Question from downunder 12' IB v 12'PB

[wirelesskiwi]

This decision* just isn't getting any easier...
One bonus is though every week I procrastinate, and can't make up my mind is another weeks worth of saving towards what ever the hell I get.
The shifting through the forums continues...

*time spent on deciding to buy first car = 10.3 seconds (he threw in the mags for free)

 

[nomad01]

It's really quite simple. Buy an iBook.

I'm currently considering this option. I've just sold a 12" PB 1.33GHz to get a refurb 15" model. However, after 3 refurbs have been declared DOA, I really can't hack another one. Paying another £200 plus for a new 15" PB is getting less appealing when I read of the display problems and when I KNOW I'll want to get an Intel machine in the not too distant future.

My 12" PB with 256 MB RAM handled video editing REALLY well in iMovie so I'm guessing that the iBook with 4 times the RAM but a slower hard disk shouldn't be too much worse.

I mainly used the PB as an expensive "lazy aid" rather than sitting in front of a PC in the office. I also used it to connect to my PC with remote desktop.

I don't have a big need for a mobile but it's an option I'd like to keep so a desktop isn't an option.

As for losing the Superdrive, it's no biggie. I only used the SD for burning a handful of DVDs in the 18 months I owned it. I can get an external DVD writer if I really need one but as I have on on my desktop PC, I doubt I'll miss it.

So I think I'm talking myself into the 12" iBook for now. I'm struggling to think of anything I'll really miss about the PB apart from the aluminium.

 

[FFTT]

The hard part is deciding if you really NEED the audio in, DVI out
and the extra 32 MB's of VRAM and if that's worth the difference to you.

Once Apple officially announces the upgrade to the mini to 1.5 GHz and 64 MB VRAM there's going to be alot of pressure to upgrade the 12" PB.

My daughter's 12" iBook is on the Fed Ex truck for delivery!

I paid $799 refurb for a great little machine and I'm convinced that
she will be perfectly happy.

I'm adding 1 GB of RAM and it's ready to handle 4 years of college.

 

[panda]

alu?

i don't think you'll miss anything about the aluminium...

as someone said earlier, white is cool and rugged.

it is also warmer to the touch... its one of the things i'm going to miss with my expected 15"pb.

i'd happily swap my casing for yours (soon to be, i imagine).

 

[wirelesskiwi]

Cheers again for all the feedback...
I think one last query before I make my mind up either way.
What would you consider to be the expected life span out of a 12' ibook and 12' PB? How long before you would consider an upgrade to be a must 1,2,3 years?

 

[stevep]

You'd be a fool to buy a 12" PB when the 12" iBook is such a great deal in comparison. There's a screen spanning hack available, and so unless you're desperate for Audio line-in, and are willing to pay hundreds upon hundreds of NZ play money for it, then sure, get the PB. However, most people will tell you otherwise at this moment.

1. The line-in issue is not a problem - just get a Griffin iMic.
2. Hard disc size is also not a problem really - although its best to get the biggest you can afford, its easy to plug a fast external drive in at a later date. The OS and all your apps can fit comfortably on a 40 or 60 gB drive, and when you start filling up the free space with music, video etc get an external drive to store it on.
3. DVI out is a bit more of a problem, if you really need it, but the iBook has a mini-DVI out, and comes with a DVI-VGA adaptor.
4. The graphics card issue shouldn't be a problem with 2D graphics apps such as P/shop and iPhoto. I don't do video work so I don't know what the implications are for this.

Overall - common sense points to the iBook, but you then have to add in all the subjective aspects - are you going to be happy with a white plastic computer (like the one I've got!!!) or would you secretly regret not going for a sleek 12" PB (like the one my brothers got )

Life expectancy - forever, as long as you don't upgrade your software! If you always have to have the latest and greatest software then you need the latest and greatest hardware to run it on. Don't see why either machine shouldn't last you at least 2 to 3 years.