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yeah, with the $300.oo difference that our dancing friend with the guitar mentioned, you get a bigger screen, AND better AirPort receptoin, if Jobs is to belived it will match the iBook...  So that is something to consider, and it also solves your paint issue...  i love my original PowerBook, but it looks like something from the set of the future sections of the Terminator movies...  I runs like a dream, don't get me wrong, but if the idea of a nicked and dinged laptop makes you cring, then go AL...

I have no doubt the PowerBook will soon sport all of these features in all models.  and by soon, I mean in the next 2 months...  I work for Apple and they keep telling me how exciting things are going to be for the next couple of months and so on... (honestly, that is all I know)

I think you are right that the 15 would be right up your alley, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite compete in the two things that you mentioned as serious considerations: WiFI reception and anti-chipping finish

Hope this helps...

thanks for the replies. I am going to buy this from the Developer site, so I will get quite a discount on whichever computer I buy. The 17" sounds great, but it just seems too big to carry back and forth to campus everyday. I am planning on replacing my PDA with the laptop as well, using Ical and address book to track my life. I do it now with my Ibook and it is great. I am just afraid that I will not want to leave the house with that 17"er. Also, though it goes against what most people say, I would almost be embarassed to have that 17" laptop out in public. I am a grad student and supposed to be poor, but to pull out an eye-catcher like that would bring me unneeded attention (and make me more of a target for theft.) I think the 15" Albook would be absolutely perfect for me, but it could be 2 or 3 months before that thing comes out, and I really don't want to wait that long. GRRRRR I wish I knew more about Apple's hardware plans, it would make everything so much easier. If I KNEW i could have a 15" Albook by March then I would go for that, but it just seems like wishful thinking right now. I am waiting to see what hardware updates come in the next couple of weeks, but I am almost positive they will be for the PowerMacs and Imacs. Perhaps they will update the PowerMacs enough to be attractive to me, but right now they are a tad overpriced in my eyes. I feel that I am getting much better value from the laptops than from the desktops.

First off, if they announce a 15" ALBook, it will NOT SHIP by March...  I'd be thoroughly suprised if that happened (not the announcement, the shipping...)...

But switch brings up a great point... You need a lot of monitor space for your graphic design, but do you need it all the time?  What about the 12" and buying an external monitor?

I love my 667 Combo drive Powerbook.  It has 512 of ram.  Runs Photoshop and Final Cut pretty well.  I also have a dual 800 tower which I rarely use because my Powerbook is so useful.

I think the 17 is going to be too big-I feel that way about the 14 inch iBook-big and clunky.

I was in the Apple Store the other day and I think the 12 inch Powerbook is the coolest Mac I have ever seen.  It feels and looks great.  If I was not already spoiled with my current powerbook I would buy this in a second.  In fact I may buy the superdrive 12 inch anyway.

Good luck with the hunt.  I would at least wait till you can see the 17 before you decide though.

Powerbook paint was reforumated after the combo-drive was added, so
anything newer than an original 550/667 wont chip nearly as much.
What bothers me is why they paint it with metal colored paint at all. I would much more like to see it chrome plated.  Hrm... sounds like an interesting mod to attempt.

okay, but even if the new 15" is announced in the next month...  Do you really think it will be shipping by March?

It doesn't seem likely, no.
Isn't the 17" not shipping until March?

SOunds good man, it is good to know what you want and you do...

Now if there is a new PowerBook 15" it is Doubtful it will be faster (it would suck to have 17" with slower chips than the 15" and so on...)  so it will probably just be AL, and have the BT, 802.11g and mayb FW 800.. so if you doubt those will make a huge difference to you, order now, but since you want the scratch resistence and 802.11g (or at least the improved range...) I guess you might want to wait... 

It is an interesting dilemna... but a wonderful one, either way, you know you'll get a new computer and be in love with it for a while...  Thats ALWAYS fun...  and I still love me 2+ year old PBook...