12 inch powerbook - for travel - should i wait?

After a lot of research I *think* I've decided on the 12 inch apple powerbook 1.5 ghz with superdrive. from everything i've read it looks like something that will travel and perform well for the kind of work i want to do (i plan on teaching english in spain next year and would like to go to grad school in literature the following). it will be used mostly for word processing, web surfing, music/media and presentations. I'm not really into games. Maybe the powerbook seems excessive (compared with the ibook) for someone with my needs. Still, i think the extra speed, memory, optical drive capabilities, etc are worth the difference.

I'm hoping, or assuming, that i wont have many problems with this internationally. has anyone here ever traveled internationally with a powerbook? do you have any reccomendations?

Since i think i want it, I'm wondering whether to buy it now (i'm in the last months of my undergraduate degree) or if I should wait until right before I go to Spain in May 2005. Given that the powerbooks were just upgraded, what are the chances things improve again before I leave? Whats the probability apple's new operating system will be out before then? Also, is there any chance of a price drop between now and May?

I still qualify for the student discount which makes the price of the powerbook with super drive a reasonable 1500. Any suggestions? Also, does it really make sense for me to be buying an apple? If I dont buy the apple I will probably get the hp dv1000 or the dell 700m. These both seem like good machines but i'm less convinced by their quality and i'm not sure pentium M would be better for my needs.

i appreciate any input...

 

I think the 12" PowerBook would suit you well, if you were an engineer I would say differently, but since you're travelling and want a notebook that is well built and supported the world over, then the Apple PowerBook certainly fits that...and it's much nicer looking, better built and longer battery life than the Dell 700m. The new PowerBooks just came out, so don't expect any hardware updates until at least fall or towards the end of the year. The new Tiger OS might come out around May, my guess is Apple would offer consumers that recently purchased a product from them some sort of cheap upgrade path. I would keep an eye out for good deals, maybe take advantage of your student discount, and jump on a deal when you see it.

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I just purchased an open box item 12" powerbook. It is the 1.33 gig combo drive unit - i.e. pre 1/2005 speed bump. I was about to get either Fujitsu or IBM, but got a great deal on the mac. During my search, I got the chance to handle the 600m and 700m at a Dell kiosk. I did this twice, about a month apart. My conclusion was that I could not consider the inspirons, as they have an extremely cheap and low quality feel and appearance. I would just not be happy owning one. They really feel like a souped up Yugo (substitute Hyundai if you are under 40). No matter how fast you make it, its still a yugo. As for the HP, you either love or hate the look. I fall into the latter, but it is probably a fine machine. I didn't need the updates that apple incorporated into the pb's so the previous model at a stunning $899 (open box display model from Good Guys, couple of scratches, but really looks and works great) was a great deal. There are a few out there, Microcenter was selling new unopened ones for $1299. As for the engineers and apple, I mostly concur. I'm an engineer. I do analysis work rather than CAD, so I'm fine with the mac. Should I start running CAD, it will either be Vectorworks in native OSX, Autocad via virtual PC, or purchase of a windows box for the purpose. I guess my point is that the apple is a fine machine, OSX is different but fine, some things are better than windows, some things are not. I guess I'm a proponent of buying when you need it, and even looking for deals on one you would have bought at full price 6 months ago, rather than going for the shiny new update.

 

One more thing. Is it worth it to buy the three year apple care protection plan? It's a lot of money and, from what I've read on here, it doesnt seem like it's worth it. Any other suggestions in my case?

 

I'm playing into apple's clutches on this one. Since my unit is an open box I can assume a) it has already been tested, and it works fine, so I don't need applecare or b) it's an open box unit, God knows what could go wrong! I'm leaning towards b), plus applecare gets you 3 years of phone support vs 90 days. I'm strongly considering purchasing applecare from ebay. Several vendors discount it by about $100, and you still get new, sealed box applecare. I emailed a couple of vendors. It seems that there is enough margin to discount a lot and still make a profit on applecare. I tend to believe that. I think Apple really charges a lot for add-on purchases like that. For instance, 1 Gig samsung ram from apple - $500. 1 Gig samsung ram from OWC - $245. Anyway, I'm getting applecare. I just haven't decided whether to give Apple $350 and be sure, or take a risk on ebay.

 

We have/had AppleCare for all 4 of our Apple rigs, notebooks and desktops alike. I personally think it is a good idea. If ever a screen or keyboard, etc. when out on you, it would pricey to fix. Everyone views this sort of insurance, if you will, differently.

Shoot, I even got AppleCare for my 3g 20 giger iPod . . . Peace of Mind

Dell Inspiron 8600:
* 1.6 Ghz Pentium M * 1024 MB DDR SDRAM * 100 Gb Seagate Momentus 5400 Rpm HD * 15.4" WSXGA+ * Internal Bluetooth * Intel Pro/Wireless 2200 * 4x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) * ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo 128 MB * Win XP Pro SP2 *

* Apple 17" PowerBook G4 * 14" Toshiba Tecra 8000 * Apple 14" iBook G4 *

 

Frankly, I like the 15 over the 12, I think you just get a better visual experience, especially with DVD. But, it is what you want of course. Suggest just go for a 15, 1.5 ghz,, open box or ebay perhaps? I think if you shop around, you can find some good deals. Apple themselves is best only for what is new but they will give you student/educator discount but you will pay sales tax. Amazon and others you can avoid sales tax (or rather, I don't mean that, as the law says, you must take responsibility yourself to pay your state what taxes are owed, LOL). Anyway, with a Powerbook you won't be disappointed, certainly Inspiron and Dell, much better quality, much better aesthetics than HP, can't beat Vaio's screen (nobody can), but, Vaios are nowadays made with too much cheap plastic. Avartec, could be ok, but no track record yet, Toshiba's also, IMO no aesthetics. Good luck.

 

The 15" is a great machine! I was after small, and the 12 is a great machine for small, and that worked for me!