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I really want a 12" PB - But I shouldn't buy one, right?

U

unknownfairy

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 1, 2005
76
0
Australia/UK
Hey,
I started university a few months ago, and have just gotten to the stage of being able to afford to buy a computer (it's been pretty tricky without one!). I'm paying half, and my parents are chipping in the other half for my birthday.
The thing is, it seems that the only computer that has everything I need is the 12" PB. I would buy the 12" Ibook except that it doesn't have a superdrive and I have the need to burn DVD's for my arts-course. I would buy the 14", except it's too big to carry around uni all day everyday, and doesn't fit on the little tables in the lecture theatres.
What should I do? I can't afford to wait until June, as I have heaps of assignments due by then, and it's becoming impossible to work without a computer. But I've heard (well, read) that the 12" PB is the biggest rip-off in the apple line-up at the moment, and everything I've read points to 'wait'.
What should I do????

Sam :)
 
Hey, a good rule of thumb is, if you really need it now, then buy it now. There will always be newer and greater stuff around the corner. Yes, there is some cool stuff rumored to be coming, but if this is what you need, and its the only computer that meets those needs, then there is nothing to answer, go ahead and buy it. I don't see how you are doing school at all without a computer.
 
Buy what suits your needs and don't read this site much. People put down "old technology" and say only the newest and greatest is worth it.

If a 12" PB works for you, buy it and love it.

By the way, I've heard amazon gives a 150 dollar rebate + you still get the warantee. Very good deal.
 
Reconsider a 14 inch iBook...

Width: 12.7 inches (32.3 cm), Depth: 10.2 inches (25.9 cm)
compared to
Width: 11.2 inches (28.5 cm), Depth: 9.06 inches (23.0 cm)

There isn't a large size difference and there is a great cost difference.
 
Hey if you need it and want it go for it. I'm considering one myself right now because depending on how things work out I'll only be using it once a week and I'll be hooking it up to an external display.

Even if you buy it today and apple releases a quad-core 12" notebook tomorrow it won't be in stores/shipping for months. And even then it's not like the PB gets any slower. Hell a 1st generation iPod still plays music right?

Don't be afraid to buy something if you need it.
 
if not a refurb or an ibook, i would highly recommend finding an older 12 inch powerbook on a site like ebay and hav that hold you over until either a smaller macbook pro or an intel core duo or solo macbook are introduced later this year. then you could sell that to help fund your new laptop over the summer and even use the college student promo they always have towards september to get a free ipod also! (not to mention a student discount):D
 
Buy it if you need it. That said, yes, the 12" PB is by far the worst deal in apple's line up. It's literally gone 14 months without an update (they made superdrive standard, but there's no 12" PB you can configure today that you couldn't configure 14 months ago). It's so overdue for an update it's disgusting. But you said you really need a computer to do your work... so buy it.
 
If you need it, then go for it. That's what it boils down to- you can't spend your time waiting for the "next big thing", since then you'll always be waiting since the next big thing is always "right around the corner". The G4 laptops, while getting dated, still do all the things you want to use your computer for wonderfully, and if you throw an extra gig of ram in there down the line, you should be able to get a few good years out of it.
 
Having bought and sold a Powerbook, I tell you: it seems nice and all when you first buy it. But then after a while that 12" in screen with only 1024x768 resolution and tiny dot pitch gets to you. I could not stand doing a lot of work on it. Really, it's just an extremely expensive secondary computer or notetaking device for people with a lot of money.
If you buy a powerbook 12'' now, you will regret it in 6 months time for many many reasons. Unless you're rich.

I recommend you either:

1. Buy a good desktop right now with a good monitor to do your work and later an oldish ibook (with long battery life, you only need it for word-processing anyway, and you won't care if it gets beat up unlike that pansy powerbook). Say a really good mac mini system would cost $779+44+26+225= $1074 giving you a way better system than that g4 powerbook and will last a longer time. Still leaves you $350 to buy a laptop to take notes with. Check out ebay etc. for a last-years model of an ibook or see osx86project.org for cheap intel laptops fully compatible with a hacked osx.

2. Buy a macbook pro for only $400 more, a bargain considering it is a computer at least 5 times better! Seriously. Otherwise you will, repeat, will eventually buy a secondary monitor for at least ~$225 more---don't be left with a savings of only $175 and a very obsolete and devalued computer in 6 months.
 
This is your first Mac, right? If so, I say buy it new. The education price is a little better, and you will love it! I'm just about to buy a 12" PowerBook too! :)

It's not on the "cutting edge" but it does say a lot about the reliability of the design. It's known as a Revision D around here (the fourth iteration).

Be happy with your decision, and don't look back.

Even if a new model is released tomorrow, I find it's best to look forward. I enjoy what I have, while computing advances at light-speed. And when it's time to change your tires and get a new engine, it will be that much more exciting.
 
Paperweight said:
If you buy a powerbook 12'' now, you will regret it in 6 months time for many many reasons. Unless you're rich.
Click to expand...

Did you notice that none of your "solutions" really addressed their problem?
You told us all of yours, though.

They need a 12-inch laptop that burns DVDs as soon as possible. The PowerBook is light and has a SuperDrive (go figure). Not everyone wants hacked OS X and a complicated setup.

For the price of a MacBook Pro they could buy AppleCare. Intel is baby steps right now.
 
I'd wait on the new computer. Buy a used powerbook - say like 1ghz model. Unlike buying new, your unit will be worth almost as much as what you paid ofr it in 3 months or so, when the new powerbook/macbook/whatever, comes out. The 1ghz vs 1.5ghz isn't a huge difference and it's the least hassle of for the most gain.

Yeah, a new 12" pb will serve all your needs, but it will devalue more quickly than the new intelmac that replaces it, and it will be much less powerful, so you will undoubtedly have to replace the unit sooner.
 
Buy it now and you can always sell it later.

i use a 12" PB and it's super portable, especially when jumping from school to work. I also use a secondary screen for more tedious work, thus DVI was extremely important.
Use your own common sense and buy what you feel you need. Your computer will be a tool, not a fashion statement. If it does what you need it to, you can be happy with it for quite a while.
 
Hmm... So i think the general consensus then is 'go for it'?
I do really need it, i'm just so worried that in 6 months time i'm going to regret it, and i wont have the money for an update for a loooong time. I guess anything will be better than staying at uni late waiting for computers to type up assignments on, though! Plus there isn't really another option, since I don't want a desktop (as someone suggested) since it's a bit hard to lug to lectures and all... and refurbs are kinda out of the question as i'm in australia and we don't have the same apple-refurb type store as the US. Ditto for those people suggesting waiting till sept for the start of the 'college year' - our year starts in feb!
so thanks, i think i'll go for it, and if they release a 12" macbook in the next 2 weeks, you'll all be hearing from me...!
cheers,
sam
 
Could you get a 12" iBook and buy an external DVD burner and keep it in your room?

edit - d'oh!
 
unknownfairy said:
Hmm... So i think the general consensus then is 'go for it'?
I do really need it, i'm just so worried that in 6 months time i'm going to regret it, and i wont have the money for an update for a loooong time. I guess anything will be better than staying at uni late waiting for computers to type up assignments on, though! Plus there isn't really another option, since I don't want a desktop (as someone suggested) since it's a bit hard to lug to lectures and all... and refurbs are kinda out of the question as i'm in australia and we don't have the same apple-refurb type store as the US. Ditto for those people suggesting waiting till sept for the start of the 'college year' - our year starts in feb!
so thanks, i think i'll go for it, and if they release a 12" macbook in the next 2 weeks, you'll all be hearing from me...!
cheers,
sam
Click to expand...


Yeah just buy it, even though people say it's the worse value for an apple laptop right now that doesn't mean it's a horrible value. Just means there are better, but if you want the small form & the extra options than it's worth it.
 
I just bought one about a month ago and maxed out the ram, I love it. Its small and super-portable.
 
maxterpiece said:
Yeah, a new 12" pb will serve all your needs, but it will devalue more quickly than the new intelmac that replaces it
Click to expand...

That's arguable. It's like an automobile. The curve tapers off eventually, but the first year is the worst.
 
dferrara said:
Did you notice that none of your "solutions" really addressed their problem?
You told us all of yours, though.

They need a 12-inch laptop that burns DVDs as soon as possible. The PowerBook is light and has a SuperDrive (go figure). Not everyone wants hacked OS X and a complicated setup.

For the price of a MacBook Pro they could buy AppleCare. Intel is baby steps right now.
Click to expand...

exactly, you have to buy what you need, a mbp right now is too big to use in lectures where you need it, and you need a superdrive.

plus, you'll love the 12in pb, its a really stable rev D, and it will last for a good few years yet.

Speed is relative, and on everyday tasks, the pb's aren't that different from the mbp's. Its in intensive apps where you'll really see the difference

get the 12inch pb, i have the exact same one, and its a great macine
 
yoda13 said:
Hey, a good rule of thumb is, if you really need it now, then buy it now. There will always be newer and greater stuff around the corner. Yes, there is some cool stuff rumored to be coming, but if this is what you need, and its the only computer that meets those needs, then there is nothing to answer, go ahead and buy it. I don't see how you are doing school at all without a computer.
Click to expand...

The trouble with this line of reasoning is.. strictly speaking, a computer is never a need, especially a mac. At best it's a want, or a good to have, but nobody needs a mac.

To the OP, I will definitely wait. Being blackmailed into paying a premium for obsolete technology just so it can run obsolete code fast. That's exactly what buying a PPC Mac today is. To be blackmailed.
 
generik said:
The trouble with this line of reasoning is.. strictly speaking, a computer is never a need, especially a mac. At best it's a want, or a good to have, but nobody needs a mac.

To the OP, I will definitely wait. Being blackmailed into paying a premium for obsolete technology just so it can run obsolete code fast. That's exactly what buying a PPC Mac today is. To be blackmailed.
Click to expand...

********. Ppc will be supported for years to come. Whos being blackmailed? What the hell are you talking about? And why is it noone NEEDS a mac? I NEEDED my mac more than I NEEDED a windows pc!
 
generik said:
The trouble with this line of reasoning is.. strictly speaking, a computer is never a need, especially a mac. At best it's a want, or a good to have, but nobody needs a mac.
Click to expand...

Not exactly true. The guy has started uni, you absolutely need a computer at uni, its essential. He needs something that will be small enough to take into lectures, and he needs a dvd burner. true he doesn't need OSX, but surely its his choice as to whether he needs to purchase something or not.
 
now

I would buy now and then live with the regret that you didn't wait until the new ones came out. However, if you use your Ed discount, you could sell on ebay and not take much of a hit should you decide to sell. Look at this way, use for 3 months, loose $100, you paid $30 dollars a month to use a computer.
 
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