Thinking of getting a p-p-p-powerbook

Changleen · Jul 7, 2005

You can get a lot of PC laptop for that money... Hell you can get a pretty kickass PC laptop for $2000

mobius · Jul 7, 2005

I have a g4 1.5 ghz 15" and love it. The speed is great and the portability is awesome. I think mine built up to be quite expensive but it was well worth it for my graphic design work. I've had both PC and Mac and just like how mac's are less trouble and less work to keep running fast.

syadasti · Jul 7, 2005

Get a 2 GHz or faster Pentium M notebook from HP or Acer, way faster than the G4 and the Pentium M (its relatives at least) are the future for powerbooks, so there is no question, the Pentium M is the superior mobile computing platform. It will be cheaper, faster next generation graphics chipsets, faster CPU, faster next generation memory, cheaper, longer battery life etc...

I personally own/use the Travelmate 8100 and its a great notebook, but a bit big for regular travel duties - better suited for desktop replacement notebook usage.

James · Jul 7, 2005

Nothing to add, but cracking up at the "p-p-p-powerbook" reference!
Glad to see other people remember that. Ah, Nigerian scammers...

JJames

buildyourown · Jul 8, 2005

I can hook you up with a p-p-p-powerbook real cheap.
Just wire $1000 via western union to my shipping agent.

and for anyone who doesn't know, google "p-p-p-powerbook"

Maybe I should add some content to this post:
Aren't the g4s really hot and suck a lot of juice in a laptop? Or is that just the g5? I'm not really up on the powerbook thing. I'm not really sure why people get so geeked on macs. Yeah I know they are more stable, but I they are so expensive and the software is hard to find.

pZyteX · Jul 8, 2005

if you want to get a powerbook, wait for a while.
In about a year they will be using intel processors so.... g5 powerbook :drool:

and they are supposed to be a bit cheaper.

syadasti · Jul 8, 2005

pZyteX said:
if you want to get a powerbook, wait for a while.
In about a year they will be using intel processors so.... g5 powerbook

and they are supposed to be a bit cheaper.

There will be NO G5 notebook. The G5 uses too much power and is slower than the Intel offering - some of the reasons Apple are switching. The next generation powerbook (I doubt they will call it that consider it will no longer use PowerPCs CPUs) will use a next generation Intel core based on the Pentium M (which is based on the PIII).

Intel has always been superior and Apple even admits it now :devil: :evil: :thumb:

pZyteX · Jul 8, 2005

But the wait for a year thing still holds true.

firetoole · Jul 8, 2005

syadasti said:
There will be NO G5 notebook. The G5 uses too much power and is slower than the Intel offering - some of the reasons Apple are switching. The next generation powerbook (I doubt they will call it that consider it will no longer use PowerPCs CPUs) will use a next generation Intel core based on the Pentium M (which is based on the PIII).

Intel has always been superior and Apple even admits it now :devil: :evil:

Don't listen to this PC propaganda
those pc guys can't get over their speed fetish
if you want graphics/video/audio you go Mac
My wife has a dell insperation laptop ana I have a G4 powerbook and it is more than half the size and weight with better graphics audio and better built in everything (intl is crap) the only reason mac is switching to PC parts is because they are too cheap to compete with (10 year olds building motherboards)

caboverpete · Jul 8, 2005

Don't listen to the PC pushers, I am typing this post on a 5 year old powerbook (ordered the day of the original tibook keynote) and it is still running like a champ. I still edit video, do web development and even some of my 3d work on it, try that with a 5 year old pc notebook or desktop if you can find one that still runs for more than 5 minutes.

syadasti · Jul 8, 2005

firetoole said:
Don't listen to this PC propaganda
those pc guys can't get over their speed fetish
if you want graphics/video/audio you go Mac
My wife has a dell insperation laptop ana I have a G4 powerbook and it is more than half the size and weight with better graphics audio and better built in everything (intl is crap) the only reason mac is switching to PC parts is because they are too cheap to compete with (10 year olds building motherboards)

Its not propaganda. Steve Jobs has officially said this...

Apple Throws the Switch

G5 crap for notebooks:

As for why Apple was making the shift, Jobs pointed both to past problems and to the PowerPC road map, which he said won't deliver enough performance at the low-power usages needed for powerful notebooks.

PowerPC doesn't have the performance power that Intel offers:

Two years ago at the same conference, Jobs introduced the first G5-based Power Macs and promised developers that the company would have a 3GHz PowerMac within 12 months. The company still doesn't have a machine that fast. "We haven't been able to deliver," he said. Nor has Apple been able to introduce a G5-based laptop--something Jobs said "I think a lot of you would like."

Things weren't looking better in the coming months, Jobs said, saying that IBM's PowerPC road map would only deliver about a fifth the performace per watt as a comparable Intel chip.

The only propaganda has been Apple saying they were quicker in a few select optimized artificial benchmarks and the only people gullible enough to listen to that farce are the 3-6% that uses them and Jobs official made it clear Intel IS BETTER. Macs and PCs use mostly the same components these days (minus the CPU) only they usually come out first on the PC - first with faster memory standards, first with next generation interfaces - serial ATA, PCI Express (and dual video card rendering), faster wireless standards, high definition audio (intel includes support in their chipsets - no PCI cards required), first with new video/soundcards. He said he wanted a notebook that could cut the mustard - well a G4 is slow notebook - it was when it first came out and isn't getting any faster.

syadasti · Jul 8, 2005

caboverpete said:
Don't listen to the PC pushers, I am typing this post on a 5 year old powerbook (ordered the day of the original tibook keynote) and it is still running like a champ. I still edit video, do web development and even some of my 3d work on it, try that with a 5 year old pc notebook or desktop if you can find one that still runs for more than 5 minutes.

You certainly can and I did. I was the IT Director for a company doing over 2 billion in deals in a not so great year on 4-5 year old Pentium II PC for 6 months before I asked for more suitable one. We had a few dozens of 3-5 year old PCs and still used about half a dozen or so for the interns by the time I left the company 1.5 years later (and only 1 desktop Pentium desktop and one PIII notebook failed, others were replaced cause we lose money when people are on machines that waste their time waiting for something to load vs. a fast one). The same is true when you use a slow ass mac vs. a fast PC to do work - your company could be making more money cause you would get the job done faster on the PC. Thats the real world, not marketing BS...

binary visions · Jul 8, 2005

Um, before this deteriorates completely into a PC/Mac bash-fest, I'd just suggest you really evaluate your need for a laptop. If you really need one, that's great, but you can get a tremendously powerful computer for $1000 or so (well, let me clarify, I just built my own PC for less than $600 and it's very fast), and the remaining $1500 is a lot of beer/software/hooker money.

Just something to think about. Dell was just running a deal where you got a pretty decently spec'd P4 with their flagship 24" Ultrasharp widescreen LCD ( :drool:

) for $1199. The monitor is worth $899 by itself. So, like I said, you can get a hell of a computer with a very nice monitor for not a lot of money. I'm not as familliar with current Mac systems to quote you prices but no matter what system you go with, laptops are much slower and much more expensive.

Convenience is nice, but only if you need it. Portable storage is cheap (big USB drives, external hard drives etc.) so if your concern is transferring large working files, you can buy a lot of portable disk space for the $1500 price difference

.

syadasti · Jul 8, 2005

binary visions said:
Just something to think about. Dell was just running a deal where you got a pretty decently spec'd P4 with their flagship 24" Ultrasharp widescreen LCD ( ) for $1199. The monitor is worth $899 by itself. So, like I said, you can get a hell of a computer with a very nice monitor for not a lot of money. I'm not as familliar with current Mac systems to quote you prices but no matter what system you go with, laptops are much slower and much more expensive.

This is definately true, notebooks always will cost more and the heat/power/space restrictions prevent the performance from ever being better than desktops unless some new technology breakthrough changes the playing field. Most home users don't really need notebooks as they don't travel much with urgent/vital computing needs and those looking to save space can do as well with other cheaper/better solutions (like getting a space saving Shuttle PC and a LCD)...

Barbaton · Jul 8, 2005

We just got notice of a promo where they're giving a free iPod mini with every new mac purchase. You should look into it. Might only work if you can do it as an academic purchase...

N8 v2.0 · Jul 8, 2005

syadasti said:
Most home users don't really need notebooks as they don't travel much with urgent/vital computing needs ..

Desktop PC = $1500

Nice desk for Desktop PC = $1000

Toshiba widescreen laptop = $1500

Savings = $1000

binary visions · Jul 8, 2005

BigMike said:
Thanks for all the input, and yes, I do want a laptop. I want somthing lighter than my Dell Inspiron that I can take to school, and somthing with a battery that lasts more than 15 minutes.

Just FYI, the Dell Inspiron 6xxx series are lightweight with wide screens, and the batteries last quite a while. I was impressed with the quality of the screen, and Dell runs some good deals. My girlfriend's brother got one for a graduation present, with a $750 off cupon.

N8, I think you've got some warped sense of the world. Who the f**k pays $1000 for a computer desk? Yes, I know some people do, but not the majority of the population.

...and you can get a nice desktop PC for much less than $1500.

stinkyboy · Jul 8, 2005

http://www.apple.com/switch/

kinghami3 · Jul 8, 2005

BigMike said:
With the more and more video editing, photochopping, and layout work i'm doing, I'm thinking about getting a Powerbook. I have a Dell PIII laptop that I got 4 years ago, and the battery sucks, its heavy as hell, it freezes a lot.... etc. I also have my Windows Desktop. I had a Powerbook to work on for awhile, and I kinda fell in love with it. I want to get more into digital photography, graphic design, and layout type stuff (jersey design, etc) I also am going to be doing a lot of video editing, and my cracked version of Adobe Premiere doesnt cut it on the laptop. I can do editing on the desktop, but....... its not very portable, especially large working files.

I really want one, but.......... $2,500 is a loooooot of money

thoughts?

4 years from now when it is still going strong, it will be worth it. Apple is switching to Intel, which will let them boost the speed for their laptops, but it will probalby be a while and I don't know how long you want to wait.

DROP · Jul 8, 2005

syadasti said:
Get a 2 GHz or faster Pentium M notebook from HP or Acer, way faster than the G4 and the Pentium M (its relatives at least) are the future for powerbooks, so there is no question, the Pentium M is the superior mobile computing platform. It will be cheaper, faster next generation graphics chipsets, faster CPU, faster next generation memory, cheaper, longer battery life etc...

I personally own/use the Travelmate 8100 and its a great notebook, but a bit big for regular travel duties - better suited for desktop replacement notebook usage.

Riff Raff · Aug 2, 2005

iBook...

Polandspring88 · Aug 2, 2005

BigMike said:
OK, my inkling is back......... school is getting closer. Any more thoughts on the Powerbook thing? I've also been looking at Toshiba's. comments?

You still intent on getting a laptop? I faced the same decision last year when I was about to go off to college. Ended up dropping $2,500 on a customized Dell laptop. When winter break rolled around I ended up putting together a desktop for probably 700 bucks that kicks my laptops ass. I use that almost exclusively and the only time the laptop comes out is for going to the library or something. What I would recommend you do is build a decent desktop, perhaps in the 1200 dollar range that you can use for all of your video editing and photoshopping and stuff of that nature. Then for 1200 dollars or so you could pick up a nice enough laptop that you could carry around with you and use for lesser applications. Looking back on it all that would have made the most sense rather than buying a souped up laptop that is not upgradable and will be outdated in a few years.

manhattanprjkt83 · Aug 2, 2005

Polandspring88 said:
You still intent on getting a laptop? I faced the same decision last year when I was about to go off to college. Ended up dropping $2,500 on a customized Dell laptop. When winter break rolled around I ended up putting together a desktop for probably 700 bucks that kicks my laptops ass. I use that almost exclusively and the only time the laptop comes out is for going to the library or something. What I would recommend you do is build a decent desktop, perhaps in the 1200 dollar range that you can use for all of your video editing and photoshopping and stuff of that nature. Then for 1200 dollars or so you could pick up a nice enough laptop that you could carry around with you and use for lesser applications. Looking back on it all that would have made the most sense rather than buying a souped up laptop that is not upgradable and will be outdated in a few years.

this is very good advice :thumb:

kinghami3 · Aug 2, 2005

Don't go with Toshiba; they used to be a quality manufacturer but within the last couple years they have been crap. My roommate hates his with a passion.

Superdeft · Aug 2, 2005

Don't forget the 20ish% student discount!

DirtyDog · Aug 2, 2005

syadasti said:
There will be NO G5 notebook. The G5 uses too much power and is slower than the Intel offering - some of the reasons Apple are switching. The next generation powerbook (I doubt they will call it that consider it will no longer use PowerPCs CPUs) will use a next generation Intel core based on the Pentium M (which is based on the PIII).

Intel has always been superior and Apple even admits it now :devil: :evil:

You are like a broken record.

My powerbook is the best purchase I have ever made. It gets work done with minimal hassle and thats all a computer needs to do.

syadasti · Aug 2, 2005

BeerDemon said:
You are like a broken record.

My powerbook is the best purchase I have ever made. It gets work done with minimal hassle and thats all a computer needs to do.

Well only mindless sheep that listen to their marketing tripe would pay extra for a product that is slower and has less options (software, support, developers, hardware, etc, etc). Now they've come right out and admitted their powerful CPU wasn't all that...

Not everyone knows this or that Apple is switching to Intel - the person who asked the question didn't:

BigMike said:
Wow, I didn't know anythign about mac going Intel

Thats some crazy stuff!

Changleen · Aug 2, 2005

manhattanprjkt83 said:
this is very good advice

Agreed.

Thinking of getting a p-p-p-powerbook

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