iBook or Powerbook?

Short answer - ibook.

Basically it wins in the areas you're looking at, except of course for screen size. But honestly, I was leery about getting my 12", and I don't even notice it any more. This was going from a beautiful 17" flatscreen CRT, too.

I'd be happy to enumerate the ibook's strong points in detail if you want, but the simple version is:

Much more rugged. The titanium, though light, is nowhere near as strong as the polycarbonate/magnesium frame. Polycarbonate is bullet-proof. The titanium dents really easily and if it dents on the screen side, you've got a lovely distortion in your big, widescreen LCD.

Obviously more afforable, and gives you better bang for the buck. Powerbook gives a bigger overall bang, but with the ibook's new cache and sahara G3, it holds its own in everything but really heavy-duty Altivec apps and games. And it's not like it ups and dies in those, either. Just as an example of capability, I've been playing Max Payne and Warcraft III with medium-to-high settings and my performance has been simply amazing. It would be great to have a 32 meg card, but there's the bang/buck thing again. You'll want to add RAM, but once you do, it really flies.

It gets pretty warm, but nowhere near the PB, and it doesn't sound like a high-gauge hair dryer when the little fan starts up.

Again, portability. Fits in an airplane tray-table, fits on your lap, fits in your backpack or briefcase, just...fits. I'd recommend the 12", just because it's even tighter and more rigid feeling than the 14". The screen feels brighter and is, because of the resolution, crisper.

Hope that rounds things out a bit.

[quote]Originally posted by dreadpirate:
<strong>Short answer - ibook.

Basically it wins in the areas you're looking at, except of course for screen size. But honestly, I was leery about getting my 12", and I don't even notice it any more. This was going from a beautiful 17" flatscreen CRT, too.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Dread,
Personally, I'm trying to decide whether to go with a Powerbook ONLY or ibook/imac combination.

I assume you would be in favor of the second option over the first??

I would go with the iBook if your not looking to do animation or video editting I would go with the iBook. The iBook works great for Office X, VPC 5 running Win2k, Photoshop, Dreamweaver plus you can play many games easily on it. I guess it all comes down to if you want to shell out that extra money for a PB that really won't help you in every day computing. The price difference between the iBook and PB are amazing, but I guess if I had that extra $1000 bucks at the time I would have purchased the PB but the iBook doesn't stop me from doing any thing that I would have done on a PB. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> :cool:

Yea man I'd go for the iBook. My real gripe with the Powerbook is the damn slot loading drive. As cool as it is that it makes the notebook thinner, it's not nearly as reliable. Try throwing in a weird disc even on a smooth surface and the thing has a shizzy-fest. Fuhgetaboutit! The ibook is affordable, small, and just cool!

I currently own a PowerBook G4, but if I was looking to buy an Apple laptop right now, I'd go for the iBook.

It's more compact, lighter, and the new models are powerful enough to handle most stuff you'd need to do with a laptop. And the latest models will support Quartz Extreme.

The 12in display is so much nicer than that on the new PowerBook.

I've played around with Final Cut Pro on a friend's 700MHz iBook, and it's just fine - the only noticeable difference being rendering times, which isn't really an issue with most of my little movies.

Now if Apple would just get its ass in gear and include Bluetooth as standard instead of that rotten dongle. I want it because <a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/us/spg.jsp?template=PS1&B=ie&PID=9932&LM=PSM_V&gal=10 5" target="_blank">I'm smitten</a>.

the iBook is nice if your not into video editing too heavily. I seem to rememeber a thread under GD or AO or one of those forums where people posted pictures of their systems... I bet 60% were iBooks or had at least 1 iBook in the mix. It is very popular due to its durability, small size and (or course) portability.

I took the iBook over a 15" iMac because I wanted to show movies and pictures to my family who are not net connected and I can carry everything with me in one neat package.

Definitely go with the 700MHz model as the iBook (like any laptop) lags behind all other macintoshs for speed. Also budget for a 512MB SODIMM because you need all that RAM to use it effectively, incremental RAM upgrades on this baby dont pay off.

My next step is airport!!! Good luck on your decision, we all know its tough. I sweated on mine for a long while because of that damn sexy iMac

I'd agree to go with the iBook. Mine does everything from playing games to web design in Dreamweaver. And i've even used it for Final Cut Pro in X and it worked without a hitch there as well. The only area that I could see room for the PB to stomp the iBook is, as it's been said before, DV rendering. But i'd rather wait that extra few minutes or less than shell out another $1000 and loose so many other pluses. =) On the aspect of 12 or 14" screen size, just go with what you need. This aspect you just can't listen to anyone else because it's based on personally and physical needs, not just recommendations. Have fun. Let us know what you get!

iBook 700/384 RAM/30GB/Combo/12.1"

Go for the iBook. It's lighter, better looking, and more durable. It's also a pretty decent computer

[quote]Originally posted by patrick:
<strong>First, some background:

I bought my iMac DV Special Edition/400 MHz (Kihei) in early 2000. After little more than two years, I've needed to have the Analog Video Board; main logic board; and the audio board replaced. The audio board is scheduled to be replaced today. When I bought my iMac, I also bought a 3-year Apple Care Protection Plan. As with Scotty, I'm *very* glad I bought the plan. If memory serves (which is doubtful these days), I paid an initial $50 deductible, after which every repair done on my iMac hasn't cost me anything more than being without my iMac during repairs.

It may be unfair, but my next Mac won't be an iMac. Once bitten, twice shy. These days, I'm weighing the relative merits of the iBook and the Powerbook...and I'm having a difficult time deciding between the two, though I'm leaning towards the iBook. My basic needs are: affordability; easy-on-the-eyes (due to the fact that I'd be going from my 15" iMac monitor to a 14" or, (scary thought!) a 12" screen; durability; heat resistance. There used to be a website that let you answer several criteria/needs-type questions, and it would then give you its recommendation based on your answers, but I've long since forgotten the URL.</strong><hr></blockquote>

You sound like you might be a student on a tight budget.

I'd say go to an Apple Store (or wherever) and try out the iBook. The display is quite sharp, and because it's 1024 x 768, it shows more information in sharper focus than the screen of your iMac DV did.

I have a Pismo powerbook and I like its display. It shows, in fine detail, as much information as the 19 inch monitor I have.

Why is it that people here seem to suggest in the iBook vs TiBook debate in waves. I posted my question a couple weeks ago and everyone said TiBook. Now everyone is saying iBook. I don't think that people here really know what they are talking about. I think the best advice is to take this all with a grain of salt.

Here's the link to my post ... notice the VERY different repsonses.

<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001283" target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001283</a>

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by pyr3:
<strong>Why is it that people here seem to suggest in the iBook vs TiBook debate in waves. I posted my question a couple weeks ago and everyone said TiBook. Now everyone is saying iBook. I don't think that people here really know what they are talking about. I think the best advice is to take this all with a grain of salt.

Here's the link to my post ... notice the VERY different repsonses.

<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001283" target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001283</a>

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, people said different things so they don't know what they're talking about. Right.

You said: [quote]I'm about to purchase a TiBook 667 DVI in the next few days and the thing is that I'm kinda strapped for cash. I want the TiBook and all the power, but it's kinda of expensive for me even after the Student Developer discount. I mostly just want to do regular things on the laptop and some photoshop work, and some games like WC3. I'm debating about whether or not I should just go for a iBook 700 or not too.<hr></blockquote>

You said you wanted to do some Photoshop work and play games, both of those things would be better on the Powerbook. Photoshop because of the G4 and games because of the graphics card.

Just because this guy different responses than you doesn't mean we at AI don't know what we're talking about.

[quote]Originally posted by EmAn:
<strong>

You said you wanted to do some Photoshop work and play games, both of those things would be better on the Powerbook. Photoshop because of the G4 and games because of the graphics card.

Just because this guy different responses than you doesn't mean we at AI don't know what we're talking about.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm just saying that sometimes people come out of the woodwork and the responses can be different. I don't think that any of the same people posted to this thread as posted to mine. And some of the people on this thread are advocating games and photoshop in iBook anyways. Notice the comments that you will only notice the difference for DV editing. 'little bit of photoshop' doesn't equate to loads of HQ pics in photoshop that are being re-rendered on a constant basis. That just means that I edit pics in photoshop using layers and paths. And I use it to create net graphics for my web page. I'm not really saying that everyone doesn't know anything as much as saying that not everyone repsonds to these threads and sometimes you get repsonses that are way off-balanced in terms of AI on the whole. So you have to take it with a grain of salt since it isn't the end-all-be-all answer.

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</p>

his needs:

affordability - iBook
easy-on-the-eyes - TiBook
durability - iBook
heat resistance - iBook

your needs:

I want the TiBook and all the power, but it's kinda of expensive - TiBook
some photoshop work - TiBook
some games like WC3 - TiBook

in this case look at the two different needs.

hence the different suggestions.

I ordered my ibook with a with a 256 ( 384 ) Is that ebough to say , listen to itunes while surfing the internet and writing a paper

or to play medal of honor ?

[quote]Originally posted by AugustWest:
<strong>

Dread,
Personally, I'm trying to decide whether to go with a Powerbook ONLY or ibook/imac combination.

I assume you would be in favor of the second option over the first??</strong><hr></blockquote>

That's actually not as easy for me to judge between. See, I got my ibook for college, basically, where a portable is almost infinitely superior to desktops, regardless of speed. Portability was a must. However, the other factor in my decision was cost. It would have been very difficult to afford the TiBook, and as I said, I didn't want or need a desktop. The old G4 tower with the nice display is staying at home with my mom and my sister.

If money hadn't been an issue, I probably would've gotten a Powerbook. Which is not to say that the iBook isn't superior in the areas I mentioned, but for college, anyway, the Powerbook was just as portable. So I didn't buy the iBook instead of the Powerbook because I needed the form factor or the portability, I bought it because I couldn't afford the Powerbook. Also, there's the fact that I really would only have used the TiBook's power for games, which is hardly the most persuasive justification for spending an extra grand on a college notebook.

But for you, it depends on your situation. If you're going to use a portable truly as a portable, then you might easily end up letting whatever desktop you had gather dust. Even though a low-end tower is just as powerful as the TiBook, if what you need is a portable, it doesn't matter. But, if you're going to be working in one place and then taking what you do (presentations, graphics, movies, etc.) with you, then you'll want the most power where you're working. So if you can afford a high-end tower and an iBook, that's what I'd go for. The iBook would be the vehicle for the big-time power of a high-end desktop.

But that's a lot of money. Also, the TiBooks have a nice, big screen, and they're finally powerful enough to really start treating them like a desktop replacement, not an extension. Of course, I use my iBook like a desktop, and I adjust because that's all I have. Thankfully, I got mine right after the 700 mhz/Radeon upgrade, so at least it has a Sahara and will run Quartz Extreme passably.

The thing is, you don't really want to get a low-end desktop at the moment, because it won't be too much more powerful than the TiBook, and you'll still need an iBook for portability. So all you gain is the hassle of sharing your job, life, work, etc, between two computers.

So in short, I don't know. If you need ruggable portability for your portable and mid-range power, get the low-end desktop and the iBook. If you merely need portability and mid-range power, get a TiBook. If you need huge amounts of power, then you'll be better off with a high-end desktop, but that doesn't leave you too much cash for a portable. Any way you go, though, wait for a Powermac update and assess what you actually need in terms of performance.

whew. hope that all helps

[quote]Originally posted by cmn083:
<strong>I ordered my ibook with a with a 256 ( 384 ) Is that ebough to say , listen to itunes while surfing the internet and writing a paper

or to play medal of honor ?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You will be fine with 384 megs that's what I got my ibook with. Photoshop seems to do well along with my other programs.

[quote]Originally posted by cyko95:
<strong>I'd agree to go with the iBook. Mine does everything from playing games to web design in Dreamweaver. And i've even used it for Final Cut Pro in X and it worked without a hitch there as well. The only area that I could see room for the PB to stomp the iBook is, as it's been said before, DV rendering. But i'd rather wait that extra few minutes or less than shell out another $1000 and loose so many other pluses. =) On the aspect of 12 or 14" screen size, just go with what you need. This aspect you just can't listen to anyone else because it's based on personally and physical needs, not just recommendations. Have fun. Let us know what you get!

iBook 700/384 RAM/30GB/Combo/12.1"</strong><hr></blockquote>

hey cyko95 check your private messages I sent you a quick question about your ibook mod that you had on .mac photo album.
<img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

[quote]Originally posted by cmn083:
<strong>I ordered my ibook with a with a 256 ( 384 ) Is that ebough to say , listen to itunes while surfing the internet and writing a paper

or to play medal of honor ?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, that should be fine for what you'll be doing. I've got 384MB in my 500MHz iBook and it's fine.

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:
<strong>cut-who cares? she's back!! </strong><hr></blockquote>

BELLE! welcome back!! I hope you are feeling better <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> ...



oh, the topic, right...

ummm if cost is any factor at all, the $1000 would be better spent on prepherals (<a href="http://elgato.com" target="_blank">eyeTV</a>) and an external HD then getting the TiBook, unless of course you can get one of those sweet UCLA-type discounts on the TiBook.... very nice...

hth

-Paul

[quote]affordability; easy-on-the-eyes (due to the fact that I'd be going from my 15" iMac monitor to a 14" or, (scary thought!) a 12" screen; durability; heat resistance <hr></blockquote>

It seems obvious that you need the ibook, but you know that the powerbook is much cooler but you cannot afford one.

Hate to move a happenin' thread and all, but since this is purchasing advice here.... moving to Genius Bar.

[quote]Originally posted by patrick:
<strong>Now, there's another decision to be made, though: Should I order from Apple (above configuration was done on Apple's Website) or, should I order from someone like Mac Zone?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Absolutely check out Amazon.com on this one. No tax and no shipping charges. Apple charges both tax and shipping.

And, right now, until 8/25, you get a free Airport Card and $100 Amazon.com promotional certificate (good for a future purchase of anything from Amazon.com) with your purchase. Actually, there's more you get... here, have a look (the "special offers" are above the product "features"):

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000068IE7/qid=1028636568/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-7791236-8397761" target="_blank">14" iBook at Amazon.com</a>

Find your RAM off dealram.com. I'd max it out to 640MB. Also, you don't have to buy Apple Care when you purchase your iBook, as long as you get it before your regular warranty runs out, you're fine. Then it adds two years on, so it's the same result as buying it right away.

By the way, I probably don't really need to mention this, but I'm not affiliated with Amazon.com in any way. I'm just a very happy Amazon.com iBook purchaser.

[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]

[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by spotbug:
<strong>

Absolutely check out Amazon.com on this one. No tax and no shipping charges. Apple charges both tax and shipping.

And, right now, until 8/25, you get a free Airport Card and $100 Amazon.com promotional certificate (good for a future purchase of anything from Amazon.com) with your purchase. Actually, there's more you get... here, have a look (the "special offers" are above the product "features"):

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000068IE7/qid=1028636568/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-7791236-8397761" target="_blank">14" iBook at Amazon.com</a>

Find your RAM off dealram.com. I'd max it out to 640MB. Also, you don't have to buy Apple Care when you purchase your iBook, as long as you get it before your regular warranty runs out, you're fine. Then it adds two years on, so it's the same result as buying it right away.

By the way, I probably don't really need to mention this, but I'm not affiliated with Amazon.com in any way. I'm just a very happy Amazon.com iBook purchaser.

[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]

[ 08-06-2002: Message edited by: spotbug ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Apple charges nothing for ground shipping and $15 for 2nd day. That's not too steep. Second, Apple only charges tax if they have an Apple Store in your state.

[quote]Originally posted by pyr3:
<strong>Apple charges nothing for ground shipping and $15 for 2nd day. That's not too steep. Second, Apple only charges tax if they have an Apple Store in your state.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Oh. I stand corrected, then. I guess they changed their policy from when I bought my G3 back in 1998.

Are you sure they only charge sales tax if there's an Apple Store in your state? They charged me tax in '98 (obviously before there were any Apple Retail Stores anywhere). The tax was based on your mailing address (you paid Apple your local sales tax).

In any case, Amazon still seems like a better deal to me. Free Airport Card and $100 certificate = $200 less.

[quote]Originally posted by spotbug:
<strong>

Oh. I stand corrected, then. I guess they changed their policy from when I bought my G3 back in 1998.

Are you sure they only charge sales tax if there's an Apple Store in your state? They charged me tax in '98 (obviously before there were any Apple Retail Stores anywhere). The tax was based on your mailing address (you paid Apple your local sales tax).

In any case, Amazon still seems like a better deal to me. Free Airport Card and $100 certificate = $200 less.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I hope that's not that case, but for me it's cheapest through Apple even with the sales tax. But I don't want to have to pay the extra $100.

[quote]Originally posted by pyr3:
<strong>

Apple charges nothing for ground shipping and $15 for 2nd day. That's not too steep. Second, Apple only charges tax if they have an Apple Store in your state.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I thought they charged tax if there were any Mac dealers or stores in your state. Like if there's a CompUSA in your state they still charged tax. Did they change that after the retail stores opened?

The only thing that bother's me about Apple's notebook line-up (besides the prices) is the huge gaping hole between the top iBook and the Ti667. It's begging for an iBookSE.

I think I could live with an iBook if they upped the supported external res. I can live without spanning support, but I won't go back to using anything less than 1152x864 (on my 17"CRT).

Apple, give me a 1999 DuoBook. Basically an iBook/Ti hybrid that supports higher DVI-out resolutions in closed book mode. A modern duo, without the dock!

PS, use the 12" iBook shell (for portability)

Blue-tooth will be there in a few months, but it's gonna be onthe airport card, not on the MoBo.

Are there any offers even close to this on the iBook in the UK? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

[quote]Originally posted by EmAn:
<strong>

I thought they charged tax if there were any Mac dealers or stores in your state. Like if there's a CompUSA in your state they still charged tax. Did they change that after the retail stores opened?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, this a strange part of buying from Apple online. I bought my iBook from the Apple.com store and was charged tax. When I bought my VGA adapter, a couple weeks later, they didn't charge me tax. Very strange. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

When do they add the tax to the cost? I've gotten al the way to the shipping method/enter CCard page, but haven't since I haven't ordered, but they don't say anything about taxes before that point or even on that page. When do they add it? I would think that they would add it BEFORE I had to dole out my credit card number.

They already have my address and stuff from my account.

[ 08-07-2002: Message edited by: pyr3 ]</p>

Hm ...

i had about the same problem in the beginning.

but with a windows running 356 mhz 256 mb 13" 4,6 g hd laptop ... and ??? mac ????

in the end i have put the kde redhat and killed windows completely...

and chose 12" ibook.

the best portability. that was the najor criterion.

also the powerbooks are a bit (read: a lot) more pricy ...

[quote]Originally posted by cyko95:
<strong>

Yeah, this a strange part of buying from Apple online. I bought my iBook from the Apple.com store and was charged tax. When I bought my VGA adapter, a couple weeks later, they didn't charge me tax. Very strange. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I wasn't taxed on the ADC membership, but I *just* bought my TiBook and they did tax me. But they didn't put up the tax figures until AFTER they charged me. =( I still got the TiBook 667DVI for $2200 after tax though. Not that bad. (with Airport)

[quote]Originally posted by patrick:
<strong>Just curious... What's the likelihood that a 15-inch iBook will be announced in September?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think that you would get better results on the question in future hardware. Start a new thread there with that question.

[quote]Originally posted by patrick:
<strong>Just curious... What's the likelihood that a 15-inch iBook will be announced in September?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I doubt there'll be one.