Student Laptop - 12" or 15" PBG4

[sebpayne]

I have the lucky circumstances (for the first time ever) to buy a good laptop. Now, I could get a MacBook Pro but I don't want to get a Revision A machine and my apps are Adobe/Office which need Rosetta. Therefore, I'd rather try and get a good PowerBook G4.

The question is - the 12" or the 15" model. My iBook G4 is heavy. I carry it around every day and come home with an aching back! I need something lighter than 2.7kg! My original thought was to get a 12" with AppleCare for three years through the educational store.

However, I've started to look at the 15" model. Would this be a stupid idea if I'm going to be carrying it around everyday? Also, I'm worried about the screen/sound issue - should it be OK in newer models? Anyway, between the two, which would you guys go for - the 12" or the 15"? Should the performance in applications like Lightroom, iTunes, Office be better than my 1.42GHz Mac Mini?

Thanks

Seb

 

[twoodcc]

i have a 15" pb G4, and i carry it to class everyday. i was in the same dilemma as you. i thought, "is the 15" too big to take to class everyday and stuff" but it's really not. sometimes i think the 12" would be "cool" to have, but as far as real computer power, the 15" is way better. and it's pretty thin

 

[sw1tcher]

Well, if you think your iBook (2.7 kg) is heavy then the 15" PB (2.5 kg) will probably feel heavy to you too since they weigh practically the same. If you want light, go with the 12" PB (2.1 kg)

 

[dwd3885]

Well, if you think your iBook (2.7 kg) is heavy then the 15" PB (2.5 kg) will probably feel heavy to you too since they weigh practically the same. If you want light, go with the 12" PB (2.1 kg)

i've seen the 15" PB and they don't seem that big at all. it appears they are about the same size as my Gateway 14.1" laptop. Very nice

 

[cwedl]

I drag my 12incher around with me all day, wish it was bigger really! but it will do, don't think my rucksack could hold a 15incher.

 

[miloblithe]

So, according to your profile, you went for the MacBook Pro?

 

[luminosity]

12 inch iBook is the way to go.

 

[TaKashMoney]

Am I missing something? the 12"ibok is 4.9 lbs vs 12"pb 4.6 vs 15pb at 5.6?
Are we talking about the older color clam ibook g4s?

 

[TsuaSai]

Sounds like the 12 would be good for you. I would just get a monitor and keyboard for the long study nights.

 

[LACOSTE]

You find the iBook heavy? I am surprised.

Usually you can fix that by buying a more comfortable bag... Try Crumpler back packs! And also, avoid sling/shoulder bags coz it can feel much heavier.

So you want the powerbooks . Since you are working with graphics intensive stuff, you might want to get 15".... or do a combo of a 12" and a cinema display. I still think you should buy the MacBook Pro... These apps running on rosetta... would that be much different to you? I just think that if you bought the powerbook G4 15" you are already buying something with a lot less features. I think the slowdown with Rosetta is worth the other features that the MacBook Pro brings .

lets see u get the remote, handy with presentations, and the isight too... for chatting. So what if with rosetta you could be running a little slower?

 

[powerbook911]

This isn't relevent I guess, to those in the UK, but I wanted to let U.S. readers know that Amazon has the 12-inch Superdrive Powerbook marked down to $1400, and then $150 rebate making it only $1250!

Really unbelievable price considering I paid $1700 a year ago.

 

[Agathon]

I love my 12" Powerbook. It is the finest machine I have ever owned.

I guess the only thing that might be a minus is the screen size, but 12" seems about the right size for a portable for me. I cannot ever see myself lugging a 17" Powerbook around.

 

[xparaparafreakx]

Since you do adobe stuff, get the 15". 15" is not that bad since I carry a 15", a Bluetooth tablet and extra battery. All of this and the things a high school students carrys with them.

If you could, go MacBook Pro. Since CS 3 apps will/might be ready for Intel, use the iBook for the Adobe stuff and use the MacBook Pro for everything else.

 

[Jschultz]

I'm a student as well, and wanted to know if screen size is a big dictator in what you choose.

You see, I've had 2 12" iBooks, and a 12" powerbook. I thought everything was gravy until I got my current 15" powerbook. Now, I feel like everything is so much better, because with a 15" widescreen, I can fit (with better resolution too!) a few more things on the screen. Instead of just a MS word screen, I can get word AND an excel spreadsheet and iTunes on there...I feel more productive this way, and not having the tiny screen to do work on..

Anyone else feel this way? If I had to buy a Macbook pro, just for the widescreen 15", I would. Unless the regular macbook had a 14" widescreen. I think 13" widescreen would still be too small (unless it had CRAZY high resolution)