IBM X Series or Apple iBook 12"

[iKwak]

I am looking for a light and compact notebook (12") and both the X series and the iBook are a good candidate.

My main usage - carry around school to surf wirelessly and FTPing. Do word processing and use light Photosho. Will not play videogame and maybe watch DVD once a month.


My concern for the iBook. I do not know anything about Mac. Can I use SmartFTP (FTP), use AVG (antivirus), Google Toolbar (ad-blocker), OpenOffice (Word Processing), and Winrar without any problem?
I don't know if the softwares that work for a PC will work for a Mac.

My concern for the X31.
1) I need to pay extra $79 to get the 24X-10X CD-ROM Ultrabay 2000 Drive? Isn't cd-rom drive suppose to come with all laptop without extra charge?

2) Does the x31 come preloaded with wireless connection (Centrino?)? Then why is there an option for Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter?


Those are few questions I would like to get some help on.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I don't know if the softwares that work for a PC will work for a Mac.

No, you have to find "mac versions" of everything, a Mac can only run Windows software if you buy a program like Virtual PC which creates a, well, "virtual PC" inside your Mac.

(edit) And even then it runs the Windows programs slowly, you would not want to run the Windows PhotoShop on a Mac using VirtualPC, it would be much, much slower than running the real Mac version -or- running the Windows PhotoShop on the IBM.

Isn't cd-rom drive suppose to come with all laptop without extra charge?

full-size laptops yes, but not for the tiny "subnotebooks." Some subnotebooks come bundled with a CD drive, some do not.

I'm too lazy to poke around the IBM site to find the X31 specs, so I can't answer whether the wifi card is always included or is an extra-cost option.

 

[InlineFive]

Be warned that Virtual PC is very slow! And in your concerns for the iBook it could probably only run the OpenOffice.

 

[Eug]

Why not just run MS Office v.X for the Mac if you're gonna get the iBook? Most schools have killer discounts on MS software. Office comes with Virtual PC.

The Mac browser has a built-in ad blocker.

There is Transmit, which is a very good Mac FTP program.

Photoshop is something you don't want to run VPC. Works, but slow as hell. Just get the Mac version (again cheap with the school discount).

Antivirus - Norton has one. Note that Windows viruses don't do anything on the Mac, but you can still transmit an infected file obviously.

Winrar. I dunno. Zip and .dmg compression is included though, as is StuffIt expansion. There must be a rar expander but I haven't looked for one.

 

[Mikebuzzsaw]

If its school and not for gaming, get an Ibook. They are reliable fast and great for doing that sorta stuff. THey are good with photoshop as well. I think its best you get an ibook under ur situaction. normal laptops now a days will not last as logn as the ibook for sure.

 

[thraxes]

In your situation i would choose an iBook. But unlike you I have owned a mac before and know what to expect. Open office will work, there are great FTP proggies out there (including some excellent command line ones ported from unix), safari has a pop-up blocker and Norton AV for the mac is the same price as for the PC. RAR files are all handled by Stuffit (at least in the Mac OS 9.1 days) and are not a problem to work with. Photoshop for mac is good, but as with a Wintel PC it needs a fair bit of RAM.

 

[iKwak]

Do I need to pay the extra $89 for the Airport extreme card to go online (wireless)? Or can I go online as default without the card?

Do you recommend getting 640mb now or to add more later (at 3rd party manufacturer) if needed? It is going to hurt my wallet so bad.


The x31 doesn't come with any optical drive? I need to cough of $200 for the CD/DVD slim drive.

 

[DaFinn]

I would vote for IBM X series. I have X24 (P3M-1133Mhz/384Mb/40Gb/Radeon 8Mb...) with the docking station that hosts DVD/CDRW and FDD.
I photograph a lot, and the build in CF reader is great. Photoshop runs ok w. above specs. I am getting a 512Mb stick soon though (for a total 640Mb).
If compatability/ ease of use is a concern... get the IBM!

 

[Eug]

I'd suggest just trying both out. The iBook is a fine machine (not really for gaming though) and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for your needs, but it's also possible you might prefer the other machine.

It's all about personal preference.

 

[sniperruff]

also consider the dell's 300m and X300. my friend has a 300m and i would say i'm impress with its speed even though it's rated at 1.2Ghz