PowerBook 12" crippled compared to 15"
My friend recently bought a 12" PowerBook, and I have to say that is is a awesome looking computer. I thought about getting one but apple has crippled it compared to the other models. A computer that ends up costing almost 2000 dollars should have a 64MB graphics card and it should not have the ram limitation. Having 256MB build in creates a very expensive process of upgrading the ram. Especially when apple charges you 270 education for a 512MB stick. Creating a Powerbook 12" with a decent amount of ram and a airport card ends up costing almost 2000 education. This is way to high considering that you are only really getting a slightly upgraded iBook. The only difference between the 12" PowerBook and the iBook is basically bluetooth built in and a cooler body style. I heard the graphics cards were about equal. The 12" PowerBook should be the same as the 15" just a little slower in Mhz, hard drive, and etc but not in built in functions like GPU. Obviously, apple does this to create a bigger market for their higher margin computers. You think in the next revision apple will make the 12" more equal to the other PowerBook models?
Comments
Originally posted by T'hain Esh Kelch
Why on earth would you want the Powerbook 12" instead of the iBook, when you are a student?
PeLEASE! Are you serious?
OK, SO WHAT HAS THIS TO DO WITH THE THREAD? you may ask.
Let me say that if portability and use, kind of rough (as one could use the original iBook or the Pismo G3 PB-- which had incredible flexibility with its bays --MINE IS STILL ALIVE!) definitely go with the 12" PB, the bargain of the century for WP use and knock about. If you are thinking of the Al series, I would recommend the 15", or use the one and save up for the second one day.
Originally posted by Algol
You think in the next revision apple will make the 12" more equal to the other PowerBook models?
I doubt, really. It is quite possible that the gap will get even bigger by the introduction of the G5 Powerbook, in the case where the new chip cannot go directly into the 12" Powerbook.
Even if the next revision is a G4, the big Powerbooks are going to get a 128 MB graphics chip (hopefully, ATI Radeon Mobility 9700). By that time, the 12" Powerbook will have probably a 64 MB GPU, if that is not an issue with the available space in the aluminum enclosure.
The problem is that apple crippled the PowerBook 12" for no reason other than to jack up their prices of the 15". The 12" has the PowerBook title it should not have iBook Limitations. It should have all the features the bigger models do. Yes, even the light up keyboard. If apple feels that a 12" PowerBook will interfere with the sales of 15" PowerBooks if they have same specs then apple should not have called it a PowerBook. The 12" is an amazing computer in terms of size and style, but it is more an iBook than a PowerBook. This seems to be sound logic. Also most people who buy a 12" PowerBook are students who want more power for Games, thus apple should but the best card in it they can get. If the PowerBook cost a 200 more but had same GPU and RAM and light up keyboard as 15" I am sure more people would buy it. Taking the RAM cripple off would cost very little and adding 32MB more VRAM would also be cheap as shit. The lightup keyboard is what 80 dollars. Apple could add these features or at least make them optional for less than 200. The only difference between the 12" and 15" should be the screen size, HD size, PCI slot, and perhaps speed cause the smaller case has less room to cool off. The G4 is all ready an old chip that often struggles to keep up with Intel laptop chips. Apple has the upper hand in style and size but they should not cripple machines to sell other ones. They have done this for ever and the 12" PowerBook is there only example left besides the iBooks having 256k L2 cache. I am hoping the next upgrade apple creates a real PowerBook out of the 12". Now, I think it's okay the give the 17" a few more features than the 15" because it has more space for them and it is extremely expensive. Although, we all know that steve is just making up for something.
You have to accept some tradeoffs in exchange for both miniaturization and a lower price. Most computer makers charge a premium for the really compact models.
Not to mention that I think Apple's settled on a really good way to keep the iBook's costs down, by having the 12" PowerBook pay for the engineering costs in advance.
Originally posted by trebuchet
Why buy Apple ram at all... ever?!? I just purchased a gig of ram for my Powerbook ( 2 x 512 ) for $86 per stick.
Sorry, off Topic but SHIT! I just looked at Apple's prices for RAM: £220 ($415)
for 512MB and £549 ($1,037.71) for 1GB! OMFG!! You could buy [insert "whole computer", "AV system", "car", "Carribean holiday" here according to preference] for that. I've just bought TWO 512MB sticks from Crucial (ie not the cheapest) and they came to a total of £130. That's like 40% cheaper than ONE 512MB stick from Apple UK.
Moral: Don't buy RAM from Apple!
Sorry, yeah, I'm off topic
Originally posted by SonOfSylvanus
Moral: Don't buy RAM from Apple!
Sorry, yeah, I'm off topic
But you are right.
amorph, please...
Originally posted by Algol
It was supposed to be a discussion of the future of the 12" PowerBook. Whether it was possible or if apple would make it equal to the 15" with the next revision.
Yabbut this is AI - thread-drift is whatsitsallabout.
Anyhoo. I don't believe that the 12" will ever be equal to the 15" (or the 17 for that matter). Apple has placed the 12" as an entry-level PowerBook but it's not only that. The rest is a question of packaging. I'm sure that Apple has done a great job cramming everything into the VERY small shell of the 12" but expecting light-up keyboards in there is asking a bit much I think.
The result is that the specs on the iBook 12" and the PB 12" are so close that the 30% price difference isn't really warranted. In that light the iBook is the better choice right now and represents incredible value for Apple-dollars. Only when Cupertino manages to shoe-horn the 97x in there without sending people to hospital after the 30 second, sparkling explosion of burning and molten aluminium upon hitting the power-on button, will that change.
Originally posted by EDS66
My only gripe with the 12-inch PowerBook is its screen quality. The colors are not as bright and vivid as they could be; the contrast is rather bad, and calibration only gets it marginally better. Other than the screen, the machine is close to perfect in every way. And it runs much cooler than its revision A predecessor
True indeed. The 12" screen is actually quite a lot darker than an ibook i compared it to yesterday.
That made me slightly pissed off... actually...
I doubt that the 12" model will ever match the lower specced 15" model on performance.
It's built for portability first, it's cheaper too, what do you expect?
It's missing a PC-Card (useful) and the illuminated keyboard (cool).
It will get the illuminated keyboard on the next rev, it may never get a PC Card slot (pity).
Edit:
iBooks are going to be really nice once we see a G5 Powerbook.
With a clear distinction between G5 Powerbooks and G4 iBooks, Apple can freely include ALL of the following.
DVD-Superdrives
DVI-out SPANNING SUPPORT
1.2-1.5Ghz G4's.
At current iBook prices, it'll be nice.
Furthermore, at the prices Apple is now charging, it's time to include airport for "free" in all but the iBook 12"
Originally posted by Matsu
It will get the illuminated keyboard on the next rev, it may never get a PC Card slot (pity).
I remember an Apple representative who said in an interview, just days after the introduction of 12" and 17" Powerbooks last year, that Apple deliberately did not include the illuminated keyboard in the 12" model just to make the 17" more attractive (sorry, no link right now, but at the time there was a furious discussion over at MacNN on the subject). He admitted furthermore, that there are no technical issues to include it even in the 12" form factor. So, I presume you are right on that one, but I can't say if it will be the next update or not.
For the PC card slot though, they have perhaps not enough room to include it in the 12" model.