Powerbook G4 Vs. Macbook Pro

I understand the word budget!

To get an idea of prices for a refurbished PBookG4
go here. For about the same price you can purchase a new MacBook... go here:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html

This is only something that as you the consumer can decide on. The pro side for the MacBook is that it's new and under warranty for a year. The con side of the refurbished PBookG4 is that if it breaks down, you could end up spending more for repairs then a new MacBook. That's my 2 cents as a long time Mac user, 1984.

Carolyn 🙂

You should look at the specs of each machine carefully, but in general, you'd be able to get a refurb Powerbook at a much lower price than a Macbook Pro. In truth, if you don't need the improved graphics capability of the Pro, you might also want to look at the Macbook as an option.

Two obvious differences between the Macbook/Pro and the Powerbook lines is that the former has the ability to run Windows and PC applications and had a built-in iSight camera (if you need to add video to your podcasts).

Matt

I made the same decision back in August of last year and decided on a 12-inch PowerBook G4. My main reason was the money, and second, the ability to run CLASSIC MODE.

I have a lot of PowerPC/OS 9 native apps that I still use.

I can't use them on MacBook Pro with Intel chips.

I didn't get the MacBook, even though on par with the price, because of that as well. Plus, they are--as can be seen through the grapevine--still working out issues with the MacBooks.

I say go for a PowerBook G4 (like the one I'm typing on right now) for your needs. Even when compared to the MacBook.

If you were doing video stuff, like I do, and want to do eventually, I want a MacBook Pro. I just didn't have the money.

Really, like me, it comes down to what you can afford right now, and what your necessities are. (OS 9 Classic capabilties? Dedicated graphics card? What else...).

Podcast Junkie 06:

Your reasons for buying a Mac are relatively modest, and you don't need the highest powered computer. I continue to use an old Pismo, which does everything I need to do, from word processing, spread sheets, Music, photos, surfing the net, banking, investing etc. etc. etc.

If this will be your first Mac and you have a modest budget, get a good used or refurbished computer. The G4 PowerBooks, especially the later ones, are very powerful. You can't go wrong with a G4 12" 1.5 Ghz or G4 15" 1.5 GHz or 1.67 GHz. But you can set your sights even lower and invest only a little at first. Then after you are familiar with the Mac platform, you will have a better basis for upgrading to a more powerful Mac.

Research well, do the math and don't hurry your decision.

Good luck.

cornelius

Message was edited by: cornelius

The con side of the refurbished PBookG4 is that if it breaks down, you could end up spending more for repairs then a new MacBook.

If you buy a refurbished unit from the Apple Store, it comes with a one-year warranty exactly the same as a brand new MacBook. If anything happens with it, you are covered.

My 12-inch PowerBook screen was replaced just a few weeks ago under warranty, so if you go with a refurb, you're covered! Remember, all refurb Apple products directly from the Apple Store (online) are as good as new.

Personally, you have a solid machine with a PowerBook G4 versus the MacBooks.

Case in point (no pun intended-- "case"), see this news this week:

http://blogs.business2.com/apple/2007/05/behindtheappl.html

PowerBook G4 12-inch | PowerMac G4 Dual FW800 | G4 Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.9) 1.5 GHz SD/AP/BT/1.25GB • 1.42 GHz SD/AP/2GB • 1.5 GHz SD/AP/BT/512MB

Message was edited by: Pismo 900

(Though my unit isn't a refurb. My PowerMac G4 was a refurb, and it came with the one-year warranty. My 12-incher was new).

Podcast Junkie 06:

Will it be compatible with tiger when it comes out in october.

I take it that you intended to ask about Leopard. While the minimum system requirements are not generally known, it is almost certain that G4 machines, especially later releases, will support Leopard. Just makes good business sense.

Good luck.

cornelius

They say that the only worry people have right now is Apple abandoning the G3 chips which also wouldn't be good for "business" since there are still a lot of G3 users out there (like schools, like myself, etc.).

Though by observation, again, Tiger runs a little slow on G3s right now unless you boost it with more RAM, and even at that (like I did with my iMac G3, had 1 GB of RAM in there), it doesn't help much.

I would imagine--pure speculation--that Leopard would crawl on a G3.

I digress.

I bought this G4 I'm typing on right now knowing that, well, confident that it would last me for at least 5 years, save natural disaster or something.

You threw in a good factor there. Of course, the MacBook would be "compatible" with any new OS that rolls out for a good time out.

However, even at that, with the way things go with technology these days and how fast they update things, it will always come into play.

Like the MacBooks. They've updated them three times within a year of their existence! The 12-inch PowerBooks? Took about 1-2 years before they revised it (there were four speeds) a second time.

Anyway, I would suggest you also do a Google search for your question "PowerBook G4 vs. MacBook Pro" and see what you get.

YIKES! I just realized your initial question was MacBook PRO, and not the consumer-oriented MacBook. That would be another thing to think about, since in a way, the PowerBook G4 is the MacBook Pro in terms of feature sets. The MacBook is technically the iBook. Though it seems that the consumer MacBook would surpass the professional PowerBook G4 since it's newer, which I beg to differ personally, you can look at it that way too.

(Remember how I turned down the MacBook Pro because of price and went for the PowerBook G4. I never would have even considered the iBook G4, why I also didn't want a MacBook. It was just like you, for me. PowerBook G4 or MacBook Pro??).

But again, it comes down to price for you, as you pointed out. You get what you can afford, and then...? You get what you pay for.

Just to throw one more thing in, take Final Cut Studio. It will not run on a MacBook (though I'm sure someone will find a hack) because it doesn't yet have a dedicated video graphics card. My little G4 PowerBook? It's on here! Ha ha ha ha ha. =)