I've got my new 12" iBook this morning. Ever since Apple showed the 12" PB in January, I was drooling for one. And then I was comparing them side by side. Both were definitely good 'books. Both had more or less the same features. I'm sure the graphics card in the PB will be a bit better in one or the other task I'm not actually doing, I'm also sure I'll miss the G4 processor (I've been using my TiBook 500 for two years now) when using Photoshop and importing music in iTunes. I have a USB Bluetooth adaptor, and I sure would like to have internal BT.
But...
The iBook is small enough. It's sexy. And I actually LIKE the G3 processor. It doesn't get as hot as the G4s, and I am a writer, so I _do_ tend to have them on my laps and I _do_ keep my hands on the keyboard.
This saved me a lot of money, because
1) it's 500 USD less (800 Swiss Francs here) and
2) I was able to move the AirPort card from the Ti to the iBook instead of getting a new one.
So? I got the 12", 800 MHz G3 with 640 MB RAM. With the AirPort card from my Ti, the only downside I can see right now is that I _CAN'T_ find a hardware upgrade. But that's acutally good, because I'm saving money. Now back to work writing a good story for next month's gig with <a href="http://schreibentutweh.ch"; target="_blank">Gruppe 02</a> here in Switzerland.
Matsu: I'm just glad you got a new 12-inch PowerBook (in you lap ). So how's your new miniBook?
Still, I was under the firm impression that institutions could get BTO as well. Back in college, I was able to order a BTO Wallstreet just before graduation through our IT administration. At the time, BTO was only available to institutions, not individuals. As you may remember, Wallstreet deliveries were slow to ramp up. In fact, I didn't get my new Wallstreet until after I had my diploma in hand.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think it's because Apple doesn't like Canadians very much. All these great special institutional prices I hear Apple cuts schools, I've never seen them materialize here. We have the institutional price list which is a quite a bit better than the normal edu price cut, but it dosn't come anywhere near the prices I hear flying around these fora. I don't think Apple makes those prices unless you buy a LOT of mac from them. We don't have BTO, I asked, called up the rep meself. No edu price BTO superdrive, at least not in Canada. They will BTO large orders that are all the same, but one notebook going out to a guy who, in their eyes, shouldn't be getting this discount anyway? As they say on the Supranos, fuggedaboudit! Edu customers generally seem to get better treatment in the States
I wonder if Apple should consider making a really cheap, G3-based subnotebook to replace the current low-end iBook once the iBook goes to G4. In case you haven't noticed, there's now a Lindows subnotebook. $799 for a 2.9 lb thing with a 12" screen, USB, FireWire, external CD, and a (probably very slow) 933 MHz VIA processor. I think it also has integrated 802.11b. Yeah, it is a PC notebook, but it's one of the few I've seen that is both tiny and affordable. Most cheap ones are semi-large, usually 6-8 lbs with a 14" screen and about 1.5" thick. A bit like the PowerBook G3 Series. The more expensive ones are either 8-10 lbs with 15-16" screens and fast processors, or they are tiny 12" ones with external CD drives and shared video memory. But I haven't seen any cheap tiny ones, or anything that combines high mobility (<6 lbs) with fairly low price and a full feature set. That category seems to be for Apple laptops only.
If anyone knows differently, let me know. There might be a PC out there like the iBook that I just don't know about.
<strong>I wonder if Apple should consider making a really cheap, G3-based subnotebook to replace the current low-end iBook once the iBook goes to G4.</strong><hr></blockquote>
the cheapest way to do that for apple is to keep the current cheapest ibook and make it even cheaper, say $ 899.00.
a faster processor and maybe a dvd-drive in it, so you can boot from dvd. no combo: if you want to burn, buy a ibookG4.
good idea, Luca, and more disirable than an imac1 for $ 799.00.
[quote]We have the institutional price list which is a quite a bit better than the normal edu price cut, but it dosn't come anywhere near the prices I hear flying around these fora<hr></blockquote>
In the UK, education institution prices seem to be the same as for individuals but without tax (VAT at 17.5%).
I used a 12" PowerBook yesterday. It doesn't seem that small: I'll have to compare it to my Duo 230 side by side. The PowerBook definitely has better keyboard.
Escher:>> I have actually been craving the Vaio C1 for 3 years now....just can't seem to pull the trigger.
It's just that here in japan, it is priced pretty much exactly the same as the new 12"powerbook. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
I just can't get the budget approved by the wife for such an extravegant toy...the 12" maybe ("the work excuse"), but the C1, never (unless you can help me think of an excuse).
[BTW, I recently bought a very clean, used 800dvi-Titanium, so work the excuse around that fact...]
I just saw this advertised on the trains in Tokyo last week. The T1 is a 12.1 inch notebook weighing in at 999grams. Actually, to get better memory, HD and WIFI adds about 100g. Still this is about half the weight of the 12 inch PB. Panasonic also claims 5 hour battery life.
I will add that they cut a lot of corners on this - no firewire, video memory shared with main memory, only runs windows, memory seems to be limited to 256MB, etc. However, 1kg sure is attractive.
I noticed in meetings last week in Tokyo several people using some kind of small Dell notebook, didn't catch the model but it seems a little thinner and lighter than the 12 inch PB.
These are not full time computers. These are just enough to take some notes in a meeting, pickup email while out of the office or to connect to an LCD projector and deliver a presentation.
Comments
But...
The iBook is small enough. It's sexy. And I actually LIKE the G3 processor. It doesn't get as hot as the G4s, and I am a writer, so I _do_ tend to have them on my laps and I _do_ keep my hands on the keyboard.
This saved me a lot of money, because
1) it's 500 USD less (800 Swiss Francs here) and
2) I was able to move the AirPort card from the Ti to the iBook instead of getting a new one.
So? I got the 12", 800 MHz G3 with 640 MB RAM. With the AirPort card from my Ti, the only downside I can see right now is that I _CAN'T_ find a hardware upgrade. But that's acutally good, because I'm saving money. Now back to work writing a good story for next month's gig with <a href="http://schreibentutweh.ch"; target="_blank">Gruppe 02</a> here in Switzerland.
<strong>
Matsu: I'm just glad you got a new 12-inch PowerBook (in you lap
Still, I was under the firm impression that institutions could get BTO as well. Back in college, I was able to order a BTO Wallstreet just before graduation through our IT administration. At the time, BTO was only available to institutions, not individuals. As you may remember, Wallstreet deliveries were slow to ramp up. In fact, I didn't get my new Wallstreet until after I had my diploma in hand.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think it's because Apple doesn't like Canadians very much. All these great special institutional prices I hear Apple cuts schools, I've never seen them materialize here. We have the institutional price list which is a quite a bit better than the normal edu price cut, but it dosn't come anywhere near the prices I hear flying around these fora. I don't think Apple makes those prices unless you buy a LOT of mac from them. We don't have BTO, I asked, called up the rep meself. No edu price BTO superdrive, at least not in Canada. They will BTO large orders that are all the same, but one notebook going out to a guy who, in their eyes, shouldn't be getting this discount anyway? As they say on the Supranos, fuggedaboudit! Edu customers generally seem to get better treatment in the States
If anyone knows differently, let me know. There might be a PC out there like the iBook that I just don't know about.
<strong>I wonder if Apple should consider making a really cheap, G3-based subnotebook to replace the current low-end iBook once the iBook goes to G4.</strong><hr></blockquote>
the cheapest way to do that for apple is to keep the current cheapest ibook and make it even cheaper, say $ 899.00.
a faster processor and maybe a dvd-drive in it, so you can boot from dvd. no combo: if you want to burn, buy a ibookG4.
good idea, Luca, and more disirable than an imac1 for $ 799.00.
In the UK, education institution prices seem to be the same as for individuals but without tax (VAT at 17.5%).
I used a 12" PowerBook yesterday. It doesn't seem that small: I'll have to compare it to my Duo 230 side by side.
[ 02-23-2003: Message edited by: Stoo ]</p>
It's just that here in japan, it is priced pretty much exactly the same as the new 12"powerbook. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
I just can't get the budget approved by the wife for such an extravegant toy...the 12" maybe ("the work excuse"), but the C1, never (unless you can help me think of an excuse).
[BTW, I recently bought a very clean, used 800dvi-Titanium, so work the excuse around that fact...]
To see some really small notebooks, I think dynamism has a bunch of J-market ones.
And to those of you who say that small notebooks are a bad idea and want to lug around 17" screens, that is very wonderful for you...
I love my 12" iBook, I certainly don't miss the extra screen estate, I just use CodeTek's Virtual Desktop app and I am pretty happy.
<a href="http://www.pc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/products/t1p/index.html"; target="_blank">Panasonic T1</a>
and its little brother
<a href="http://www.pc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/products/r1m/index.html"; target="_blank">Panasonic R1</a>
I just saw this advertised on the trains in Tokyo last week. The T1 is a 12.1 inch notebook weighing in at 999grams. Actually, to get better memory, HD and WIFI adds about 100g. Still this is about half the weight of the 12 inch PB. Panasonic also claims 5 hour battery life.
I will add that they cut a lot of corners on this - no firewire, video memory shared with main memory, only runs windows, memory seems to be limited to 256MB, etc. However, 1kg sure is attractive.
I noticed in meetings last week in Tokyo several people using some kind of small Dell notebook, didn't catch the model but it seems a little thinner and lighter than the 12 inch PB.
These are not full time computers. These are just enough to take some notes in a meeting, pickup email while out of the office or to connect to an LCD projector and deliver a presentation.
[ 02-23-2003: Message edited by: rampancy ]</p>