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MacBook or iBook?

S

S. Gomez

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
My desktop computer (which recently got Linux installed) is *finally* deciding to give up the ghost after a couple years of puttering around, deciding if it would rather hang on to life for the express purpose of adding grief to my existence. Sometimes I wonder why we ever bothered to save resuscitate it after the first couple of crashes, but oh well...

The point is, it couldn't have picked a better time. I have a job helping my grandpa for which I am being rather generously paid (on top of another paying job for a friend) and this is enabling me to save up for a new laptop computer...and after seeing my Mom's iBook in action, I definitely want a Mac. The thing is, after ogling over the new MacBook online I went to go see it in store, and was surprised at how small a 13" display can really be. Now I can't decide if a MacBook is worth the CAD$1099 (for a refurbished model), or if it's a better bet to go searching in a used Mac store for an iBook. This is going to be my fulltime computer, after all, and I'd like to get the best deal I can--which includes not being annoyed at the size of the screen. I know MacBook Pros have larger size, but I can't quite save up that much.

I'm not a technical expert or in any way computer savvy, and the details of the specifications are somewhat lost on me, but I am told the MacBook is a good machine. Are there any MacBook users here who aren't bothered by having only 13" to display stuff? (I should probably note I have 20/10 vision... :))
 
Unless price is a huge issue (and I'm a student, so I know it can be), I would go with the newer MacBook. Here's why: The older iBook uses the PowerPC processor, but I think that more and more applications are writing updates that work only on the Intel architecture. As a result, going with the iBook might mean that you're going to be stuck with older versions of software and no way to upgrade. (Caveat: I'm not a Mac user, so I could be wrong--someone please correct me if I am. In general, though, maintaining software for two CPU architectures is not something that a lot of people like doing.)

The second big reason for going with the MacBook is the specs: a faster processor, two to four times more RAM, a bigger hard drive, and some bells and whistles like Bluetooth and a built-in webcam. [Edit to add: since you said you weren't computer savvy, I'll throw this out there and hope I'm not insulting you. ;) The faster processor in the MacBooks is nice, but I think the most important upgrade is the increased RAM. Your operating system and all your programs load to the RAM, so it's especially important because 1.) most programs use a lot of RAM because they're sloppily written, and 2.) most people have more than one application open at once. It's always a good idea to have as much RAM as you can afford.] Finally, the largest screen size on an iBook is a 14", and the MacBooks are all 13.3", so you're only going to gain .7" by going with the older iBooks--I think the newer specs are probably worth the slight decrease in screen real estate.

Also, consider getting an LCD monitor. I know many people that have laptops that they carry to work or wherever and then hook them up to a nice, big LCD screen when they get home. A decent 19" 4:3 monitor could run you about 170 USD these days, and a 20" 16:10 would be around 200 USD. All in all, not bad, and you can always pick it up a few months down the road if money is tight.
 
^I do understand a little bit of the lingo and concepts, so not too much of a problem there. :)

And it's a good point about only gaining .7". Even my Mom was saying that the price was better than when she bought her iBook a couple years back and the specs are stil improved, so all in all its a better deal than it was. And the iSight (such a clever name) is tempting... :D

I wasn't really thinking about getting another monitor to hook up, mostly because part of the reason I decided on a laptop rather than a new desktop is that I do a lot of writing (hoping to be published one day) and my back has been giving me pain if I sit in a chair for too long. So a laptop would let me stretch out and lie down while I work. I think if I get any add-on tech, it would be a mouse; I can use a touchpad but I much prefer the feel of a mouse. That wouldn't be for a while, however.
 
The Intel Macs are definitely worth the coin. Go with the MacBook, you'll be very happy with the results. :thumbsup:
 
I agree. I have a macbook pro, but if I get another one it will be a macbook. The HD and ram are cake to replace, and it has all the performance in a smaller package. Not going to give up the 15", but the macbook is a great computer for it's side. And I will be getting white. $100 for black. mercedes research. appleholes.

The MacBook is made by ASUS, BTW for the techies. Interesting to me @ least. I think the drive would have survived that impact in a Macbook due to positioning, but that is purely speculation on my part.

The 15" is tough, it took this kind of damage on baggage handing and just lost the HD n the case damage. Thank god I backed up to an external drive.
macbooksadsmall.jpg
 
^ Heh, I've had this discussion in Misc, but a MacBook would probably have taken that beating better than a MacBook Pro. Plastic is much better at absorbing impacts.
 
If you can go to an actual Apple store, I suggest checking them out in person. Now I saw the ol' Powerbooks vs. iBooks in their final generation (mid '06???) and let me say, the screens on the Powerbooks looked a LOT better than the iBook's.

Now I'm not sure about these new models but I don't think the only difference is in RAM & Hard Drive space. I think the MacBook Pros are all around faster at everything because they seem to have better quality components inside.
 
Hmm. I'm starting to be watching how much I'll actually have saved up at the end of the summer, and I'm not quite sure that it'll be enough for a MacBook. I'm starting to look kinder on the Mac Minis (which I was initially hesitant to do because, really, my whole system needs replacing and not just the guts). A couple things I haven't been able to find clear information on:

Does it have a drive to write CDs with? That slot on the front could be a simple CD-ROM for all I've been able to gather.

Can I still hook up the speakers from my 2002 Dell PC into the Mac Mini, or would I need to buy all-new speakers?
 
If you are going to buy a new Mac, I'd suggest waiting until after Tuesday next week. Apple are making an announcement that they've confirmed is Mac-related (not iPhone or iPod related). It's widely expected to be a product-line refresh including new iMacs.

There is some concern that the Mac Mini may be discontinued, which I would be sad about. They're bloody good computers for their size.

There's also talk that the new versions of iLife and iWork will be released too.
 
^Well, it wouldn't be until the end of the summer 'til I could afford something, so I sort of have to wait until after Tuesday next week. :D

EDIT: And thanks for the links, Alaedhros. Looks like I really would have to get a new keyboard and mouse for a Mac mini, which I would have realistically needed to do anyway.
 
I have a MacBook, it's a great machine, and unless you are gaming or doing something graphics-intensive the performance is excellent. It runs Civilization II in a Windows VM well enough, anyway...
 
Hermiod said:
If you are going to buy a new Mac, I'd suggest waiting until after Tuesday next week. Apple are making an announcement that they've confirmed is Mac-related (not iPhone or iPod related). It's widely expected to be a product-line refresh including new iMacs.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify: when you said "Tuesday next week" did you mean tomorrow (August 7)?

It turns out I might actually be able to keep working through the fall, thus meaning I don't necessarily have to worry a ton about getting the cheapest machine available. While a laptop would be nice, I have to consider just how I would be using the thing and I have to admit that I wouldn't be taking it around very much, so a desktop might be the way to go. Those iMacs look nice... :)
 
They've announced the new iMac. 20" (two versions) or 24". It looks gorgeous. New keyboard too, it's tiny.

They're talking about iLife 08 at the moment.
 
Seeing it now. :D

The applications look pretty sweet. Are these going to be available right away, or do we wait a few months?
 
Today. The UK, Canadian and US Apple Store websites are down.

I'm just looking at the photos from the presentation. There's a mystery app in Steve's Dock that looks like a bar chart. New iWork ?

Edit again - Yep, new iWork! :D
 
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