12" Powerbook: Slick and Sexy, But Not Without Issues 359
Gentu writes "Two very good reviews on the 12" Powerbook have been published today. The first review can be found at the Washington Post and is very positive but not very thorough, while the second one found at OSNews is an in-depth review of the popular Mac laptop, tackling down many issues that future purchasers should be aware of. 'The new 12" Powerbook is nothing more but an iBook on steroids with a G4 in it' OSNews concludes, but the overall read is very interesting."
Re:Has anyone got Linux running on one of these? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:MHz vs. GHz (Score:5, Informative)
Dan Aris
no cleartype in os X 10.2? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Wow... (Score:1, Informative)
todd bought one recently and posted a long rant on it.
Re:Just bought a new 15".. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:MHz vs. GHz (Score:5, Informative)
How about "not at all?" From the beginning of PowerPC Macs, the PowerPC was the domain of "AIM": Apple, IBM, Motorola. They all had a formal agreement of some kind regarding the chip's development. I think it kind of fell apart, probably around when Motorola developed Altivec, but IBM has never stopped making PowerPC chips for themselves, Apple, and others. I think IBM makes all the G3 chips Apple buys today. IBM has long done a better job of keeping up with advancements in chip production and keeping yields at a higher level than Motorola. Higher yields means cheaper and faster chips. Unfortunately Apple needs Altivec and Motorola hasn't been sharing.
Use of the IBM 970 chip is still rumor, one I haven't really paid attention to though. Has Motorola finally licensed Altivec to IBM or did IBM make their own version of it? You can't have two different kinds of G4s so if the IBM chip doesn't have Altivec it would have to be called something else ("G5?") and the G4 would have to replace the G3 in the iBooks (or, as someone else mentions, the iBook dies in favor of the 12" PowerBook). Even so, if there's a new Altivec-like chip feature, it'll take a long time for apps to be updated to take advantage of it. Apple would use it immediately, followed quickly by Adobe Photoshop, but many apps would wait until their next upgrade cycle.
Re:MHz vs. GHz (Score:5, Informative)
In other Apple news... (Score:4, Informative)
They've also came out with a sweet-ass XServe RAID [apple.com]
Re:Has anyone got Linux running on one of these? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:FP? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:lag? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Wow... (Score:5, Informative)
I don't agree with all the complaints in the OSNews review. To wit:
I've compiled a fair bit of code on it and it seems fairly quick--at least as fast as my PIII 933 Desktop--and has reasonable battery life, 3-4 hours while compiling. Haven't really had time to benchmark the compile times on my own code. I'm quite happy with it.
Bottom line, if you want something really portable, I'd go for it. If you're looking for a desktop replacement, I'd look at the bigger ones.
Final note: get more ram. I've noticed that the front left corner does get hot, but I have a feeling it might be related to HDD usage.
Re:MHz vs. GHz (Score:4, Informative)
PowerPC 970 -- First in a new family of high-performance 64-bit PowerPC microprocessors [ibm.com]
Re:Has anyone got Linux running on one of these? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:no cleartype in os X 10.2? (Score:3, Informative)
Yup, it's under System Preferences->General
Re:MHz vs. GHz (Score:5, Informative)
Not really - most apps that are Altivec enhanced use vDSP [apple.com] from the VecLib framework rather than manually writing Altivec code.
Apple would just have to provide a new version of the VecLib framework that uses whatever vector processing is available in the new target CPU.
Heat Issue (Score:5, Informative)
LCD's suck? (Score:5, Informative)
Number 2 issue is the quality of the LCD screen... but the one used for this Powerbook is the same as the one found on the 15" iMac and the iBooks
Being a dual USB iBook owner here myself I am wondering where he's getting his information. The LCD on this laptop is exellent. Crisp, clear, AA works wonderfully and subpixel rendering is peachy as well.
As for whimpering about motion blur, even this iBook is a previous generation (G3 500) system, I get none of that here. Must be talking out his ass.
Re:Has anyone got Linux running on one of these? (Score:5, Informative)
About all you get by running linux on a powerbook is buggy power management, firewire, and no modem driver or video mirroring.
Factual error in the second review.... (Score:3, Informative)
Mac OSX does sub-pixel font rendering (it even did this on an old clamshell iBook). This guy might need to change his font settings to actually do it though.
My 'Book's LCD does not suck... (Score:1, Informative)
And no "motion-blur" of any kind. You've been waaaayyy too long staring at your new laptop, Mister Reviewer.
12" PBook vs. 12.1" iBook RESEARCH (Score:5, Informative)
12" Powerbook
867MHz G4
256K L2 cache
133MHz Bus
256MB
40GB Ultra ATA/100
NVIDIA GeForce4 420 (32MB DDR)
-- Dual Display & Video Mirroring Airport Extreme Ready
Bluetooth Built-in
$1799
12.1" iBook
800 MHz G3
512K L2 cache
100Mhz Bus
30GB Ultra ATA Drive
ATI Radeon 7500 (32MB)
-- Video Airport Ready
$1299
So the $500 extra upfront gets a faster processor, more RAM, larger & possibly faster HD, possibly faster video card with dual display ability, Airport Extreme ready, and built in Bluetooth.
Conclusion: there are differences. The question for prospective buyers is would they use the differences. For the record, upgrading the iBook memory to 256 is $50 and the hard drive to 40GB is $100, so the price difference for the other differences is $350.
On a side note, I personally want the SuperDrive, which isn't available on an iBook (most likely a G4 is required).
Hmmm (Score:5, Informative)
As for the heat, it's definitely not "among the hottest around" as the OSNews article claims - for one it's a lot less hot than the older TiBooks IMHO. He says he suspects his lower RAM configuration could be to blame. I suspect his suspicion is right - 256MB just isn't realistic for OS X. Furthermore, it's hard to hear (or even feel) the drive spin, so VM activity can easily go unnoticed.
I don't agree with his criticism of the display either. Admittedly I'm not too picky in this area, but I just don't see this supposedly outrageous difference in quality between my 17" Apple Studio Display and the PowerBook's display. Besides, it's hard to buy into the disappointment, since all it takes is a quick trip to the store to check it out (at least for people who don't buy computers just to review them ;-)
The rest of the criticism goes right at the price differentiation variables: "maxes out at 640MB", "no L3 cache", "not a 1GHz processor", "screen is only 12"" etc etc... Well guess what, that's why it's the $1799 model instead of the $3299 model... that's half as much plus $150. The better comparison is between the older $2299-$2799 TiBook inventory that Apple still officially carries and the 12". Would you rather have:
- A 15.2" screen, DVI connector, and Titanium enclosure, or
- A later gen with a faster bus, DDR RAM, Bluetooth, 802.11g compatibility, and $500 in your pocket
Re:Wow... (Score:4, Informative)
1. Heat - damn right. the 14" iBook is hot enough, and it's bigger, slower, and a little older. The iBook does have Plastic, which isn't as good a heat conductor as aluminum, too. All of my PowerBooks have been hot after long periods of usage.
2. He mentioned the lack of ClearType. If he checks the General panel in System Preferences, he would notice the Font Smoothing with four settings and a minimum font size.
3. While it's not well-known, Apple has a Feedback Section [apple.com] for most [apple.com] of [apple.com] their [apple.com] software [apple.com] products [apple.com]. The DVD issues would fall under Mac OS X, and should be reported. I will check my PowerBook for the DVD issues he noted (haven't played one since upgrading to 10.2). The sleep-while-working issue is something I've noted as well, and reported, though mine doesn't usually blackscreen.
4. Macs have always had slower mouse acceleration than Windows. There have been numerous control panels/extensions/hacks written over time for "Windows users" who can't stand the speed difference. I'm very happy with the speed of my TrackPad.
Re:Wow... - Go for the G4 (Score:5, Informative)
I did however get to play with one of the 12" powerbooks in my local Apple reseller the other day and they are *much* faster - go for it. OS-X is a reasonably "nice" version of UNIX (I normally use NetBSD) and it has the infinite advantage over Linux in that things (hardware) just work rather than having to spend hours compiling kernel modules when you really need to be working.
To be honest, I'm a little confused by the article. The reviewer seemed to be criticsing the machine for being what it is - a smaller, lighter, cut-down version of the 15" powerbook or in his words an iBook with a G4. He seemed to somehow think Apple had a magic "make it smaller" device so that they could cram a 15" laptop into a 12" one. Also he seemd to think that Apple should use two different 12" displays on their different laptops. I certainly haven't had any of the display problems he claims with my iBook...
The whole point these machines is that they are ultra-portable (I carry mine everywhere) and in fact the only thing that worries me slightly is that the iBook is not a rugged as I would like, but the powerbook solves this by being made of Aluminium.
The die-hard mac users are right you know - it is a better world...
Re:Has anyone got Linux running on one of these? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:You shouldn't use OSX for Java (Score:3, Informative)
I did a lot of coding on a rather underpowered 30cm iBook and loved the form factor - and didn't really care much about the speed difference. but now i am back on my tibook i'd say go for that. the extra screen space and the ability to just pop in a second screen makes all the difference.
heat issue (Score:3, Informative)
I've got the 12"... (Score:5, Informative)
Its lack of DVI is not really hard to figure. This is the travel-sized laptop. This thing goes anywhere. It's more rugged than most other laptops on the market. It's small. It's light. It's got a great keyboard and a great LCD (yes, that's right, I love the LCD. I think it's fine). But it's not going to replace your desktop.
That was never its intent. Desktop-replacing laptops start at 15". This is the laptop that you sync up with your dedicated desktop box and then take on the road. It does a great job of that, and honestly, at $1800.00, you can afford to have the 12" and a desktop machine.
Assuming that this is not going to be your desktop machine, then, what's the use of DVI? The only reason it has external video at all is so that you can give presentations with it (another good use of a truly portable machine), and towards that purpose, it has RCA- and S- video out. Even presentations made with the sexy new Keynote are not going to benefit from DVI.
This laptop fills a very specific niche (here's a hint: that niche is not "iBook replacement"). Even a cursory glance at the specs reveals that. If someone got sold on the thing to do something it wasn't meant to, well, sorry. They're going to be as unhappy with it as anyone is who tries to use the wrong tool for the job. For my part, I'm using it for what it was made for. And I'm quite happy with it!
PCMCIA (Score:3, Informative)
Re:"full featured" my ass (Score:3, Informative)
Does everyone need PCMCIA? No. Do most people need PCMCIA? No. Can you reasonably call a laptop full featured without PCMCIA? No.
Re:Wow... (Score:2, Informative)
1) Aluminum was a poor choice for case construction, considering the heat a G4 puts off, and the limited airflow inside a laptop case. This thing gets hot. I've burned my fingers on the spot just above the function keys (right over the power supply and CPU) twice.
2) I think they changed the keyboard. Key travel on the 12" PB seems slightly shorter than on the iBook, and with less tactile response (the keys feel "mushier" than the iBook). I don't like the keyboard.
3) It's an 867Mhz G4 in a machine smaller than my old iBook. It's easily the most powerful portable I've ever owned (in addition to the iBook I've also had a Fujitsu E-Series and Sony Vaio in the last 6 months).
4) AirPort range is the same, if not better, than my iBook, and I have had no problems operating the AirPort Extreme card with my 802.11b network (with a Linksys WAP).
These are just the major points I can think of off the top of my head. Overall, except for the heat issue (and it's a serious problem), I am very happy with the 12" PowerBook, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who needs a lightweight, powerful, portable machine.
LCD Quality -- Conflicting Reports (Score:2, Informative)
For those who didn't know, Apple is using two different models on their LCD products, one great quality (older powerbooks, Cinema Displays) and one crappy/cheap one (imac, ibooks, 12" powerbook and the new 20" Cinema Display (that's why it is so cheap and it even competes price-wise with the PC LCD monitors in the range))
Interesting, because on MacInTouch, there is a reader report [macintouch.com] in which many are noting that the 20" Cinema Display looks better than its older counterparts.
If the reviewer is correct in asserting that the 12" PB display and the 20" Cinema Display are the same, then the quality issue would appear to be more subjective than he thinks.
In Defense of the 20" Cinema Display... (Score:1, Informative)
Bah. (Score:4, Informative)
Granted, it's probably not as cool as a 17", not as fast as the 15", etc.
But it fits in my backpack and doesn't weigh a brick. With the leather notebook (pen and paper) and a hardcover book in my backpack, the 12" makes no difference in weight.
Having upgraded from an old Dell Inspiron 5000, this is key. My fucking Dell is a brick.
The issues on the LCD I can't agree with. The first thing I noticed, and everyone in my office remarked on was the spectacular clarity of the display. If this is Apple's low-end, cheap display, I'd kill for a high-end one. The clarity and crispness of display is better than any other I've seen. It is at least as good as the two 19" Trinitron CRTs on my desk here.
The font issue? I don't see it. I'm new to OS-X but the first thing I did when playing in the settings was find, in System Preferences, General, an option for font smoothing. There was a setting marked 'Medium - best for Flat Panel' which really improved the clarity of text on the screen.
Heat is a bit of an issue but I've found it's mostly if the machine doesn't have sufficient airflow. Sitting on a thick wooden desk, my PB heats up rather fast. Sitting on my lap on the couch it seems to stay fairly cool. As for being 'fanless' as I believe was mentioned, I could swear a few times when the machine got real hot on my desk that I heard a fan kick in and start blowing air to cool it down. There was no CD in the drive so I can't think of what else would spin up like that.
Overall, this is a great machine. While it may not compare to other higher end APPLE boxes, it is simply light years beyond any PC laptop I've handled recently. And it is the most meticulously, beautifully engineered pieces of hardware I've ever had.
And being completely uncreative the last week or so, I have yet to come up with a better name than MiniMe. Check it out at:
http://www.jacked-in.org/mini-me
minor nitpick (Score:2, Informative)
In my opinion, they should put it in. I have a 12", 3 pound HP machine that has PCMCIA... clearly it will fit.
Yes, I know some Mac smartass is going to reply, "I don't need PCMCIA, I have USB/FireWire/ethernet built in". To which I reply that PCMCIA is for FUTURE technology - for example, Powerbook Titanium owners are going to be able to add 802.11g via PCMCIA. iBook owners (no PCMCIA) are out of luck.
wanna see inside? (Score:2, Informative)
take a look at the pics in this article [macslash.org].