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buying an iBook: Which one?

post #1 of 21
11/23/01 at 1:59am
Thread Starter 
ok... I've finally decided to buy a Mac again (money depending) and I'm almost 100% sure I want to get an iBook.

The problem? Which one?

For me its either between the DVD or the Combo.

I travel a bit and like the idea of having all the stuff I need in one unit... no external CD-Writer.

On the other hand, the combo cdr is only 4x writer and you can't upgrade it later. It is true that 4x means a cd in 15minutes, but still...

Or do I get the DVD iBook and then get an external pocket CDR of somekind?

agh... decisions decisions.

BTW, I would buy around January/February. Any use in waiting to see if a new iBook will come out for Tokyo? I hate "The Waiting Game" grrrr.
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post #2 of 21
11/23/01 at 6:25am
I wouldn't get the Combo because of the slow write speed, but if you really want everything in one then go for the Combo. I've got a 4x burner and as long as I'm doing something else the extra time isn't that bad.
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post #3 of 21
11/23/01 at 7:32am
I have a Combo and it's great. You can burn a CD in the background without much slowdown but if you sit and wait on it it can feel like forever.

An extra battery is a must if you are planning on burning CDs or watching DVDs on the road though.

J
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post #4 of 21
11/23/01 at 8:22am
[quote]Originally posted by ZO:
<strong>For me its either between the DVD or the Combo.

I travel a bit and like the idea of having all the stuff I need in one unit... no external CD-Writer.

On the other hand, the combo cdr is only 4x writer and you can't upgrade it later.</strong><hr></blockquote>I know this isn't one of your options, but how about CDRW only, no DVD? It's faster and wil save you money relative to the combo drive. I think lots and lots of people get DVDs in their machines only to never, ever use them. If you don't have a home DVD player, you probably don't have any DVDs to watch anyway. And if you do have a home player, you'll watch them on your TV rather than on your computer. And software on DVD is virtually non-existent. Apple's given us this idea that laptops must have DVDs, but try to imagine when you would really use it.
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post #5 of 21
11/23/01 at 9:23am
I would not buy a DVD iBook. Software DVD decoding is just too slow on a G3. My Pismo 400 is horrible at playing DVDs, and my imac 500 is little better. All jerky and slow. Then again, this is a 600 MHz machine we're talking about, so it just might work.

I wish Apple offered all iBooks at the same speed and same specs, with the only the optical drive different.
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post #6 of 21
11/23/01 at 10:25am
I can't comment on the slower machines, but I just watched a few DVDs on both 500 and 600 MHz iBooks in OSX 10.1, and they were both awesome. It's amazing what a difference there is compared to watching DVDs in OS9. No comparison.

Of course most people will rent a few DVDs to check out their new laptop's DVD playing ability, then never watch another.....

I think the DVD models will have a better resale value though. Not that I'm ever thinking of THAT.....
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post #7 of 21
11/23/01 at 1:05pm
Watching DVD's on my iBook (500) is great in OS X. It was also pretty good in 9.x too.
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post #8 of 21
11/23/01 at 3:43pm
I watch DVDs on my iBook 500 all the time and the quality is far better than that which I have seen on any Windows laptop.

J
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post #9 of 21
11/26/01 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 
thanks for all the feedback...

The reason I was thinking of a DVD iBook is because I wanted to hook it up to a TV and watch DVDs that way. Basically make it into the fabled "digital hub". I want to hook it up to my stereo system and have a ton of MP3s for audio and use it for DVD playback (and get myself a remote control system once its OS X compatible).


How realistic is this with an iBook and the AV cable?

regarding the CDR... I guess I should get an external seeing that I will probably be burning the hell out of everything I find.
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post #10 of 21
11/26/01 at 2:57am
ZO, I don't think that works in Mac OS X- just in Mac OS 9.
francism@mac.com
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post #11 of 21
11/26/01 at 3:28am
[quote]regarding the CDR... I guess I should get an external seeing that I will probably be burning the hell out of everything I find.
<hr></blockquote>

Definately if you're gunna be doing that then get an external burner unless you don't mind spending 20 min or more burning.
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post #12 of 21
11/26/01 at 7:11am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by Fran441:
<strong>ZO, I don't think that works in Mac OS X- just in Mac OS 9.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I can't mirror video onto a TV??? Are you kidding me?

Good lord... I still don't know which to get. I'm trying to see all the scenarios I will need my computer in and I will NEED the CDR and would like the DVD (although its not 100% necessary). Dammit, why can't they have an 8xCDR in the ComboDrive instead of a pathetic 4x???
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post #13 of 21
11/26/01 at 12:08pm
What about a DVD iBook for $1399, plus a Pocket CDRW for about $250?

I love the DVD player in my G4...I use it a lot. I own about 7 DVD's and don't have a set-top box player.
*Registered March 1, 1999*
Member #14
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*Registered March 1, 1999*
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post #14 of 21
11/26/01 at 4:57pm
[quote]Originally posted by MacAddict:
<strong>What about a DVD iBook for $1399, plus a Pocket CDRW for about $250?

I love the DVD player in my G4...I use it a lot. I own about 7 DVD's and don't have a set-top box player.</strong><hr></blockquote>

You mean for $1499, right?

Also I don't have a set-top DVD player and love the DVD on my iBook.
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post #15 of 21
11/27/01 at 3:38am
Thread Starter 
well... so much for all the iBook stuff. I may have the possibility of getting my stuff without taxes (21% here) which means I can get a base TiBook (1950$) for slightly more than a decked out combo iBook (1700$).

I would then have a G4, great screen, MUCH better graphics... but no CDR.. which I can get later on anyway. I have a 20GB pocketdrive where I can back stuff up on until I get one...

anyone see a reason why it would be better to get a decked out iBook rather than a base TiBook? Would love to hear the pros and cons.
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post #16 of 21
11/27/01 at 1:15pm
[quote]Originally posted by EmAn:
<strong>

You mean for $1499, right?
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nevermind, I forgot about the rebate.
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post #17 of 21
11/28/01 at 2:04am
Thread Starter 
OK... I think I have come to my conclusion.

I will get an iBook combo with an extra 256 or 512MB of Ram. I would rather get a decked out iBook rather than a base TiBook (although the 15inch screen beacons me continously).

I figure I will be using it as a satellite that will be moved around alot and I want everything included without having other stuff to worry about.

Eventually, I will buy either a PC for home or a G5 (once they come out). I am a pretty hardcore gamer and while I love Mac... I find myself having a better gaming experience (cheaper, optimization for AMD/Intel, games come out eons before). Plus, one of my main games I play is Day of Defeat, which is a Half-Life mod (I still can't believe nobody has fvcking ported that game (death to Sierra.. bastards)).

I will have a "G5 or Athlon" thread in a while

BTW, on an external display, does the iBook support resolutions higher than 1024x768??? With 8MB of vram I certainly frikken hope so.

Thanks,
ZO
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post #18 of 21
11/28/01 at 3:29am
[quote]Originally posted by ZO:
<strong>BTW, on an external display, does the iBook support resolutions higher than 1024x768??? With 8MB of vram I certainly frikken hope so.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nope, you can only mirror to the external monitor and it's at the same resolution.
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post #19 of 21
11/28/01 at 5:33am
Thread Starter 
ok... very last question (I hope)... the store that is selling the iBook has a promotion for the combo iBook. They are giving 256MB ram with it for only about 40$ more. Should I go for that or get without the ram offer and splash out on 512MB ram?

Will it make that much difference? Between 640 and 384? I guess maybe in the long run I will be happier to have 640... but it just seems overkill.

ZO
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post #20 of 21
11/28/01 at 7:12am
If it's just used as a satellite machine as you say, 640 might be more than you need. But hey, with OSX it couldn't hurt. Depends on your financial situation I suppose.

$40 to install RAM is ridiculous. I know lots of places do that, give you free RAM and charge you $30 to install it, but I think that's such a crock - it's so damn easy to install yourself.

Plus you can buy a 256 yourself for $40 - that's SOME deal they're offering....
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post #21 of 21
11/28/01 at 7:45am
Thread Starter 
[quote]Originally posted by murbot:
<strong>Plus you can buy a 256 yourself for $40 - that's SOME deal they're offering.... </strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes, tell me about it. The store is called Cami (www.cami.be) and despite the fact that I have been sending cutomers to them, I've had my old college buy dozens of macs from them, keep them up to date on stuff, and have bought stuff from them too... they won't so much as give a mouse pad away for free.

Nazis

I guess I'll go to crucial.co.uk and order Ram from them... and get the 512MB ram. They are in the UK, but they have the best prices... even after addind the shipping and handling. Ah hell. Guess I'll have to be on 128 for a bit.
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