New iBook Means New 12" PB?

fatmac84

Compare the specs and prices of the 14" iBook and the 12" PB. The new 14" iBook is bigger, faster and CHEAPER!!! I know its a G3 and I know that the video card isn't as good, but as a consumer it is a tough choice. Does this signal an upgrade is due for the 12" PB?

xiao

How recently did they upgrade the iBook? Wow it's fast now, too bad it doesn't have a superdrive

dual867

Honestly, I'd still rather have the G4 processor over the G3. In my experience, it makes a difference in OS X. That's one of the reasons I sold my iBook 500MHz, and bought a MDD 867DP. You can't really argue with the price of the iBook, however. Awesome deal. I also think I'd prefer the Radeon 7500 over the 420 Go.



-Dual 867

chych

Bigger? Still the same monitor resolution, so perhaps more battery life. The 12" PB was intended to be small.



Faster? I'm sure the G4/867 will outperform a G3/900 at non-altivec tasks (and then there are altivec tasks). And, uh, video card not as good.



Then there is the case/keyboard/speakers/appearance difference.



I think the current 12" PB is only on its first third of its life.

leonis

Don't forget the PB does allow dual display

fatmac84

Here's why I think it's not so clear cut:



1. I think that a 900 G3 is as good if not better than a 867 G4 at non-Altivec (ie. most) applications and the "public" certainly won't see much difference.



2. Even at the same resolution, 14" is bigger. I would rather have a larger screen than a smaller one at the same resolution.



3. There appears to be some debate between the ATI and Nvidia video cards.



The kicker is the iBook is $300 less expensive.



In order to keep the iBook from canabalizing the 12" PB Apple may have to update the PB.



What are your thoughts?

tomb of the unknown

Quote:

Originally posted by Leonis

Don't forget the PB does allow dual display

Not only that but you can run it with the clamshell closed. Can't do that with the iBook.

monkeyastronaut

...And they were just released. I think the PB12 will stay the way it is for some time to come. It's an impressive machine just like that. We'll have to see how customers react to a "faster" iBook.

algol

It's because the PBs are all going to become 970s by end of summer.

aarons

The 12" PB didn't start shipping until Feb correct? And you're expecting an update in May? Seems a little too soon for an update...



as

algol

Well I believe that the PBs and the PMs will be updated around the same time to the 970.

ghost_user_name

this sort of logic is pretty goofy, guys.





33 mhz bump on an inferior chip isn't going to make the 12" powerbooks need a bump. Remember when the iBook SE (Graphite) was at 466 mhz with the SAME CHIP as the 400/500 mhz Pismos?



The original 500 mhz iBook and the 400/500 TiBooks?



Incremental bumps of this sort mean next to nothing.

fatmac84

Ok, but next week you have about $1800 to blow on toys. Do you buy an 12" PB or a new 14" iBook and a new iPod?



That's the problem with the 12" PB with it's current specs and why it will have to upgraded sooner rather than later.