Apple iBook 12" - worth it?

Well, my current notebook is really just a POS. Loud fan that never turns off, horrid battery life, fairly heavy, etc. I just chose it because it was the cheapest. Gateway 15" something or other. Anyways, I was looking into getting a 12" iBook, I've got a friend who's big into Mac's right now and he highly recommends it, I just wanted to get some more opinions. I really just want good portability - size and battery life. I don't need a powerhouse, as it probably wouldn't be used for anything more CPU intensive than a mass photoshop resizing.

So... would it be worth my money? I've heard that the 256MB ram it comes with standard just isn't really enough, and apple overcharges on the stock ram upgrades like hell is about to freeze over, just wondering if most any standard PC2100+ SO-DIMM ram can fit into one? Also, can they access files on networked drives on XP (or other) systems that use NTFS?

 

I am seriously considering getting myself a 12" mac notebook as well. For the portability and features there is nothing that can compare with it in the price range if you consider PCs.

 

You're correct that 256 MB RAM doesn't cut it, 512 is much, much better - or more if you can stretch to it. Any standard SO-DIMM will fit, but needs to be (i think) 2700 not 2100.

I'm still relatively new to OS X myself, but shared folders and drives on windows machines are supported and work like a dream - all it takes is just to find a windows share, double click, authenticate, select a mount and away you go. directly connecting a NTFS file system device is a little different, that is read only. There must be a reason for this since it is the case with all linux distros too (NTFS read only support). Edit - MS have never released the specs for NTFS unlike FAT which is an open format, hence no support from non MS products.

Personally, right now, i'd not buy an iBook. They have just got to be bringing out a G5 soon!
Note also that iBooks don't support dual monitors officially, only replicating the ibook's screen on an external monitor.

 

Hi guys,

I bought my G4 iBook nearly a year ago for exactly the same reasons as yourselves. I was using a 2GHz Toshiba laptop with a 15" screen on it and was sick of the size and weight, not to mention the constant Windows issues. I now use a 1GHz ibook with 512 RAM and love it to bits! The 12" is perfect for portability and the battery still lasts at lease 3.5 hours a year on - compare that with the Toshiba's 1.5 hours!

I still use PC's for gaming and at work, but would never get rid of my mac now. The ibook uses PC2100 RAM, I bought mine from Crucial. I'm pretty sure that PC2700 will worh though. Also, if you were thinking of getting the 512 stick to make it a total of 768, buy the PC2700 instead of the PC2100 as it's cheaper! Go check the Crucial site to see!

I've also put the hack on to allow monitor spanning, not just mirroring, perfect all round!

Any questions feel free to ask!

 

I bought 2700 for my powerbook even tho it is supposed to take 2100 as it was cheaper at the time

 

thanks for the info RTT and pritsey. I'm really not worried about dual mon support (although might occasionally hook it up to my 15" flat panel that's not going to much use) or lots of processor power but I'm not planning on buying right now either. It's just that the price is right and the portability seems excellent (advertised 6.5hrs on a new 12" ibook). I can't directly connect to NTFS drives on my entirely windows network but that's just lack of knowledge, but sharing works well enough. I'd imagine the read only is because MS owns NTFS and intellectual property rights and whatnot.

I can pick up a full 1GB stick of PC2100 or PC2700 for about $135 from newegg.. starting at about $25 for a 256 and just under $50 for a 512. I'd figure pick up an extra 256 to start and at some point if that feels like it's getting sluggish then go straight for a gig stick (by that point it would probably be under $100). apple charges 3x that for each setup so I'd definately not go through them for it! I kinda wish you could get the DVDRW on the 12" but for how often I burn anything from my laptop I'm not worried.

Is it safe to assume that at this point they would ship with Tiger? I saw Panther on this page but I'm assuming it just hasn't been updated...

 

I am not sure what you mean by connecting directly but NTFS windows shares are writable.

 

I have no probs getting onto my Shuttle's NTFS drive from my iBook. I have some folders and drives shared on XP, can connect to all of them via the Finder. And the Mac's built in Apache and FTP server are superb too. I've found the network utility tool and a crossover cable have helped me out loads when fixing other peoples computers.......

 

I was going by what RTT said. I've always assumed there's something thats more of a "hard" connection to the drive than just right click and share drive, but never found anything.

Macs have built in Apache and FTP? Wow... unfair. I feel even more shafted by windows than ever now. Glad I haven't given any money to MS in many a year (except for their optical intellimice, I really like them )

 

Yes an iBook will ship with Tiger installed now, not panther.

 

Don't wait for the g5's as you will be waiting for aaaaages yet.

 

G5s in the notebook will be awhile if ever (in the form that we know them now). Especially in the 12 inch models which have even less space than the other models.

Also if your a student dont forget about the student discount. Will save me almost $300 on my 17inch PB

 

If you can, wait until the end of june, the ibooks haven't really seen an update for some time, same with the powerbooks, and on june 6th-10th is the WWDC, in the past they introduced the G5 at it, so it's possible there will be an update then

As for G5 powerbook, not for a long while yet

 

How do you get the student discount? Because I am... only high school but dunno if that matters.

 

If you go to the apple store and education I think you just put in ure school

I'm saving for a 12in pb at the mo been waiting for tiger which is now out

 

Sweet, that's $100 off a 12" iB

Of course in the ToC it says:

doesn't acutally *say* students lol

/edit - they use standard notebook hard drives too, right?

 

Can you save a little more for a 12" Powerbook? I've had experience on both (own a Powerbook) and I really must say I don't like the 12" iBook at all. It feels pretty tacky and has a relatively poor display (although I think it's the same as the PB's, perhaps the owner of the one I tried had it calibrated poorly). The 14" iBooks are nice though!

 

On the flip the Ibooks are a touch more durabable with past experience.

As for the TOS for education the college / university version has this apendage:

"Student currently attending or accepted into a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States"

Probably not alot of Highschoolers with $1000 to spend on a laptop...

 

Dunno, didn't check. It would still be about $500 more for a PB, and as I don't need the speed increase and it doesn't have battery life as good I don't see the point. My friend got some 12" thing (not sure what model, G3 I think though) and the display looked amazing imo. I mean.. I'm used to 1024x768 in a 15", then pack it into a 12" screen and it's that much crisper.

I'll probably try and find a store locally that sells them before I end up buying anything just to get a feel for it.

 

I wouldn't worry about that, I've ordered loads of stuff with an Educational discount without a problem.