12" vs. 14" iBook

I recently bought the 12". I am happy with that decision. I chose the 12" for its small compact size. Price really wasn't an issue since either one is relatively close in price. I am not sure the screen is much better than the 14", but I was willing to sacrifice screen size for portability.

The resolution on both screens is identical. The 14"'s pixels are just a bit larger.
In my opinion, if you want the superdrive, get the 14"; otherwise, the 12" is just fine.
I have a 12" and I absolutely love it 🙂

The twelve inch and the fourteen inch iBook are almost identical, except for the screen size, processor speed, which are very similar, and hardly matters, and the optical drive. My science teacher has a twelve inch iBook, and he's perfectly happy with it, he also trusts it more-he lets us use it for research, while we couldn't touch his old Powerbook Lombard-and uses it frequently. My social studies teacher has a fourteen incher, and she carries it around more than my science teacher, and never thinks anything of it. She seems as content with it. And keep in mind, if you don't want or need the SuperDrive, that can be removed at the Apple Online Store, to be replaced by a Combo drive, which is the only option for the twelve inch ibook. Therefore, after that customization, there is only really the processor speed, which is hardly paramount, and screen size. The prices are very similar, so it all comes down to personal preference, and if you're budget is very tight or not. I personally prefer the twelve inch iBook, but I would move it around very frequently, if it was to be more stationary and i had more money, id spring for the fourteen incher.
~iBookUser~

I just got the 12 incher and I love it. I too got it because it's a bit lighter and smaller. I carry a lot more stuff than the computer and every bit counts.

I'm a college student of sorts myself. I bought a 12", a friend bought a 14". At first she said that she really loved how large the screen was. After about a month she said she wished she had bought mine -- it's a lot smaller, and a lot lighter. And that extra two inches becomes a lot less noticible after awhile, especially for the hassle it creates if you are trying to take the machine anywhere.

As for the lightess or crispness of the display, my bet is that those are just different gamma settings, which can easily produce such effects. The screens look the same to me.

I find the 12" to be an ideal size -- not too small, but not too big either. 14" was a little big for me, and I'm glad I got the 12". In my observation, 90% of whether a laptop will be used as a portable device or whether it will just sit sadly in the desk of a dorm room is about whether it is a pain to lug around. Your daughter will get a lot more use out of it if it is smaller, even if she has to put it a little closer to her when she occasionally watches DVDs on it.

I got a 14" but am now regretting it. It's to bulky, the resolution is the same, and I have never burned a DVD in my life. If you get the smaller one I recommend a harddrive upgrade to 60/80 GB, and try get as much RAM as possible.

Ditto on the RAM -- my one major mistake. Processors in the GHz level sound pretty powerful by themselves, but the system takes a LOT of RAM to function correctly and it will slow everything down if it has to do all sorts of VM swapping.

I, like many others, also regret my 14" purchase. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my ibook and it is a lot lighter that my previous POS compaq laptop, but I do wish that I had the added convience of the 12".

There is always this option for those that want the Superdrive but also want the small size of the 12".....

http://www.mcetech.com/ibg4dvdr8dl.html

True the cost would get you to the cost of the 14" but if that is not what you want...

I also prefer the 12 over the 14, however, you can not be told what to prefer, given the main difference is only the size of the screen (and the option to put a SD).

I suggest you to go ahead to an apple store and have a look on both, you'll fall in love with one of them, then you know which size to choose.

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"Le hasard, c’est peut-être le pseudonyme de Dieu, quant il ne veut pas signer"
Théophile Gautier

I recently purchased a 14" iBook to replace my four-year-old 12" iBook. I love the 14" screen and do not regret the decision at all.

The criticism of the 14" iBook's bulk is certainly something to consider, it does not have the grab-and-go feel of the 12". However, the larger pixels of the 14" screen make the 14" easier on the eyes (in my opinion) over the long haul. I spend several hours a day in the library reading journal articles, and the 12" iBook can get a little "squinty" at times.

If you work at a table or desk most of the time, I would recommend the 14". It is less convenient to transport, but more comfortable to view when you get to where you are going. On the other hand, if you are constantly on the go and actually using the laptop in your lap (for instance, on a bus), the 12" can't be beat provided your eyes are healthy. In either case, I think you will be pleased.

Best wishes.

Hi Ann

I own a 12 inch and works great for me. Portabitlity (including size AND weight), price, etc.
A friend of mine bought a 14 and he's starting to regret It because of the size AND weight.

After lugging around a 14" IBM Laptop that nearly took my shoulder off I decided to get the 12" when I changed laptops to MAC (I had already changed desktop to a Mini).

I do appreciate the small size and the lightness of the machine, as well as the tiny and light power adapter with built in plug. I bought a Tragus backpack and it feels noticeably more comfortable than the old IBM.

12" is fine for me to use 🙂

12" display perhaps is too little, for exemple a text wirte in times new roman 10 is impossible to read ? You need to use voice over to see what a button do.

Not at all Francesco, I've compared a 12 with a 14 and a 15 PB, and they all are easy to read.

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"Le hasard, c’est peut-être le pseudonyme de Dieu, quant il ne veut pas signer"
Théophile Gautier