Should I get a Powerbook now or wait? Dilemma inside...
I have a chance to get a new 12 inch powerbook for $800 (combo drive, so its the older model, but still verrry nice).
The store is going to sell out within the week though. I would love to get one of the new Mac/Intel ibooks or powerbooks, but it seems nobody is sure if they are going to come out this January, and that we may wind up waiting until as late as June.
I am sick of windows. I need a mac (but it would still be very nice having Windows has a dual-booting backup. Would it be wise to simply get the 800 dollar powerbook now, and sell it if the new intel machines come out later? I think that I could probably get close to, if not more than what I am going to pay for it on ebay, even if I use it a little bit.
Also, I can get applecare on the powerbook for only $99. Should I sell the notebook, is this transferrable? Would it increase the notebook's value substantiallY?
The store is going to sell out within the week though. I would love to get one of the new Mac/Intel ibooks or powerbooks, but it seems nobody is sure if they are going to come out this January, and that we may wind up waiting until as late as June.
I am sick of windows. I need a mac (but it would still be very nice having Windows has a dual-booting backup. Would it be wise to simply get the 800 dollar powerbook now, and sell it if the new intel machines come out later? I think that I could probably get close to, if not more than what I am going to pay for it on ebay, even if I use it a little bit.
Also, I can get applecare on the powerbook for only $99. Should I sell the notebook, is this transferrable? Would it increase the notebook's value substantiallY?
Comments
i feel like if someone is asking 'do i need a new computer?' than 4 times out of 5, the answer is 'no!' but, in your case, since you're making the change from windows, it's more like buying your first computer (or at least your first computer that will hold any value!)
so, get it, i'd say, provided you aren't going into debt with the purchase.
the switch to intel is a big deal, but it shouldn't affect the usefulness of your computer at all. if you're too worried, another option would be a mac mini. the online apple store has a basic refurbished mac mini for $439, which would be fantastic if you already have a monitor and that jazz.
? 1.5GHz PPC G4
? 512MB RAM
? 60GB HD
? DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Combo Drive
? Airport/Bluetooth
12 inch screen
I currently have a Dell 600m, and this thing is giving me a lot of grief. I do a lot of video converting/CPU intensive stuff, and it simply doesn't have enough airflow, so it overheats my hard drive. I had one crash last summer, and the new drive they sent me is already making clicks.
I don't necessarily need a computer this instant, I was actually planning on waiting until the new Intel machines come out (for dual boot capability), but this deal seems almost too good to pass up, even it is just to hold me over for a few months. I figure if the new notebooks don't wind up coming out until June, I'm going to be stuck with this damn Dell for just that much longer (I'm planning on selling it once I get a Powerbook, intel or otherwise).
ALSO:
I meant to ask this earlier... How do the 12 inch powerbooks do with heat? I know they get a little hot, but has there been a problem with HD crashes? I will probably have it clamshelled a lot, hooked up to my LCD monitor, but I'd like the portability when I need it for class (this is why I'm not getting a Mini).
You mentioned you could resell this in close the the same price anyway, so there isn't much risk.
People have mentioned that the Intel PB's - and that's if they come January, which really is a big 'if' - won't be the most stable machine in it's first iteration. PowerPC won't disappear for quite a few years, so your purchase will not be obsolete any time soon.
Of course, it might get referred to as "the older one"
About dual-booting Windows; that won't be possible in this PB, of course, but I doubt you'll ever need to do so. You'll know what I mean once you're on a Mac.
I'd say it's a steal! You can't even get a base-configuration iBook for that.
Go get it!
I'd wait on the Intel macs at least a year after they are released. I think a good basic rule of thumb is that it's better to purchase during the midlife to end-of-life of a generation. In this case were nearing the end of the G4. At least on the pro side of mac products.
That little PB should be able to carry you at least through the next 2 years. At least. I see mine the same way, and as I mentioned before, I work with some pretty processor intensive apps.
The internal design of the case basically works like this. The processor sits at the back near the center. On top of it, a fan. Radiating out (pun intended) towards the left front and running over the hard drive, a large heat sink, which in heavy use heats up the left palm rest a bit irritatingly (though no worse than an iBook). It is this heat sink, not the hard drive, that heats up that palm rest. There is a big vent at the back and a smaller one bottom left front.
I would suggest if things get a bit hairy you have whichever one of those vents is the exit vent (sorry, I don't know) pointing up and the entrance vent down when you are in clamshell mode. Something like a Podium cool pad is really effective for this kind of thing. Using it just in regular mode I don't think you will need to take too many precautions.
Another way of dealing with heat is running the processor in the energy saver mode either in "automatic" (auto switching between 750MHz or 1.5GHz depending on your processing need as perceived by the computer) or in "reduced power" (bias towards 750MHz).
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...360-BK&cat=FAN