What notebook is best for me?

Zidion · #1 January 21st, 2004, 09:33 PM

I cant decide if I shld get an Ibook or a Powerbook. This is waht ill be doing with it:

Surfing the net
Projects for school
Saving my digital photos
and Tons of GarageBand stuff (i like to make my own music).

So will a ibook be sufficient enough to do all this? Im looking on ebay to see if I can find some good deals, but not sure what to look for. Im use to PC speeds, and ive seen some ibooks on ebay with like 800mhz and not sure if that is good enough or what (they are G4's). What do I need to run the stuff I want to run?

thanks
-Z

adambyte · #2 January 21st, 2004, 09:50 PM

Definitely get a Mac that is at the very least, based on the G4 chip. From there, it's all about what you need. The features that differentiate the PowerBook line from the iBook line, besides speed, ram, and hard disk, are things like wide-ratio screens, light up keyboards, DVD-burning drives, PCMCIA Card slot, FireWire 800, Bluetooth built in, and a few other high-end things that you may not need.

drunkmac · #3 January 21st, 2004, 09:50 PM

Ok im gonna say it once and dont argue against me because im right.

POWERBOOK. You will not regret it.
iBooks have a ton of defects (STILL!!!) and...just arent as good. So go with a powerbook and youll be happy!

Zidion · #4 January 21st, 2004, 09:56 PM

is there a HUGE difference in the 12" and the 15" ? I mean, is it worth the extra cash?

drunkmac · #5 January 21st, 2004, 10:16 PM

just screen size really. i love my 12" and if you want bigger, you should just get a monitor anyways!

nixgeek · #6 January 21st, 2004, 10:31 PM

I think there was also a difference in performance due to the fact that the 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks have an L3 cache while the 12 inch doesn't. Not that this matters much if you are going to do everyday stuff like web browsing and word processing and stuff. But if GarageBand is something you will be using, that extra L3 cache might help.

As far as the iBook/PowerBook comparison, the PowerBook has a PC Card slot while the iBook doesn't.

If you do decide on the 12 inch PowerBook, you'll still be getting a great machine. Eugenia Loli-Queru from OSNews.com did a review of the PowerBook G4 12" and she loved it overall. A coworker of mine got one for his son and he's thrilled with it. Coincidentally, this coworker and I have asked for the 12" PowerBook as a replacement laptop for the old Dells our office has supplied us with. So I say, "PowerBook!"

Zidion · #7 January 21st, 2004, 10:39 PM

it says on the apple website they all have L2 cache.

Sogni · #8 January 21st, 2004, 11:02 PM

Also the 12" does not have FireWire 800 or a PCMCIA Card Slot,
the 15" is capable of more RAM, and you can get a back-lit keyboard for the 15" (optional).

I have a 12" and don't regret it (I also got it for cheaper with student discount and no DVD Burner). It feels much more portable with less bulk and lighter.

There has also been a problem with the 15" with bright spots on the screen.

Altho, if I had the money - I would have gotten the 15" instead and pray I didn't get the bright spots on the screen.