12" iBook or 12" PowerBook?
Ok, my wife has decided to give up her old 400 mghz PC laptop and get a mac laptop (finally) she really likes the 12" sized ones but can't make up her mind which is right for her. She is a professor and uses her current laptop to write tests, check email, research, excel for keeping grades and she makes her class presentations with PowerPoint. She doesn't need a superdrive but she does want to be able to burn cd's. So we are looking at either the 12" ibook with combo drive or the 12" PowerBook with combo drive. She wants something that will last as long as her pc has (4 almost 5 years), I personally think she should get the PowerBook 
but I would like to hear the pros and cons. So give me your input please 
but I would like to hear the pros and cons. So give me your input please
Comments
I think I would go towards the powerbook.
Reason- G4.
I have an 500MHz G3 iBook- I love it, but I wish it had a G4. Everything that Apple is coming out with software wise runs much better on a G4- although the applications that your wife is using are not. But as soon as she gets into iPhoto/iMovie the G4 will really help- also maybe start using keynote for her presentations.
I also like the build quality of the powerbook- its much better than the iBook and its smaller and lighter too.
Although you could get the 12" iBook max the ram out and get an airport basestation for about the same price as the base powerbook...
I would still get the new powerbook though.
I think you should let her play around with both of them to get a feel for what they are like and then she could make the decision.
Your wife sounds like she'll be writing, e-mailing, etc. more than anything else so I would think a tricked-out iBook would more than satisfy her.
I don't know...that's a tough one. I'd be happy with either, but I THINK, personally, I'd opt for the iBook just because I like Apple's white glossy iStuff. I HATE metal (Titanium PowerBooks, the brushed metal UI in QuickTime, iTunes, metal music, etc.).
Plus, with the iBook I could max out the RAM and get a cool AirPort set-up and still come in well under $2000. If all I'm doing is writing, e-mailing, surfing, doing light Excel and PowerPoint stuff, why not?
I'm all about white glossy, clear acrylic, "ice" accents, etc. That's why I think Apple's current line of consumer stuff is so snazzy and attractive.
About the only thing I could imagine being uglier than an aluminum LCD iMac would be a black one.
Hell, I'd rather see a Flower Power domed iMac than metal or black.
HEY!!! :eek:
It just hit me how cool those two goofy patterns might look on the flat panel iMacs!
Did they really do that 18 months of injection molding research/development to only shoot its wad on two so-so selling iMac models? Please tell me all that work has (or will) paid off somehow in other, more useful, current areas wtih Apple products?
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
- 12" iBook is just perfect for person, who needs to move his laptop a lot. 15" PowerBook is too big and smaller is better, if you need to move a lot.
- 12" iBook is cheaper than 12" PowerBook. 12" iBook price is right now good. 12" iBook (dvd/cd-rw model) + 512MB RAM module is good buy.
- 12" iBook is perfect laptop for light work like Excel, www & email etc... OS X runs ok!
- 12" If user doesn't need heavy apps like Final Cut Pro or Photoshop then 12" iBook is good choice.
- Laptop is different than workstation. When laptop comes old it's still useable, if it's light and small --> perfect writng machine.
- Right now 12" iBook with dvd/cd-rw is better buy than 12" PowerBook. iBook just contains everything what you need and it's enough powerful for light OS X work. 12" PowerBook is just missing some good features which are in 17" model. I would want to wait, if I need 12" PowerBook, because it's just missing some good features and those features are coming in the future.
<strong>Are there any Apple Stores near you or any place that you could take her to see both laptops?
I think you should let her play around with both of them to get a feel for what they are like and then she could make the decision.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The only little store here that sells macs doesn't have any in stock or I would.
I am leaning towards the 12" Powerbook, she want's the small one because she is small (she still has clothes that fit her from highscool) Plus I may use it a bit, would be nice to take with on holidays, could do neat stuff like pull in video from my zr50 and email it to those that can't attend the same day instead of waiting till I'm back home (We drive alot on holidays
<strong>Well, if she's a prof, she can get keynote and iLife for $15 and it would be much more useful on a powerbook than on the ibook. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Keynote runs well on the iBook 800 as it fully supports Quartz Extreme (and this seems to be a recurrent theme: most of Apple's new software runs well on a G3, so long as it is QE-compliant).
I recommend purchasing the iBook 800, as it is a "mature" product, it's less expensive, and should easily handle your wife's needs for the next few years. The 12" Powerbook is a first iteration Mac, which unfortunately can prove problematic. Second, it's relative advantages over the iBook will not provide a decent ROI, if she will only be using it as you suggested.
Many will argue that the Powerbook will have a longer shelf life due to the G4, but that presupposes your wife will actively upgrade software, the OS, etc. Tonight I was studying at a local Starbucks, and the person in front of me sat down with his TiBook running OS 9. Now, he probably represents the majority of computer users: if it ain't broke, don't mess with it. In other words, we AppleInsider folk, we look to the "upgradability" of a lap top. Most users settle on a feature/software set, and they stay with it until it is no longer feasible or the machine breaks (hence Apple's frustration with folks not adopting OS X).
So, is your wife like the majority of AppleInsider folk, or will she settle into a confort zone? From you post it sounds like the latter.
I recommend purchasing the iBook 800, as it is a "mature" product, it's less expensive, and should easily handle your wife's needs for the next few years. The 12" Powerbook is a first iteration Mac, which unfortunately can prove problematic. Second, it's relative advantages over the iBook will not provide a decent ROI, if she will only be using it as you suggested.
jaske, Your post is one of the more thoughtful replies I've seen regarding the "Should I get...?"
issue. ROI is something I hadn't thought of.
Now, if only I could decide between the iBook 800 and the eMac 800...I am not leaning one way or the other yet. Will have to go to the Apple store to decide.
<strong>jaske, Your post is one of the more thoughtful replies I've seen regarding the "Should I get...?"
issue. ROI is something I hadn't thought of.
Now, if only I could decide between the iBook 800 and the eMac 800...I am not leaning one way or the other yet. Will have to go to the Apple store to decide.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks, not that the advice was followed
As far as the iBook/eMac divide . . . that's another story/thread.