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I'm all for small and light. I mean, the 17" Powerbook is nice, but I'd imagine, even at 1" thin, it's mighty cumbersome.

Each has its own appeal, but I can certainly see the 12" Powerbook filling in an open gap for those who need powerful, but compact.

I think a 12 TiBook is silly.  Leave that as an option for iBooks only.  Bigger is better in this case.

Exactly, so why have two portables that are effectively the same?

Hey if theres a good price drop then im for it. Ive always wanted a Powerbook but everytime Ive had a chance to get one, the one ive wanted has been too pricey. I would consider iBook if it wasnt G3. It may be more durable but come on, most apps and even OSX wont do anything without a G4.

UT isnt Altivec enhanced. Im looking at the newer OpenGL games/etc. Stuff under the Q3 engine is all stating Altivec enhanced now, G3 just doesnt have the beef when it comes to Altivec apps. Yeah if I was just gonna use it for UT or OS9 games id probably get a G3. But for future stuff, everything is going to Altivec.

You are right about the iBook.  Look at the top end iBook's specs compaired to the new PowerBook. I'd lay down that $50 without thinking twice.  Heck, for $2000 you through in a superdrive.  With all the new features it does make a nice, little mobile beast.

I vote...good idea.

So, in a couple months you think they will just have  $999 and $1399 versions of the iBook?

May come sooner than that. Hopefully the iBook will drop down closer to $1000, leaving the G4 Powerbook/iBook to take in the $1500+ price range.

One thing about the 12in and 17in specs that id like to know is why Apple stuck an inferior Nivida GeForce 4MX 440 in it. It doesnt even have shader support like the Radeon 9000 Mobility. Unless the new full DDR board inside is designed just different enough that a 9000 Mobility wouldnt fit? Or maybe Nivida paid to have their's put in for once? 17in or not, for gaming/graphics wise the 15in with the 9000 has the edge.

Just found an interesting tidbit being talked about on another site:

"New PowerBook G4 Graphics Info - on an Upgradeable Module?  -
I've had a report that the new PowerBook G4 17" (not sure on the 12") may have the Nvidia GeForce4 Go 440 on a separate module (like the Airport mini-PCI module). I have not seen one to verify this, but if true it's something I've wished they would have done before. (Instead of having the graphics chip/vram soldered onto a main board.) That means that future graphics upgrades (to say the more advanced GeForce4 4200 Go, which is based on the GF4 Ti core, not the GF4MX/NV17 core like the GF4 4x0 go's) could be easily rolled into future designs. Also if this is true, although I doubt they would, that could mean that if faster graphics chip based modules are incorporated in future PB G4s, that it's possible to upgrade the module.
Notebooks like Dell's 8100/8200 use replaceable graphics card modules (allowing owners to buy a radeon 9000, GF4 Go, etc. upgrade - up to 128MB models are available I think, with past pricing on 64MB 9000 and GF4 Go modules costing under $150.) For those that wonder (if the PB G4 has the graphics on a module) whether buying a dell or other OEM module would work - I have no idea if the form factor would be the same (and there's the issue of ROM support also, PC models would have PC firmware, not mac)"

It's a matter of preference, taste and use. someone who spends a lot of time in the field probably doesn't want to lug almost 7 lbs around (those with military training will understand that it doesn't take long for that seemingly small weight to feel like a ton.)

It's a matter of preference, taste and use. someone who spends a lot of time in the field probably doesn't want to lug almost 7 lbs around (those with military training will understand that it doesn't take long for that seemingly small weight to feel like a ton.)

yeah, like, when you spend 8 hours a day with a tuba for 2 weeks, you get kinda tired of it, and then you realize, "oh look, i still have almost 3 months with this thing!" then you really do wish you had picked something smaller and lighter....

actually, i am kind of fond of the 12 inch. and anyways, in order to get from the 12' pb what you get from an ibook (speed, memory, hd space, etc) an almost every category youd have to go for the the top two (if not top one) of the ibooks.

and anyways, im being realistic when i dream of a 12 inch (well, ok, maybe just MORE realstic then it would be to dream of a 17 inch )

but you know... graduation and 18th birthday coming up in june,... i could always pretend to think that my parents are cool like that (i mean, if they arent gonna help me pay for college, they could always send me off with a nice computer, but then again, i havent seen pigs fly, snow at my house, and mtm and nox stop being lazy, so apparently its not the apoclaypse and that isnt gonna happen. )

Then again, some people will buy a 4 X 4 to go do groceries 2 blocks away. 

Look, I told you to stop following me.

Been there, done that.  Tuba/Sousaphone for 4 years.  It's why I also played baritone and trombone.

its like i just found a long lost brother

working on my 4th tuba year now:p

id rather carry around a 12'