iBook? PowerBook? WINDOWS? :P

I've gotten up into the whole freeipods.com etc wave, and am now working towards a free iBook.

Thing is, I'm not sure what to do. I've used Macs minimally before, and usually just OS X. My experiences haven't been 100% the best compared to my use of Windows machines (but I have fairly advanced knowledge of Windows, so using them comes easily to me in any situation)...

I've compared the 12" iBook and the 12" PowerBook. What I've come up with is that the PowerBook has twice the RAM, twice the disk space, a faster processor by several hundred MHz, integrated bluetooth, and the fab scrolling touchpad. I also noticed that the PowerBook was just released like a week ago with a faster processor, so...

And, face it, it's just sexier than the iBook, which, if it were pink, would look like the Barbie version of the Mac laptop.

With my educational discount, I can get the ComboDrive 12" PowerBook for $1400 or the 12" iBook with Airport Extreme for $950. I'm looking at getting $970 via PayPal from the free notebooks site. I also have a lovely boyfriend who is willing to front the cost of the thing until I aquire the money from the free notebooks site. He says it's worth the $400 upgrade to the PB because not only is it higher performance, but it's got greater resale value if/when I decide to unload it.

So, as someone who would be a BASIC Mac user (this is like my toy for the sake of having a toy - surf the net, use my iPod Shuffle with it, take it to class when I don't want to haul out my 14.1" Dell Latitude D600) who might do some Photoshop work but nothing heavy...

Is it worth the cost of getting the PB over the iBook?

#252373

My thoughts are no, It is not worth getting a PowerBook over an iBook, To me there isn't much different, and I dont think it should matter on the speed and hdd space on it unless you want to have loads of games and apps on it. I am going for iBook right now, but for free that's really good.

#252376

@ Wuzzie - it`s one thing when u don`t know what ur saying. But giving someone a bad advice by saying there`s no difference between PBs and iBooks is just stupid :slant:

#252409

I just have one thing to say, if you can afford for a PB, just buy it, you'll get more features with it, just have a look at the other threads talking about PBs.

#252432

just to say, these books are in their own league and they both rock. ibooks have exceptional value that can deliver everything that a powerbook can, but it does have a leg chopped off there and some fingers missing here. and is missing some stuff. that's the analogy. what is your budget?

powerbooks, are power. full performance, for the pros, the best of the best. although pricey, it's well worth it.

#252434

Its better to just get a powerbook, because if you'll ever want to upgrade the ibook, which you probly will at some point, it'll probably cost you more money to do that later, then just use a few more hundred dollas now

#252471

i agree. spend more now to save EVEN more later. initial cost isn't everything. maintenance, upgrades, and so forth might be a lot higher than expected. it's like an investment.

#252490

The only thing I would say, is to remember that applecare is a fair bit more expensive on the powerbooks. You really should get applecare, and it adds a little more cost to the equation

#252494

NO! You definitely need the iBook. The powerbook is more for professional use. Buying a powerbook and only using it as a "toy" would totally be wasting your money. Besides, if all you're going to be using the laptop for is music, surfing the internet, etc... then the iBook will MORE than suit your needs. You don't need the powerbook, buy the iBook, and use the money you have left over (in case you were saving up for a PB, and buy some cool accessories, like the iLap... something along those lines. )

#252738

it all depends on preference and use. hack has a point though. but i do photoshoping (basic), will use imovie and iphoto a lot , and maybe play a couple of games. so ibook is best for me but powerbook is so attractive..............

#252794

Yes both arguments hold...

But I don t think there is the Superdrive on the iBook... Correct me if I am wrong, i am not sure!

I think the look is important as well. Personnally, I totally fell in love with the powerbook's look, so that's why I am going for it!

But some people may prefer the white look of the ibook, specially girls. Most of the girls I know do have ibooks, and most of the guys I know do have PB. However, we cannot generalize, it really depends!

It's like when you're buying a car, you want the functionnality, but somtimes you also want the design of the car, and that's why people are willing to pay more for a ferrari than for a porsche, even though the motor of the porsche is more reliable!

#252801

Buy what you are going to use. If you are not going to use all the extra features a PowerBook provides, then why pay for them. That would be like somone buying a PowerMac G5 who only needs an iMac. If you truly are only going to do basic stuff then get the basic model. My other advice from my experience (which may be different than others) is to get the options you want when you order/buy your 'Book. Get extra RAM, AirPort card, Hard Drive upgrade, etc. right when you buy it. Others think to get this stuff after-market, I have done both and the experience is much better and more pleasant getting it done right away so that everything is ready right out-of-the-box and not have to worry about upgrades later on.

#252802

Others think to get this stuff after-market, I have done both and the experience is much better and more pleasant getting it down right and having everything right out-of-the-box and not have to worry about upgrades later on

I totally agree with your point, dude

Very often, when you upgrade later on, not only is it more annoying, but also it smore expensive!

#252803

Yes both arguments hold...

But I don t think there is the Superdrive on the iBook... Correct me if I am wrong, i am not sure!

from what i saw on apple.com there is a model of an iBook w/ a superdrive, but it costs 200 $$$ more then the one w/o it, and its only avalible on the 14" one

#252823