PowerBook G3 vs. PowerBook G4

brokenphonebrokenphone
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Okay, before we begin, I want you all to imagine a scenario in the future when the "new" PowerBook G12's are out , and you are looking back to the old days of the PowerBook G3 and G4.. Which was the better design?



I would say the PowerBook G3 is the better of the two..



First praise for the PowerBook G3.. Very strong reliable computer.. Plenty of power in this book.. The 14.1 inch display is incredible, and I have worked with larger monitors.. I actually prefer this one. The case of the computer still looks great #X years after purchase.. It's very light and the overall shape and curve of this notebook are IMO the best in history.. I only have 128 megs RAM and I don't experience much lag in OSX.. Only when there are a lot of apps running. I can't wait to get those 256 megs and Jaguar.. This puppy is going to breath new life..



But I don't really want to base this comparison on specs because obviously the TiBook is ahead there.. I only want a design comparison..



I am going to get flamed for this, but I think the design of the TiBook has some flaws.. The trackpad and button are awkward.. The button is too thin, and straight (i love the G3's butterfly button) and the trackpad needs a rim of plastic.. I don't like that it is on plane with the case of the notebook.. The display is gorgeous.. I must admit.. I've heard rumors tho, of paint chipping off and dents on the case.. Whatta shame, to be honest.. And there is one other thing I noticed about the look of the TiBook that annoyed me: the hinge connecting the display and the rest of the notebook is not designed well, and there is a large gap between the two..



Overall I believe the PowerBook G3 reigns supreme as Apples best notebook.. muahahaha <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



Tell me what you guys think..
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 27
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    Definately the Powerbook G3. Overall, I just like the design better. It was also much more durable.
  • Reply 2 of 27
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    Yeah, but the Apple logo is right-side-up on the G4 PowerBook. I mean, THAT alone is...



  • Reply 3 of 27
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    The PowerBook G4 may be thinner, lighter, and have a larger display, but the PowerBook G3 is a real winner. It's light and thin enough for just about anyone, and it's very rugged and durable. I'm sure it's much more durable than the G4. The G3 has expansion bays which allow it to have just about any optical drive you want, an extra hard drive, or even two batteries. The G3 has a smaller footprint, and I think the keyboard feels better on the G3. The G4's keyboard is too stiff for me. The trackpad is definitely better on the G3, by far. It's nice to have the brightness and volume adjustments separate from the function keys, because that allows you to assign any function to any key, instead of avoiding those particular four keys. And, IMO, the ports are easier to reach on the G3. The hinge makes it difficult to plug things into the G4, and it's very difficult to unplug an ethernet cable from the G4.



    Only a few drawbacks, design wise, for the G3. First of all, although the keyboard has better feel, it's not laid out as well. Who uses that enter key next to the spacebar? No one I know. It was fixed later on.



    So yeah, my vote goes to the G3, by far.
  • Reply 4 of 27
    bluesignsbluesigns Posts: 315member
    2 points for G3:



    #1-Audio-in

    who was the absolute moron that made the decesion to take the audio-in port off of the Ti-book?

    whoever it was should have been shot with sh!t.



    #2-plays miniCDs and business card CDs
  • Reply 5 of 27
    donnydonny Posts: 231member
    I could be a bit biased in ansering this thread, since I own a G3 and, in fact, am typing this response on my Prismo. However, I think the design award goes to the PowerBook G3, definately.



    I have used the Titanium PowerBook my friend owns and played with the new ones over a few hours at the Apple Store in Atlanta. So I have some experience with it. Actually, I like the crips keyboard on the Titanium better, but It is the only thing about it that is better to me, besides the specs, of course.



    The PowerBook G3 is a sexy machine. It has great curves (shape), a smaller footprint, a crisp display ( a problem until the newest Titanium release), and a more durable case.



    The PowerBook G3 is more easier to use and upgrade. You can add bays for harddrives, batteries, CD/DVD/ComboDrives (if the G3 could handle DVD encoding...we would see a SuperDrive in a G3 PowerBook before the Titanium).



    The Titanium is a sweet little machine. But you are limited by the form factor, and this problem limits its overall usefullness. It is fast but hot. The case is flimsy. the new ones are more firm, but it is still a problem. I thought the Titanium machine was metal, but it is a coating of some sort. At least, it seems that way to me.



    Definately, I would give honors to the PowerBook G3.



    Apple just ripped off Sony anyway....

    (somewhat joking...but Steve even made the comparison himself...)
  • Reply 6 of 27
    giaguaragiaguara Posts: 2,724member
    Gee!!



    Post here the pictures of the beauties .. i'm not sure if i have seen the g3. Btw the actual powerbook and ibook i think ibook looks more sexy <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 7 of 27
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    You wanted PBG3 pics, miss Bianca?



















    Ask and ye shall receive.
  • Reply 8 of 27
    brokenphonebrokenphone Posts: 94member
    Shagadelic!
  • Reply 9 of 27
    andersanders Posts: 6,523member
    Pismo is the height of Apple Powerbooks IMO. The last of a serie (and all children diseases handled) and still the first with all modern ports (USB, FW, AP). And as someone mentioned above it had things Apple had to give up for the Ti: Dual bays, Sound in and dual FW. And the best pointing device I have ever tried on any computer ever.



    And the design. Sleek and brutal at the same time. Noone have ever before or since managed to make anything like it.



    Not until the last revision of the Ti have I felt the urge to replace my Pismo with it...
  • Reply 10 of 27
    giaguaragiaguara Posts: 2,724member
    The current windows running design laptops look too much like G3 powerbook <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    So maybe in two years i'll find a design copy of the white ibook for a windows something.. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    Yep. Mulatta .. bianca and an ibook bianco.. a perfect and happy couple (bianco is white btw in ita)
  • Reply 11 of 27
    jane jjane j Posts: 5member




    [ 08-04-2002: Message edited by: Jane J ]</p>
  • Reply 12 of 27
    andersanders Posts: 6,523member
    [quote]Originally posted by Mulattabianca:

    <strong>The current windows running design laptops look too much like G3 powerbook <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

    </strong><hr></blockquote>





    ***Anders slaps Mb with a glove***





    I dare you: For each Wintel that looks a Pismo you can find pictures of I´ll give you two that looks more like a Ti.
  • Reply 13 of 27
    brokenphonebrokenphone Posts: 94member
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong></strong><hr></blockquote>



    I forgot how sweet this picture was.. Thanks. I'm going to incorporate it into my homepage's powerbook site (which I am currently in the process of learning to do).. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 14 of 27
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    brokenphone:



    If you're not already familiar with it, you really should check out <a href="http://www.pbzone.com/"; target="_blank">the PowerBook Zone</a>. They use that same graphic in the left column of the web site.
  • Reply 15 of 27
    xionjaxionja Posts: 504member
    The G3 powerbook, looks just like the currant dell's. Ick, personally I like the straighter lines of our g4 power books.
  • Reply 16 of 27
    brokenphonebrokenphone Posts: 94member
    [quote]Originally posted by xionja:

    <strong>The G3 powerbook, looks just like the currant dell's. Ick, personally I like the straighter lines of our g4 power books.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I took a look around dell.com and these two notebooks look _a little_ like the PowerBook G3











    but I don't think its worthy of an "ick"



    now those are ugly <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    [ 08-04-2002: Message edited by: brokenphone ]</p>
  • Reply 17 of 27
    donnydonny Posts: 231member
    Pictures do no justice to Apple products. Anyone see the new iMac in pictures to go see one in person and be simply stunned by the awesome attention to detail and sleek design?



    I thought the Titanium was a sweet machine in pictures. The way Steve Jobs went on and on, as usual, about it at its introduction had me drooling. I was very disappointed after playing around with one myself. It is a nice machine, but it lacks endurance on the road. This feature is one that I find to be very important in a portable system. Honestly, I can place a great deal of pressure on my Prismo (try around the keyboard, the trackpad, and the palm rest area). If I do the same to a Titanium, it bends under the slightest bit of pressure. Also, It feels fradgile, in the same way, when carrying it, and I do not experience this concern near as much with the Prismo.



    OK...I'm done defending my baby for now...
  • Reply 18 of 27
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    By the way, the code name is "Pismo" not "Prismo"
  • Reply 19 of 27
    brokenphonebrokenphone Posts: 94member
    [quote]Originally posted by Donny:

    <strong>Pictures do no justice to Apple products. Anyone see the new iMac in pictures to go see one in person and be simply stunned by the awesome attention to detail and sleek design?



    I thought the Titanium was a sweet machine in pictures. The way Steve Jobs went on and on, as usual, about it at its introduction had me drooling. I was very disappointed after playing around with one myself. It is a nice machine, but it lacks endurance on the road. This feature is one that I find to be very important in a portable system. Honestly, I can place a great deal of pressure on my Prismo (try around the keyboard, the trackpad, and the palm rest area). If I do the same to a Titanium, it bends under the slightest bit of pressure. Also, It feels fradgile, in the same way, when carrying it, and I do not experience this concern near as much with the Prismo.



    OK...I'm done defending my baby for now... </strong><hr></blockquote>



    To be quite honest, I was unimpressed by the iMac.. it looks so much better in pictures. If I were a VP of Industrial design at Apple, I would encase the dome base of the FP iMac with a very thin clear plastic shell. Keep it clean, when I tried it out, the white keyboard and the white parts of the display were really filthy.. Some different colors would be cool too.. It is a wonderful design, but it needs some work..



    I know what you mean about the ruggedness of the Pismo, I always find myself sitting reading something and taking the keyboard out and just fiddling with it.. Totally compulsive and yet not dangerous.. And its basically my bongo drum when listening to jazz <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 20 of 27
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    The PowerBook G3 gets my vote.



    There are a few things that still give it the advantage:



    1.) Upgradeable CPU: The G3 can be upgraded to a G4 as the processor lies on a daughtercard. The TiBook does not have this option.

    2.) Large amounts of memory: The G3 can support up to 1 GB of RAM; memory that is generally cheaper than that of the TiBook.

    3.) 2 Firewire ports: Still the only laptop with this feature.

    4.) Swappable drive bays: Want a combo drive? Pop it in!

    5.) Dual batteries: Want 10 hour battery life? Add another battery!

    6.) Standard Screen Size: Don't want widescreen? This is the machine for you.

    7.) Excellent Airport reception: Want long range Airport? The built in antennas on the Pismo give much better range than those on the TiBook.



    I could go on but I'm getting tired of listing reasons of 'superiority'.



    The one drawback is the graphics card's memory. The card, however, can be 'upgraded' to 16 MB of VRAM and from what I gathered from ATI at MWNY, they are planning to offer this upgrade in the near future.
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