Can I have other people's objective views on iBook (stock - lowest spec 12") vs Cheap AMD\Intel laptops?:
eg. http://www.tpg.com.au/online/

Quality-wise I realise there is no comparison, but price wise there obiously is. As I see it, with TPG (or even Dell) there is risk due to quality, but this risk has to be weighed up with the advantages of EXCELLENT specs and CHEAP price. I don't want to go into OS choice too much, because it's not a big issue for me. Though future OS's is a big deal. Will the iBook handle at least the next big Apple OS? The 64bit AMD chip is a great example of a chip built for the not so distant future OS.

Gaming....... I won't even bother for either setup.

The iBook is a good price with ok specs, and from what I've heard, if I want the best experience with them, I will AT LEAST need to fork out for more RAM. Is this true? If it is, it's not looking so good having to spend the extra money - as it is I want a bigger HDD than 30gig. Considering I want to run VMWare (on either machine I get - not just the iBook), I do need to worry about both HDD and RAM.

Price is a big issue for me. Basically I want convincing to buy the apple - but not blind, stupid, "my religion is the only correct religion" type convincing. Currently to me it looks best to take the cheap Windows\Linux laptop with DVD burner, lots of RAM, lots of HDD is the winner.

Also, how would Garageband get get input from a Keyboard (Casio for example)? Is it a standard audio input?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Really on an Apple forum it is a question with only one answer, no matter how objective we try to be...

It depends what you want to use it for. I would always choose an iBook. The PC lappie sounds cheap. If price is your major concern, go there.

If you don't want it for gaming, and it looks like you want it for music, go for the mac. Bundled software and ease of integration. Tell us more...

Well I am not buying it for music, but it would be good if it works with Garagband out of the box with Audio in - for the wife, not me. Other than that it will be for general use all 'round. And also some kind of VM software for other OS's.

I realise coming to an Apple site I will get the Apple side of the story (and I know a few of you hang out on OCAU). I want to be convinced, but I don't want to blindly got for the iBook because it looks pretty......... I get the other side of it at Work - buying an Apple is like buying Nikes, when you can buy......something cheaper.

i think upgading the 30gb to 40 is $30 or something like that, I use my base model ibook with 256mb of ram for the basics like web browsing and wordprocessing. I am considering getting a additional 512mb SO DIMM from game dude in brisbane for $149.

We need to know what you are doing with it, as the machines are very different. My mum just got a 1.6 centrino, 768 mb, 60gb, 15.1, bluetooth, wifi card, dvd burner ect. it cost her a mint and its alot more than she needs or uses. There is not point forking out the $1400 for the widows machine if you really want the ibook and with edu pricing can get it for $1525, $125 is well worth it if thats what you really want.

Anyway you know what i think you should do

Cheers

jimmy

That is right! But lets see if we can produce a well rounded argument.

Nearly everything I read says that you should have at least 512 ram to utilise OSX properly, that is to say you want 10 programs running, expose, and general eye candy. Since Ram is rather cheap these days, it shouldn't really be a big price factor.

[quote] As I see it, with TPG (or even Dell) there is risk due to quality, but this risk has to be weighed up with the advantages of EXCELLENT specs and CHEAP price.[quote]

Just had a look at the specs, they do look great and for $1600 it does sure look cheap.
However, look at the included Wifi card, it will take up your only card slot. In addition, I have been told you have to be very careful to take out the card every time you are finished with it, other wise a good knock will crack it.

[quote]The 64bit AMD chip is a great example of a chip built for the not so distant future OS.[quote]

I forget, is Longhorn going to be 64-bit? Otherwise a 64-bit can't really be taken advantage of.

Numerous of studies have shown that even though the cost of buying a Mac computer (including laptops) are more expensive upfront, they have been shown to have a lower total ownership costs. i.e. they last longer, software is cheaper, less maintenance.

If you are a student, or has access to somebody that is a student or teacher. You get the education discount which drops the price down significantly. $1550 for 12", $1850" for 14" and 2200 for 14" with dvd writer.

I agree, the TPG laptops have excellent specs. (I'm a big time AMD fan)

It would certainly be a tough choice to make. I'm going to add my two cents though, and that is consider the quality trade off that TPG have to make to get a system with those specs down to that price point.

Think of it this way:
If you were building an AMD desktop system, and you wanted all the stuff that the laptop has, including the 15" TFT display, you'd come pretty close to the TPG price. Now consider how much more expensive a decent quality laptop is (i'm talking IBM, Toshiba, Apple) than a desktop of the same specs.

I don't know if I put my point across clearly, so I'll say it short and sweet here. For the TPG/Dell systems, be prepared to have headaches with the quality of the components.

If you want something that will last, go for the iBook. If the speed of the iBook is what is putting you off it, then go for an IBM or a Toshiba.

The TPG is cheap, but after that 1 year warranty expires, how much money are you willing to put into repairs/replacement ?


Anyway, I hope you make a great choice that well suits your needs

?

Someone else in the same predicament as me..

Hi I'm a n00b in this forum.

I want a laptop - not necessarily for gaming as my PC is good for that.. P4 3.2, 9800 pro, 1gb RAM, etc.. so it's fairly decent in terms of PC.

I want portability though - and have my eye on an iBook 12"

Buying an iBook for me requires an upgrade of RAM to either 512MB or 768MB..
256MB is pointless.. This brings my cost up to around $2000-2100

My budget isn't huge, so I'd prefer to keep the cost as low as possible <$2K

The Dell ones look okay and I'd probably get a decent spec 8600 laptop for $2000 that comes with DVD writer, bigger HDD, 128mb 9600 pro..

So the specs *seem* better for a similar cost.

Would an iBook do the trick here? Anyone have both a PC and G4 be able to compare the performance or both to aid my decision?

I think he meant Mac's not windows computers.

Also you must consider that a lot of the software that comes with a Mac is probably not included or available on the Windows laptops.

At the end of the day I'm a strong believer in the rule "You get what you pay for"

A friend of mine also went for a cheap (Highlander) laptop. Now he's regretting his decision because it ended up being a very shoddy laptop. Spec wise it was great but that didn't make it a good laptop.

I agree with this - which is why I'd be tempted to fork out a few extra $$ for a nice iBook. maybe a 14" instead of 12".

What are you going to be using it for anyway?

BTW I believe the iBook doesn't have an audio in port. USB is used instead. There's a device called the iMic that would be required for audio recording. I also think Apple may be releasing a cool product (asteroid) that can fill this gap as well.

I'd also have to recommend the 12" over the 15" as they both have the same resolution and the 12" is a much more portable beastie. (and it's cheaper)

I'm not phased about the lack of audio-in..

What am I using it for.. Just general stuff - surfing, word, email, web editing, itunes, just everyday stuff..

And I can at least take it with me if I go away somewhere.

I dig em. they're tough from what I've read and they're spunky imo..

Jimmy, I did mean Mac computers.
Sorry, I was typing it when procrastinating. Only two more days till end of exams. Wohoo!!!
I'll edit it now.

Well for those sort of tasks the iBook should be sweet. My girlfriend is using a G3 800 iBook for all those sort of tasks and it never misses a beat.

I have no doubt that Tiger (the next major OS release) will run on the current iBook. Actually I've no doubt it'll run well on the iBook G3 800 either.

iBook's don't have audio in.

If you were to get one, look at a decent USB audio in device, such as the Griffin iMic.

pipsqeek