Need Some Help Deciding on a Laptop

[mrBA1105]

Hey guys, I've currently been in the market for a very practicle laptop that is high quality and relatively portable. Must have wireless built in, a nice screen, decent GPU, efficient processor, a comfortable keyboard, and a CD burner. Through my corporate discount I get through my job from IBM and the school discount from Apple, these are the two that have caught my eye. Keep in mind that I've never owned a Mac before but would not mind getting used to it. But I am going to be building a PC further down the line, so everything needs to be 100% compatible. So here are the contenders:

Apple 12-inch PowerBook G4

12.1-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
1.33GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR333 SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA/100
NVIDIA GeForce FX
Go5200 (64MB DDR)
Full size keyboard
10/100BASE-T Ethernet
FireWire 400
AirPort Extreme built-in
Mini-DVI out
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MSRP: $1,799.00
Discount: $1,599.00
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IBM Thinkpad T42 [2373L1U]

IBM ThinkPad T42 2373
Pentium M 735 1.7 GHz
RAM 512 MB
HD 40 GB
CD-RW / DVD
Mdm
LAN EN, Fast EN, Gigabit EN, Bluetooth, 802.11b, 802.11g
Win XP Pro
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 7500 - 32 MB
15" TFT SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
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Your price: $1,699.00
Web price: $2,319.00
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I'm sure these comparisons come up a lot, so I thank everyone in advance for taking the time to help.

 

[jvarszegi]

But I am going to be building a PC further down the line, so everything needs to be 100% compatible.

You have your answer. You'll also have access to more software titles on PC.

 

[RichieZ]

are you sure you want the 15" t42, its a pretty big beast compared to the 14"

also as far as compatability, its pretty good. In fact i've pretty much stopped using my thinkpad except for things that i haven't bought/downloading software for on my ibook. OS/X is pretty sweet, whenver i use a PC i keep trying to use expose and all the nifty little shortcuts they have

also keep in mind the mac is going to be a slower machine

 

[htmlmasterdave]

If it has to be 100% compatible with PC (windows?) it's probably best to get the PC overall, OS X has been pretty good so far for me, but I haven't really stressed the compatibility of it that much yet, so it's hard for me to say.

 

[vexingv]

my experience w/ my 12" pb has been pretty good. though word on it is slower than on the pc. networking the two hasnt been quite easy or convenient either. if you do plan on getting the powerbook and can wait a bit, i would suggest you wait until after the macworld expo (mid january) since its events like this where apple likes to launch products and the powerbook is well over due for a refresh.

addition: i forgot to mention that one thing that has furiated me is the fact that i cant use my outlook pst's on osx. MS' own product, entourage, doesnt support the format. and i havent been able to find anything that will either

 

[hopejr]

I have had perfect compatibility with Windows and my iBook (apart from the fact that the Windows .exe files won't run on OS X, but that's pretty darn obvious). I have the same programs running on both, and the files are perfectly compatible. Networking is an absolute breeze (thanks to Samba).
Notice that the PB is cheaper and that it has a bigger hdd, a better graphics card and some really good bundled software that no doubt the IBM wouldn't have. I'd get the PB, but wait until the expo. Hopefully Tiger will be out by then with some really nice features, such as Spotlight (which is almost identical to WinFS, but Apple is able to release it already? lol to Microsoft, but not that I hate Microsoft ).

jvarszegi: up to your usual Mac bashing again are we??? I don't want an answer or another argument session. I'm just making an observation.

Edit: you might want to add some more RAM to the PB. It would be better with 512MB.

 

[Frightcrawler]

Originally posted by: hopejr

jvarszegi: up to your usual Mac bashing again are we??? I don't want an answer or another argument session. I'm just making an observation.

I'm sorry, but that is flamebait. And you know it. You cant prevent arguments by saying "I dont want an answer or another argument session" when you attack someone. Thats like stabbing someone and asking them not to get mad.

I don't know about his past posts, and really, they don't matter. All i know is that his post in this thread was NOT Mac bashing.

Which one has better compatability with a Windows machine, a Windows or Mac computer? It's a no brainer.
You can say stuff like "My Mac is compatible with Windows," but you CANNOT say that they are equally compatible. An inherit bonus of being a Windows machine is that it can communicate easier with other Windows machines (obviously). And vice versa as well.

Don't get me wrong. I respect Apple and Macs. Competition is good, especially against M$.

What it all boils down to for the parent poster is if he is willing to spend time working to get things communicating with each other between Macs and PCs. It might take a minute, or it might take hours. Just be sure you understand that. Then again, you might decide that you don't want to deal with the viruses and crappyness found in some parts of Windows. You decide your priorities.


Comparison threads should always be unbiased. It's clear that some people are biased in their posts. Are you trying to "win the person over" or something? You aren't helping the parent by trying to convince him that X is the best.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

hopejr is probably just kidding.

Just whatever you do, dont believe anyone who says "Macs are limited to software." This is not true, other than games. We all know games are limited on the Mac, but not software.

 

[hopejr]

lol, thanks for your comments Frightcrawler, your absolutely right. I suppose I did go a little far as to say "perfectly compatible", but in my experience, it's not far off. As for my "mac bashing" comment, I've had bad experiences with that particular poster in the past, however, I made that comment out of jest (as Thin Lizzy said), not as a request to get flamed. I'll be more careful in future .

 

[jvarszegi]

jvarszegi: up to your usual Mac bashing again are we??? I don't want an answer or another argument session. I'm just making an observation.

Come on, now. You can't make a statement like that and not expect a response. I never bashed Macs in these forums before; all I did was make true observations, like the fact that there's a lot more software available for the PC. (In that thread, I also said that the situation is deplorable, and that I wish that Macs had more market clout at this point.) I didn't bash them this time, either; all I did was say that if you want perfect compatibility with a PC, you should get a PC! Don't get your sandals in a twist.

If someone said they needed a top-notch machine for video editing that had to work seamlessly with their other Macs, I'd be likely to say "better get a Mac" if no one else stepped up to the plate. I'd only wait because I wouldn't be the best person to offer advice on specific Mac models or hardware.

 

[jvarszegi]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
hopejr is probably just kidding.

Just whatever you do, dont believe anyone who says "Macs are limited to software." This is not true, other than games. We all know games are limited on the Mac, but not software.

Thin Lizzy, instead of saying "limited to", say "limited with respect to" or something else. You can say that both PCs and Macs are "limited to" software. As to which offers more software titles, go to any online or retail distributor and you'll see four times or more the number of titles available for PC. Let's not go through this again.

 

[Burbot]

First of all, I do not really get the point of 12" Powerbook. If your needs are satisfied by 12" Powerbook, they are probably going to be satisfied by iBook as well, but for 2/3 of the price. There just isn't much difference between the two that might justify price difference.
Futhermore, you appear to be undecided on what class of notebook do you want. Powerful, big screen & expensive? Small, light and cheapish? Machines you consider are really in different classes, and aren't directly comparable.

 

[losershot]

Go for the 12" iBook, I had one and regret selling it for a powerbook. It is cheaper, so you don't spend all your time babying it (which makes it even more portable). It is elegant, has enormous resale value, only .08 ghz less. And very near the same performance as a 12" powerbook.

Also in my opinion, a 12" screen and Expose are the perfect match.

 

[edtsui]

If you sit and wait a week or 2, apple usually has refurbed 15" 1.33 Powerbooks for 1699 which come with a bigger screen, mobility 9700, firewire 800, and the same 1 yr warranty as a new machine and its still eligible for applecare. Either way, you really can't go wrong w/ a T42 or a Powerbook. The only other laptop I'd chunk my powerbook for is an IBM.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Originally posted by: jvarszegi

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
hopejr is probably just kidding.

Just whatever you do, dont believe anyone who says "Macs are limited to software." This is not true, other than games. We all know games are limited on the Mac, but not software.

Thin Lizzy, instead of saying "limited to", say "limited with respect to" or something else. You can say that both PCs and Macs are "limited to" software. As to which offers more software titles, go to any online or retail distributor and you'll see four times or more the number of titles available for PC. Let's not go through this again.

Ok, jvarszegi. I know what you mean. When I said dont believe anyone who says Macs are limited to software, I wasnt saying that you were saying Macs are limited to software. I was saying this because there are many people that will tell you this. I know a lot who have told me this. lol. You are right though, because there are more PC software titles than for the Mac.

 

[hopejr]

jvarszegi: As you've probably noticed, sometimes I can be an idiot. I like getting my sandals in a twist sometimes. lol. I've noticed on other threads you've recommended the mac alternative, so I'm sorry about my stupid comment above.

mrBA1105: both Burbot and losershot made some good points about the iBook. I agree with them. Instead of a PB, get an iBook. You'll save money

 

[trikster2]

> a nice screen,

Then neither of your selections qualify.

I may be in a minority but I think the screens on the powerbook/ibooks are terrible. THe thinkpad screens are not that great either.

If your video depends on firewire, then apple would be a better choice; for some reason IBM is playing intel ho and not including firewire on most T42s

Not that I like toshiba, but have you looked at the quizmo? Very nice screen if you don't mind glare....

Nothing is going to be "100% compatible" if that is really a requirement dump the apple idea.

As to quantity of software, It's really irrelevant. Look at your requirements, look at the software that you plan on getting to address those requirement and then see if it is available on both platforms. If not, there is your answer.