iBook vs PowerBook

[JazmenFlowers]

does anyone know the difference/pros and cons of these 2 Apple laptops?

[amber]

No, but I found this:

"iBook vs. PowerBook
Submitted by mike on Mon, 04/19/2004 - 10:38. Hardware

Today Apple introduced new iBook G4 & PowerBook models. Here's my attempt to dispell any confusion between the two lines.

The toughest choice may be between the top of the line iBook and the low end PowerBook. Let's see how they compare.

iBook

* 14" Display
* 1.2 GHz G4
* Airport Extreme standard, optional Bluetooth
* VGA, S-video and composite video
* 256MB DDR SDRAM expandable to up to 1.25GB
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR memory
* 133 MHz system bus
* $1,499

PowerBook

* 12" Display
* 1.33 GHz G4
* Airport Extreme and Bluetooth standard
* DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video
* 256MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM expandable up to 2GB
* NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics with 64MB of dedicated video memory
* 167 MHz system bus
* $1,599

For a difference of $100, the PowerBook gives you a faster processor & system bus, internal Bluetooth (a $50 option on the iBook), DVI output, twice as much video memory, and more RAM capacity. For cost-conscious users, the iBook may be a better deal while people who want the best performance will buy the PowerBook."

[irishgrl]

I dont, but I can tell you that I LOVE my imac...so if it were me, I think I'd go for the ibook. I guess the best thing to do is look at the memory the generation (g4 or g5) and various other features.....do you need access to a printer? what about batteries? Personally, I am glad to see another apple fan, I think they are superior to pc's and pc clones since they arent subject to any of the pc viruses or worms!

EDIT: :sorry: oops the Powerbook looks like the better deal........go for the Powerbook!

[pianogirl04]

They have different option packages, basically. Different screen sizes, different processor speeds, and different ram capacities as well as what comes standard on it. All Apple laptops are now shipping with a shock sensor that locks the hard drive heads when it senses that it's falling, which is super duper nice. IBM introduced this with the Thinkpad a couple years back if I'm not mistaken -- the commercial where the guy drops his buddy's laptop and then he comments that that wasn't his laptop... anyway.

In iBooks, your ram capacity comes with a standard 256 mb and maxes out at 1.5 gb and your processor speed maxes at 1.42 ghz. The only screen size options you have are 12" and 14" (both have the same resolution, the 14" just has bigger pixels) and I believe you can only get a combo drive on the 12", the superdrive is only an option with a 14". When I got mine, both Airport and Bluetooth were options you could add on. And of course, it all comes in a nifty white case made of indestructible plastic.

PowerBooks, on the other hand, have up to 2 gb ram capacities (low end maxes at 1.25), 512 mb being standard, and you can get them in 12", 15", or 17"... your resolution increases with each step up. Their processor speeds start at 1.5 ghz and top out at 1.67 ghz. Standard hard drive capacities on PBs are much larger than the iBooks -- on the 17", you get 100gb standard. Airport and Bluetooth come standard and on the 17" model the keyboard is backlit and has an ambient light sensor. All of that is in an aluminum case, and it's more expensive.

It depends on how much you need, really... if you're doing lots of graphics intensive or music editing/recording, the more ram you can get your hands on, the better. I maxed my iBook's ram out at 512 mb and only after I did that and replaced the hard drive did it start to run faster. The ram you have really determines the speed more than your processor speed, to be honest.... the more you have, the more you'll be able to do. To me it looks like the high end iBook and the lower end PowerBook are about even. :shrug:

[all the same]

My sister has an iBook and I have a PowerBook. Basically, if you need a machine to do work on, like graphic design, web design, etc, I would definitely recommend getting the PowerBook. You can also read and burn DVD's on PowerBooks which is great for archiving purposes. I don't believe the iBook has the DVD option. If you need a good basic use computer, definitely go with the iBook. For professional use, go with the PowerBook. They're great. They're beautiful. Get one! Does that help at all?

YAY!!! You're getting a Mac! How exciting for you! I LOVE MINE!!!

[pianogirl04]

My sister has an iBook and I have a PowerBook. Basically, if you need a machine to do work on, like graphic design, web design, etc, I would definitely recommend getting the PowerBook. You can also read and burn DVD's on PowerBooks which is great for archiving purposes. I don't believe the iBook has the DVD option. If you need a good basic use computer, definitely go with the iBook. For professional use, go with the PowerBook. They're great. They're beautiful. Get one! Does that help at all?

You can get the DVD burner on a 14" iBook, but both the super drive and the combo drive are DVD-ROM capable. I will admit that a DVD burner would be super nice to back things up on, especially since hard drives do have a tendency to crash (learned that the hard way) and if you're into trading, it comes in handy. I wish I had one...