Forums | MacLife

mikedemo · 2003-01-07 1:41 pm

Holy smoley!!!! Apple now drops a 17 inch PowerBook. Now they are really making my TiPB 667 long in the tooth. Seems like they put everything in it. I am hoping they can improve the internal speakers. Also whats the battery life on that thing. The 12 inch looks good too.

Any oppinions?

itzzame · 2003-01-07 2:01 pm

I just bought the 1GHz Powerbook about three weeks ago, but no regrets.

I like the size of the 12",but the 17" reminds me too much of the 14" iBook. The design just doesn't look right, although the larger screen would come in handy for Final Cut Pro.

Checked with the Apple Store (online), and it seems the 12" and 17" are now the only choices for a Powerbook?

usbnuts · 2003-01-07 2:11 pm

Eagerly waiting. I'm going to pass on my iBook 700Mhz to my Dad and grab the 12" G4 as soon as his Windoze failed.... unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Short Circuit · 2003-01-07 2:58 pm

The only problem I have with it, is that even I sell mine, I wont be able to afford the new 17"

W

DannyG · 2003-01-07 3:23 pm

If I had the $$, I'd definitely pick up the 12" G4. It is the first laptop I'd seriously consider as a desktop replacement, given that my budget barely creeps over $1500. With dual-monitor output and G4, it should be an excellent mid-range Photoshop machine. I'd tuck it under my 17" Apple Studio CRT (the old one with legs), and sell my old G4-400 AGP. I assume it can operate completely closed, like the big Powerbooks, with external keyboard and mouse.

Alas, gotta pay the Xmas bills...

mikedemo · 2003-01-07 3:54 pm

I am impressed with the 17 incher. Looks like the built-in speakers are larger. Plus it has a light sensor so if it gets dark in the room/outside the keyboard lights up. eek wow. Its tempting but a steep price as well. My Dual 450 G4 and my TiPB 667 will have to do for now.

I'm gonna try to stick it out till the G5's Desktops hit the street.

Larg0 · 2003-01-07 4:00 pm

I am very pleased with Apple. They let me change my not yet sent order to a 17 inch PowerBook with a GeForce 4 and they let me keep the $242 off the gig of RAM that was a discount until 12/31/02. I am ao happy! Now I get an even sweeter computer for only a little bit more. OMG I just found out I get DDR RAM too! Sweet!!!!!

So long,
Larg0

mikedemo · 2003-01-07 4:06 pm

eek Drools. You lucky dog. tongue

aardvark1917 · 2003-01-07 6:05 pm

Hmmm... already have three laptops around the house -- a dead 386, a 4 y/o Toshiba largely used for games, Folding@Home (every processor helps), a freebie version of Strata 3D; my 1.5 y/o iceBook -- and a horribly eek antique 6100/66 DOS blush Compatible powerMac.

What to do with a 17" aluMac? Move all my math-intesive toys (like Photoshop and Carrara Studio) from the iBook onto it, as well as X-Plane (which just doesn't seem to like the G3). Add Virtual PC w/Win98 to replace the Toshiba (VPC w/DOS is enough of a chore for an iBook), and I could toss the desktop (which has Filemaker databases, geneology, piles of HyperCard stacks, and little else), too.

Will definitely get a 17" sometime in the next two months.

Unless Apple delivers a 19" iMac...

iDave · 2003-01-07 7:13 pm

Checked with the Apple Store (online), and it seems the 12" and 17" are now the only choices for a Powerbook?

Oh no, both 15" models are still available. The Ghz one dropped in price by $200 though. Still no regrets? Gotta hate it when that happens. wink

Kleekoh · 2003-01-07 9:11 pm

I am going to place my order for a 12" PowerBook this week. (867 G4, 60 GB HD, 256 Mb Ram, Superdrive, Airport Extreme Card)

A few things that make it obviously better then the iBook, despite the outward similarities:

1) Built in Bluetooth and Airport Extreme Ready
2) DUAL MONITOR SUPPORT, not just Video Mirroring
3) G4 Processor
4) Larger HD
5) Superdrive

Oh, and it also has slot loading drive and S-Video out. smile

usbnuts · 2003-01-08 5:47 pm

Kleekoh,

Where did you find that 12" PB has s-video bult-in? I would really like to know.

jasontk · 2003-01-11 5:40 pm

the 12" PowerBook does not have a built-in s-video port.
however, using the built-in mini-VGA port and the included video adapter...you get s-video connection capability.

backstabber · 2003-01-12 8:05 pm

If I had the $$, I'd definitely pick up the 12" G4. It is the first laptop I'd seriously consider as a desktop replacement, given that my budget barely creeps over $1500. With dual-monitor output and G4, it should be an excellent mid-range Photoshop machine. I'd tuck it under my 17" Apple Studio CRT (the old one with legs), and sell my old G4-400 AGP. I assume it can operate completely closed, like the big Powerbooks, with external keyboard and mouse.

Alas, gotta pay the Xmas bills...

if you really wanna use ANY powerbook
for a photoshop machine, you will do
wonders by getting the fastest firewire
external drive to use as your scratch disk.
the 4200 even 5200 rpm drives are to slow
when you can get 7200 and 10000 rpms.

it really really makes a difference to have
a fast scratch disk in photoshop considering
its used as RAM when you dont have enough
built in ram.

have fun, the powerbook minime is awesome.

FreeJack · 2003-01-12 8:33 pm

Three weeks. I only had to wait three weeks. But NO, of COURSE I ran out and bought a 15" TiBook as soon as my Christmas money and savings allowed it. No matter, I'm selling my 15" and have already placed a pre-order for the 17" model, which is so much better. Faster system bus, faster video card, faster firewire, bigger screen...and yeah, the light-up keyboard had me geeking out like crazy.

I'd never had a laptop before this and now I'm hooked, I think my laptop computer will always be an Apple now (though I'll be sticking with the PC for my desktop/gaming).

FreeJack

Larg0 · 2003-01-13 12:00 am

Why don't you use your Apple laptop for computer stuff and a game system for gaming. You could buy all 3 next gen systems for $550 and get some bonus packaged stuff. It just seems more logical.

So long,
Larg0

ps. I can't wait for my 17" PowerBook either. smile

tigerwolf7 · 2003-01-13 3:34 am

Three weeks. I only had to wait three weeks. But NO, of COURSE I ran out and bought a 15" TiBook as soon as my Christmas money and savings allowed it. No matter, I'm selling my 15" and have already placed a pre-order for the 17" model, which is so much better. Faster system bus, faster video card

No! NO NO NO! SLOWER video card. The Radeon 9000 is like 20% faster than the Geforce 4 Go, and the 4 Go lacks programable shaders. The 4 Go is like a 4 MX, not a real Geforce 4, while the Radeon 9000 is basically a Radeon 8500. It's the best video card in any notebook right now.

SuperMacTech · 2003-01-13 10:09 am

I just ordered the 12" PowerBook to replace my PM G4 QuickSilver 800MHz! I ordered it in the following config:

867MHz
256MB DDR SDRAM
60GB Hard Drive
SuperDrive
Airport Extreme Card

I've read many threads from many websites about this particular model. Some have been good, some bad. I think this machine is great. So great in fact, that I'm replacing my PM G4 with it. It has faster RAM, same bus speed, comparable hard drive size, faster CPU and the same GPU. Plus, I can hook it up to and external VGA with maximum 1600x1200 resolution. This is basically a Quicksilver G4 tower in a 12" case. Plus, I get Bluetooth so that I can use my Sony Cell Phone with it and I get a faster Airport network. For the price, you can't beat this little machine.

FreeJack · 2003-01-13 11:56 pm

No! NO NO NO! SLOWER video card. The Radeon 9000 is like 20% faster than the Geforce 4 Go, and the 4 Go lacks programable shaders. The 4 Go is like a 4 MX, not a real Geforce 4, while the Radeon 9000 is basically a Radeon 8500. It's the best video card in any notebook right now.

Yeah, but the 15" has a slower system bus so you make speed gains in the area of bus bottlenecking, which also has some bearing on frame rate and stuttery performance.

Why don't you use your Apple laptop for computer stuff and a game system for gaming. You could buy all 3 next gen systems for $550 and get some bonus packaged stuff. It just seems more logical.

Because I've already got all the major consoles and a pretty decent PC, but I can't take any of 'em with me...plus, there's something to be said for having a 17" 16:10 monitor to watch DVDs with on trips.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2003-01-07 1:41 pm

12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#2 2003-01-07 2:01 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#3 2003-01-07 2:11 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#4 2003-01-07 2:58 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#5 2003-01-07 3:23 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#6 2003-01-07 3:54 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#7 2003-01-07 4:00 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#8 2003-01-07 4:06 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#9 2003-01-07 6:05 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#10 2003-01-07 7:13 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#11 2003-01-07 9:11 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#12 2003-01-08 5:47 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#13 2003-01-11 5:40 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#14 2003-01-12 8:05 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#15 2003-01-12 8:33 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#16 2003-01-13 12:00 am

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#17 2003-01-13 3:34 am

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#18 2003-01-13 10:09 am

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

#19 2003-01-13 11:56 pm

Re: 12 inch and 17 inch PowerBook - wow!!

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