iBook Set up? Need some help

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
I'm going to be buying a "new" iBook, if it comes out before Jan. All speculation aside, how much RAM should I have if I am only going to be using it with, 10.2 x (Jaguar) web, MS-word, cd-burning. But possibly all at the same time? What would the noticeable differences be, between 256, and 384, and Hard Drives, is 20 gig big enough, to store mp3s on and not slow down the computer? Also is .Mac worth joining? What are the benefits?

Thanks I'm new to the mac world, and would really appreciate the help.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    [quote]Originally posted by millsdude:

    <strong>I'm going to be buying a "new" iBook, if it comes out before Jan. All speculation aside, how much RAM should I have if I am only going to be using it with, 10.2 x (Jaguar) web, MS-word, cd-burning. But possibly all at the same time? What would the noticeable differences be, between 256, and 384, and Hard Drives, is 20 gig big enough, to store mp3s on and not slow down the computer? Also is .Mac worth joining? What are the benefits?

    Thanks I'm new to the mac world, and would really appreciate the help.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Go with at least 384.. I recommend 512. OS X is RAM savvy and you will appreciate the speed. Also, Ram is super cheap... check <a href="http://www.macsales.com"; target="_blank">www.macsales.com</a> for good prices on RAM. You should be able to buy a 512M so-dimm to add into the second slot for around 50-60$... for that price you will have 768 meg (assuming new ibook has 256M so-dimm in other slot). A little overkill, but only a few dollars more than the 256M so-dimm. 20 gig hard drive should be fine based off the uses you listed. And again, honestly 384RAM would be fine, but it is just SO Cheap right now, I would go for a little more, it won't hurt to have it for future longevity of your machine.
  • Reply 2 of 14
    kidredkidred Posts: 2,402member
    The 512 is a good bet because in a year or so, that might be the norm.
  • Reply 3 of 14
    bodhibodhi Posts: 1,424member
    Going to General Discussion, more of a purchasing advice question.

  • Reply 4 of 14
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    Actually, 512 MB is currently the norm - not the norm for what Apple ships with their computers (most have either 128 MB or 256 MB), but it's generally agreed that 512 MB is a good amount to have.



    If Apple does decide to put 256 MB of RAM on the motherboard of the next iBook, they'd probably up the hard drive size to 30 GB standard, with perhaps a 40 GB on the 14" iBook and maybe even a BTO option for a 60 GB. As usual, you should be able to custom configure a larger HD for either one.



    Personally, my 40 GB hard drive in my PowerMac G4 is too small and I'm now getting an 80 GB one to complement it, but I have a lot of MP3s, a lot of games, and quite a few movies. I make disk images of all my games because that gives better performance, it eliminates skips when it reads from the CD, it keeps the CD in good shape, and it means that if I ever lose the CD, I can still play the game. Of course, I tend to be a packrat with the big drive so I accumulate stuff. For just MP3s, basic browsing, email, and Word, a 20 GB will be sufficient and a 30 GB would be better. I'd personally recomment a 30 GB myself, but again, consider the source
  • Reply 5 of 14
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    eh, 128MB is enough to squeeze by, seriously



    my bro is using a whiteBook with 128 and he has never had any complaints with running his word processor and holding a ton of mp3' (which, i might add, are name "track 1","track 2", and so on...ughhhhh) <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 6 of 14
    stunnedstunned Posts: 1,096member
    I have 384mb of ram, and i am doing all the things u are considering doing. and my ibook is the 600mhz slower model.



    No problem.
  • Reply 7 of 14
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    Actually, I had a PowerBook G3/233 (much slower than an iBook) and when I went from 160 MB to 384 MB of RAM, I saw no apparent difference. I'd still recommend 384 MB, because you'll be running a newer system that probably needs more RAM, but for your needs, you could just add a 128 MB module and get by. When you really need to add RAM is later on, when you are running new software on an outdated machine. For example, my PowerMac 8100 had 112 MB of RAM when I sold it. It would have been an unprecedented amount when the computer was first sold in 1994 (it only shipped with 8 MB, I think), but in 2002 it's a pretty standard amount.
  • Reply 8 of 14
    der kopfder kopf Posts: 2,275member
    I upped my 600 mhz 14" icebook from 256 ('t was a top-end!) to 384 only last week, and I have to say, it was worth the little money it cost me - I was able to sell my old 128 stick for the price of a new one, so I got 128 extra of RAM for about 20 euro -.



    I would've ultimately wanted to go for a 512, but the price of them is astronomical over here, unless you order from the US, which, imho, is not feasible (at least, from Europe).



    Bottom line: get as much as you can, and as you think reasonable (money will probably be your only concern there). I notice that even now, when I have several apps open (admittedly, both Photoshop and Illustrator belong to the hard-core of apps I use) and run a top command in the terminal (to view memory and CPU usage), that I am thoroughly using HD space for virtual memory, which, you will all agree, is a no-go.



    So again: get as much as you can (and 640 is the current max, so that should do).
  • Reply 9 of 14
    I have 384 megs Ram in my 14" 700mhz iBook and it is plenty. You are probably better off just maxing it out from the get go. Just odn't buy the ram from Apple because it is really over priced. I bought my ram from Apple when i was at the Apple Store but I wanted it right than and there. I didn't want to have to wait for it to be shipped to me.
  • Reply 10 of 14
    One more thing pick up an External Firewire Harddrive. I got a 60 gig External FW HD to go with the 30 gig in side the ibook. I got it for under 200$.
  • Reply 11 of 14
    Hello, I'm new here and I too need suggestions in buying an iBook for portability. As much as I like the PowerBooks, it's too rich for my blood and would rather buy a PowerMac for the living room instead.



    Anyway, I'm from Canada and I heard about the iBook hardware update from this board with the request of asking.



    Here's of what my uses for an iBook:

    * Able to use programs and games except for intense number-crunching like video encoding (that will be for my upcoming desktop).

    * Can it run PhotoShop fine?

    * Play DVDs and burns CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

    * Play multiple multimedia files.



    Here's my questions:

    * Is the AppleCare extended warranty necessary because of the fragility of laptop components?

    * How do I get OS X to be used for maximum effiency on a G3 CPU, since the OS is more in line with G4? (other than the RAM increase, that is)

    * I know that OS 9 is not around but can I get a copy to install into the iBook?

    * What programs and hardware accessories I would need in the long run?



    Lastly, is the iBook update worth it for me?



    Thanks for those who answer.



    PS: my log-in name is an in-nod to the computer companies who make computers other than DOS-based.
  • Reply 12 of 14
    Here's what I think:



    * Can it run PhotoShop fine?

    Yes. The iBook can run Photoshop. Can it run it "fine"? Well, not exactly. If you're using it for low-res web site images, you'll be OK. We ALL ran Photoshop on G3 chips before the G4 game out. But, of course, that was an older, simpler version of Photoshop. Bottom line is: the iBook is a consumer level machine and you can get by running Photoshop on it, you just won't get a high level of performance.



    * Play DVDs and burns CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

    * Play multiple multimedia files.

    All of this happens with no troubles on the iBook.



    Your questions:

    * Is the AppleCare extended warranty necessary because of the fragility of laptop components?

    No, the AppleCare Protection Plan is great because it takes the one year parts and labor warranty and extends it for another two years. It also takes Apple's standard 90 days of free telephone technical support and extends it over all three years of the warranty. Apple's tech. support just got rated number one by Consumer Reports. While Apple builds quality computers, the AppleCare is a great insurance policy against anything going wrong with your Mac. Plus, it only costs $249 on the iBook (only $149 on the iMacs!).



    * How do I get OS X to be used for maximum effiency on a G3 CPU, since the OS is more in line with G4? (other than the RAM increase, that is)

    You can't do much. OS X, version 10.2 (Jaguar) has been optimized by Apple to work very efficiently. Even on my 500Mghz iMac, I noticed a speed increase when I upgraded.



    * I know that OS 9 is not around but can I get a copy to install into the iBook?

    Actually, your iBook will come with OS 9 installed on it's hard drive. It will still be able to boot into OS 9 if you want, but Classic Mode will also be there to run older apps when you are booted in OS X.



    * What programs and hardware accessories I would need in the long run?

    Well that all depends on what you want to do. Evetually you might want to expand your hard drive storage. You'll be able to do that easily with an external FireWire drive. You might also want to consider one of the many versions of the new solid state memory sticks that connect to your USB port. Great for file swapping and transport. You'll want some kind of case or bag to protect the iBook when traveling.



    With AppleWorks, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iCal, the Mail application and the Address Book, Apple includes a lot of great software on the iBook right out of the box. You might want to consider Microsoft Office to get Word, PowerPoint and Excel.



    Yes, I think the iBook will be good for you, whether you get the current version or the rumored updated model.



    [ 11-04-2002: Message edited by: clonenode ]</p>
  • Reply 13 of 14
    jaskejaske Posts: 73member
    * Can it run PhotoShop fine?



    That depends on your definition of fine (which is dependent on why you're using Photoshop).



    I owned an iBook 700 mhz and used Photoshop 7 for personal photo editing. In particular, I largely used the healing tool, and very basic color correction to "repair" old, scratched photos I had previously scanned. In my opinion, speed was more than adequate. But if I was doing production work, with time equaling money, I definitely would find the iBook to be tolerable, but more than a bit slow.



    So, be honest about your Photoshop needs, and go from there.
  • Reply 14 of 14
    stunnedstunned Posts: 1,096member
    If the rumours of the updated speed and lowered prices of the ibooks are true, I think it is really worth it. More worth it if u can get educational prices for the ibook.
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