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General discussion

iBook vs. Powerbook

Dec 29, 2004 9:58AM PST

I have decided to get a Mac laptop, but I am confused as to what one to get? I hear either one would work with the multimedia type projects I want to work on. I want something I can travel with, watch movies on etc. I just got an ipod for christmas and love it and would like to connect that and a digital camcorder to the laptop. Finally, what size screen should I get? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Get Powerbooks if you are serious for LCD size & video card
Dec 29, 2004 12:38PM PST

Yes, Steve Jobs is counting on the 'halo' effect to revive Apple computer sales.

Note, however, that you can hook an Ipod to any IBM notebook with the proper connection ports and HP even sales an Ipod version with a 1 year PC support warranty for the Ipod (Apple gives 90 days for its version but either one will work with either notebook).

But Apple is #1 in reliability and service so they are a great choice if you can live with a non IBM standard notebook.

The only way you can get a decent 15" or 17" LCD is with an IBM Powerbook. Also, they have dedicated video (built in video card up to 64mb at least)for gaming and higher end video (and you want this if you will be doing video editing).

The Ibooks are great for travel and general use but their LCD size and keyboard size is too small for everyday use and I don't know if they have dedicated video either (if it says shared or integrated video there is no video card).

So, for the $2,000-$2500 range (depending on whether you get the combo drive or DVD burner superdrive) the 15" Apple powerbook is your best size and performance notebook.

Note that the 17" Apple powerbook at 6.9 pounds and $2800 is an incredibly low weight for that LCD size but that size will not fit in a notebook backpack for travel. But the LCD is gourgeous so if you will mostly use it at home and can afford it consider this one also.

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replacement for PC
Dec 30, 2004 11:06AM PST

Thanks for the input. I want a notebook that I can travel with and most likely replace the ancient desktop that I have. I would like it to be able to do everything my desktop can, burn cds, dvds, data cds etc. Would a powerbook with a 15 to 17 in. screen suffice? Any thoughts would help. Thanks.

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This will make you think...
Dec 30, 2004 11:28AM PST
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DVD burner on Apples is called Superdrive, CD-RW is Combo dr
Jan 3, 2005 10:11AM PST

As I stated, the 15" Apple powerbooks are around $2,000 with a CD-RW/DVD ROM combo drive or around $2,400-$2,500 with a superdrive (DVD and CD burners).

The 17" powerbook probably has the CD-RW/DVD ROM or Superdrive options as well .........

As I stated, the Powerbooks have a video card and the other components (and at least a 15" LCD) for serious all-around computing. The Ibook LCD's are smaller and you don't have the dedicated video I think either. You may be able to get a superdrive on the Ibook if you don't care about the larger LCD's or dedicated video memory .........
Note that on the Powerbook (And probably the Ibook as well) these optical drives are all slot loaded (not tray to break off or wait to have slide out) -- these are very slick and usually made by Panasonic......

the slot loading drives work much as a car CD player does -- you may get a bit more media scratching but if you are careful it should not be that big of an issue.......(and you won't have to worry about damaging the tray of a normal motorized tray drive)

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ibook video
Feb 19, 2005 9:02AM PST

the ibooks have a radeon mobility 9200 with 32mb of dedicated memory.

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hooking up to a synthesizer
Jan 10, 2005 8:58AM PST

Can a laptop, powerbook or ibook for instance, or any for that matter, be hooked up to a music workstation (synthesizer)? Specifically a KORG?

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Ask Apple retail but I think you can hook up synthesizer
Jan 10, 2005 9:05AM PST

I know for a fact that older Apples did that as my half-brother in Tonawanda (near Niagra Falls in New York at Buffalo) had a expensive synthesizer hooked up to an Apple computer.

You should hit an Apple retail store for best advice but I assume at least the Powerbooks should be able to do that now as Apple makes its biggest dent in the artisic (video and audio and photography) areas .....(as well as education)

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It depends on the synthesizer
Jan 17, 2005 4:39AM PST

If your KORG is one of the newer models that connects via USB or firewire, then you should have no problem. However, if it is an older model with a scuzzy interface, you find have a problem.

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Right out of the box
Feb 13, 2005 5:51AM PST

Since posting my original message I have been looking into the powerbooks in greater detail, but there is one thing I am still confused about. Assuming I were to purchase a powerbook, would it have word processing, spreadsheet, email capability right out of the box or would I have to buy that software and install it? Also in regards to the whole wireless capability, which I am new to, could I take a powerbook right out of the box into a Starbucks and get online? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

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out of the box?
Feb 17, 2005 1:15PM PST

This explains wireless for the powerbook
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/wireless.html
Powerbooks have 802.11g (54Mbps) wireless built in and it should work out of the box.

This tells you about the software it comes with
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/software.html

It runs Mac OS 10.3 which has Mail which you can use to setup your mail.
It has Safari which is a browser.
There are also open source alternatives which you can download.

About word processing I'm less sure...but I have used TextEdit which is a rich text editor which I liked.

You can also download OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org) for free. It is an open source suite which has a word processor and a spreadsheet application. I've never used it on a mac tho...maybe in a few weeks I can tell you how it all goes.

I don't know if this helps but...I'm trying Happy

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Processor speed
Feb 27, 2005 2:05AM PST

Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it, but my ongoing dillema seems to be the toss up between a Dell and Apple. I guess my biggest concern is how does a G4 compare to a P4 or Pentium-M? Is an Apple Powerbook going to be a slow notebook? Thanks.

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Consider a ThinkPad
Feb 28, 2005 10:35PM PST

I'm having the same debate right now. Do I want a mac or not? I've been using Linux since '96 and really like it, so one issue was can I run Linux on the mac if I happen to not like OSX? Well the short answer to that was yes, but some things won't work (from what I've read, no accelerated 3D video drivers, and no wifi support for the built-in apple wireless).

If you're considering an intel laptop make sure you check out the IBM ThinkPads, they seem to be really well made, cases are made of titanium (like the previous powerbooks). They are also smaller / lighter and have better battery life than most of the laptops I've looked at. Prices are higher than other PC laptops though, may be comparable to the powerbook in pricing.

I know a few people who have the Dell notebooks and generally people bought them becaues they were cheap, but quality and support is supposed to be substandard.

Good luck, if you go with the Apple keep us updated, I still don't know which way I'll go Happy

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you dont need linux
Mar 31, 2005 2:19PM PST

You won't need to run linux on a mac since Mac OS X is basically berkley unix. Goto their website and check out the tech specs. Microsoft even uses berkely unix for their servers, and so do many other people in the world. I've tested macs in stores and you can access the xterminal just like in linux. The only weird thing is you cant use the command 'dir', so you have to get by with 'ls' or 'less'.

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For pokstad.... alias
Mar 31, 2005 8:28PM PST

Even on MacOS I can use ...

alias dir ls -l

And now I have a dir.

Bob