MacPrices.net

iBook Outshines 12" PowerBook In Some Key Performance/Value Aspects - Plus PowerBook Mystique Mailbag

by Charles W. Moore

Last week I wrote here about what we might see is Apple PowerBooks and iBooks when the first Intel-based Macs begin arriving next year. But according to the projected schedule, there are about eight months to go before the MacIntel debut, so in the meantime indications are that Apple is now going to ride out the end of the Power PC era with the current portable platforms, all pretty long in the tooth (the newest design among them being the now 26 month old 15 inch PowerBook), but still amazingly avant garde except for processor speed.

While some continue to hold out hope for another round of Power PC revisions before next June, I'm inclined to think otherwise. I could be mistaken of course, but I just can't envision Apple concentrating much of its development resources on lame duck Power PC machines that this stage of the game.

A case in point is the 12 inch PowerBook, which was all but ignored and passed over in the revisions pronounced two weeks ago, receiving just a bump in hard drive speed to 5400 RPM. and a 200 dollar price cut. The new 15" and 17" models use PC2-4200 DDR RAM, while the 12" model continues to use DDR333 SDRAM, and the smallest PB didn;t get the dual-layer DVD capability SuperDrive that now comes in it's bigger siblings.

Apple didn't even bother to address the issue of just 256 megabytes of RAM being soldered to the 12-inch PowerBook's motherboard, while even the latest version of the iBook has 512 MB hard-wired. This of course means that the standard 512 MB RAM configuration in the LittleAl requires a 256 MB expansion module in the single expansion slot, so if you want to upgrade after purchase, that module will have to be removed and probably go to waste. It also means that a 512 MB expansion upgrade will only take you to 768 MB, as opposed to one gigabyte with the iBook and bigger PowerBooks. If you want at least a gigabyte of RAM in your 12-inch PowerBook, you'll have to opt for a very expensive (Apple - $250) one gigabyte expansion module.

Another area where the iBook has pulled ahead of the littlest PowerBook is in graphics support. At least to some degree. True, the AlBook still comes with twice the video RAM of the iBook: (64 MB vs 32 MB), but the iBook has a more up-to-date RADEON 9550 graphics processing unit (GPU) which is evidently a better performer than the NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics card that ships with the 12 inch PowerBook.

According to a benchmarking report on MacReviewZone, in several graphics power task categories the iBook is substantially faster than the PowerBook despite the latter's 6% faster CPU/cache speed, 18% faster system bus, 100% more graphics memory, and 29% faster hard drive. The 12" PowerBook tested 21% slower in GPU performance, 52% slower in graphics interface response, 36% slower in graphics gaming, and offered 46% less running time per battery charge. Where it soared ahead was in hard drive performance - 67% faster, as well as being marginally faster in processor speed (5%) faster, Graphics Processor (5%), and Photoshop Render (6%).

You can check it out at:
http://macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/guides/appleseed/05/

The graphics results are seconded by benchmarks recorded by MacSpeedZone.

Based on the scratch machine reference of a Power Mac G4/1 GHz Dual Processor with a score of 168/100%

The July 2005 iBooks scored in graphics processor performance:
iBook 12" G4/1.33GHz - 601/358%
iBook 14" G4/1.42GHz - 616/367%

While the 1.5 GHz 12" PowerBooks scored:
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Combo) - 512/305%
PowerBooks 12" G4/1.5GHz (Super) - 510/304%

It appears that the new RADEON 9550 GPU introduced with the July, 2005 iBook revision is the key element, because the November, 2004 iBooks with their RADEON 9200 GPUs but the same amount of VRAM scored just:

iBook 12" G4/1.2GHz - 305/182%
iBook 14" G4/1.33GHz (Combo) - 326/194%

A pretty dramatic difference.

For more benchmark info., visit here.

The PowerBook does have the advantage of supporting monitor spending, which the iBook doesn't, at least officially (third party hacks can circumvent Apple's deliberate blockage of this feature for marketing purposes on the iBook). However, prospective buyers trying to decide which of these machines to purchase should consider carefully which one's graphic support profile best suits their needs. To wit, if you plan to use an external monitor and like monitor spanning, go with the PowerBook. For general Graphics liveliness, it appears that the iBook has the edge.

The 14-inch PowerBook comes with a SuperDrive, a standard 60 gigabyte hard drive (4200 RPM) and a 1.42 GHz processor and system bus of the same speed, selling for $1,299.

For $200 more than the 14-inch iBook, you can get a 12" PowerBook with a 6% faster processor faster (29%), one-third larger-capacity and 29% faster hard drive, a less powerful graphics processor but with twice the amount of video RAM, 6% faster CPU/cache speed, and an 18% faster system bus (167MHz vs 142 MHz), as well as the aforementioned monitor spanning, 100% more video RAM, a substantially better keyboard and a more compact and comfortable form factor for road warrioring with 28% less weight (4.6 pounds vs 5.9 pounds) with the same display resolution (but on a smaller screen area).

On the other hand, maximum memory capacity is 20% less with the PowerBook (1.25 GB vs 1.5GB). Nominal claimed battery life is also 20% less (5 hours vs 6 hours).

Both machines feature a scrolling trackpad and sudden motion sensor for the hard drive.

Moving along, a few comments on the bigger PowerBooks. The most substantial change in the October, 2005, 15-inch and 17-inch PowerBook revisions is an upgrade to higher-resolution displays, which are also claimed to be brighter. You can take a peek here at the difference compared with the previous model:
http://media.99mac.se/powerbook_hd/

However, early reports from early adopter users have complained that the brightness of the new screens is less evenly distributed than on previous, lower-res models, and off-center viewing angles are less broad.

While high resolution allows you to display more information within a given dimension, it will be displayed at a smaller size. The new 15 inch and 17-inch PowerBook screens reportedly have a pixel density of about 100 dpi, which means that icons and text at the default size will appear just a bit larger than they do on the 1024 x 768 12.1-inch screen of the 12-inch PowerBooks and iBooks, which have a resolution of of 106 dpi.

Personally, I don't find that hard to live with on my 12" iBook, so I would probably be perfectly comfortable using one of the new high-resolution PowerBooks on that score, but some users may find the rendering of objects and text too small for their taste. Others say it's just fine.

I certainly wouldn't mind having one. However, in terms of price/performance/value in a tide-me-over-the-MacIntel-trensition 'Book, the iBook offers an awfully compelling package. Now, the 14" iBook just had a higher resolution display......

PowerBook Mystique Mailbag

Partition Map rebuilding software needed ?
iBook charger troubles
Enderle = Dvorak
iBooks w/o optical drives

Partition Map rebuilding software needed ?

From Nick Jacquet

Hi,

I just read an article that you wrote about HD tools. Do you know of any tools that can rebuild a partition map ? My drive failed on me recently. Now Disk Utility will recognize the drive but wants to format it! I need a piece of software that will rebuild the partition map so I can see the volume name and then get Disk Warrior to rebuild the drive.

Any thoughts?

thanks,

Nick

Hi Nick;

There are three that I've tested: iPartition, VolumeWorks, and Drive Genius. You can read my reviews here:

iPartition

Drive Genius

(Unfortunately, the link to my VolumeWorks review seemes to not be working, but it's similar to Drive Genius in function).

Not sure about cross compatibility with Disk Warrior.

You might also need ProSoft Data Rescue to recover the drive first.

Review here.

Charles

From Lisa

I have an iBook and my charger outlet is broken. I went to Apple to have it repaired and they said it would be at least $200. (my ibook is 4 years old) My iBook is not charged and I need to save my data on a disc but I can't open it because it does not have a charge and I cannot use a wall charger with it. What can I do?

Lisa

Hi Lisa;

For your data recovery emergency, you will have to find someone else with an iBook who will let you either charge your battery in their machine or borrow their battery too boot with while you back up your files.

An iBook that old is probably not worth spending serious money on repairing. You can pick up used/refurbished units pretty cheaply.

Try here:
http://www.wegenermedia.com/indexa.html

and here:
http://www.powerbookguy.com/

Charles

Enderle = Dvorak

From Nikolaus Heger

Hi, heads up Charles. I really appreciate Powebook Central.

But please don't take anything that Rob Enderle says seriously. Similar to John Dvorak, his entire business is based on buzz he generates by making ill-informed and stupid predictions. By doing that, he generates tons of (negative) responses and, bearing in mind that there is no such thing as bad publicity, suddenly is "famous".

Rob Enderle loves his Athlon-64 Acer Ferrari notebook. That is, nowadays the Ferraris are actually cool but he loved them at a time when they were red, garish, extremely heavy and had a battery life of half an hour.

There's no reasoning with the man. The "no more optical drives" prediction is a classic Enderle. It makes no sense whatsoever. The only way it could get in there - unless Enderle is a moron, which he isn't - is as a red herring. Purely to generate publicity. To provoke reaction.

It's in there so others can comment on it by ripping it apart - that's how he gets links and publicity and page clicks. Like.. almost everybody I know watches DVDs on their computers. Films, not data DVDs. Without optical drive, that would not work. End of story. BluRay and HD DVD will guarantee us optical drives for years to come.

Nik

Hi Nik;

Thanks for the comment.

I have to agree that the end of uptical drives prediction seemed like porovcateurism, although Enderle's other prognostications about the 2006 'Books seeemed reasonable wnough.

I also share with him an admiration for the Acer Ferrari Athlon 64 notebook, although I hasten to add not nearly enough to make me think about defecting from the Mac.

Glad you enjoy PowerBook Central.

Charles

iBooks w/o optical drives

From Oliver Starkey

Hello Charles,

I read your recent article in which you expressed consternation that Apple might present portables without optical drives. At first, I was equally troubled. However, with more thought, I think Apple would be right on. Computers without CD/DVD drives are probably the industry's future.

Between flash media and optical drives, the flash media is the simplest solution. Whether Apple can pull it off at this point in time remains to be seen. They may be too ahead of the times. In the article you cited, I seem to remember Apple will start only with the iBooks which is a hedged bet of sorts.

Let me make a few points. Can you imagine a widescreen iBook that is almost half the weight of the present ones and about half as thick? Wouldn't that be a great machine? Such a machine is more probable sans optical drives. Cheaper too! From a marketing standpoint, kicking off the Intel era with a showstopper like this makes sense too.

Want to burn music CDs to play in the car. Duh! Use your iPod! Jack it in or use an FM transmitter.

Do you have data stored on CDs and DVDs? That is taken care of by a third party reader. Pull your data off those disks and.....

Need to store data? Use external hard drives or high capacity flash media. Remember, a flash chip is eminently rewritable media.

Need to buy software? But it from iTunes. Go to an authorized Apple store and download it there. In a pinch, you could buy it on a flash chip. Why do all the computer stores really need all those software CDs? You only need a store to distribute the manuals but much software comes with pdf manuals anyway. Apple is selling music and now videos online. Software is a consistent and natural extension. How about a commercial super bittorrent for slow connections?

What is the precedence for selling software online? Well, it is done now. Probably, more tellingly, millions of music files are being bought online without backup media. Before iTunes, who would have thought to buy music without a CD or tape to "keep" it? Now a lot of people do. My last $50 of music is from the iTunes store and I "keep" it on my hard drive. I could put it on a CD but if I do that I might as well put it on a flash drive.

So, yeah, I think flash is the coming media. Apple will probably be at the forefront like they were with floppys. It really makes sense and it is consistent with what they are doing with aural and visual media. Their designers will excel if they don't have to account for optical media.

What I am really waiting for is a portable with an array of high density flash media replacing hard drives. That will happen, too, some day.

I always enjoy reading your column. Get ready to grit your teeth and convert those CDs to flash. Get ready to buy that external reader that you will use only a few times.

Cheers,

Oliver Starkey

Hi Oliver;

You make some interesting points, and got me thinking along some new lines, but I'm still skeptical about the imminent termination of optical drive support.

Of course, if a lightweight machine such as you suggest is in the offing, all bets are off. I agree that there would be a ready market for such a model, and that having to live with an external optical drive (I would want read and burn) would be a fair tradeoff.

Software distribution? Broadband will not likely be available here where I live for another five years, and I live 150 miles, one way, from the nearest Apple authorized reseller. Not really a practical proposition for large software DLs.

I'm currently steeling myself for a 10 or 11 hour download of the OS 10.4.3 update over dialup, which gives me 26,400 bps throughput on good days.

Charles

CM