Hi all Mac owners,

I am currently considering of getting an 14-inch iBook 1.42GHz PowerPC G4.

But after doing some shopping today, I have my doubt. There are many downside... eg 512MB memory (promotion - free another 512MB), 14.1-inch TFT Display, ATI Mobility Radeon 9550, 32MB DDR video memory, 60GB Ultra ATA hard drive.

For around the same price, I could get Acer Aspire 5600 series (Core Duo Processor T2300 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM), Hard drive 100 GB, Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon X1400, Diagonal screen size 15.4 inch Glossy Display (beautiful).

As I never own any Mac, the only good I can see now is stable Operating System and the super good look of an iBook. But it has only 32MB video RAM. I believe this is not enough for gaming or any high graphic activities (btw, I play WC3 Dota). I brought this up to the sales person and was told that I should close all my other programs before running the game. But I still have my doubt. He also advised me that this machine can't run World of Warcraft (WOW) smoothly

Any one out there ever use an iBook to play WC3/WOW? Is it really that bad?

If you want to game, buy an Intel/AMD notebook.

Also, mind you that Acer sells one of the most value for money notebooks, but unfortunately, they also have one of the most problems, due to sheer quantity and below par QC (IMHO).

Well, it depends what is the main reason you buy the ibook? If Games are the main purpose then I advise you to stick to Window instead (i.e broader choices of games) but it doesn't mean that your mac can't play games. May be additional RAM would help.

I don't have Ibook, but so far my old PowerBook 1Ghz/768 MB DRam/64MB Radeon 9600 can play WOW, C & C Conquer and few others smoothly. I am not sure with Ibook Radeon 9550. perhaps you can check the min requirements to play these games before you invest one in Ibook. Do check this : http://guide.apple.com/uscategories/games_us.lasso


Acer Aspire 5600 series- I do admit that this PC is a great machine for gaming but unfortunately it is bundled with the inferior OS (Win XP) as compared to Mac OSX and the Acer customer service is sucks -on par with the PC price they offer (I used to be one of the stupid who bought from them years ago).

I have left Window World since 5 years ago and Mac OSX is far superior as compared to it i.e. no spyware, virus etc. Well, you may be check this http://www.apple.com/switch/ before deciding coz at the end of the day you are the one who will use it. Personally, whatever versions window will offer (i.e Vista etc) I will be a Mac user forever.

This post has been edited by 76radius: Mar 20 2006, 12:14 AM

hi,
would also like to switch to mac with an ibook
but i plan to wait for the coming intel ibook =)
hopefully it will b around 4 to 5k...

1 question, for word processing, ms office 2004 or iworks 06 is better?
is there any full version of word procession software bundled with ibook instead of the iworks trial? what about photo editing software for mac, which programs works best?

thanks in advance!

Well, for me both are great, for simplicity I prefer iworks 06. Actually, the bundled software i.e. iworks 06 trial version is the full version if you manage to provide the "serial". Iphoto would be the basic software if you wanna do basic things to your photos i.e retouch, enhance, red-eye effect etc.
for professional "aperture" will do.

Aperture....?

G4s will be having trouble running it.... single G5, i dare not guarantee....

dual G5.... .... too bad it's due to obsolescence.....

yeah you are right but Photoshop will do but must add more RAM for it to run smoothly.

Aperture can runs on my IMac G5 with 2 Gigs Ram

can iworks 06's word software create the same file as ms word? coz im using it for my course works and my lecturers + frens are all using windows ><

The good news is that iWork 06 is compatible with the doc you prepared using Microsoft Words. Do check this http://www.apple.com/iwork/pages/features/compatibility.html

wow tats great...
btw, im asking all these becoz i plan to get an ibook =)
now shud i get the 12inch ibook or wait for the new intel ibook?
budget is less than rm5k...
need a light weight laptop coz i need to bring to college everyday ><

well... look at it this way. My 3 year old G4 667mhz with 32mb Radeon 7500 can run Warcraft 3 at medium settings (no lag) and World of Warcraft at low settings (but lag). Can your PC with 667mhz and 32mb Radeon run them?

why buy a new pc for gaming when you can install XP on mac?

edit:
wanna add... i played sims2, zoo tycoon2, splinter cell CT on my ibook G4/1.33
but after 1/2 hour the ibook becomess too hot and i'm afraid excessive will probly harm the ibook




This post has been edited by sdien: Mar 20 2006, 01:18 PM

why not wait few days more?
apple likely launch new 13.3" iBook on 1st Apr
1.66 duo core intel + >32mb ram vga
same price as 12" ibook now

Actually i looking a NEW Ibook G4 1.33GHZ 12inch selling at $1788,right now.I window user so far,but after i went on apple seminar,i release that actually ibook or MAC can do alot of thing for Ipod especialy IPOD video which is the most recent i buy the product from Apple...Is Ibook G4 1.33ghz,1028x7680resolution,512mb DDR333 SDRAM,40GB,ATI Mobility Radeon 9550,32mb video,combo drive,Built airport and bluetooth at $1788 (Rm4100)worth it ?

$1788? that's in AU dollar, right?

mine is the same spec. with extra 1GB RAM.
And paid AUD1550 for it.

Are you working with Apple Centre? , By the way, if Apple were to launch new iBook, it is likely that for us malaysian have to wait for another month. Same goes when they launch Intel Imac, it took a month for me to get my new toys. Hopefully that guy can wait that long

i tot the price of ibook 12inch is rm3999?
check www.macasia.com.my

Its worth the price

Common , Core Duo...OSX , well you can't beat the PowerPC Chip...I seriously have no mode of getting Intel Macs...PowerPC Chip {risc} is much more better.....

BTW , I can play WoW fine on my 1.07Ghz iBook G4 and even on my 256MB RAM of Mac Mini (Both are using ATI Readon 9200 , of course the lappie using Mobility Radeon 9200). As for the battery life , iBook still 'pawns'. Since you play DOTA only , no problem..I suggest not to get the iBook Intel , you might lose out the dedicated graphics card , instead you would get a cheap Intel Graphics card which shares memory with the RAM [ yuck] and no FireWire port [double yuck]

Oh , by the way , Office:mac is 50x much more better then Office 2003 for Windows.Seriously , its soo much soo easier to use...I can still play KOTOR , and many other games on my mac...No problem with DOTA on WiFi. Oh yes , speaking of WiFi...Airport Card..it pawns...seriously..it could pick up the weakest wifi signal...Do a google search and you would be amazed

BTW..Acer stay ........from them..If you want a good lappie go with IBM..of course it would not be a gaming laptop

I am just thinking why....Acer lappie so cheap..my friends lappie [Toshiba] (dont really know what series) , the one which has 7800 nVida graphics card , really pawns....Seriously , it costed him nearly RM 12k (now thats a real 'gaming' laptop)

This post has been edited by prasys: Mar 20 2006, 05:53 PM

Core Duo cannot beat PowerPC Chip? Of coz you would say that when you have not experience Core Duo yet.

I have bought Intel Imac and sold my old PowerBook G4. Frankly, the Core Duo much faster and suprisingly very quiet as compared to my gf's imac G5. Just a thought, wait until all application r universal then G4 and G5 will become antique stuff

Well dont compare RISC/CISC processor....I still love the PowerPC Chip no matter what [thats why I got the mac...]...Well I do agree on the other hand , Core Duo [2 processors] does speed things up , if you're using Photoshop and stuff like that. But for simple web browsing , a game of dota , and creating excel workbook..A simple G4 would be enough

i wish they had a dual-core G5 on the iMac....

that's because Microsoft did the spreadsheet and the word processor for the mac platform way ahead before they were available in Windows....