Looking for small laptop for school...Apple?!?

[PhoenixOfWater]

Hello, For the past month I been looking for a laptop for school. (Computer Sic.)
But I'm kind of pickly on what the labtop haves in it and its sizes.
I need a laptop that is small that not going to be to much work to take with me everyday/anywhere
I also would like it to have good battery life on it
and last...be able to play World of Warcaft (Yes, I know that laptop are not made for gamer but i just want to be about to login and play with low setting)

So after doing some looking around I come up with 2 laptop
Apple 12 Powerbook
and
TOSHIBA Portege M200
I'm opening to other laptops

I really liking the Apple Powerbook and its smaller then the Portege and have a a better video card (32mb Vs 64mb) and the battery life it more then the Portege(4.3 Vs 5)
All the software I need run on both Win and Mac OS X.

This only thing is I been a PC my whole life and it hard to switch...
I always liked Apple hardware....but i'm not the bigger fan of Mac OS, but I never really used it

Also I hear that Apple is coming would with new G4 Powerbooks, is this right?

I'm really open to ideas!

Thanks!

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Hi,

The Powerbook has a G4 processor. I bet if you put that Powerbook against the Toshiba, the Powerbook will be faster overall. The G4 processor can produce data at 128 bits, while the Pentium M produces data at 32 bits. Altivec in the G4 processor makes producing data at 128 bits possible. So in tasks that are Altivec enabled, just like Image sizing and the Gaussion Blur in Photoshop, you will see that the tasks are going to be much faster. My 1GHz G4 eMac flies in Photoshop. Also, OS X is very easy to use. You dont need to worry about it being hard to switch. My brother got used to OS X in a matter of minutes. Also, with OS X, you dont have to go out and buy Antivirus software or any spyware and adware removers, as these are not very necessary in OS X. There are very very few viruses that were ever written for OS X, and chances of getting a virus on OS X is far more less than on a Windows PC. Antivirus may be necessary if you need to send some files to your PC buddies, so they dont get infected. I have Norton for my Mac, because pretty much all of my buddies use PC's.

Good luck with your decision, and post back with anymore questions you have, and I, including the many helpful people on these forums, will help you out.

 

[Commodus]

Okay, I'm a Mac supporter, but I have to correct Thin Lizzy here.

The G4 is, in most cases, a 32-bit processor. Altivec just happens to be a set of 128-bit vector extensions. Not all apps use it, and in which cases the Pentium M would be faster. However, a lot of apps either use Altivec or don't need it as much. iTunes, for example, encodes 192 Kbps MP3s disturbingly quickly (in some cases, faster than my 3 GHz P4 with a faster optical drive).

As far as the OS goes, I'll agree that it's not as hard to get used to as you might think, but you do have to watch for idiosyncratic things. For example, the red "close" button on the title bar of a window doesn't usually quit the app - it just closes the window. That can be handy if you want to keep the app loaded in memory for later, but you do have to remember to actually quit properly (usually File -> Quit or the Cmd-Q key combo).

One thing you might like with the 12" PowerBook: DVI-out. It's the only small laptop with that feature as far as I know, and it's really handy if you want an extended display area when you're at "home base" without resorting to a CRT or a sub-optimal LCD.

New PowerBooks? Maybe in a couple of months at the earliest. Apple has gone on record as saying that there will be no new PowerBooks in 2004 beyond what they announced earlier.

And one last thing... be sure to load up on RAM. I would consider 512 MB total to be a bare minimum for a serious user, and the more the merrier. I have 768 MB in my own 12" PowerBook.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

The G4 is, in most cases, a 32-bit processor. Altivec just happens to be a set of 128-bit vector extensions. Not all apps use it, and in which cases the Pentium M would be faster. However, a lot of apps either use Altivec or don't need it as much.

Commodus,

I know not all apps use Altivec. That is why I said So in tasks that are Altivec enabled, just like Image sizing and the Gaussion Blur in Photoshop, you will see that the tasks are going to be much faster

Note that I did say tasks that are Altivec enabled.

BTW, your post was very helpful.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

wow, no one for PC yet...
I mush say that the Powerbook is a very sexy laptop!
Also the educational discounts is very nice! it brings the 12" Powerbook down to $1400
I'm most likey going to get something over winter break, but the Powerbook is looking better and better...
I think this weekend I'll take a look at the apple store at the mall around me and try one out.
If I do pick the powerbook what things should I add? More ram(how much)? bigger HD? DVD writer?

Thank you Thin Lizzy and Commodus for all the info!

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

System reqs for World of Warcraft

Mac® System/OS:

* 1.0 GHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
* 512 megabytes RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
* ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 64 MB VRAM or more.
* 3 gigabytes or more of available hard drive space.
* MacOS X 10.3 ("Panther") or better.

So it sound like the powerbook can take it aslong as i upgarde the ram!
I'm just looking to beable to play when I'm at school :evil:

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Hi,

Glad we were able to help. I do recommend going to the Apple Store so you can play around with one. They are great laptops.

Add more memory. At least 512mb to run OS X very smoothly. If you are able to, buy as much RAM as you can afford. If I were getting the Powerbook, I would take the 80 gig HD. HD space can go away very quickly. I only have a 40 gig on my eMac, and I am down to 14 gigs. I went from 22 gigs to 14 in about 3 weeks, because of all the programs I have installed. But not everyone will be using all of that space, but IMO, I would opt for the 80 gig. As for the DVD writer, I wish my eMac had one. I have a combo drive, I can still burn cd's and cd-rw's, just not DVD's, a feature I really want. I was saying to myself "I dont need a DVD writer. Its not like I am going to make any DVD's." Turns out I would have used it, because of the home videos we make, and that DVD writer would have really come in handy. I say go for the DVD writer. It will come in handy one day, and so will the 80 gigs of HD.

Im not trying to make you spend a lot of money, I am just saying what I would get. If you are willing to pay the extra money, I would get the 80 gig HD and the Superdrive.

Please post back, and let us know what you decide to do. If you have anymore questions, please post back, and we will help you out.

 

[cirthix]

get the ibook, it has a better battery life, faster ovarall, nice size, lots of little features you will not notice at first, and a wonderful os. a powerbook will be a bit tougher and looks better, but ibook is a good choice

 

[cirthix]

be sure to use apple's student discount

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

hey cirthix
Are you sure on you info about the ibook?
I can't find on Apple's web site about the battery life of the ibook
but how can it be over faster? the Powerbook have a 1.33Ghz cpu with a fast bus and faster mem speed
Also the 12" powerbook is smaller(by a little)
I think the only thing better on the ibook is the ATI 9200 but it still only have 32mb of video ram..

 

[imported_Lucifer]

The iBook is NOT faster overall. The Powerbook is faster than the iBook. The high end iBook comes with a 1.33GHz processor, but still has a Radeon 9200 with 32mb of VRAM, slower memory and slower bus.

 

[edtsui]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOfWater
System reqs for World of Warcraft

Mac® System/OS:

* 1.0 GHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
* 512 megabytes RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
* ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 64 MB VRAM or more.
* 3 gigabytes or more of available hard drive space.
* MacOS X 10.3 ("Panther") or better.

So it sound like the powerbook can take it aslong as i upgarde the ram!
I'm just looking to beable to play when I'm at school :evil:

They've lowered those specs for the open beta and it might be even lower for the final retail. As it stands now:

933 MHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
512 MB RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 32 MB VRAM or more.
4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
MacOS X 10.3.5 or newer.
A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

yeah, i just saw that!

Thanks Thin Lizzy for clearing that up

 

[Tiamat]

I cant really add much to what the above said, although if you have a limited amount of money, upgrade ram to 768 or 1024 first, then think about DVD burning. You can always buy an external HDD later on with storage up to 300GB or more.

Edit: Anybody know how reliable the Sony S series is? that has a 13.3" widescreen and can be equipped with Radeon 9700 mobility...

Edit 2: did a search. I guess Sony is very unreliable with Cus service.

 

[Hikari]

My housemate has never owned a Mac, but she just got the 12" iBook. I must say it is a really nice laptop! Just make sure if you get it you keep the minimum memory from the Apple Store (or where ever) and add another 512 or 1GB memory DIMM to it...made a huge difference.

You can get it for like $850 from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...DKIKX0DER&v=glance if you do the mail in rebate.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: Hikari
My housemate has never owned a Mac, but she just got the 12" iBook. I must say it is a really nice laptop! Just make sure if you get it you keep the minimum memory from the Apple Store (or where ever) and add another 512 or 1GB memory DIMM to it...made a huge difference.

You can get it for like $850 from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...DKIKX0DER&v=glance if you do the mail in rebate.

Wow, that a good deal! but i think i'll keep with the powerbook. (I like power!)
So it sounds like everbody is saying that the Mac is a good idea...

 

[Jigglelicious]

If you plan on playing World of Warcraft, i'd HIGHLY recommend getting 1GB of RAM. The game is a memory hog and the more RAM you have the less the game chugs. 512mb will not cut it for WoW.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

I was just thinking about the 2 diff HD the 60gb (4200rpm) and the 80gb (5400rpm)
If I get the 80gb (5400rpm) with the fast HD eat up more battery? if so how much?

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: Jigglelicious
If you plan on playing World of Warcraft, i'd HIGHLY recommend getting 1GB of RAM. The game is a memory hog and the more RAM you have the less the game chugs. 512mb will not cut it for WoW.

I was plan on get a 1gb but not from apple, the price is way to high
Anyone know what type/brands of ram will work with the powerbook, i know its ddr 333..

 

[CombatChuk]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOfWater

Originally posted by: Jigglelicious
If you plan on playing World of Warcraft, i'd HIGHLY recommend getting 1GB of RAM. The game is a memory hog and the more RAM you have the less the game chugs. 512mb will not cut it for WoW.

I was plan on get a 1gb but not from apple, the price is way to high
Anyone know what type/brands of ram will work with the powerbook, i know its ddr 333..

I'd go with Crucial

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOfWater
I was just thinking about the 2 diff HD the 60gb (4200rpm) and the 80gb (5400rpm)
If I get the 80gb (5400rpm) with the fast HD eat up more battery? if so how much?

So anyone know about battery life? would it be about the same?

 

[klocwerk]

it'll eat up a little more battery, but if you have agressive power-save options (spin down hard-drive after 1 minute inactivity) it wouldn't make much of a difference I wouldn't think.

I'm a long-time PC user, about to buy an ibook (i'd go powerbook if I could afford it).

 

[kuljc]

hey i don't know if anyone brought this up for you... but you're talking about small laptops and portability... so well just giving you a warning... apple notebooks even tho small in size tend to be a heavier than pc one's i've dealt w/. So just giving you a head's up from what I've had experience w/

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: kuljc
hey i don't know if anyone brought this up for you... but you're talking about small laptops and portability... so well just giving you a warning... apple notebooks even tho small in size tend to be a heavier than pc one's i've dealt w/. So just giving you a head's up from what I've had experience w/

Thanks kuljc for bring this up, I did know that they are heavier than other laptop, I really don't think i will mind that. I still need to go to the apple store to look at them.

Thanks!

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: klocwerk
it'll eat up a little more battery, but if you have agressive power-save options (spin down hard-drive after 1 minute inactivity) it wouldn't make much of a difference I wouldn't think.

I'm a long-time PC user, about to buy an ibook (i'd go powerbook if I could afford it).

Thank for the info!
Good luck with your new ibook!