Invest in a PB now, or wait??

[DC06]

So my Thinkpad A31's display is dying...or rather, it's actually a motherboard issue It's not to the point where I can't use it, so I'm hoping (praying) in won't get much worse, it's really just a distraction at this point. The next computer I purchase really needs to last me thru at least most of med school (the next 4+ years). So here's my question: Invest in a PB now? Or wait (if i can) until a Rev. A Mactel PB?? Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

 

[Lacero]

Buy used or refurbished to get you past the next year.

Then wait until the intel PBs make a splash. I think great things are in store for the Mac Intels.

Or wait and buy top of the line PB or iB you can afford now.

 

[Verto]

PowerBooks are ridiculously overpriced and underpowered. Avoid at all costs until Apple gives them the update they so desperately require.

 

[i4k20c]

my oppinion, invest in one, great machines...

are the processors a bit outdated, yah a bit i will give u that... but compared to pc labtops its not so bad imo, the gap raised a bit but not greatly..many laptops in the field (talkin about 12inch) don't include seperate video cards and such.. idk. and imo if you can get the ibook, that is a really good deal!

 

[Bern]

PowerBooks are ridiculously overpriced and underpowered. Avoid at all costs until Apple gives them the update they so desperately require.

Underpowered to do what? I run Adobe CS2, Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Painter IX, Sim 2, iStop Motion and hook it up to a 17" external monitor. It has no problems at all running these apps. I mean what more do you want a portable computer to do?

I agree going Intel is a good move for Apple, but I won't be getting the first revision either. I'd much prefer to wait for say Rev C of a Mactel Powerbook, at least then I'll feel comfortable knowing most of the possible bugs would have been ironed out.

I think you should get the current Powerbook and wait out for the Mactel versions to be maximised.

 

[Chrispy]

They are behind the times but if you want one then get one. Even if there is an update its not going to be huge my any means. Until we see Intel machines there won't be anything huge happeneing. If you want one then get one

 

[Verto]

Underpowered to do what? I run Adobe CS2, Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Painter IX, Sim 2, iStop Motion and hook it up to a 17" external monitor. It has no problems at all running these apps. I mean what more do you want a portable computer to do?

I agree going Intel is a good move for Apple, but I won't be getting the first revision either. I'd much prefer to wait for say Rev C of a Mactel Powerbook, at least then I'll feel comfortable knowing most of the possible bugs would have been ironed out.

I think you should get the current Powerbook and wait out for the Mactel versions to be maximised.

Underpowered when you take into account their insanely high prices.

 

[Bern]

Underpowered when you take into account their insanely high prices.

I disagree

 

[bodeh6]

I would if I were you wait till the next PowerPC update which should come in the next few Tuesdays. They are excellent machines. I am typing this on my iBook and it more then enough computer for me. Does everything with speed and ease.

 

[generik]

I would if I were you wait till the next PowerPC update which should come in the next few Tuesdays. They are excellent machines. I am typing this on my iBook and it more then enough computer for me. Does everything with speed and ease.

I'd wait if I were you too.

Freescale already has some very nice 2Ghz G4 chips now shipping that has much lower power consumption too, the question is if Apple is NOT cheap enough to use it in the next revision.

 

[ZoomZoomZoom]

I'd buy one now. Even if the new intel laptops were in today, I'd go for a PPC model. I'm not sure if I'd go for the powerbook, though, because the ibook line is dangerously blurred with the powerbook, and might work just as well if you're not a power user. The ibook line is highly unlikely to update again before MacTels, and they've been refined so much that you're pretty much guaranteed a tried-and-true product. Both the powerbook and ibook lines will run pretty much anything you'll want, if you're a normal customer, especially if you upgrade the RAM. I have the newest 12'' PB and I think I can stay with this thing for the next 4 years of college. The only reason for me to change laptops would be irrisistable itching for more shiny things to carry around...

 

[iQuit]

I'd wait until thr final revision PowerBook PPC to be released....that is what I am doing .

 

[Tristan_X]

I agree with Lacero.

The current PB isn't going to hold its value all that well. As a line, its fallen from a run to a hobble. My 1Ghz has been great, but it was pretty cutting-edge when I bought it. In all fairness, the 1.67's are nice, but I can't see them holding their value the way an earlier model would have in light of the Mactel future.

Get something cheap that can tide you over until you can invest in a computer that will be supported for a long term. I've been seeing some great deals online for PB's, but I'm going to give mine a roughly 4-year life and replace it only once the intelBooks are up and running without any major hastles.

Get an iBook used/refurbished so that you have the architecture in place for an easy conversion when you're dream computer rolls out of an Apple factory.

 

[tech4all]

Underpowered when you take into account their insanely high prices.

How does the price dictate the power of the processor? So your saying that if the prices were lower they would be more powerful?

Or are you saying that they provide less performance compared to a PC laptop at the same price tag?

 

[Verto]

How does the price dictate the power of the processor? So your saying that if the prices were lower they would be more powerful?

Or are you saying that they provide less performance compared to a PC laptop at the same price tag?

If prices were lowered, the laptop's power in relation to that price would increase. Spending 1500$ on a 12'' PowerBook as currently speced is a ridiculous expectation from Apple; you won't even get a 100GB hard drive stock until you get into the 2700$ range.

I wouldn't even touch a PowerBook until their prices were lowered by about 3-400 dollars, OR until they received a significant processer upgrade (or both).

 

[generik]

How does the price dictate the power of the processor? So your saying that if the prices were lower they would be more powerful?

Or are you saying that they provide less performance compared to a PC laptop at the same price tag?

aka bang for the dollar, something apple users know nothing about.

 

[thymac]

in your case i would say get a cheap laptop for now. wait to get a mac, especially if its going tot be your first. as a mac user already,i currently have a major hardware problem (logic board failure and possibly motherboard failure) with my imac which lead me to getting my 15 in powerbook last week.supposedly there might be an update when the next osx update 10.4.3 comes out. who knos. other than that if you are really willing to wait i would say wait for the intel based powerbooks to be released.

 

[AP_piano295]

Underpowered to do what? I run Adobe CS2, Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Painter IX, Sim 2, iStop Motion and hook it up to a 17" external monitor. It has no problems at all running these apps. I mean what more do you want a portable computer to do?

I agree going Intel is a good move for Apple, but I won't be getting the first revision either. I'd much prefer to wait for say Rev C of a Mactel Powerbook, at least then I'll feel comfortable knowing most of the possible bugs would have been ironed out.

I think you should get the current Powerbook and wait out for the Mactel versions to be maximised.

underpowered to pay 3000 dollars for

 

[Beck446]

underpowered to pay 3000 dollars for

Haha. It would be even funnier if it weren't so damn true.

 

[barneygumble]

I will be getting a work laptop soon and i could not justify a Powerbook when compared to pc's i tried my hardest but i couldn't do it, at the moment you are paying a massive premium for outdated and inferior specs for instance check this and this out, i realise one runs XP and is on special but even if it was full price look at the comparison, it is quite glaring. Buy a refurb to tide you over then you will get a good macintel that at least has comparable specs. Apple is a joke at the moment in their laptop lineup.

 

[iQuit]

If any mac laptop the iBook has more of a value IMO....in speed and price.

 

[dank]

Originally Posted by Verto
Underpowered when you take into account their insanely high prices.

I disagree

I agree with Bern. I have 17" 1.5Ghzalong with 19" LCD monitor and I paid a lot more than current price but I felt not bad for what it can do. I am heavy CAD user. I am waiting last PowerPC PowerBook to come out so I will pay whatever Apple ask. Then I will wait till c revision of Intel PowerBook.
I've been upgrading every 7 to 11 months (last 6 years or so and all of them are PowerBooks), except this one I have about 1.5 years. Last 1.67 Mhz did not attracted me much. I bought extended warranty instead.

 

[c2104338]

If any mac laptop the iBook has more of a value IMO....in speed and price.

Yep, the iBook is definately the bang for buck notebook in the Apple lineup at the moment. However, let's hope that changes in October sometime.............

 

[lalcan]

Apple is a joke at the moment in their laptop lineup.

Not so fast Barneygumble... check this article:
Apple's new iBook a nifty bargain

 

[iQuit]

Is it really too much to ask for a PowerBook update? I have been waiting forever to get my hands on a new PowerBook,just imo; at the moment they aren't worth it. I want a last revision PPC PowerBook, I will buy it and be satisfied until like Rev. C Intel PB's arrive.