| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
14" ibook or 12" powerbook?
Mike Sullivan, Student/Intern
 |
San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 2:42 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> The time has finally come for me to buy a laptop. I've narrowed it down to either a 14" ibook or a 12" powerbook. Unfortunatley the 15" powerbook is out of my price range at this time. I'd like to hear some thoughts/advice/experiences/etc. that will help me decide between the two.
About me: I'm currently a student studying photojournalism. Although I'm hoping to include travel as a part of my work in the future, I currently don't do alot of it. So portability isn't too big an issue. Transmitting photos from an area that doesn't have an available wireless signal is also not too big a concern at this time. The major applicatoins I plan on running will be photo related (Photoshop CS, photo mechanic, possibly Adobe In Design). I'll be doing the majority of my photo editing on this laptop (is the 12" screen problematic for this?). In addition to that I'll be surfing the internet and doing some word processing, but other then photo work, I won't be running any other graphic intensive programs (video games, filmmaking, etc.)
If anyone cares to check out a side by side comparison, here are a couple of links...
14" ibook link-
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70901/wo/3H...
12" powerbook link-
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70901/wo/3H...
If I go the 14" ibook route I plan on upgrading to 1.5 gigs of memory.
If I go the 12" powerbook route I plan on upgrading to 1.25 gigs of memory.
I plan on going with the superdrive regardless of which model I choose. I plan on buying an external hard drive to archive my photos on so I think the baseline hardrive space for each model should be sufficient. Also I think it's important to point out that screen resolution between the two models is identical at 1024 x 768.
The price difference between the two would be about $150. I don't mind paying that if I feel that the upgrade would be signifcant and worth the money.
So quick summary; I've had it in my mind (quite possibly incorreclty) that the powerbook models we're geared more towards professionals and as such would be worth the $150 difference. However, upon closer inspection there doesn't seem to be too many major differences between the high end ibook (14") and the low end powerbook (12"). Again the 15" powerbook is unfortunatley out of my price range at this time. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
-Mike |
|
Wade Laube, Photographer
|
Sydney | NSW | Australia | Posted: 6:59 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> If you're not in too much of a rush I'd wait until the new year to see the Intel based PowerBooks and reassess.
Wade. |
|
Neil Turner, Photographer
|
London | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 7:02 AM on 11.07.05 |
| ->> How about looking for a refurbished 15" model? The screen is that bit bigger and the PCMCIA slot is very useful. |
|
Andrew Mo, Student/Intern
|
San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 7:31 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> Is screen size the deciding factor? From what I remember, the 14" ibook is still limited to the same screen resolution as the 12" ibook and 12" powerbooks at 1024x768. Effectively you have the same number of pixels, but they just appear bigger. Will you be doing your image editing on the laptop itself in the field, or will you hook it up to external displays? The powerbook natively can span to external displays, while the ibook just clones the display -- You can solve that problem with a software hack if you choose the ibook.
Also if you need it now, be sure to check out your campus computer store/bookstore and look for discounts. Since your in San Diego, you can also check out the UCSD student bookstore's computer section where they have some additional discounts on the now older powerbook models that you are probably eligible for. |
|
Jack Kurtz, Photographer
|
Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 8:01 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> I would consider the 12 inch iBook over the 14 inch iBook. The screen on the 14 inch is bigger, but the resolution is the same so you can see as much on the 12 inch as you can on the 14. The 12 also takes 1.5 gigs of RAM and Apple has smoking deals on refurbed units right now, somewhere around $799. The only option missing is for the SuperDrive. All you can get with the 12 incher is the Combo Drive (watch DVDs, burn CDs).
The advice to wait till early next year and see what Apple unveils in its Intel based laptops is a good idea. But if you need it now or plan to buy now consider the 12 inch iBook.
jack |
|
Oscar Sosa, Photographer
|
Jacksonville | FL | USA | Posted: 8:26 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> I'd either wait until the IBM Powerbooks come out or get a used/refurbished 15-inch Powerbook. That PC slot can sure come in handy when your out in the field. The 15-in. screen is also a plus.
I've been using a 12 in iBook I bought in 2001 and am just now thinking of upgrading. You really can't go wrong with either the Powerbook or the iBook, but I don't think there's that much difference between the 12 in and the 14 in iBooks. If I had to choose between two iBooks I'd get the 12 in model for its smaller size and less weight. However, I'd get a used/refurbished 15 in. Powerbook over either iBook model new. |
|
Oscar Sosa, Photographer
|
Jacksonville | FL | USA | Posted: 8:33 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> BTW, your plan sounds good either route you choose. I'd simply get the 12 in. iBook over the 12 Powerbook just because there isn't really that much a difference. The PC slot is what pushes me toward the 15 inch Powerbook.
Sorry for 2 posts. Cat jumped on keyboard & hit return...Uhggg.) |
|
Greg Ferguson, Photographer
|
Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 9:32 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> My wife has the 12" PowerBook, and I have the 14" iBook and an old 15" Ti PowerBook.
The 12" PowerBook has a better LCD display - colors render better. Though it's smaller it is very usable. The 12" PB can drive a big external LCD monitor at higher resolution than the iBook can also, so even though the 12" has less real estate for the display in the lid, you can work with a lot more pixels, both when using the built-in screen or when attached to a monitor.
The 12" is a fast little sucker. The iBook processes Photoshop images nicely, but the PB still pulls ahead.
And, the size factor ... the 12" fits in a small space. That 14" iBook doesn't even fit where my old 15" Ti PB fits - the same computer bag is stretched to hold the 14" iBook and doesn't close correctly.
The iBook is a nice portable - I'd take it over any PC portable I ever used, but given the choice of using a 12" PB or the 14" iBook, I'd go with the 12". It's an elegant and sweet computer that outshines the iBook IMO. |
|
Greg Ferguson, Photographer
|
Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 9:40 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> Oh - regarding waiting for the Intel based hardware - I wouldn't. That'll be a year without a Mac. The new hardware will bring its own problems. You can go with a very well tested, usable and fast design now, or wait for one that will not be fully debugged then. There WILL be issues - there always are with ANY hardware and software change.
I've seen many transitions in the Mac platform since they were introduced and know that Apple will do a good job bringing in the new CPU platform, however it's just not worth waiting to be a guinea pig when you could be productive now. |
|
Kirby Yau, Photographer
|
El Cajon | CA | USA | Posted: 10:20 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> Howdy Mike, its great to see another San Diegan in the SS community. As for your dilema I would wait, I keep on reading snipits on macrumor sites and the new intel ibooks and powerbooks maybe released much sooner than anticipated. check out the link. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=159675.) (*** Disclaimer *** ITS a RUMOR, but sometimes they are right.)
How desperate are you in need for a new computer? If not I'd wait. If not, both are great computers, I perfer the powerbook because it scratches less and drives larger external displays without a hack. But what ever you do, get the largest internal HD you can get preinstalled. Its a pain to install a new one and its a pain to carry a bunch of external HD around. . Also get apple care as well, its worth the price if your hardware goes bad. |
|
Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Washington, DC & Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 10:22 AM on 11.07.05 |
->> I'd wait until you could afford the 15" screen...heck I just sold a 6 week old 15" with 1.5 GB of RAM for $1400...so there are deals out there.
If it's your promary machine I think you'll benefit from the larger screen and CF card slot... |
|
Jim Colburn, Photographer
|
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 1:02 PM on 11.07.05 |
| ->> If you don't need the portability of the 12 inch Powerbook (and I own one) go for the 14 inch iBook. |
|
Tommy Metthe, Photographer
|
Abilene | TX | | Posted: 2:09 PM on 11.07.05 |
->> If you looking for a good place to buy reliable used/refurbed powerbooks and ibooks check out www.powerbookguy.com you can usually get some pretty good deals from him.
I got my ibook from him and am very happy. They get stuff in and out pretty regularly, so if you're patient, normally you can find what you want. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
|
Tucson | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:57 PM on 11.07.05 |
->> I have a 14 inch iBook that I purchased in May 04. It has been a real workhorse. I installed additiional RAM myself as well as the extreme wireless card which works like a dream.
As with all computers, they are subject to malfucntion. Last Thursday, my HD went down. Nothing I could do, everything was lost on it. However, I had just backed up everything, which is always a good idea.
I purchased a new HD with a 5400 mhz processor and it runs significantly faster, plus I now have more HD space. The new ones only come with 4200 mhz processors.
When I had the HD replaced, the tech guys told me the Powerbooks were much easier to work on and replace things like the HD than on the iBooks. But they felt the iBook was a much better value. Just FYI.
It was suggested you might wait until the new macs with intell processors come out. If it were in a couple of weeks, I would wait. A few months? You could be dead by then. Treat yourself to a new iBook and start enjoying it today. |
|
Jon Blacker, Photographer
|
Toronto | ON | Canada | Posted: 5:39 PM on 11.07.05 |
| ->> Um, Jeff.....Those figures on your new vs your old would be 5400 and 4200 rpm not 5400 and 4200 mhz. It relates to how fast the drive spins. Faster spin=faster data retrieval. Hard drive speeds aren't measured in MHz. |
|
Wade Laube, Photographer
|
Sydney | NSW | Australia | Posted: 6:10 PM on 11.07.05 |
->> > Oh - regarding waiting for the Intel based hardware - I wouldn't. That'll be
>a year without a Mac. The new hardware will bring its own problems. You
>can go with a very well tested, usable and fast design now, or wait for one
>that will not be fully debugged then. There WILL be issues - there always
>are with ANY hardware and software change.
>
>I've seen many transitions in the Mac platform since they were introduced
>and know that Apple will do a good job bringing in the new CPU platform,
>however it's just not worth waiting to be a guinea pig when you could be
>productive now.
Greg,
It won't be a year. It's more likely we'll be seeing them in th first quarter of '06. The present machines are a mature product line, therefore the bugs have been ironed out as you say, but they're not fast machines. Actually, they're slow. The high-end PowerBooks have nothing on the high-end PC notebooks right now.
On the issue of teething problems, I understand where you're coming from but I would suggest when you're re-releasing your entire product line, quality control would be pretty high on the list of priorities. I think we need to draw a distinction between a new PowerBook range, and a new PowerBook range as part of an entire rerelease of their brand.
Mike,
If you are in a position to hold out, and decide you don't like the new range once it appears, you'll then be able to get an old-style PowerBook (or iBook) at a much better price.
Wade. |
|
Tom Story, Photographer
|
Tempe | AZ | USA | Posted: 6:33 PM on 11.07.05 |
->> Having worked on 12 inch iBooks as my only laptops, I have no complaints however there are times where the card slot would be
nice so I didn't have to schlep a card reader.
Although I doubt I'll be using Apple's Aperture anytime soon, that's something for you to consider when looking ahead.
As for the Intel PBs: I'm not comfortable on the bleeding edge of any technology and prefer somebody else do the real life beta testing of them. |
|
Lucas Jackson, Photographer
|
Ventura | CA | USA | Posted: 7:06 PM on 11.07.05 |
| ->> PC slot = internet connection via cell card |
|
Greg Ferguson, Photographer
|
Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 2:14 PM on 11.08.05 |
->> "On the issue of teething problems, I understand where you're coming from but I would suggest when you're re-releasing your entire product line, quality control would be pretty high on the list of priorities. I think we need to draw a distinction between a new PowerBook range, and a new PowerBook range as part of an entire rerelease of their brand."
Having been closely involved with Apple hardware and software design and testing many times through the years, I've had a good view into their QA process, and it's good. However, no QA is as rigorous as real-world testing, where people wring out bugs never considered by the engineers or the selected QA testers, alpha and beta testers. We'd have test scripts and configurations we were asked to try and they were designed to triangulate the holes so hardware could close them, but there are too many options and configuration possibilities. I found lots of bugs and flaws and we'd get them fixed in subsequent revisions, and still there'd be problems at release. Like we used to say when building software and hardware configurations, "You can make it fool proof, but you can't make it damn fool proof."
My old PB still cranks out images plenty well but needs replacing as entropy is setting in. Until the new CPU architecture and software has been through a couple revs I'll rely on the iBook, and I'll let those with guinea pig envy be the first in line to test. |
|
Mike Sullivan, Student/Intern
|
San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 5:55 PM on 11.08.05 |
->> Big thanks to everyone that offered their advice and shared their experiences. It's very much appreciated and very helpful.
Best,
Mike |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|