macXusr, that argument has been made time and again since portable computers appeared. But just as surely, there will always be people who need their PCs to be mobile - or simply prefer it.
Try hauling a 22-pound desktop from home to school. From school to work. Do it fifteen times a week. Take it to the park. To a meeting. A coffeeshop. A library. And over to a friend's. Take it with you on a trip. Then tell us what defies logic.
"The New iMac: the center of your digital life and upper-arm strength training?" <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
while i know adding the G4 to iBook would make a purchase decision easier, it would also canibalize the PowerBook then, so that is not an option for Apple yet.....</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, let's hope they bump up the Ti's to 800 G4's across the board. Then perhaps there's room for a G4 550 14" iBook. It would still lack a few other things such as a PC card to differentiate it from the Ti's.
Why do people compain about the iBook's price. I've seen tons of CD/128/10g/500mhz models for CAN$1399, or about US$875!!! My combo was a tad expensive (coulda saved me $300 if i waited 2 months), but at the time, even the PBG4 didn't have a combo!
To differentiate the models, I think we will see a superdrive on the PB first, despite the fact that even the iMac doesn't have a slot-load. Also, ADC connectivity cannot be far off for the PB.
The Apple store I ordered my iBook 14 has received the French ones and I will check them out tomorrow seeing that the QWERTY one will still take a week or so. If I see that, in real life, the iBook 14 is outrageous in size, I will get the combo iBook 12.
That page showing the size differences between all 3 'books made me think twice.
1024 x 768 on a 14" screen is way too blocky for my tastes. That's wasting a huge space with jumbo pixels! To make that iBook worthwhile, I'd hope for more like 1400 x 1050 screens featured in Dell 8100s. Visually impaired people aren't a huge majority in the computer market, but few people know about the difference resolution makes.
For that reason, I bet Apple will do okay with the 14" iBook. While maybe a few people will look at it and say "the DPI is too low for it's footpring", most will compare the two portables and immediately want the one with the "nice big screen". I've been to people's houses and changed the resolution without them even noticing...from about 640 x 480 to 1024 x 768! :eek:
2 things... MacAddict, you are right about screen resolutions. I just finished a 4 day consultancy job at a company that has only iMacs. They bought them 3 years ago and they were at 800x600 when they bought them, and by god, they are still at that resolution. I upped the rez to 1024x768 and made the default font 14 so they could see everything well. The next day I came back someone had changed everything back to 800x600... doh.
Its incredible how scared normal people are to explore an operating system. Just one guy is really curious about MacOS and had a blast with OS X on an iMac 500Mhz and wants to know more. Everyone else, for example, was still usuing the default 'beep' sound because they dared not venture into the control panles, afraid they could mess things up. Agh.
Secondly, I went to the Mac store and saw and compared the two iBooks, 14 and 12... and I am definetly getting the 14. Size is not THAT much bigger, I can still easily stuff it into a back pack and would not be afraid to rough it up a bit seeing that its made of tough plastics. The weight is really negligiable (I held both in each hand for about a minute and couldnt really tell)and the screen is definetly better on the 14. Also, as a customer that was checking out the iBooks also pointed out, if you squeeze the iBook 12 monitor on the sides on the edges, you will see the 'waves' appear on the screen... not with the 14.
Another factor: Somehow the 14 seemed faster, slightly, than the 12 eventhough they had exactly the same specs. BTW, iTunes goes perfectly smooth at full screen on the 14, the 12 was a bit jittery at times (in OS X).
I worked for about 15 minutes on the 14, then did the same things on the 12... then went back to the 14. There is no doubt in my mind, the extra 2 inches make a BIG difference. I am very happy to be getting the 14 and think the extra 300$ are more than worth it.
Will give a nice full report once I get the damn thing in my hands. Muahahaha...
I have mixed feelings about this ibook -- it seems to me that the reason the 12" ibooks were popular had a lot to do with their compact size, so it doesn't seem to make much sense to make it bigger (especially with no change in screen resolution). However, there is nothing wrong with having more choices, and Apple must have seen a demand for this kind of machine. I just hope that they realize how many people are waiting for a subnotebook -- there must be more people who want a subnotebook mac with no optical drives.
<strong>The next day I came back someone had changed everything back to 800x600... doh.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
ZO: In my mind, keeping iMacs at 800x600 is not unreasonable. I would much rather be using 1024x768. But the CRTs that Apple uses in the iMac are of such poor quality that they won't do better than a 75Hz refresh rate at 1024 resolution (or is it even lower?). I don't know about you, but I get major headaches from anything lower than 85Hz.
I'm glad that you are happy with your choice of the 14" iBook. Personally, I wouldn't touch the 14" model with a ten foot pole. But I concede that some people may prefer the larger screen. I used similar logic to justify my BTO Wallstreet, which I got with the G3/250, because it had a large backside cache (the 233 had none), and the 12" 800x600 passive matrix screen, because I liked the large pixels and the 13" 1024x768 active matrix didn't fit in my budget at the time.
Wow! Great comparison. The 14" iBook is absolutely HUGE compared to the PowerBook! Yuck. This definitely fits the description of "Son of Pismo".</strong><hr></blockquote>
The I book 14 inch is a good choice. Compared to my first generation powerbook G3 300 costing me nearly 5000 $ in France, this machine is incredible : faster chip (600 mhz , more ram 256 mb versus 192) fire wire and usb links, dvd player, bigger HD , improved video card (i have a poor rage LT pro with 4 mb ram) less bulky, more battery life.
Of course my powerbook G3 300 is three years old , but considering the amount of money i spent with it ... i'll say that the i book 14 inch is much better.
However, the 14 inch i book is a new choice, he did not replace the 12 inch model. The two models coexist, for those who want a subnotebook like computer, they will choose the 12 inch, for those who want a bigger screen they will choose the 14 inch, where is the problem. The cost : a 14 inch screen cost more than a 12 inch. The minutarisation is a feature, but you have to remember that the 14 inch powerbook shares exactly the same mobo and technology than the 12 inch, so there is no reason for him to be cheaper.
LOL Tonton, indeed I hesitated to report about that screen wave thing, but in the end I thought it was a point to tell about because possibly some production corrections have been made, sturdier maybe?
In regards to your question, I would like to have the OPTION to up the rez to 1280x1024, if anything so that I can display that rez on an external monitor. I can't believe 1024x768 is max rez also on an external screen. Blah, that sucks.
To actually use a 14inch screen at 1280x1024 would be nuts. I have to get used to using 1280x1024 on a 19inch monitor, I dare think of that rez on a 14.
<strong>LOL Tonton, indeed I hesitated to report about that screen wave thing, but in the end I thought it was a point to tell about because possibly some production corrections have been made, sturdier maybe?
In regards to your question, I would like to have the OPTION to up the rez to 1280x1024, if anything so that I can display that rez on an external monitor. I can't believe 1024x768 is max rez also on an external screen. Blah, that sucks.
To actually use a 14inch screen at 1280x1024 would be nuts. I have to get used to using 1280x1024 on a 19inch monitor, I dare think of that rez on a 14.</strong><hr></blockquote>
you are right Zo, the LCD screen for desktop computer have lower resolutions : 1024 per 768 for 15 inch screen and 1280 per 1024 for the 17 and 18inch screen. there is very few LCD monitor able to go to 1600 per 1200 : there is the ilyama AU 4831D (cost 2500$).
I think that 1600 per 1200 on a 15 inch LCD will give me an headake (perhaps you have to use a magnifant lense)
Well, as posted elsewhere, I ve actually got the 14" (unlike most of you I suspect), and there is no problem with the resolution (this is based on my comparison of it with my ACD22 and my ASD 15 LCDs too. The picture is vivid and bright..... almost too bright but you can choose the level yourself I feel.
The 14" (with 640ram) runs OS x very nicely.... in short, I love it. Lets face it, there are many things which we all want as features (resolutions, pccard slots etc), but it all comes down to whether you want what you see.... and for me it is great. it is kind of neat having 3 computers plugged into airport at home too - I am now getting close to being able to use one whenever I want without my kids/wife elbowing me out of the way. best of all was the way it fulfilled steves promise of being the hub for my new iPod and new Finepix 6800Z (see thread 'I bought the hub, and spokes').
<strong>Secondly, I went to the Mac store and saw and compared the two iBooks, 14 and 12... The weight is really negligiable (I held both in each hand for about a minute and couldnt really tell)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Anyone who backpacks will tell you: 16oz. doesn't seem like that big a difference for a few seconds.
But carrying it around (in a bag on your shoulder) for 5 minutes and you'll feel the differance.
If you truly lug your computer around with you, that 1 pound is a *huge* difference.
That's why Escher and I want a 10.1" with no optical drive, right?
If you truly lug your computer around with you, that 1 pound is a *huge* difference. That's why Escher and I want a 10.1" with no optical drive, right?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sure got that right, BerberCarpet.
However, I have to admit that I have grown quite fond of the iBook's 12" 1028 screen and full-size keyboard. Especially if I use it for more than 5 minutes at a time (which is always the case), I miss neither the 10.4" 800 screen nor the small (but still excellent) Yu-Plan keyboard from my PB 2400c.
I still would gladly do without the optical drive and its useless (to me) weight, especially now that MCE is shipping a 16x version of its bus-powered FireWire <a href="http://www.mcetech.com/lucid.html"; target="_blank">Lucid portable 16x CD-RW drive</a>.
funny you should say that, about 10inch screen... has anyone ever noticed that on the PowerBook page at apple, on the screen comparison page, there are 3 out of the 4 screen sizes available for Mac portables? 15.2, 14.1, 12.1... and 10.4. 10.4 is the only one that doesnt exist on a Mac portable... yet.
Anyway... passed by the Mac store again today and felt even more frustrated as a client left with an iBook 14 while I still wait for mine... grrrr. Why does it take so damn long to get a qwerty keyboard around here!!!! AGGGGHHHH I WANT MY MAC!!!! I cant stand this frikken P133 Compaq anymore!!!
Comments
Try hauling a 22-pound desktop from home to school. From school to work. Do it fifteen times a week. Take it to the park. To a meeting. A coffeeshop. A library. And over to a friend's. Take it with you on a trip. Then tell us what defies logic.
"The New iMac: the center of your digital life and upper-arm strength training?" <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
Cheers,
Mark.
<strong>
"The New iMac: the center of your digital life and upper-arm strength training?" <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
.</strong><hr></blockquote>
"Now with super-duper-extremely-long extesnion cord!"
<strong>
while i know adding the G4 to iBook would make a purchase decision easier, it would also canibalize the PowerBook then, so that is not an option for Apple yet.....</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, let's hope they bump up the Ti's to 800 G4's across the board. Then perhaps there's room for a G4 550 14" iBook. It would still lack a few other things such as a PC card to differentiate it from the Ti's.
To differentiate the models, I think we will see a superdrive on the PB first, despite the fact that even the iMac doesn't have a slot-load. Also, ADC connectivity cannot be far off for the PB.
pres
14" iBooks = Teachers
12" iBooks = Young Consumers
14" iBooks = Older, "visually challenged" Consumers
10" iBook = Escher
[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
That page showing the size differences between all 3 'books made me think twice.
Grrr... I really hate this.
For that reason, I bet Apple will do okay with the 14" iBook. While maybe a few people will look at it and say "the DPI is too low for it's footpring", most will compare the two portables and immediately want the one with the "nice big screen". I've been to people's houses and changed the resolution without them even noticing...from about 640 x 480 to 1024 x 768! :eek:
Its incredible how scared normal people are to explore an operating system. Just one guy is really curious about MacOS and had a blast with OS X on an iMac 500Mhz and wants to know more. Everyone else, for example, was still usuing the default 'beep' sound because they dared not venture into the control panles, afraid they could mess things up. Agh.
Secondly, I went to the Mac store and saw and compared the two iBooks, 14 and 12... and I am definetly getting the 14. Size is not THAT much bigger, I can still easily stuff it into a back pack and would not be afraid to rough it up a bit seeing that its made of tough plastics. The weight is really negligiable (I held both in each hand for about a minute and couldnt really tell)and the screen is definetly better on the 14. Also, as a customer that was checking out the iBooks also pointed out, if you squeeze the iBook 12 monitor on the sides on the edges, you will see the 'waves' appear on the screen... not with the 14.
Another factor: Somehow the 14 seemed faster, slightly, than the 12 eventhough they had exactly the same specs. BTW, iTunes goes perfectly smooth at full screen on the 14, the 12 was a bit jittery at times (in OS X).
I worked for about 15 minutes on the 14, then did the same things on the 12... then went back to the 14. There is no doubt in my mind, the extra 2 inches make a BIG difference. I am very happy to be getting the 14 and think the extra 300$ are more than worth it.
Will give a nice full report once I get the damn thing in my hands. Muahahaha...
ZO
<strong>The next day I came back someone had changed everything back to 800x600... doh.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
ZO: In my mind, keeping iMacs at 800x600 is not unreasonable. I would much rather be using 1024x768. But the CRTs that Apple uses in the iMac are of such poor quality that they won't do better than a 75Hz refresh rate at 1024 resolution (or is it even lower?). I don't know about you, but I get major headaches from anything lower than 85Hz.
I'm glad that you are happy with your choice of the 14" iBook. Personally, I wouldn't touch the 14" model with a ten foot pole. But I concede that some people may prefer the larger screen. I used similar logic to justify my BTO Wallstreet, which I got with the G3/250, because it had a large backside cache (the 233 had none), and the 12" 800x600 passive matrix screen, because I liked the large pixels and the 13" 1024x768 active matrix didn't fit in my budget at the time.
Escher
[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
<strong>
Wow! Great comparison. The 14" iBook is absolutely HUGE compared to the PowerBook! Yuck. This definitely fits the description of "Son of Pismo".</strong><hr></blockquote>
The I book 14 inch is a good choice. Compared to my first generation powerbook G3 300 costing me nearly 5000 $ in France, this machine is incredible : faster chip (600 mhz , more ram 256 mb versus 192) fire wire and usb links, dvd player, bigger HD , improved video card (i have a poor rage LT pro with 4 mb ram) less bulky, more battery life.
Of course my powerbook G3 300 is three years old , but considering the amount of money i spent with it ... i'll say that the i book 14 inch is much better.
However, the 14 inch i book is a new choice, he did not replace the 12 inch model. The two models coexist, for those who want a subnotebook like computer, they will choose the 12 inch, for those who want a bigger screen they will choose the 14 inch, where is the problem. The cost : a 14 inch screen cost more than a 12 inch. The minutarisation is a feature, but you have to remember that the 14 inch powerbook shares exactly the same mobo and technology than the 12 inch, so there is no reason for him to be cheaper.
Some may complain about weight, but hey, some people also are stronger and don't notice the weight.
It's a matter of choice and don't you think it's a good thing that Apple's giving us more options?
Now if only they let us BTO some features in the new iMac.
In regards to your question, I would like to have the OPTION to up the rez to 1280x1024, if anything so that I can display that rez on an external monitor. I can't believe 1024x768 is max rez also on an external screen. Blah, that sucks.
To actually use a 14inch screen at 1280x1024 would be nuts. I have to get used to using 1280x1024 on a 19inch monitor, I dare think of that rez on a 14.
<strong>LOL Tonton, indeed I hesitated to report about that screen wave thing, but in the end I thought it was a point to tell about because possibly some production corrections have been made, sturdier maybe?
In regards to your question, I would like to have the OPTION to up the rez to 1280x1024, if anything so that I can display that rez on an external monitor. I can't believe 1024x768 is max rez also on an external screen. Blah, that sucks.
To actually use a 14inch screen at 1280x1024 would be nuts. I have to get used to using 1280x1024 on a 19inch monitor, I dare think of that rez on a 14.</strong><hr></blockquote>
you are right Zo, the LCD screen for desktop computer have lower resolutions : 1024 per 768 for 15 inch screen and 1280 per 1024 for the 17 and 18inch screen. there is very few LCD monitor able to go to 1600 per 1200 : there is the ilyama AU 4831D (cost 2500$).
I think that 1600 per 1200 on a 15 inch LCD will give me an headake (perhaps you have to use a magnifant lense)
The 14" (with 640ram) runs OS x very nicely.... in short, I love it. Lets face it, there are many things which we all want as features (resolutions, pccard slots etc), but it all comes down to whether you want what you see.... and for me it is great. it is kind of neat having 3 computers plugged into airport at home too - I am now getting close to being able to use one whenever I want without my kids/wife elbowing me out of the way. best of all was the way it fulfilled steves promise of being the hub for my new iPod and new Finepix 6800Z (see thread 'I bought the hub, and spokes').
Anyway, buy one, or dont.
cheers
Adam
<strong>Secondly, I went to the Mac store and saw and compared the two iBooks, 14 and 12... The weight is really negligiable (I held both in each hand for about a minute and couldnt really tell)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Anyone who backpacks will tell you: 16oz. doesn't seem like that big a difference for a few seconds.
But carrying it around (in a bag on your shoulder) for 5 minutes and you'll feel the differance.
If you truly lug your computer around with you, that 1 pound is a *huge* difference.
That's why Escher and I want a 10.1" with no optical drive, right?
<strong>
If you truly lug your computer around with you, that 1 pound is a *huge* difference. That's why Escher and I want a 10.1" with no optical drive, right?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sure got that right, BerberCarpet.
However, I have to admit that I have grown quite fond of the iBook's 12" 1028 screen and full-size keyboard. Especially if I use it for more than 5 minutes at a time (which is always the case), I miss neither the 10.4" 800 screen nor the small (but still excellent) Yu-Plan keyboard from my PB 2400c.
I still would gladly do without the optical drive and its useless (to me) weight, especially now that MCE is shipping a 16x version of its bus-powered FireWire <a href="http://www.mcetech.com/lucid.html"; target="_blank">Lucid portable 16x CD-RW drive</a>.
Think light!
Escher
[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
Anyway... passed by the Mac store again today and felt even more frustrated as a client left with an iBook 14 while I still wait for mine... grrrr. Why does it take so damn long to get a qwerty keyboard around here!!!! AGGGGHHHH I WANT MY MAC!!!! I cant stand this frikken P133 Compaq anymore!!!