iBook vs PowerBook - which more suited to my needs?
I'm looking at switching from my PC (Athlon 1.4GHz, 512 MB ram) to a 12" Mac laptop. However, I'd appreciate some advice from those who've used them...
The main use will be typical web/email/music/WP etc, nothing too taxing. However, I also will be doing some of the following:
1) Photoshop Elements 2 - working with images from my 6MP camera. Nothing too fancy, just adjusting levels, colour correction, USM, that sort of stuff. JPEG file sizes from the camera are around 2.5-3 MB, RAW images around 6 MB.
2) DV movie editing - I'm currently using Pinnacle Studio DV 8 on my PC, and it's more than capable of doing what I need to do. I guess iMovie will do the job for waht I need, but will it run very slowly (bearing in mind that I'm not planning in doing anything too fancy)?
I know the 12" screen will be small for this type of work, but I have a 19" CRT monitor that I could span across (native on the PB, with a hack on the iBook, IIRC?), so that will help. However, I'd like a 12" laptop because they are even more prtable than the larger ones. Oh, and they look so cool 8).
My first instinct is to go with the iBook, as it's cheaper, and would hopefully cope with the tasks that I need it to perform. However, I'm aware that I would really need to increase the RAM, (definately on the iBook, possibly on the PB), so by the time I'd got the iBook to similar levels as the PB, the price difference has decreased. So should I just bite the bullet and go for the PB, and take advantage of the G4 over the iBook's G3? And finally, I want to be able to write CD's, not too worried about writing DVD's.
Thanks ,
Dave.
The main use will be typical web/email/music/WP etc, nothing too taxing. However, I also will be doing some of the following:
1) Photoshop Elements 2 - working with images from my 6MP camera. Nothing too fancy, just adjusting levels, colour correction, USM, that sort of stuff. JPEG file sizes from the camera are around 2.5-3 MB, RAW images around 6 MB.
2) DV movie editing - I'm currently using Pinnacle Studio DV 8 on my PC, and it's more than capable of doing what I need to do. I guess iMovie will do the job for waht I need, but will it run very slowly (bearing in mind that I'm not planning in doing anything too fancy)?
I know the 12" screen will be small for this type of work, but I have a 19" CRT monitor that I could span across (native on the PB, with a hack on the iBook, IIRC?), so that will help. However, I'd like a 12" laptop because they are even more prtable than the larger ones. Oh, and they look so cool 8).
My first instinct is to go with the iBook, as it's cheaper, and would hopefully cope with the tasks that I need it to perform. However, I'm aware that I would really need to increase the RAM, (definately on the iBook, possibly on the PB), so by the time I'd got the iBook to similar levels as the PB, the price difference has decreased. So should I just bite the bullet and go for the PB, and take advantage of the G4 over the iBook's G3? And finally, I want to be able to write CD's, not too worried about writing DVD's.
Thanks ,
Dave.
Comments
get a 900 combo with a 512 stick of ram and an iPod
its a better use of the money... you get a 900MHz lappy with, 640 megs of ram and an iPod versus 867 and 256 ram...
but if you are willing to toss out the stock 128 module that comes with the G4 and throw a 512 in there and don't care about the iPod, you are probably better off with the G4.
battery life will be about the same because of the DDR ram on the G4.
will you be getting airport? if not you really should consider it... so liberating!
And screw the airport base station. Buy a US robotics 802.11b wireless broadband router. 3 ethernet ports, wireless, firewall, printer sharing (ask me how) for about $100 USD.
Thanks for the replies . You're not making this easy though .
One thing I'm not sure about... The iBook is a G3, whereas the Powerbook is a G4. For photo editing and home movie editing, wouldn't I be better with the G4? However, if the general opinion is that the G3 @800/900 MHz would perform at similar speed to my current 1.4 GHz Athlon in Photoshop Elements or when editing movies, then that would be fine for me, and save me some moeny .
Does any one else have any more suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave.
G3's are very close to the end of their lives, the G4 will go farther.
I actually opted for an ibook/g4 tower combo. I must say that even though the tower screams in terms of speed, I am partial to the ibook, because it's just, well, cute!
When the day comes where I can get a 10 inch powerbook with lots o power, and an adapter for an apple flatscreen monitor, then I'll seriously consider selling my stuff on ebay. Otherwise, I'm very satisfied.
I seriously wouldn't want the hassle of dealing with some iBook video hack, especially if it required a restart here or there. Is it worth $300 more? Maybe not. But if you can step up to a G4, among other cool bonuses, why not?
I do everything you mentioned on a 466 G3 iBook ... sure, PhotoShop rendering is a little slow, but the new iBooks have a faster G3 and a faster bus ... it'll work just fine.
The G3 is getting a bit old though, (as someone else already mentioned) .... If you want this computer to still be able to run new software 2 years from now, you'd better go with the G4.
two cents