Your Next 'Book, And Mine
by Charles W. Moore Your Next 'Book, And Mine
So, what'll it be for your next system upgrade? I can't supply any conclusive recommendation. I'm on the horns of the same dilemma myself, and haven't yet made up my mind. Catch the first MacIntel wave, or get one more known-quantity G4 'Book as a transitional era spanner? There's a case to be made for doing either, and which alternative is best for you will depend on many variables, such as your needs, tastes, and budgetary circumstances.
Personally, I'm a low-ender by temperament. Not that I have any objection to high-end features and performance. My Pismo PowerBook was the top of the line when it was built in October, 2000, but I bought it for a low-end price a year later, and it has proved an excellent value for the money. I'm dictating this column on it right now. However, buying a higher-end machine means you are going to get hammered a lot worse by depreciation, and I absolutely hate depreciation. One reason I've owned more than 50 used cars over the past 39 years.
Just check out the price spread in dollars between the price of a new 12-inch iBook and 17-inch PowerBook of a year ago or so compared with what these machines are selling used or refurbished for today. Because of this dynamic, there's a stronger economic case for buying new at the low-end then the high-end if money is an object.
In my estimation, Apple's own Certified Refurbished machines are well worth considering. You get recent-model units at a substantial discount from the new price, but still with the full, one-year Apple warranty and eligibility for upgrading to three years of AppleCare protection (see the Appendix at the end of this column for full particulars). On the other hand, while the impression that I get is that most users' experience with Apple Certified Refurbished Macs is positive, a friend of mine recently purchased a certified refurbished 1.2 GHz iBook that was dead on arrival. Apple offered to replace it with another one, but since he was just on a visit to the US, he didn't have time to wait for the turnaround, so opted for a refund. He'll be trying again on his next trip stateside.
If I decide to go for a last Power PC PowerBook, it will almost certainly be used or refurbished unit, especially since Apple has thus far opted to hang tough with G4 PowerBook price points even after the Intel MacBook Pro was announced. With iBooks, I would probably go for a new one.
So, the candidates are:
MacBook Pro - 1.67 or 1.83 Hz Intel Core Duo, Price: $1,999 - $2,499
Pros:
The next big thing - the bleeding edge of Apple laptop technology.
Stunning performance with universal binary and MacIntel native applications
The future of the Mac platform is Intel
it's a very nice package generally
Cons:
Power PC programs deliver lackluster performance under Rosetta emulation, which is also a RAM hog
No Classic Mode support at all
No FireWire 800 for high-end users (ExpressCard 34 adapters are expected, but not yet available)
No PC card support, and ExpressCard 34 still very limited availability
No internal modem
No dual-layer DVD burner (which the current 15" and 17" PowerBooks have)
Potential "Revision A" bugginess
1.83 GHz model is pretty expensive
12-inch iBook G4-1.33 GHz G4, price: $999
Pros:
Least expensive new Apple laptop available, and relatively low depreciation
Compact size and light weight
An impressive inventory of features and power for the money, including many "PowerBook features".
12.1-inch 1024 x 768 display is small in size but bright and sharp
Supports up to 1.5 gigabytes of RAM with a one gigabyte upgrade stick
Rugged polycarbonate case
Supports Classic Mode
Internal modem
Cons:
Just 133 MHz system bus
Poky 4200 RPM hard drive
Not available with SuperDrive
12.1-inch 1024 x 768 display is limited
Mediocre keyboard
No PC Card slot
No audio line-in (USB audio only)
Internal modem
Possible reliability issues
14-inch iBook G4 - 1.42 GHz G4, Price: $1,299
Pros:
Least expensive Apple laptop available with a SuperDrive
An impressive inventory of features and power for the money, including many "PowerBook features".
Supports up to 1.5 gigabytes of RAM with a one gigabyte upgrade stick
Internal modem
Supports Classic Mode
Rugged polycarbonate case
Cons:
just a 142 MHz system bus
just a 4200 RPM hard drive
14.1-inch 1024 x 768 display is low resolution and not especially sharp or bright
Mediocre keyboard
No PC card slot
No audio line-in (USB audio only)
Possible reliability issues
12-inch G4 PowerBook -1.5 GHz G4, Price: $1,499
Pros:
Lowest priced PowerBook
Smallest and lightest Apple laptop available
SuperDrive now standard
Very attractive form factor
Excellent keyboard
Good reputation for reliability
12.1-inch 1024 ex 768 display is smallish, but bright and sharp
5400 RPM hard drive and 167 MHz system bus with 64 megabytes of video RAM
Audio line-in port
Internal modem
Supports Classic Mode
Cons:
12.1" 1024 x 768 display is limited
Only 256 megabytes of RAM soldered to the motherboard, so RAM maxes out at i.256 GB with a 1 GB upgrade stick. A 512 MB stick only takes you to 768 MB.
Performance roadblock bottlenecked by 166 MHz frontside system bus
and the NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics accelerator not as powerful as the ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 in the iBooks, but it does come with twice as much video RAM),
Tends to run hot
15-inch G4 PowerBook - 1.67 GHz G4, Price: $1999.00
Pros:
Full slate of state of the art PowerBook features
High resolution display
Highest performance Power PC PowerBook
Mid-size form factor ideal for many users
Backlit keyboard
Two gigabyte RAM capacity
internal modem
Audio line-in port
PC Card slot
supports Classic Mode
Cons:
The 15-incher has had more than its share of reliability and defect issues, although Apple is pro-actively addressing some of them
Higher price means greater depreciation
Performance bottlenecked by 167 MHz frontside system bus
17-inch G4 PowerBook - 1.67 GHz G4, Price: $2,499
Pros:
Still the biggest, most spectacular PowerBook ever
17-inch display
Highest performance Power PC PowerBook
Supports Classic Mode
Enviable reputation for reliability
Backlit keyboard
Audio line-in port
PC Card slot
Supports up to 2 GB of RAM
internal modem
Cons:
Size and weight make it a cumbersome road warrioring machine
Expensive, and subject to heavy depreciation
Performance bottlenecked 167 MHz frontside system bus
The above outlines are of course for new machines, but refurbished units are becoming available event in the latest spec. models at lower prices.
There are also older-model refurbs, which is some cases may present the best cost/value equation, especially for high-end categories. The performance gap between a 1.33 GHz and the ultimate 1.5 GHz and 1.67 GHz models is not vast, and getting a 1.33 GHz machine with the RAM maxed out will provide better real-World performance then a 1.5 GHz or 1.67 GHz per unit with the standard 512 megabytes of RAM.
Some folks also think the January, 2005 - October, 2005 15-inch and 17-inch models are preferable to the last-revision units with their higher-resolution displays. The early 867 MHz and 1 GHz 12" PowerBooks are now selling for less than 800 dollars.
Personally, as great a value as the latest iBooks are, if I eventually go for one more kick at Power PC, it will almost certainly be a PowerBook. I just haven't decided which size yet.
Appendix
Apple Certified Refurbished Products (Source, Apple Computer)
Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. These products have been returned under Apple's Return and Refund Policies. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple's stringent quality refurbishment process.
Each Apple Certified Refurbished Product:
is fully tested (including full burn-in testing).
is refurbished with replacement parts for any defective modules identified in testing.
is put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection.
is repackaged (including appropriate manuals, cables, new boxes, etc.).
includes the operating software originally shipped with the unit and the custom software offered with that system. See each products "Learn More" for more details.
is given a new refurbished part number and serial number.
is placed into a Final QA inspection prior to being added to sellable refurbished stock.
Refurbishment procedures follow the same basic technical guidelines as Apple's Finished Goods testing procedures.
(2) What should I expect when I purchase an Apple Certified Refurbished Product?
Substantial savings
A fully functional unit with complete documentation
The assurance that the unit meets Apple's premiere quality standards, and that its defective components have been replaced by genuine Apple components
(3) Can I purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan for my Apple Certified Refurbished Product?
All Apple Certified Refurbished Products are covered by Apple's One-Year Limited Warranty. For extended coverage, you have the option of purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan with your Apple Certified Refurbished Product. The AppleCare Protection Plan extends the complimentary coverage on your Apple Certified Refurbished Product to up to three years of world-class support.
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