Apple's laptop

[tuscan_v8]

What the difference on between iBook and Powerbook? as far I can see the difference is the pricing !!

Thinking of getting one.

[robbieduncan]

iBooks are the consumer range and PowerBooks the professional range.

You don't state which models you are looking at, but as you say you can't see any differences I'll assume it's the 12" iBook vs the 12" PowerBook.

As the iBook has just been updated and the PowerBook has not been changed since January the differences are very small at the moment. The PowerBook has a different graphics chip and with 64Mb of dedicated RAM whereas the iBook only has 32Mb. The PowerBook also supports screen spanning (i.e. running an external monitor in dual monitor mode with different stuff on the screen). The iBook only supports this via a hack.

The PowerBook also has DVI (over VGA) and supports being run with the lid shut so is better for presentations (and when using an external screen you can shut the lid and all the VRAM is used for the external screen).

You can also have a 12" PowerBook with a Superdrive (DVD writer) but you have to buy the lardy 14" for that.

That's about it

[Sparks]

robbieduncan said:

iBooks are the consumer range and PowerBooks the professional range. You don't state which models you are looking at, but as you say you can't see any differences I'll assume it's the 12" iBook vs the 12" PowerBook. As the iBook has just been updated and the PowerBook has not been changed since January the differences are very small at the moment. The PowerBook has a different graphics chip and with 64Mb of dedicated RAM whereas the iBook only has 32Mb. The PowerBook also supports screen spanning (i.e. running an external monitor in dual monitor mode with different stuff on the screen). The iBook only supports this via a hack. The PowerBook also has DVI (over VGA) and supports being run with the lid shut so is better for presentations (and when using an external screen you can shut the lid and all the VRAM is used for the external screen). You can also have a 12" PowerBook with a Superdrive (DVD writer) but you have to buy the lardy 14" for that. That's about it

In addition, I thought that the motherboard was actually different, with a faster bus (although only about 20Mhz).
I have a 12" iBook, and think it is great, but would go for the powerbook if you can stretch, although the iBook does look better value IMHO.

Sparks

[Hirich]

As Robbie says, in basic specifications the PowerBook is just a little bit better all round:
- Faster chip: (1.5/1.67 vs 1.33/1.42GHz)
- Faster bus (166 vs 133/142MHz
- Faster hard drive
- Higher resolution screens
- Better graphics card
- 15 & 17" offer a Firewire 800 socket and Gigabit Ethernet.
but at this moment specs are fairly close and you need to ask whether you will really benefit from the extra features. You might find it better to spend the difference on more RAM for the iBook (OSX adores RAM).

I can't find a decent review of the new iBook range online, or any speed tests, so a trip to the WHSmiths library might be in order. Any of the three major Mac titles should be have reviews (either in "New Reviews" or the MacBuying Help reference) and will have to address the iBook/PowerBook question.

[rednotdead]

Having supported in excess of 150 Mac (roughly 50/50 powerbook to ibook) laptops for an organisation we saw far more Powerbooks than iBooks with build related or hard-usage issues.

Had a brand new powerbook in last week - the whole chassis was twisted to an extent that the opposite corners were about half an inch off the desk!

The powerbooks look cool but they aren't as robust as the iBook.

[polar_ben]

My PowerBook seems robust enough - I've flown with it dozens of times in the last six months, I cart it around with me everywhere (in a nifty Crumpler bag), it gets used hard (photo/film editing, email, web, coding, etc etc) for several hours a day, seven days a week and I can't remember the last time I actually turned it off.

It's a beautiful piece of kit - no other laptop comes close. There are some beautiful design touches - keys that light up automatically when it gets dark, the way the latch closes with a little magnet, the pulsating 'sleep' LED, etc...

You won't regret either, but I'd say the PowerBook is the PHer's choice

[robbieduncan]

My PowerBook has proved to be very robust too. It'll be 2 years since I bought it in November and no issues yet. It does have a small dent in the case where I dropped it (oops) but it all works like new. Well a bit better than new as Tiger is faster than Panther

[rico]

My Powerbook is awesome and this is my third year of ownership. It gets chucked into a backpack and its still working great. I keep toying with updating it with a newer one, but just can't see the point when mine works as good as the day I bought it.