iBook G4 or Powerbook G4

Jarrett · Sep 29th, 2009, 08:02 AM

Hi guys, i know its a long way from Christmas but after Christmas i am hoping to buy a laptop... at first i thought about buying a netbook ... but then i actually saw them in the store and noticed they were way too small so instead im thinking of getting either an iBook G4 or a Powerbook G4

what i would like is some opinions on like what would be the better choice i already know that the iBook is a bit cheaper but i also know the powerbook has more power. (who would have guessed :P)

So, if you know of any pros or cons to either of these ie.. problems like maybe does anyone know if these 2 laptops could have logic board problems or anything else that would make them not worth buying.

Also i am aware that these 2 laptops are kind of old and that there are new macbook s so my answer to that is that i have a 500$ budget because i just need the laptop for typing and small things since i have a gaming computer thx

Last thing does anyone know where you can get a list of logic board defective ibooks and powerbook i checked google and couldn't find it

fyrefly · Sep 29th, 2009, 03:21 PM

Pretty much all models of the iBook had logicboard problems of one variety or another. Powerbooks, I don't know of any widespread problems.

On Craigslist I've seen 1st Gen MacBooks go for ~$500 - so that should be your first route. Otherwise, I'd stay stick to Powerbooks - and since Snow Leopard doesn't support the PPC processors, I'd assume the value of PBs is plummetting. I got a friend of mine a PBG4 12" 1.5Ghz/Superdrive for $425 back in the spring, so I'd hope you could do better than that these days.

Lichen Software · Sep 29th, 2009, 04:07 PM

The earlier iBooks did not use the same heat dissipation system as the PowerBooks. There were failures due to this. Later versions, and I am not sure at what model it happens, adopted the same system as the powerbooks.

Also, the iBooks only supported mirroring for external monitoring. The PowerBooks supported and extended desktop.

The iBooks on the other hand had better wireless reception.

I am still using a 1.5 Ghz 12" powerbook. It has been a steady performer. I have had one repair and I have had the hard drive changed out.

When purchasing, ask about the battery and the hard drive, if they have ever been changed.

HTH

Dave

skateit_12@hotmail.com · Sep 29th, 2009, 04:41 PM

the logic board on my ibook just failed

I am also looking at powerbooks now and they seem to be the better computer

Jarrett · Sep 29th, 2009, 05:23 PM

was it a g4?

skateit_12@hotmail.com · Sep 29th, 2009, 05:41 PM

yes it was

Jarrett · Sep 29th, 2009, 05:43 PM

awww too bad, i probably dont want one of them then. the macbook is not a bad idea some are for like 550

fyrefly · Sep 30th, 2009, 11:04 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Jarrett
	awww too bad, i probably dont want one of them then. the macbook is not a bad idea some are for like 550

Yeah, at this point the value proposition of Powerbooks and iBooks is pretty low - especially since they can't run Snow Leopard, and 1st Gen MacBooks are dropping to the $500 mark.

Jarrett · Sep 30th, 2009, 05:00 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by fyrefly
	Yeah, at this point the value proposition of Powerbooks and iBooks is pretty low - especially since they can't run Snow Leopard, and 1st Gen MacBooks are dropping to the $500 mark.

Ok thanks yeah ill probably go that route not as nice as an ibook but meh and i could always go the macbook route ,anyways after Christmas people may get new laptops and i can pick up on their old ones

Sonal · Sep 30th, 2009, 05:23 PM

Both my iBook G4s had their logic boards crap out. The latter one, fortunately had 1 month of AppleCare still on it, so I was able to get it replaced. (That was in July--I was joking with the tech that I probably had the last iBook in the world that still had AppleCare on it.)

When they were new, the 12" iBook G4 was simply a better value for the dollar than the 12" PowerBook G4. There wasn't a huge bump in power, and I didn't need to be able to span monitors (though there was a hack for the iBook if I really wanted to do it.)

The iBook was a good machine, but when the AppleCare ran out bought a MacBook Pro. iBook is still sitting around as my spare computer, though I haven't needed to use it as a spare yet. Battery life is craptacular now, but the machine runs well.

Sep 29th, 2009, 08:02 AM	#1
Jarrett Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	iBook G4 or Powerbook G4 Hi guys, i know its a long way from Christmas but after Christmas i am hoping to buy a laptop... at first i thought about buying a netbook ... but then i actually saw them in the store and noticed they were way too small so instead im thinking of getting either an iBook G4 or a Powerbook G4 what i would like is some opinions on like what would be the better choice i already know that the iBook is a bit cheaper but i also know the powerbook has more power. (who would have guessed :P) So, if you know of any pros or cons to either of these ie.. problems like maybe does anyone know if these 2 laptops could have logic board problems or anything else that would make them not worth buying. Also i am aware that these 2 laptops are kind of old and that there are new macbook s so my answer to that is that i have a 500$ budget because i just need the laptop for typing and small things since i have a gaming computer thx Last thing does anyone know where you can get a list of logic board defective ibooks and powerbook i checked google and couldn't find it __________________ Macbook Alu 2.0 C2D, 320GB, 2Gb DDR3, 9400M iMac G3, Indigo, Slot Loading, 400Mhz, 512mb, 10gb, after the mac wireless (10x range of airport!)

Sep 29th, 2009, 03:21 PM	#2
fyrefly Honourable Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 3,486	Pretty much all models of the iBook had logicboard problems of one variety or another. Powerbooks, I don't know of any widespread problems. On Craigslist I've seen 1st Gen MacBooks go for ~$500 - so that should be your first route. Otherwise, I'd stay stick to Powerbooks - and since Snow Leopard doesn't support the PPC processors, I'd assume the value of PBs is plummetting. I got a friend of mine a PBG4 12" 1.5Ghz/Superdrive for $425 back in the spring, so I'd hope you could do better than that these days. __________________ Steve Jobs re: iTunes on Windows: "It's like giving a glass of ice water to somebody in hell"

Sep 29th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#3
Lichen Software Full Citizen Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Barrie Posts: 833	Earlier iBooks had problems The earlier iBooks did not use the same heat dissipation system as the PowerBooks. There were failures due to this. Later versions, and I am not sure at what model it happens, adopted the same system as the powerbooks. Also, the iBooks only supported mirroring for external monitoring. The PowerBooks supported and extended desktop. The iBooks on the other hand had better wireless reception. I am still using a 1.5 Ghz 12" powerbook. It has been a steady performer. I have had one repair and I have had the hard drive changed out. When purchasing, ask about the battery and the hard drive, if they have ever been changed. HTH Dave

Sep 29th, 2009, 05:23 PM	#5
Jarrett Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	was it a g4? __________________ Macbook Alu 2.0 C2D, 320GB, 2Gb DDR3, 9400M iMac G3, Indigo, Slot Loading, 400Mhz, 512mb, 10gb, after the mac wireless (10x range of airport!)

Sep 29th, 2009, 05:43 PM	#7
Jarrett Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 43	awww too bad, i probably dont want one of them then. the macbook is not a bad idea some are for like 550 __________________ Macbook Alu 2.0 C2D, 320GB, 2Gb DDR3, 9400M iMac G3, Indigo, Slot Loading, 400Mhz, 512mb, 10gb, after the mac wireless (10x range of airport!)

Sep 29th, 2009, 04:41 PM	#4
skateit_12@hotmail.com New Neighbour Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 10	the logic board on my ibook just failed I am also looking at powerbooks now and they seem to be the better computer

Sep 29th, 2009, 05:41 PM	#6
skateit_12@hotmail.com New Neighbour Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 10	yes it was

Sep 30th, 2009, 05:23 PM	#10
Sonal Crankypants Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, and proud of it. Posts: 4,594	Both my iBook G4s had their logic boards crap out. The latter one, fortunately had 1 month of AppleCare still on it, so I was able to get it replaced. (That was in July--I was joking with the tech that I probably had the last iBook in the world that still had AppleCare on it.) When they were new, the 12" iBook G4 was simply a better value for the dollar than the 12" PowerBook G4. There wasn't a huge bump in power, and I didn't need to be able to span monitors (though there was a hack for the iBook if I really wanted to do it.) The iBook was a good machine, but when the AppleCare ran out bought a MacBook Pro. iBook is still sitting around as my spare computer, though I haven't needed to use it as a spare yet. Battery life is craptacular now, but the machine runs well.

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