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What is so bad about it anyway? Who cares if it's a repackaged iBook? Just curious.

I said that before, but now I'm just bored

This is what I really think the 12" is:

I think that Apple pored $millions in R&D into their portables.  I think that after they had developed this wonderful 17" powerbook out of this new material with this new look, they were planning on making SOME of these new features available to those who can't come up with the $3300.  I think that Apple didn't want to replace their 15" powerbook because first, it is still selling great and second, they probably have quite a stock of them.  Apple obviously couldn't go bigger, so they went smaller.  This move fit in perfectly with their new push on their portable line. 

If Apple wants to get desktop consumers to buy into their portables, they're going to have to provide more options which means more configurations; which means the line between PB and iBook becomes blurred.  The 12" PB is the blurring of this line.  It's certainly not just an iBook outfitted with a G4 processor, but it's not a fully equipped PB with backlit keyboards and Gigabit.  It was a smart move by Apple to introduce this line of PB.  I believe it will prove successful in pulling life-long desktop consumers into the portable world.  It gives people the option to step into the portable world while still maintaining their G4 power at about the same price they could by a tower.

The ONE key feature that makes this model so alluring to the desktop crowd is Extended desktop.  Yes it has a 12" screen, but plug any VGA monitor into it and get up to 1600x1200 resolution.  If it weren't for this one feature alone, I don't think Apple would have won over any desktop consumers.

This is a model to start easing the Apple desktoppers into the portable world.  It'll get their feet wet and show them that they can do all that "power computing" without having to have a 40 pound cpu.  I think it'll work, it worked on me.

I must say that I agree with what SuperMacTech had to say. I do think that it's more of just a redone iBook, but I will also admit that it does blurr the line between iBook and PowerBook.

Steve did say that they were going to push the Portable in the upcoming set of months, and this is their way to do that. More options were needed and this is what they came up with. What we should be arguing about here is not if the AiBook 12" is like the iBook, but if it is a good deal or not, and does it provide a good option for a power user who wants a G4 is such a small package. If it is a good deal, then Apple has done what they have wanted to do, made a strong push to get people to move to laptops.

If the "12 doesn't give you what you think you should be getting in a G4 PowerBook, then DON'T GET IT. Buy the 15" PB or an iBook or just wait until you can get what you want.

Just my thoughts.

Yes it has a 12" screen, but plug any VGA monitor into it and get up to 1600x1200 resolution.

mmmmmm...that's a lot of pixels. I like pixels!

I think wanting a "fuller-featered" 12" PowerBook is kinda like wanting a low end PowerMac with the Dual 1.25GHz and the 128MB NVidia Card and all the other bells and whistles that comes on a HIGH END MACHINE.  If you look at the Apple Store, the 12" is on one end of the lineup and the 17" is on the other.  All of the features on the 12" are inferior to the 17" except one - the price.

I think wanting a "fuller-featered" 12" PowerBook is kinda like wanting a low end PowerMac with the Dual 1.25GHz and the 128MB NVidia Card and all the other bells and whistles that comes on a HIGH END MACHINE.  If you look at the Apple Store, the 12" is on one end of the lineup and the 17" is on the other.  All of the features on the 12" are inferior to the 17" except one - the price.

I wish that Apple had put the lighted keyboard on the 12" model. It is the one feature that the big guy has that the little Al doesn't that I'd pay extra for.  It is totally groovy, but believe it or not it has a practical use as well. 

When I had room mates they would get irritated when I would turn on the light to type while they were watching television, but more importantly, I give presentations in darkened rooms... those goofy podium lights are too bright, and coupled with Keynote the 12" with a lighted keyboard would be primo, and to do righteous presentations you don't need all the bells and whistles.  The 12" G4 is a *perfect* presentation machine for business (and I will develop on it but I have great eyes and lots of patience   ) and the lighted keyboard would have added to this.

Besides, I just really want a lighted keyboard...

I also suspect that the 15" will morph into an Al book as soon as Apple sells down some of the stock they are sitting on.  I would probably go for it even though I love the 12" form factor.  I sold my Ti to get an iBook for the smaller size AND sturdier construction... the anodized aluminum won't chip and peel!

what I am trying to say?
Apple should lower the price of 12.1 pb to a more reasonable level, or remain the same price as current, but make it a full feature al book same as 17in but smaller in screen/hd/

Let us compare two products, the 14" iBook and the 12" PB

iBook Price
$1499
PB Price
$1799

iBook Speed
800Mhz G3
PB Speed
867Mhz G4

iBook RAM
256 SDRAM
PB RAM
256 DDR RAM

iBook GPU
Ati 7500
PB GPU
GForce4 420 Go

iBook Bus
100Mhz
PB Bus
133Mhz

iBook HD
30GB
PB HD
40GB

Also, you get Airport extreme, Bluetooth, and a lit up keyboard.

Sounds like a pretty reasonable level to me...but that's just me

I think wanting a "fuller-featered" 12" PowerBook is

I don't find the 17" very portable. It just doen't seem easily transportable.
So I want a "fuller-featured" 12" PowerBook. 
A full-featured portable.
Yes.
All the features of the 17" in a 12" case.
Yes, that is what I want.
Go ahead call me crazy.
Ridicule me.
Laugh.
Point and laugh.
Go ahead.
I don't mind.

no lit keyboard on th 12", AaronS.

Eh, details

Apple enabled monitor spanning to the 12" PowerBook and that's a very great feature!!!!