Perfect Time to buy the 1.67 Powerbook?

I want a Mac...I've made up my mind...I will be using it for mainly work stuff: photoshop, indesign, word proccessing, presentations...also for some web surfing and chatting...

I will be gaming on my PC only...so yea...

Now heres the problem...The macbook pro was announced...

With my student discount I can get it for 1799....with tax it comes out to about $1950...

However, I could easily get the last revision Powerbook (1.67 GHZ) for around $1500 on eBay and save myself almost $500...

So heres my main question...do you believe that Apple will phase out the powerPC machines...Will the older powerbooks be able to do work in two or three years or will i just NEED to have an intel powerbook?

Thanks

 

Three years is like a lifetime in notebooks. If I were guessing, I'd chances are good that it still will work maybe slower than you'd like. A three year old laptop with a 1ghz PIII is still a good laptop with a few upgrades. Unless something comes along and changes everything.

 

ok will first of all i'd like to say welcome to the macworld (or soon to be)

well since ur a student im *assuming* u wont b doing hardcore stuff (it'd b easier to reply if u'd list what u would b doing exactly)

and apple will support the ppc models for at LEAST 3-4 years.. like the programs they will all support ppc and intels.. cuz come on even tho the new intels will come out .. the majority will still be ppc users.. it'd b kidna stupid to halt ppc support lol

so the bottom line is: yes apple will support ppc models for a while and yes u'll b able to do majority of the stuff (tho at a lil slower speed)

 

Well, if you can, get the newer hardware - it'll last longer and be supported with newer software/hardware.

 

I would only get if I can install windows on it... i need it for work/home use... IE, VS2005 and Office 2003

 

I really think that the extra $500 will be well spent. It may seem like $500 now, but if you distribute that over the working lifetime of the laptop, you'll get it back rather quickly in productivity.

 

Stevo said that apple will be producing PPC and Intel versions for the forseeable future...I doubt PPC will be phased out anytime soon.

 

Yes - the PPC will be around until 2008-2009, when it will be phased out.

 

yeah.. it definitely wont b phased out in a while (ppc)
and i agree with the ppl here--u shud get the macbook pro if u can afford the extra 5 benjamins..

 

As I type this response on a 1.67 PB (which I like a lot), I'm wondering just how nice it would be if it were 30-40% faster, and matched the power of the MacBook.

Were I in your position, I'd probably spend the extra money and splurge on the MacBook IF Rosetta isn't required for the programs you'll be running.

 

sorry maybe im reading into this but it almost sounds like as if if he runs rosetta he shouldn't buy macbook--which i see as kinda near-sighted. reason being that most apps will b upgraded/using universal binaries. the rosetta "slowdown" will only b temporary and shouldn't really affect whether or not to buy a pbook/macbook pro

 

MacBook is the easiest way, you wont really need Rosetta for Messenger, Photoshop etc...

I suggest getting it, its better the the Powerbook and you also get a more modern thing with a better video card (even if you have a PC for playing games, you will need it for detailed work
photoshop etc)

and Apple seems is a great company

 

Yea, i think im gonna end up going with the Macbook Pro...Turns out I'm going to Portland Oregon during Spring so ill be able to pick one up without tax, otherwise ill have family buy it and ship it down...so for only 1799 flat it really is a steal...

I will be using rosseta as i NEED to use indesign 2.0...the newer versions arent compatible with 2.0 which is what i need at work...

Overall I am excited and cant wait...(i also want to start a blog with iweb and .mac...but thats another story!)

 

You're correct about it being a temporary situation - but how temporary? Nobody knows when Rosetta will no longer be needed.

If a machine is needed now, I think Rosetta needs to be considered, because as the situation stands today, many apps run better, quicker with the PB.

About the "near-sighted" comment . . .

/bites tongue


@ultraman: congrats to you. I'm sure you'll enjoy the new machine. As a matter of fact, I'm going to the Apple store this evening and take a look at the Mactel, if it's in stock. There must be room somewhere in the house for another notebook. LOL

 

yes i agree that rosetta must b considered, but i still stand that just b/c indesign or another non-universal product won't run fast on the macbook pro for a while shouldn't lead u to buy a pbook over a macbook pro..

and sorry if u took any offense of the "near-sighted".. didn't mean to

 

Noted and appreciated.