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Apple Archive

Replacing a 15" Titanium PowerBook with a 12" Aluminum One

- 2003.04.04

Okay. Maybe I was a little bit hard on Apple for my general bad luck with their laptops in last week's column. I don't feel that I am hard on my machines at all. Yes, they get a lot of use, but I don't abuse them.

When working, all of the machines I had performed fairly well and did basically what I wanted them to. The 333 MHz G3 was probably the best of them, and I probably should have kept it. Unfortunately, the new models always look extremely tempting to those with an older one.

Thanks to a couple readers, I found out that Apple has a flat repair price for problems caused by a defect, and, although it's not expensive, I still don't think I'll be getting this one repaired for myself. The new models are looking awfully good right about now (as they usually do), and I am planning on purchasing a 12" PowerBook G4.

The first thing you'll notice is that I said I was getting the 12" model, not another 15". A few things held me back from that. First of all, the 15" models haven't been redesigned yet and lack PowerBook G4Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme, and FireWire 800. This probably means a revision is due out soon, and I'd rather not buy a model only to have it obsolete a month later.

Secondly, the 15" PowerBook is a large laptop. Since I carry my PowerBook around all day at school, a smaller size really would be better. Now, I know that a 12" screen is a small screen, but hopefully I would only have to use the built in screen while at school, using an external 17" monitor at home. The 15" G4 is also quite a bit more expensive - and what do you get? An 867 MHz G4 processor, just like in the 12" model.

I am also planning on selling my G4 tower, which has been sitting on my desk, switched off, for months. On top of that, I will be selling my Hewlett Packard PC and getting a Dell Latitude CPx laptop to replace it. Any leftover money will go toward adding a FireWire/USB card to the beige G3 minitower I picked up at a local flea market about a month ago - and possibly replacing it's hard drive.

Adding a USB/FireWire card will allow me to synchronize my Visor Deluxe, connect my USB Epson photo printer, and use my iPod. Considering this machine is almost five years old, that's not too bad. It also has an internal Zip drive, which I have started using a bit. I don't think I will be installing OS X on it - I'll leave that to my new 12" PowerBook and it's 867 MHz G4 processor, which should be much faster than either of my previous G4s.

I have heard that some users are having problems with their 12" G4s, mainly the fact that the wrist rest gets warm above the hard drive. As long as it doesn't get scalding hot, it shouldn't be a problem for me.

The other issue I've been hearing about is case warping. This could be a problem, as I can't stand to type on a keyboard that isn't perfectly flat.

I am hoping that the case on the 12" model is more scratch resistant than my 15" G4. While I have taken very good care of it, and there are only a couple small scratches, I know people who have PowerBooks with big scratches all down the top of the machine.

If you've got the 12" PowerBook G4 and have a minute, I'd love to hear what you think of it and any problems you might have encountered with it so far.

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