Hmm, I wish to purchase a Mac

Fenster

Please don't tell the Linux geeks.

Okay, I currently have a Toshiba A60 laptop. Its a great machine, except its a great big bloody brick of a thing. With the summer upon us as well, I want to get out and about with it, but my current Toshiba is more a low-powered desktop replacment than a notebook. I want to get something smaller that I can take out and about.

Much as there are some nice, small laptops out there, I don't want to go for a Windows machine. I have Gentoo Linux on my laptop already, so I've had my share of Linux also. And that leaves a Mac.

About the heaviest work I would be doing would be watching a film and programming-I'm teaching myself bash and python, but my usual workspace isn't great for that sort of work.

With that in mind, what is out there in shops now in the way of powerbooks? I understand they go from a 12" model all the way up to a desktop replacment.
I don't want to go with an order off the net on this. My experiences with ordering whole machines from the net has been very bad so far. If I can get it in PC World or some other store, all to the better.

wes

Wait until the Intel MAC are out if i were you. I know there still a year away, but thats what i would do.

astec123

Take a look in the yellow pages there are several retailers around the country, and last check you can still call apple up to order.

Jammer

15" 1.57GHZ, 512mb DDR, DVDRW - 1999 - PC World
15" 1.65, 512mb, DVDRW - 2299 - PC World

Think prices are fairly fixed by apple a la ipods

Fenster

Jammer wrote:

15" 1.57GHZ, 512mb DDR, DVDRW - 1999 - PC World
15" 1.65, 512mb, DVDRW - 2299 - PC World

Think prices are fairly fixed by apple a la ipods

Ouch, I agree.

rsynnott

iBooks are cheaper, of course...

Fenster

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference?

L1011

Fenster wrote:

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference?

A Powerbook is faster, better built, more upgradable (PCMCIA, etc) and with vaguely more features (scroller on the trackpad)

Its also a LOT more expensive.

rsynnott

The better-built is arguable. And iBooks don't have the PowerBook's wireless problems (tho in fairness they've been mostly fixed now). Also some people prefer the look of one, some the other. The 12" iBook's nice in that it's better put together than any PC of comparable price and size. (that I know of). Note that I'm not a Mac guy; I need my three mouse buttons.

ZENER

I'll give you a fiver for the red screwdriver !!!!

ZEN

Cabaal

wes wrote:

Wait until the Intel MAC are out if i were you. I know there still a year away, but thats what i would do.

Indeed, I was going to buy a Powerbook 12" in oct/nov but now I'm going to hold off and wait for intel chips to be rolled out in Powerbooks

heggie

wes wrote:

Wait until the Intel MAC are out if i were you. I know there still a year away, but thats what i would do.

Its going to be atleast this time next year when they introduce them, and no one know what form -desktop/laptop whatever. Also, why would you want to buy the 1st version of something? ther'll probably be some problems they'll need to revise

Fenster

heggie wrote:

Its going to be atleast this time next year when they introduce them, and no one know what form -desktop/laptop whatever. Also, why would you want to buy the 1st version of something? ther'll probably be some problems they'll need to revise

"Probably?"

Ham'nd'egger

Cabaal wrote:

Indeed, I was going to buy a Powerbook 12" in oct/nov but now I'm going to hold off and wait for intel chips to be rolled out in Powerbooks

I'd not be as confident for that roll out to come in that time span.

You are going to be at least a year away from any Intel based Mac. Mac will run it on a Tower (Desktop Mac) first as it's the big gun to run and the small matter of having an laptop outrunning a desktop just is bad business sense; if it works that way, Dell (spit) would have 4gig books as well. Then when it's utterly stable and adaptable, then either a Powerbook or Imac will get a boost up.

Regardless, for Fenster, you won't go wrong getting either a 12" iBook or Powerbook; besides, if it is still just for basic net and DVD watching, it will be good for a few years. iBook is a lot cheaper, but Powerbook is more durable and is more desktop similar to it's little sister.

If your in town, try the Mac Shop on Merrion Square; well specced specialist staff who will look after you well.

Urban Weigl

I bought the 15" PowerBook a month ago, the 1.67GHz version with 128MB VRAM, and could not be happier with it, it's absolutely great! In the office, I have it hooked up to a Dell 20" display, along with an Apple Pro keyboard and Logitech mouse.

So if you can afford it, that's the one I would go for if I were you. Otherwise, I think the 12" iBook is excellent value, and offers a nice package. It also has better battery life of up to 6 hours, and is light and portable. I used to own one, and found it very durable.

I suppose it depends what you want to use it for.

rsynnott

Hamndegger wrote:

I'd not be as confident for that roll out to come in that time span.

You are going to be at least a year away from any Intel based Mac. Mac will run it on a Tower (Desktop Mac) first as it's the big gun to run and the small matter of having an laptop outrunning a desktop just is bad business sense; if it works that way, Dell (spit) would have 4gig books as well. Then when it's utterly stable and adaptable, then either a Powerbook or Imac will get a boost up.

No, their plan is to go for 386-based notebooks first. Then low-end desktops, then highend desktops. The reasoning behind this is that Intel have amobile chip better in more or less all respects than the G4 NOW; the P-M. (In fact, for most tasks the higher-end P-Ms are faster than the P4s). Intel won't have a chip for a little while yet that'll beat the G5 in all respects (the G5 is VERY fast on AltiVec optimised code), and they'll be slowed down a little by the death of the P4; they have no mid-to-long-term plans to build new NetBurst chips; they're going for dual-core P-Ms (proper dual-core this time apparently; not that ridiculous FSB-on-chip thing they used for their first dual-core parts).

But don't expect the highend machines to be 386s for a few years yet.

SouperComputer

If your in town, try the Mac Shop on Merrion Square; well specced specialist staff who will look after you well.

erm, they (compustore) went out of business about 6 months ago!

deevey

Erm.. dont the O2 shops sell macs now ??

Powerbook is more durable

i dont see any powerbook surviving the 4 ft drop my ibook had been repeatadly getting the past few weeks (well without any dents in the shiny case anyhow).

For normal everyday use and unless you are gaming or doing serious 3d type work ibook is perfect, DVD's occasional older games, video all work like a charm and the battery life is great - and with the money you save on a powerbook you can max out the ram and still have cash left over for an ipod mini

Oh also dont underestimate the poser power feeling of a white laptop with a shiny apple hehe