Old 12" PB Replaced by a new MB - anybody heard of this before?

seeker

Hi everyone,



I currently own a G4 12" PB (1.5 GHz, 80GB hard drive, 768MB ram, bought it August '06), and just had my optical drive replaced with a new one, since it stopped reading all blank and burned CDs/DVDs. The new drive worked like it's supposed to, but while replacing it, something went wrong and my laptop speakers got damaged - the sound got garbled and there was a lot of static. A Genius told me they'll find a new set of speakers/subwoofer and replace them, as well. However, a week later the store called and said they can't find a part and are instead willing to replace my current laptop with a new Macbook (2.0GHz C2D, 80GB hard drive, 1GB ram).



Obviously, this is a great deal for me, but I do have some concerns. Even though the processor and memory are better than what I currently have, I'm losing a dedicated graphics card for the GMA chip. The two machines also doesn't seem to be at the same level since the PB is/was a pro level laptop and cost me over $2100 (CAD) while the macbook they're offering me now is only $1400 (I do understand that there is depreciation, but still, a PB isn't quite equivalent to a midrange MB). Also, when I bought my PB I put extra memory in it while the one they're offering me now is at the base level, without a ram upgrade.



I guess what my question really is, is whether it'd be more fair for me to get the midrange macbook with a ram/hard drive upgrade rather than the base midrange version. Also, the store representative told me it will take 2-3 weeks for the computer to come, even though it's stock. Does that mean they plan on sending a refurbished MB? I forgot to ask her that the first time around and now have to wait until Monday, so I wanted to see what people on AI think. Has anybody else ever had this happen to them? Any comments would be great.



.Igor N

sthiede

ok, i think its a good deal but thats just me. about the GPU, i think i heard hear on the forums that the old PB graphics werent that much better (if not about the same) as the GMA950 so i think you should be set. not sure though. otherwise the MB is a great machine, i have one and love it.

west

It seems like a good deal, but if I were you, I would ask for a base 15" MacBook Pro, because that is really the most equivalent to what you have. If anything, at least insist they give you the black MacBook (assuming you want that color), if you don't want the size of the Pro.

gwoodpecker

First of all, the PowerBook 12" (which I had also) was not so much "Pro" level. It's a fact that it was a beefed-up iBook in every aspect and the later G4 iBooks had pretty much the same things inside as the 12" PB. Only the video card was even more crippled on the iBook than on the PB. So let's not exaggerate about the Pro features here.



Second, the discussion about GMA or not has been beaten to death already. It will be for sure a lot faster than what you had in your PB. Same to the RAM: I don't get why the offer you're supposed to get should be inferior to what you had? 1 GB is more than 768 MB. And the fact that you added RAM to the base machine does not give you any further things to ask for.



For christ's sake, they're offering you a very good and fair deal for a one-and-a-half year old machine for free (they could also have offered the 1.83 GHz model with less HD space etc.). Actually, I'm surprised this happens at all. The MB they're offering you, again, is a very good replacement for what you had, period. Go for it - unless you need the larger screen. If you had had the 15" model, they would have offered you the 15" model MBP - which you didn't have. It's as simple as that.



Good luck!

gwoodpecker

Quote:

Originally Posted by West


It seems like a good deal, but if I were you, I would ask for a base 15" MacBook Pro, because that is really the most equivalent to what you have. If anything, at least insist they give you the black MacBook (assuming you want that color), if you don't want the size of the Pro.

I completely disagree here. If he had the 15" model, he would get a 15" as well. But that's not the case!

gwoodpecker

Let's make up a list of the possible replacement machine upgrade paths:



17" PB --> 17" MBP

15" PB "better" --> 15.4" MBP "better"

15" PB "standard" --> 15.4" MBP "standard"

12" PB --> MB 2.0 white

14" iBook --> MB 2.0 white

12" iBook --> MB 1.83 white



Makes sense, huh?

marvin

The Macbook is way faster than the 12" powerbook in terms of graphics and CPU. Although the GMA isn't that great, the much faster system bus in the Macbook still makes it faster than the powerbook. The exchange will be in terms of value. A second hand powerbook will go for the same price as a new Macbook. Having had a 12" powerbook and used the Macbooks a fair bit I would say that this is a fair deal and saves you the bother of having to find a buyer for your powerbook. If you don't like glossy screens, maybe you can push for a refurb Macbook Pro but I really doubt they'd give you a new one.

west

I disagree that the midrange white MacBook is the equivalent to the 12" PowerBook. The black MacBook is at the same pricepoint as the 12" PB was, and as it is a more professional-looking color, is known that that is the model which really replaced the 12" PB. The reason I said to ask for the MacBook Pro, is because I have a friend who had the same replacement (12" PB -> 15" MacBook Pro).