Hello All!

I'm about to jump ship and plunge into the Mac unknown by buying a powerbook 12" very soon. I've been delaying my purchase, however, because I've been informed that there are Apple 40$ off 400$ purchase coupons floating about. If anybody has one available, please throw me one and save me. And my piggybank too. :o

Or should I wait until the iBook gets updated before I make my purchase ?

I plan to use the laptop primarily for School (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), Internet, light video-editing, dabbling in graphics & some desktop publishing, and for Web design (Dreamweaver, Flash, etc). Can the iBook do this just as well ?


much thanks to thehappyfruit from RFD forum for providing me with a coupon! :)

Isn't there a student discount available? Sometimes the schools offer it through their computer store.

I'm not as well informed about portables but, from what little I know, if you want to save a few bucks the iBook is a great value. Spend what you can to install extra RAM (but avoid getting it from Apple because they overcharge).

One question though: why a laptop? My nephew is starting school and he was determined it be a laptop but when he admitted he wouldn't likely use it in class (much prefers note-taking by hand) he realized he could save money and get more power with a desktop.

Isn't there a student discount available? Sometimes the schools offer it through their computer store.

I'm not as well informed about portables but, from what little I know, if you want to save a few bucks the iBook is a great value. Spend what you can to install extra RAM (but avoid getting it from Apple because they overcharge).

One question though: why a laptop? My nephew is starting school and he was determined it be a laptop but when he admitted he wouldn't likely use it in class (much prefers note-taking by hand) he realized he could save money and get more power with a desktop.

Hello Klaatu,

Indeed there is. But you can combine the coupon with the educational discount. I have to admit, Apple hardware is more costly than comparable PC components, so I might actually regret my romp with the Mac. My PC alternative was the Fujitsu Lifebook S6231 (http://www.fujitsu.ca/products/notebooks/lifebook_s_series/s6231/), but the powerbook is such a siren, I could not resist.

Where is your nephew starting school ? At UBC, there is wireless wi-fi coverage, so you can browse the net anywhere on campus for free. A laptop is great for portability, mobility, and convenience. Of course, a desktop will be more inexpensive, and offers more power, but it is not portable, and hence less versatility.

I would prefer using a laptop in class because, well, my hand-writing is illegible, and typing up notes in-class is much neater and more organized. The same applies for drafting letters, lab reports, memos, essays, and so forth. Saves trees too. A laptop suits me because I'm rarely at home, and when I am, it is too disruptive to be conducive to learning. If you travel much or plan to, then a laptop again is an ideal investment.

If your nephew prefers note-taking by hand, well, there are currently tablet PC laptops which allow you to do just that. You can convert the laptop so it functions as a writing tablet; you then use a stylus pen and write on the screen as if on paper.

However, this is personal preference. Each user's needs will differ, and should be factored into the cost-benefit analysis accordingly. If your nephew does not really require any of the advantages that a laptop yields, then the utility gained would not exceed the cost incurred.

An iBook will suit you just fine, I use one for all the things you mentioned. The iBooks are actually really sweet machines once you load them with ram. I haven't come across something yet where I would say it was unbearable. Take some comfort in the fact you will be buying a machine that could potentially last you quite a while, without a hassle. Although, since it's a laptop and you qualify for the student discount, I would say automatically buy Applecare, it's a must for laptops.

Enjoy your new Mac :D

I just recently purchased a 12' AlPB from ehmac.ca classifieds and I've been very very happy with it. So far there hasn't been anything I've thrown at it that it wasn't able to handle. There is a student discount I researched about. If your a Grade 12 student and you've got a student ID from a university or college you can use that to get it, or wait until later in case of the iBook update.

I'm planning on going to university next year and I decide I wanted a laptop for a few reasons over a desktop. I have a PC desktop that I'm likly taking with me, but if I don't I'll be more then happy with my Mac =) One of the biggest influences for me was the ability to take my laptop to the library and access info wirelessly, or bring my work with me whenever I need to work on a project etc.. It would allow me to work whenever I'm away from my desktop. I'm a sloppy note taker so I hope to use my Powerbook for notes, projects, presentations, some web design and photo editing, light gaming, mostly BattleField 1942,Warcraft 3(maybe WoW once I'm off dreaded 56k), Some UT2k4, and of course online Pokerroom.com.

Overall I've been in love with my new baby since I got her. If you do decide to go with a iBook or a Powerbook. I can't stress how important it is to make sure you save some money for AppleCare. I had a hard drive problem, totally freaked me out. But it ended in me sending it to a AppleTech and them putting in a new hard drive for me without costing a dime. Otherwise it would have been at $300+ repair.

Overall I've been very pleased with my Powerbook. No blue screens of death or nasty viruses,spyware,adware. I love it.

I just recently purchased a 12' AlPB from ehmac.ca classifieds and I've been very very happy with it. So far there hasn't been anything I've thrown at it that it wasn't able to handle. There is a student discount I researched about. If your a Grade 12 student and you've got a student ID from a university or college you can use that to get it, or wait until later in case of the iBook update.

I'm planning on going to university next year and I decide I wanted a laptop for a few reasons over a desktop. I have a PC desktop that I'm likly taking with me, but if I don't I'll be more then happy with my Mac =) One of the biggest influences for me was the ability to take my laptop to the library and access info wirelessly, or bring my work with me whenever I need to work on a project etc.. It would allow me to work whenever I'm away from my desktop. I'm a sloppy note taker so I hope to use my Powerbook for notes, projects, presentations, some web design and photo editing, light gaming, mostly BattleField 1942,Warcraft 3(maybe WoW once I'm off dreaded 56k), Some UT2k4, and of course online Pokerroom.com.

Overall I've been in love with my new baby since I got her. If you do decide to go with a iBook or a Powerbook. I can't stress how important it is to make sure you save some money for AppleCare. I had a hard drive problem, totally freaked me out. But it ended in me sending it to a AppleTech and them putting in a new hard drive for me without costing a dime. Otherwise it would have been at $300+ repair.

Overall I've been very pleased with my Powerbook. No blue screens of death or nasty viruses,spyware,adware. I love it.

How much did you pay for your powerbook? I've had an offer from a seller on another forum for the following used (about 4 months, according to seller) powerbook for $2000.
12" Apple aluminum Powerbook
G4 1.33Ghz
768MB Ram
SuperDrive (DVD-/+R, CDR, DVD) (4x)
Bluetooth 1.1
Airport Extreme
60GB 5400rpm HD
2 year of extra Applecare ($539 worth)

Contrast this to the new powerbook I am planning to buy:

12" Apple aluminum Powerbook
G4 1.5Ghz
512MB DDR333 Ram
SuperDrive (DVD-/+R, CDR, DVD) (8x)
Airport Extreme
80GB 5400rpm HD
Bluetooth 2.0
Tiger O/S
iLife '05
Trackpad scrolling capability


After applying coupon ($40) + edu discount = $ 1859
(note. I'm not sure if the coupon is applied before or after tax)
+ tax (14%) = $2119.26

What do you think, mates?

Thanks Vexel,

I think I will buy APP when the standard 1-year warranty is about to expire, since I cannot afford it now.

About the iBook vs. powerBook, I tried both out in-store and must say I like the powerbook keyboard far better. However, I agree, I think in either laptops there will not be a noticeable difference in performance for the tasks that I've listed. But, would someone who is more knowledgeable than myself care to make an input ? :o

An iBook will suit you just fine, I use one for all the things you mentioned. The iBooks are actually really sweet machines once you load them with ram. I haven't come across something yet where I would say it was unbearable. Take some comfort in the fact you will be buying a machine that could potentially last you quite a while, without a hassle. Although, since it's a laptop and you qualify for the student discount, I would say automatically buy Applecare, it's a must for laptops.

Enjoy your new Mac :D

I payed $2000 for mine including shipping.

It came to either having my laptop now or waiting and buying the current model for the extra cash but a slightly faster processor and the extra warrenty. I choose to get it now because I was switching and wanted to get comfortable and familiar with my new laptop before heading off to school.

The specs seemed good and I had the money at the time so I splured and got it. I threw applecare on it and I've got no regrets.

I'd go with the 2nd personally if I had the choice. Then save up some money and buy applecare with student discount comes out to like $418 with tax. Then you can throw more ram it in if you'd like as well.

You could also go with a iBook save some money and beef up the ram and hard drive if you'd like, also saves alittle on your applecare that you could spend on something else you'd need. You've just got to take sometime and think about it. Gauge your needs and then decide.

If you get the newer Powerbook you've got the three years of Apple warrenty and you know its going to be in perfect condition whereas with a used Powerbook you don't know what kind of ware and tear its been through.

More or less just think about it and decide..You've got to weigh the differences and decide for yourself.

I own the 15" Powerbook and had the chance to try out an iBook for a couple weeks ... one thing I noticed is that the battery seemed to last considerably longer in the iBook.

Good luck with your decision ... I am sure you will be very pleased with whatever you choose.

Hello Klaatu,

Indeed there is. But you can combine the coupon with the educational discount.

Actually, you can't this time. I was able to get my iPod photo by combining the two a few months back, but this time, the fine print on the coupon says it cannot be combined with business or educational discounts. That being said, I didn't try to see if the system would/wouldn't accept this combination...

Actually, you can't this time. I was able to get my iPod photo by combining the two a few months back, but this time, the fine print on the coupon says it cannot be combined with business or educational discounts. That being said, I didn't try to see if the system would/wouldn't accept this combination...

Hello, dmbfan is correct. :mad:
I tried to combine and it does not work.