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BEST MAC LAPTOP BUY? |
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Posts: 0 (06/09/04 11:14:02) |
hello,
i'm a freelance writer who uses limited, but some, graphics software. which laptop is best for a non-designer who wants all the designer media perks? Thanks! |
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V Menard |
Re: BEST MAC LAPTOP BUY? | ||
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Posts: 46 (06/10/04 05:59:08) |
The Apple PowerBooks and iBooks each have their admirers, and I've had some experience with both lines - 12-inch Al PB, 12-inch G3 and G4 iBooks, and 14-inch G3 iBook. I personally wouldn't invest in a new PB today with the availability of the G4 iBook line. So the question becomes which iBook best fits your needs...
The 12-inch G4 iBook is truly portable, about the same size as 3 or 4 MacWorld magazines stacked together. The 14 display is larger and easier to read if your eyes get tired like mine at the end of the day (both 12 and 14-inch iBook displays feature the same pixel dimensions, suitable for writing and simple graphic manipulation). Whichever iBook you consider, get it configured with an AirPort card and set up a broadband wireless network in your home. Configured this way you can e-mail, surf the internet, or print your documents "wirelessly", and once you experience the freedom of wireless computing you'll never want to go back to the "tethered computing zone". And later (next year?), when the new G5 PowerBooks become available, you can weigh the pros and cons of moving up to what will surely be the mother of all laptops! |
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Hrududu |
Re: BEST MAC LAPTOP BUY? | ||
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Posts: 24 (06/10/04 08:29:44) |
If you use designer programs, the ibook may run them, but the Powerbook will run them better. The ibook is indeed cheaper, but that is for a reason. The amount of RAM the powerbook holds is 2x more than the ibook plus the RAM speed is slower, and Mac OS X can use all the RAM you can get. The powerbook also has 2 firewire ports, ibook only has 1. Powerbook has gigabit ethernet, ibook has 10/100Base T which is slower. the 15" and 17" powerbooks also have a card slot for expansion. more USB or Firewire ports can be added if need be, plus many other types of card. The powerbooks are thinner and lighter, and have more screen size choices. If you can spare the money, i would get the powerbook. If you really don't feel as though you need all the extra power the ibook will probably fit your needs. Only you really know what your needs are.
"Oh, Hazel, look The field! It's covered with blood!"
http://sarahmehl.com/forum/index.php |
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V Menard |
Re: BEST MAC LAPTOP BUY? | ||
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Posts: 46 (06/10/04 09:48:29) |
In actual use I've found the performance of the new G4 iBook to be almost identical to the similarly speced PB (my wife is an Instructional Tech Specialist and maintains about 2 to 300 G3 iBook/G4 iBook/12-inch Al PowerBooks--Office/FCP/PhotoShop/DreamWeaver/etc.). As long as you can install about 1G RAM you can run iApps, Office and smaller graphic jobs with no performance hit. One firewire port is all that we've ever needed (cloning/digital cams/etc.). Physical size difference between 12 PB and 12 iBook is barely noticeable (although the plastic iBook lid is more structural than the aluminum PB lid which has problems with deforming in use). I've actually never used gigabit ethernet, even though I've had it since I purchased my QS 867MHz G4 PowerMac--100 BaseT is the fastest any of my peripherals ask for. The PB is behind schedule on the G5 update, and I wouldn't buy one until next year for that reason. The iBook is less expensive and allows the user to begin building their home network with the money they save...
Again, just my 0.02 |
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