfortunately...
The TabletPC's, which I think are a great idea, are usually underpowered and overpriced. Although novelty is usually charged for, this is really just a bigger version of the PocketPC (the handwriting recognition software is the same), which sell for $199. I do not wish to pay around $2000 for a computer which would have been powerful two years ago just because I can write on the screen.
Thanks
Thanks for this advice, everyone, especially Scott! I will definitely get 512 MB of SDRAM if I end up getting a laptop (still assessing the financial situation).
14" iBook - great companion
Hi Clancy -- I have a 2 year old 14" iBook now and it is still a joy to use. I got it as a mobile desktop video unit plus all the other things I throw at it. Yes, a G4 would be nice but I couldn't go there at the time. My iBook has 640MB RAM and a 60GB hard drive. Also, I had Airport added. I bought it through Apple's Online Education Store because this configuration was not available in the stores. Had to wait about 10 days for delivery. (Bet the G4s are in the store and you could leave with one anytime.)
I use a peecee on campus. Love my iBook. Good luck in making a decision!
--Melissa
iBook G3 12"
Hello everyone.
I've been using IBM compatibles for all of my life. I just recently bought a used iBook G3 12" and haven't had any performance issues with it. Darwin adds additional insight for the future of my workings with posix compliant operating systems. I run Gentoo Linux on my server, administrator a Sun box, and have several Windows machines. The underlying Mach kernel offered in OS X gives great and constant performance and handles more load then any standard or customized BSD or Linux kernels in which I have tried. Although there are a few scuff marks, dual firewire, usb, airport wireless, ati rage pro mobility graphics (2x 16mb) 20gb cdrw/dvd-rom can't go wrong. As for Intel laptops, I recommend the one my friend has. I'm not sure of the maker, but it has a 3.4GHz P4 with Hyperthreading, 256mb NVidia Geforce 6800, 60gb raid (support for 2), 17.1" widescreen, firewire, 6 in 1 cardreader, svideo, vga, flatpanel, etc. The pricetag is 3000, although benchmarked it'll receive 17000 on 3dmark 2k1, 10000 on 2k3, and 6000 on 2k5. Quite amazing machine, although it weights 2x of what my G3 iBook weights (5.9lbs).