Powebook 12", an investment?

[point665]

Im chosing between the pb12 and a vaio. I dont think I can leave osx behind. The MBP is just so much more expensive.

!@%#^$^$@$#@ Id rather take the PB12 over the Vaio any day. In fact, I was considering going into Industrial Design (Im a Graphic Designer), just to learn more and its something new... But when I read and saw that alot of it is PC software, I said "hell no".

 

[brikeh]

!@%#^$^$@$#@ Id rather take the PB12 over the Vaio any day. In fact, I was considering going into Industrial Design (Im a Graphic Designer), just to learn more and its something new... But when I read and saw that alot of it is PC software, I said "hell no".

Hahaha ok.

 

[solidbreakz]

Can you wait until end of March/early April? MacBooks will most likely be unveiled then. What I would take note of then if I were you, would be whether or not Apple shoehorns an Intel Core Duo or Solo into the MacBooks. If its a Duo, kiss the possibility of a MacBook Pro goodbye. The 12" PowerBook has not be updated since February '05. That's pretty long in the tooth as far as portable upgrades go. Apple just upped the low-end shipping MBP's from 1.6GHz Duos to 1.83GHz. They might just put the 1.6 Duo's into the MacBook. I'm in a similar situation as you. Except...I already own a last-rev 12" PB. If they release a MacBook in Core Duo form, I'll sell the PB and pick a MB up. If not, I wait.

For you, if not...get yourself a PB. For your needs, a PB will be fine for at least 1-2 years from now.

 

[TBi]

They dropped €400 off all the powerbooks in my local O2 Experience/Apple Store. The 12" looks quite nice at the price.

 

[emotion]

A current version 12" pbook that's refurbed can also be had for £900 in the UK. I think this is a pretty good deal.

As I say above, personally I'd wait a couple of months if it's not an urgent purchase.

The new iBook could be very light and powerful with long battery life. I wouldn't want to miss out on that

 

[brikeh]

A current version 12" pbook that's refurbed can also be had for £900 in the UK. I think this is a pretty good deal.

As I say above, personally I'd wait a couple of months if it's not an urgent purchase.

The new iBook could be very light and powerful with long battery life. I wouldn't want to miss out on that

The thing is...I really cant wait a couple of months since Im without a computer now...

 

[solidbreakz]

Well, I guess you are left will no choice. Hell, you could always buy a DELL. Lol j/k.

 

[emotion]

The thing is...I really cant wait a couple of months since Im without a computer now...

Yeah fair enough. In that case, and you can't strecth to a mac book pro, you could do a lot worse than a 12" pbook.

 

[dambro1978]

BUY A POWERBOOK 12" IT IS GREAT!!!
I have already posted a similar message a couple of days ago.
I was in the same situation as you, I couldn't wait 3 months for a MacBook
and then realize that it is a core solo, and it runs rosetta apps as my 5 years old ibook G3.

So I went for a PB12" , I'm more than happy, it does everything I need and it will do it for at least 3 years.
Obviously in three years MacOS 10.5 will (maybe) require more video ram and normal ram, but as personal experience I know that an Apple Laptop will run smoothly 2 years and decently 4 years. The fifth year I change it.

Go for the Powerbook and be happy.
if you're concirned about the small screen consider that it is very likely that other application will run full screen, as iPhoto now. (this is a personal conjecture after a phone call to Steve.)


Andrea

 

[dambro1978]

I'm bored to see that I'm a macrumors newbie, I read it every day (apart from vacation time)form at least 2 years...

 

[emotion]

I'm bored to see that I'm a macrumors newbie, I read it every day (apart from vacation time)form at least 2 years...

Yeah I've been reading for a long time....it's all in the posting though.

 

[dambro1978]

Yeah I've been reading for a long time....it's all in the posting though.

How do user titles work?
User titles are based on post counts:

Newbie => 0 - 29 posts
Member => 30 posts
Regular => 100 posts
6502 => 500 posts
65816 => 1000 posts
65832 => 1500 posts
68000 => 1505 posts
68010 => 2000 posts
68020 => 2005 posts
68030 => 2500 posts
68040 => 3000 posts
601 => 5000 posts
etc....
Demi-Goddess, Demi-God or Contributor => Member who has contributed to the site and has chosen to use one of those three titles.
(Moderator) suffix => Member who is also a moderator
macrumors god => administrator

 

[crazydrumma]

Do you really need that power?

Here is the deal. With what you seem to be doing, it doesn't even sound like you need all of the power that the macbook pro has. My two cents worth is wait until april or may to see the new macbooks, the replacement for the ibooks. Personally, I think the white looks so incredibly sweet, and I predict that the new macbooks will not only have a built in isight, they will be waaaaay faster than the current powerbooks. They will have faster processors, look cooler, and be a heck of a lot cheaper. And, it would probably fit your needs a little better.

 

[heartsparke]

You can wait a lifetime...

Here's my theory: you can spend your whole life saying, "Oh, I'll just wait til the next bigger/better/faster one comes out." Except of course then you don't end up buying anything.

Computers are always, always moving forward - it's the nature of the beast. Just keep it in perspective - just because a new MacBook or whatever comes out, that doesn't suddenly make the PB suck. It'll still do all the things it did before.

If you need it now, get the PB. I'm having the exact same dilemma myself, and the big issue for me is size. A PB12" is going to be a lot easier for me to chuck in my bag. A 15" is a freakin' beast.

Be realistic - if the specs of the PB make you happy, go for it.

 

[Koodauw]

----------------------------------------
Andrea

Happy owner of a rev.E PowerBook 12"

Actually You are the happy owner of a rev. D 12'' Powerbook, as the 12'' was not updated when the 15'' & 17'' models were. The current 12'' has been out for about a year now.

I have one, but can't wait for my MBP to arrive. I think its worth the money.

 

[iShane]

I would wait. Atleast until the next MacWorld event. I wouldn't be suprised if Apple starts lowering prices on the PowerBook line soon due to the MacBook Pros. I mean they did it on the iMacs.

 

[tuartboy]

I suspect the effect you're seeing there is bandwidth problems.

Web surfing isn't taxing on a machine.

Uh, Safari is a total dog with Javascript. I know firefox is much better at this, but I can't give up my RSS like that.

I hear the universal intel Safari builds fly, but it's just too bad it took x86 to improve it and nothing much is happening on the PPC side of things.

 

[tuartboy]

Here's my theory: you can spend your whole life saying, "Oh, I'll just wait til the next bigger/better/faster one comes out." Except of course then you don't end up buying anything.

Computers are always, always moving forward - it's the nature of the beast. Just keep it in perspective - just because a new MacBook or whatever comes out, that doesn't suddenly make the PB suck. It'll still do all the things it did before.

If you need it now, get the PB. I'm having the exact same dilemma myself, and the big issue for me is size. A PB12" is going to be a lot easier for me to chuck in my bag. A 15" is a freakin' beast.

Be realistic - if the specs of the PB make you happy, go for it.

Sorry for the double post, but I disagree. Sure, things keep getting better over time. Moore's law. But what we are dealing with here is an entire architecture change with the promise of vastly improved hardware and the planned obsolescence of current hardware over time. I'd say anyone purchasing now needs to take great care in choosing a platform, not just computer.

 

[Coca-Cola]

There are some sweet deals on 12 inch pb. I can understand the temptation.

 

[jrk07]

I was just at the apple store looking to see how much the current 12" powerbook goes for. I clicked a little to the left of the Powerbook G4 picture on the Apple online storefront, which popped up the iBooks. I did not notice this and for about half a second I thought they were selling 12" powerbooks for $999 new, yeah I'm dumb. Back to reality...

 

[budugu]

Just get a Refurb ibook 12" (last rev) for less than 800$. That should give you 1-2 years to get a shiny new mac book pro or what ever is out there. It havs every thing powerbook has except for a shiny alu case.

 

[Coca-Cola]

I share in this opinion. I would get a two year computer. You may even think about the iBook. I love my wife's 1.2 g4 iBook. It has great battery life and is durable.

 

[jimN]

I have a 1Ghz PB from the start of 2004, have to say that i love it. It is returning from being repaired after a logic board failure and should be back with me from tomorrow. It runs all the basic stuff well enough and i was pleasantly surprised to discover that wolfenstein was more than playable on line. Unfortunately i recently dropped the battery so it now has a small dent on the side of the battery unit but i'll probably buy a new one (battery) at some point in the not too distant future. As a couple we'll probably get a second mac this summer as we'll be living in different places and will therefore both need our own machines - this is exciting as i couldn't justify getting a new computer given how adequately my two year old model performs.

 

[jimN]

Unfortunately i recently dropped the battery so it now has a small dent on the side of the battery unit

It came back today and the dent was gone - damn they're good.

 

[brikeh]

Thanks for all youre replies...Im none the wiser tho! I think that...yeah the current 12 pb will do me fine with some extra ram. But then again...those macbooks are looking sweet. The iBook really isnt an option since it doesnt have DVI.