The October 2005 PowerBook Value Equation
Dan Knight - 2005.10.20, revised - Tip Jar
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $192 / 2GB kit $109. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 1GB $23--Free shipping available.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.
OtherWorld Computing: Better than new Batteries for iPods NewerTech NuPower, up to 20+ Hours! Complete with Tools from $19.99. Online videos. Professional installation available.
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
Memory For New Intel Core2 DUO MacBooks, MacBook Pro, MacMini & iMacs" 4GB Kit $80, 3GB Kit $60, 2GB Kit $40, 1GB $20. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Already this month Apple updated the iMac and introduced the video iPod. And yesterday they introduced the first Macs ever with dual-core CPUs and improved PowerBooks.
We'll look at the new PowerBooks today and save the Power Macs for tomorrow.
Overall Changes
All PowerBooks now come standard with SuperDrives. The 12" PowerBook G4 remains otherwise unchanged except for a US$200 price reduction. There is a build-to-order option for those who want to save some money and have a Combo drive.
The 15" and 17" PowerBooks now come standard with a dual-layer 8x SuperDrive and higher resolution displays. Again, those who want to save a little money can have Apple configure them with Combo drives.
There is no change in CPU speed, although Apple has phased out the 1.5 GHz 15" PowerBook.
Bigger, Better 'Books
The 15" and 17" PowerBooks run at 1.67 GHz, have higher resolution displays, and now use 533 MHz DDR2 memory (although on a 333 MHz bus). Battery life on both models improves by one hour as well.
15" PowerBook G4 HR
The only difference you'll once you start using the new 15" PowerBook is a 1440 x 960 display - the same resolution as the previous 17" model. The 15" PowerBooks had used 1280 x 854 displays for years, and this puts them on a level playing field with most 15" widescreen Windows models.
17" PowerBook G4 HR
If you thought 1440 x 960 was impressive on a 17" laptop, you'll be even more impressed with the new 17" PowerBook's new display - 1680 x 1050.
The Value Equation
15" PowerBook G4
The new 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz retails for $1,999 with a dual-layer SuperDrive. Online dealers are selling the single-layer SuperDrive model for $1,899. Although CPU speeds are identical, the faster memory bus in the new model will give it an edge - not to mention that higher resolution screen.
The 1.5 GHz Combo drive model is available for $1,699. If you don't need a SuperDrive, you only lose 10% in speed and save $200-300 compared with the SuperDrive models. A good value.
If you do want or need a SuperDrive, ask yourself whether you want a dual-layer drive or not. That's the biggest difference between the new and old models. The new model is a better value primarily due to the higher resolution display and improved battery life.
17" PowerBook G4
The new 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz retails for $2,499, and the model it's replacing is selling for $200 less. With the faster memory bus, higher resolution screen, longer battery life, and dual-layer SuperDrive, the new one is probably worth the extra $200.
What About Refurbs?
We're firm believers in refurbished hardware. Apple sells them with the same one-year warranty as new, but they also sell them at a significant savings. Here's how things stack up at the Apple Online Store today:
12" PowerBook G4
The 12" 1.5 GHz Combo drive model sells for $1,299 refurbished, and the SuperDrive version goes for $1,449. For the extra $100 saved, the refurbished Combo drive model is the winner. At just a $50 discount, we can't see any reason to buy a refurbished SuperDrive model.
15" PowerBook G4
The just-discontinued 15" Combo drive model sells for $1,699 refurbished, which is the same price online dealers are charging for new stock. The same holds for the 15" SuperDrive model. Apple had better slash some prices if they want to move out the refurbs.
17" PowerBook G4
We have the same situation as with the 15" PowerBook - Apple is selling refurbs for the same price online dealers are asking for brand new product. No compelling reason to pick refurbs without a discount.
Overall Value
For the first time since 1998, when Apple released the PowerBook G3 Series II at 233-300 MHz to replace Series I at 233-292 MHz, we're seeing new PowerBooks that essentially run at the same speed as their predecessors. That's thinking different, and it's evident that Apple isn't using clock speed as the selling point.
The 12" PowerBook gains a dual-layer SuperDrive. That's it, along with a $200 price reduction compared with the previous SuperDrive model. It's definitely a better value.
Higher up the food chain, the 15" and 17" models gain dual-layer SuperDrives, longer battery life, a faster memory bus, and higher resolution displays. There's also a $300 price reduction on the 15" PowerBook vs. the previous SuperDrive model, and the new 17" retails for $200 less than its predecessor.
Not only is Apple improving value, but my moving the 15" and 17"
models to higher resolution screens, they are making them more
competitive with Windows laptops. Smart move! 
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Mac Musings
- 50% Mac sales growth is only the beginning, 05.02. Apple has a great line of computers and an awesome operating system, but a prosumer model could make last quarter's growth seem normal.
- The 2008 Penryn iMac value equation, 04.29. Comparing prices, features, and performance, three of four new models are value champions, and there are some surprising refurb values as well.
- A $99 PC, a $399 hackintosh, and growing the Mac market, 04.15. There is a low-end market, which now includes a $99 bare bones PC and a $399 computer designed to run Leopard.
- More in the Mac Musings index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple's eMate still a great tool in the classroom, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 05.09. How one teacher equipped his classroom with eMates with his own money - and plans to keep using them as long as possible.
- $199 iPhone coming?, iPod not a Walkman, crosswalk danger, iPods taking over cars, and more, iNews Review, 05.09. Also the iPhone is a second-rate phone, iPhone 2.0 may introduce handwriting recognition, Kensington battery pack and chargers, new iPhone apps, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.09. Used Cube, $479; 400 MHz PCI, $70; 450 AGP, $105; 733 DA, $150; 867 QS, $200; 1 GHz, $250; 450 dual, $295; 1 GHz dual, $400; 1.42, $600; more.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.09. Used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, $1,100; 2.16, $1,295; refurb, 2.2 Core2, $1,449; 2.4 Penryn, $1,699; 2.5, $2,149; new 2.2, $1,525 after rebate; 2.4, $1,685 a/r; more.
- MacBook sales explode, MacBook Air reviews, several new hard drives, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.09. Also silver-zinc batteries may outlast lithium-ion, Bell Aliant bundling MacBook with Internet access, notebook drives benchmarked, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Best iPod touch deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.09. Refurb 8 GB '08, $249; 16 GB '07, $329; '08, $349; new 8 GB '07. $269; '08, $280; 16 GB '07, $330; '08, $369; 32 GB, $475.
- More G4 upgrade advice, secure disk wipes, 500 MHz iMacs with Tiger in action, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 05.09. The importance of securely clearing your hard drive before you pass on your Mac, Pismo and closed lid mode, G3 iMacs in the classroom, and more thoughts on upgrading G4 Power Macs.
- Apple tops in tech support, Penryn iMacs and Psystar Open Computer reviewed, and more, Mac News Review, 05.09. Also the iMac philosophy, OpenOffice 3.0 going Mac, MozyHome backup comes to Macs, weather in the Dock, and more.
- 140 million copies of Vista sold (yawn), Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 05.09. It sounds like a lot, but over 85% of Windows users are staying away from Vista. 20% of Mac users have embraced Leopard in one-third the time.
- Mac of the Day: Macintosh LC, Oct. 1990 - only 3" tall, the LC was the least expensive color Mac in 1990.
- List of the Day: Jaguar List is for anyone using Mac OS X 10.2.x.
- May 12 in LEM history: 99: Is Apple missing the boat? - 00: PowerBook history - Frankenstein Power Mac - 03: Beige Power Mac G3 - Is a 5400 worth buying? - Upgrades for the tray-loading iMac - Quiet computing - 04: Windows stability: Nothing changes - Broadband Internet access: Picking the right speed - 06: The future of PowerPC Macs in the Intel era - Setting up a 68040-based Mac media center - Mac mini Core Duo upgrades
- Why one Mac user chose BlackBerry over iPhone, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 05.08. The advantages of OS X, Safari, Mail, and iSync don't outweigh the familiarity of BlackBerry, its excellent software, easily replaceable batteries, and a camera-free option.
- 500 MHz iMac with Panther great for Internet, watching video, and more, Carl Nygren, My Turn, 05.08. At $65 with upgraded RAM and a bigger hard drive, it was too good to pass up, and it works very nicely with Mac OS X 10.3.
- Boomerang: The Blue and White Power Mac G3 that kept coming back, Charles Webb, The Webb Chronicles, 05.08. Over its nine-year lifespan, this Power Mac had at least five owners before it finally gave up the ghost.
- Best Intel iMac deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.08. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $699; 20" 2.16 Core2, $885; refurb 20" 2.16, $949; 2.4, $1,099; 24" 2.16, $1,199; 2.4, $1,399; 2.8, $1,599; Penryn from $1,049 after rebate.
- Best 17" PowerBook G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.08. Used 17" 1 GHz, $790; 1.33 GHz, $850; 1.5 GHz, $859; 1.67 GHz, $889.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals, Low End Mac Deals, 05.08. Mac OS X 10.5.1 single user, $99; 5 users, $139; 10.5 Server, 10 users, $450; unlimited, $899.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
