15" Powerbook or 14" iBook?

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Level 2

372 points

15" Powerbook or 14" iBook?

Hi,

It is time to replace my 5 year old 12" 500 mhz iBook. I have been looking at the refurbished items at the Apple online store and I am torn between the 14" iBook and the 15" Powerbook with combo drive. The difference in price is $350. I know Apple will be coming out with a new Intel book sometime soon and I am not in a rush. My funds are limited. A refurbished iBook at $1049 is within my budget but I am thinking, for $350 more, I can get a slightly more powerful laptop with more twice as much videoram. 4 years from now, which will suit me more? I use my laptop as my main computer and use it for general computing needs (word processing, email, iphoto, itunes, safari). The most cpu intense program I have is Starry Night. Is a 15" Powerbook worth the extra $350 or should I just wait? I cannot afford a MacBook Pro and would not be interested in the rumored 13" intel iBook. I would like a 14" or 15" screen without breaking the bank. Is there anything negative I should know about the 15" Powerbook? Thanks for any info.

Thom

iBook 500 Mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Feb 11, 2006 4:40 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

macmaster05

Level 1

45 points

Feb 11, 2006 4:57 PM in response to Thom F.

Get a powerbook definately. Anything negative about the powerbook? You should know it kicks *. I guess thats negative, if it gets caught kicking *.

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Answer 2

hictio

Level 1

85 points

Feb 11, 2006 5:19 PM in response to Thom F.

If you can wait, I guess I would do just that at the moment. To me, the only advantage between the machines that you mention is the extra resolution that the PB (the 15" only) can achieve.
I used to have an iBook that died the Logic Board Death, and 1024x768 for Os X it is a punishment on your senses, at the moment I was hardly using the iBook on the road, so I got Screen Spanning Doctor (unsupported, use at your own risk, blah, blah, blah...) and going from the iBook's LCD to the external monitor running 1280x1024 was like using a totally different machine.

Then again, if you can, I would wait a bit untill:

1.- The MacBook Pro hits the street and see if the little bt*ch running Intel really delivers.
2.- See if the rumored new iBooks will span new technology and offer more screen resolution as the rumors sites say so.

Or, INTOH, if you can't wait, I would go with the PowerBook, but that's just me.

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Answer 3

Feb 11, 2006 9:07 PM in response to hictio

You don't want an iBook. iBook:Kia as Powerbook:Mercedes Benz.

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Answer 4

Feb 11, 2006 10:52 PM in response to Thom F.

I had much of the same conundrum.

What decided it for me was the video card, thne ATi 9700 is a much better card in the PowerBook.

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Answer 5

iSMH

Level 5

4,310 points

Feb 12, 2006 5:24 AM in response to hictio

1.- The MacBook Pro hits the street and see if the little bt*ch running Intel really delivers.

Keep it clean. Thanks.

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Answer 6

Maxit

Level 4

3,649 points

Feb 12, 2006 7:12 AM in response to Thom F.

Four years from now, you will be wishing that you had gotten a powerbook with superdrive. But since that isn't your question, there is no doubt in my mind that you should opt for the best computer system that you can afford if you are looking at a four-year plan. The extra processing power, videoram and sharper display are definitely worth it.

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Answer 7

Thom F. Author

Level 2

372 points

Feb 12, 2006 7:31 AM in response to Maxit

Actually, "four years from now" would be one of my concerns. Thanks for the advice.

Thom

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Answer 8

hictio

Level 1

85 points

Feb 12, 2006 9:21 AM in response to iSMH

1.- The MacBook Pro hits the street and see if the
little bt*ch running Intel really delivers.

Keep it clean. Thanks.

Excuse me, but, what do you mean?

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Answer 9

iSMH

Level 5

4,310 points

Feb 13, 2006 3:09 PM in response to hictio

The language. thanks.

iSMH

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Answer 10

Feb 13, 2006 3:33 PM in response to Thom F.

FWIW - I have a 15" 1.33GHz PowerBook (purchased Dec 04), and this summer I bought my daughter a 14" 1.42GHz iBook. Even though the iBook is slightly faster processor (and more memory), I'd take the PowerBook any day over the iBook. The larger (and crisper) screen, faster graphics processor, and the backlit keyboard are great.

When my daughter was home over the holidays, I used her iBook for a while (getting all the software updated, etc), and really noticed how much I missed the little things on the PB. Google Earth was a good test I found - much snappier on the PB versus the iBook - guessing it's the graphics processor.

For me, the extra $350 for the PB is worth it. Good luck in your search.

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Answer 11

w4rmk

Level 1

19 points

Feb 13, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Thom F.

I had the same decision to make until I found out that the iBook's will not run Aperture. Even the 12" PB won't run it. Only the 15" or 17" PBs. So that made my decision easy. FYI if you have any Apple store's nearby they usually have much better pricing on open box's unit's than the Apple website.

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Answer 12

Thom F. Author

Level 2

372 points

Feb 13, 2006 4:52 PM in response to w4rmk

Thanks for that info. I will have to check out the local Apple Store and ask.

Thom

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Answer 13

Thom F. Author

Level 2

372 points

Feb 13, 2006 5:50 PM in response to w4rmk

Just curious, how come Aperture won't run on a 12" PB?

Thom

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Answer 14

Network 23

Level 6

12,333 points

Feb 14, 2006 10:08 AM in response to hictio

If you can wait, I guess I would do just that at the
moment. To me, the only advantage between the
machines that you mention is the extra resolution
that the PB (the 15" only) can achieve.

There are many more differences. What's important is if those differences are important to the buyer. The PowerBook G4 has:
* Desktop spanning across two monitors (the iBook can only mirror)
* DVI port
* Higher RAM ceiling of 2GB
* Backlit keyboard
* FireWire 800
* PC Card expansion modules to add or upgrade ports, add 3rd monitor, etc.
* Optical digital audio

Now, if none of that matters to you, and neither does having almost double the number of screen pixels (iBook has 786,432 and latest 15" PowerBook has 1,382,400), then get the iBook and save some money.

There is one negative to the PowerBook. Its Airport reception is not great compared to plastic-body laptops like the iBook. Apple's metal laptop case obstructs the wireless signal to some extent.

As for my own requirements, I would find an iBook to be utterly crippling, because I have an ongoing need for several items on that PowerBook feature list. But that's just me.

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Answer 15

Thom F. Author

Level 2

372 points

Feb 14, 2006 11:12 AM in response to Network 23

Well, listing it this way, I really don't have a need for any of those extras though the backlit keyboard would be nice. What might sell me on the powerbook line is the slightyly faster processor and the 64 mb of vram. It looks like the 15" PB may be a little too pricey, even for a refurbished model. I am also considering a 12" PB which I can get for the same price as a 14" iBook. What it comes down to is the size of the screen. I currently have a 12" iBook but I am thinking that a 14" screen may be better. Thanks for your advice.

Thom

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