need help deciding on a new laptop

[twoodcc]

The new Powerbooks do run a bit warm so you might consider getting an iCurve and a keyboard for extended home use.

how warm do they get? i'll probably have it on almost all of the time, so will heat be an issue? are the fans going to be on all the time? will it overheat and cut off or something? is there a way to monitor the temp?

 

[motherduce]

the horizontal lines, flickering, etc. on the new 15 and 17 PBs.

 

[twoodcc]

the horizontal lines, flickering, etc. on the new 15 and 17 PBs.

surely this isn't a problem on all the new 15 and 17 pbs. if i have that problem, i can just take it to the apple store, correct?

 

[FFTT]

The majority of Apple products are trouble free, but when someone does have a problem and posts to the user forums it does draw attention.

In most cases the actual failures are a small percentage of all the units sold
just like with any other electronics products.

There have been some serious quality control issues on some models
and they are well published.

If there is a problem with your purchase, naturally return it for replacement
during the first 14 days, but in most cases you'll be fine.

The value of hearing about problems is knowing what to look for, but it does not mean that your selection will be affected.

When you start trying to outfit your laptop to compete with a desktop, heat is going to be an issue with any machine.

Brighter displays, larger and faster hard drives and beefier GPU cards all add to
heat. The aluminum casing of the PowerBooks is designed to dissipate that heat so it may feel warmer than a laptop with a plastic case.

You should get a good idea of " how hot " the new Powerbooks run by checking one out at the AppleStore.

 

[twoodcc]

i did check them out at the apple store last night, that's why i brought up the question. here is my biggest concern: about 2.5 years ago i spent $2800 on an alienware laptop, that was top-of-the-line from anywhere. but what i really got was a "mobile desktop." i ended up having heat issues, it got so hot it would just cut-off. i even opened it up to clean all the dust out and stuff, and it looked like the processor had melted some stuff in there. i just don't want anything like that again, so i'm a little worried about the heat issue, b/c of my past experience with laptops and heat

 

[Clix Pix]

I haven't had any problems with my new 15" PB (2 GB RAM, 7200 rpm HD) except for brief period of screen flickering right after I'd downloaded and installed 10.4.3. That seemed to be a temporary situation, no reoccurrances later. No lines, no faulty case closure, everything looks and works the way it is supposed to. I ordered it BTO from the Apple online store, as my local Apple store didn't have the machines with the 7200 rpm HD in stock yet and didn't have the RAM that these new PBs take. Although I have installed RAM in computers in the past, knowing that Macs are a little fussy about the RAM used in them, rather than ordering from a 3rd party vendor and putting the chips in myself, I decided to just let Apple do the RAM even if it did cost me a bit more money. I'm fortunate that I haven't experienced any of the issues others have discussed on here -- I guess it's the luck of the draw....

As for the potential heat issues, I haven't noticed mine getting excessively warm, but as a precaution I did get a thingy called the iLap (ordered online from raindesigninc.com), which is meant for PBs and is aluminum, too, raising the laptop up a bit so that there is plenty of air circulation under it. It comes with a detachable velvet cushion thingy so that one can use it either on your lap (with the cushiony wrist rest) or on a table/workstation/desk surface without the cushion. It really works well. Yesterday I had my PB running for about ten hours straight as I was transferring files from my old PC into it and at the end of that time it did not feel excessively warm at all. Just my experience...

OTB

 

[FFTT]

Just because you can manage to sqeeze a 3 GHz processor and 256 MB VRAM card into a laptop does not mean it's a good idea.


Apple is quite careful about heat and noise issues in general.

That's why you're not seeing a G5 PowerBook or a higher clock speed
on the 1.67 GHz processor.

The alternative is to wait a year or two for the dual core low power laptops
and reconsider your priorities.

As you found out, even Alienware had issues with heat, because people
want all this cool stuff in a small package.


I would never buy ANY laptop without and extended warranty.
It's just the nature of mico electronics in general an especially important
when those electronic are knocked about in travel and subject to heat cold
and moisture in the cruel world.

I personally think too many people expect way too much from a portable
and should think in terms of a desktop/portable combo that covers all the bases.

If you really NEED the performance of a Powerbook, then by all means
enjoy a great machine, but also consider the merit of an iMac/ibook
combo.

 

[twoodcc]

Just because you can manage to sqeeze a 3 GHz processor and 256 MB VRAM card into a laptop does not mean it's a good idea.


Apple is quite careful about heat and noise issues in general.

That's why you're not seeing a G5 PowerBook or a higher clock speed
on the 1.67 GHz processor.

The alternative is to wait a year or two for the dual core low power laptops
and reconsider your priorities.

As you found out, even Alienware had issues with heat, because people
want all this cool stuff in a small package.


I would never buy ANY laptop without and extended warranty.
It's just the nature of mico electronics in general an especially important
when those electronic are knocked about in travel and subject to heat cold
and moisture in the cruel world.

I personally think too many people expect way too much from a portable
and should think in terms of a desktop/portable combo that covers all the bases.

If you really NEED the performance of a Powerbook, then by all means
enjoy a great machine, but also consider the merit of an iMac/ibook
combo.

thanks for the reply. i'm not saying that the P4 processor that i bought 2.5 years ago was a good idea, but it was supposedly the best out there. there was no pentium m processors yet. but of course they came out shortly after that. i just hope everything works out for me.

i think i'm going to just pick one up at the apple store. i can get the education discount, right? that way i get it now, and not have to wait for it. any reason not to get it at the apple store tonight?

 

[FFTT]

If you do buy the PowerBook at the AppleStore just tell them that you're really concerned about "issues" you've read about and ask if they can allow you to bench test it before you leave the store.

That way you'll have much greater peace of mind.

While you're there take another look at the new iMacs and think about
that combined with a 12" iBook.

 

[twoodcc]

you think they'll really let me test it at the store? if they don't, or if i don't have time (i'll get there 30 min or so before it closes), and i do end up with a problem, i can just take it back to them, right?

after reading more, i'm kind of worried about the issues with over 1 gb of ram in it. that's one of the reasons i'm going with the 15" is b/c it can hold 2 gb of ram.

 

[FFTT]

You won't be able to buy the BTO version with the 7200 RPM HD
at the store and if you ordered a BTO through the online or phone
store, you'd have to return it by shipping it.

If you buy a stock unit at the store and you're not delighted within the 14 day grace period the store will replace it on request.

The most important thing is to test run your system " as shipped " before
you add anything, just to rule out any 3rd party problems.

 

[twoodcc]

You won't be able to buy the BTO version with the 7200 RPM HD
at the store and if you ordered a BTO through the online or phone
store, you'd have to return it by shipping it.

If you buy a stock unit at the store and you're not delighted within the 14 day grace period the store will replace it on request.

The most important thing is to test run your system " as shipped " before
you add anything, just to rule out any 3rd party problems.

so i have 14 days to return it, or exchange it, or what?

if i add ram to it myself, does that void my warrenty?

 

[Aliquis]

I'd personally look at the video card in both and decide what you are willing to live with.

 

[FFTT]

so i have 14 days to return it, or exchange it, or what?

if i add ram to it myself, does that void my warrenty?

You are entitled to a 14 day no questions asked return policy.
Since you're going to the store make sure to introduce yourself to the store manager and the store genius and ask for any specifics about " policy "




No adding RAM is a normal user upgrade as long as you buy guaranteed compatible for your PB from a reputable retailer.

 

[twoodcc]

ok thanks, wish me luck, after i eat, i'm going