Newish 12" PB...have I ordered a lemon?

[Moo-Boo]

Greetings my fellow Mac aficionados,

Yesterday, I ordered a newish 12" PowerBook, with the 80G HD and SuperDrive. When I looked at the forum on new PowerBooks, many, many people were bitching about how crappy the 12 incher was and how they would go with an iBook. I have been waiting 9 months to purchase one of these professional laptops, as I thought it was the best value for money, especially with a bigger HD and SD. Reviews around the place seemed positive, but, when I come here, amongst professional Mac people, a heck of a lot condemn it! Have I done the right thing? I'd love to know what any of you think, whatever it may be. The thing doesn't come for a couple of weeks yet, so I can cancel the order and get something else...a used 15" Combo Drive PB, for example.

Thanks for reading and keep away from Microsoft OS,

Matt (and his smelly cat)

 

[Demon Hunter]

Nice to meet ya Matt.

People on these boards love to scrutinize. The 12" PowerBook is a beautiful machine... all of my friends bought them.

You will have the people who bitch about the graphics... most notebooks that size have integrated graphics. In other words the worst kind.

Others bitch about resolution, or why don't I just get an iBook, etc. Then just get a damned iBook, I say. I am happy to inform you that the 12" PowerBook is refined in ways people overlook, or don't care about. The footprint is smaller, it weighs less, the trackpad takes up less space, etc. It also has the beautiful aluminum shell which in my opinion justifies the price alone!

My favorite people though, are the ones who think the PowerBook is a consumer line and should be priced to reflect that. Lol.

Also I find the PowerBook has a much, much more comfortable keyboard, personally.

The 12" iBook can't be ordered with a SuperDrive either. So I think you made a great decision.

 

[maxterpiece]

If you want 12" portability and a DVD burner than the 12" pb is your only choice. I've owned both a 12" and 15" pb and the 12" is MUCH smaller and on a different level in weight and portability. That being said, I sold my 15" PB and bought a 12" ibook a few weeks ago. I was willing to spend the money on the 12" PB if it seemed like it was the better deal, but I think i would have gone with the ibook even if it cost $1200 and not $999. It's more durable and has a longer battery life, and practically speaking, these were the most important issues for me. The DVD burner was somewhat appealing, but having owned a 15" PB w/ a superdrive for 10 months, i only used the dvd burning a few times.

You sacrifice a nicer keyboard and almost insignificant processor speed and graphics card on the powerbook is nicer, but by buying a 12" laptop you are basically saying, "this is for portability, not for gaming. Graphics card isn't going to matter much as I won't be gaming on this machine."

 

[Lucky8]

I think 12" iBook is a much better value as of today.
You basicaly paying $500 more for the aluminum, GPU & Superdrive for the 12" Powerbook.

 

[yoda13]

Well, while I agree that the iBook is likely a better value, I would still choose the 12" PB if it were me, simply because I use iDVD and my Superdrive on my 15" PB extensively. So it all really comes down to what you plan on doing with it...

 

[Koodauw]

I have owned two 12'' PB, the original, and the current version. It is the only portable from Apple I would buy. (I need portability more so than power, so its a great fit for me.)

I think you made a great decision as well. Down the road, I highly doubt you will look back and say, I really wished I had gone with an iBook, that extra $200 (or whatever amount) I would of saved would make me a lot happier now.

 

[powerbook911]

MooBoo,

I have the same system as you. Quite honestly, it is the best computer I have ever owned. I love it. It does what I need quickly, it looks gorgeous, and it has quite a few features.

The size is remarkable too. I cherish my Powerbook. Its a shame they didn't update them, but it is still a fantastic machine. It is also great, if you want to hook up an external monitor, for it has DVI and VGA output.

 

[joker2]

Also, people are more inclined to complain about something than to ramble about how nice it is.

I have a 1Ghz 12" pb and it has been quite a trooper. I've expanded the RAM to 768, added the airport extreme card, replaced the battery and sent it in under Applecare to replace a failed HDD (after 2 years of heavy use).

I keep it in the inCase bag that I bought with it, and it is still in cosmetically excellent condition - no scratches that I feared might happen, no dead pixels, nothing. This machine has been my primary machine: home, work (as a 2nd machine), consulting, casual work in coffee shops, on tech support calls rescuing another machine by going into target disk mode.

I'm personally very happy with my machine, and have no plans of replacing it -- it goes everywhere and does everything I need it to do.

 

[AJ Muni]

My favorite people though, are the ones who think the PowerBook is a consumer line and should be priced to reflect that. Lol.

Also I find the PowerBook has a much, much more comfortable keyboard, personally.\

you coudlnt have said it better!!!!

 

[mduser63]

I've got a Rev. C 1.33 GHz, Superdrive 12" PowerBook, and it's quite possibly my favorite thing I own, and definitely my favorite computer. It's my main computer, and sees 6-12 hours of use every day. I plan on keeping it at least another 2 years before I upgrade. I need a DVD burner, and for that reason especially, a 12" iBook is not a good choice for me. The audio input on the PowerBook is also very useful to me.

I think you made a good choice and will be happy with your new computer.

 

[ajampam]

This is yet another chicken or the egg discussion...everyone has their own opinions on it...pretty hotbutton issue at this forum actually...let me say this..it is you who has to use it...what do YOU want? When I wanted to buy one, I thought about this for a while...checked the forum, but finally bought the 12' PB w/SD....reasons...I dont know...I just felt good with it....I liked it....i just simply wanted that and not the iBook....I am sure there a gazillion others on this forum itself who would swear the same about their iBook...good for them....I am happy that they found what they liked....it is pretty relative man...a cliche comes to mind...beauty lies in the whatever or ....I can tll this for sure...whatever you buy...iBook or PB...you wont be sorry....so crank them open and immrse yourself in the ease, perfection and joy of using a mac!!!

BTW- the "you" is the universal entity...not just the thread starter...

 

[Moo-Boo]

Greetings my fellow Mac aficionados,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your contributions over the last couple of days...I have saved the page and will be reading the comments and discussion again and again. Most of you think that my purchase was a good idea, even when faced with stiff competition from the 15" PB. Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease and my soul to rest. When a buying a Mac, as you all know, it's so very important to buy the right one. This ain't any common old crap PC we're talking about! In my Mac time on this earth, 19.5 years now, there's been two I regretted buying...the Performa 5400/180 and the May 2001 iBook. The rest have been great, and, I'm sure now, thanks to you, that the 12" SD PowerBook will be the best ever!

Take care,

Matt and his smelly cat

_____________________

No Mac at moment, 12" 1.5GHz SD PowerBook on the way!

 

[PaRaGoNViCtiM]

I don't know how important looks and the wow factor are to you, but you are definitely getting one of the nicest looking laptops out there!! Personally, as far as looks go, I don't think the Powerbooks and iBooks are even comparable!! To me, the Powerbooks are so much more attractive!!

 

[dmw007]

Congrats on your purchase Moo-Boo, you have bought yourself a very nice computer- enjoy it!

 

[Chrispy]

I don't know how important looks and the wow factor are to you, but you are definitely getting one of the nicest looking laptops out there!! Personally, as far as looks go, I don't think the Powerbooks and iBooks are even comparable!! To me, the Powerbooks are so much more attractive!!

I agree. The 12" models may not have gotten an upgrade but they did get a price cut. If you want true portability with DVD burning you can't go wrong with a 12" notebook!

 

[generik]

I would definitely get the 15" if I were you.

Looking at your profile it says you are an aussie, and edu prices for the 15" is like $2,814.90, which is about $600 more than the 12"? But just think about how much more you are getting...

PLUS, the 15" is recently updated (albeit a crap update) hence there should be less of that lemony sensation when you choose that over the 12".

Get the 15", it is worth it.

At this stage you should really question yourself.

Performance.
Portability.
Price.

What matter to you most?

Portability.. take the iBook anytime. Btw, the iBook lasts longer on battery power and has superior wireless reception. And it is only $1,438.80 EDU which is INSANELY good value!

Performance.. well, I wouldn't say the 15" PB is great for performance either, give as to how I can get a dual G5 2Ghz for the exact same price.

Price.. iBook, anyday.

 

[powerbook911]

Everyone has his or her own opinion.

I really think you're going to love the 12-inch. People mention the 15-inch was only $600. I don't know about you, but $600 is a *lot* of money, and I don't think it would give you that much better of an experience. For a professional photographer maybe, but most of us are fine, with the 12's features.

Open up that 12-inch Powerbook, when it arrives, and meet your new Macintosh. I'm sure you'll be thrilled.

 

[SummerBreeze]

The 12" PowerBook is one of the best things I have ever purchased, and I may love it even more than my brand new car. You'll be happy with it, I'm sure. It's amazingly powerful and portable, and the iBook just doesn't seem to compare.