“I’m finally thinking of making the Switch from a home Windows PC to Apple. And if you don’t mind taking a little time, I could use the help of the Mac faithful out there. I want the new PC largely for doing Web work, storing multimedia, and using as an entertainment hub. I’m betting I’m pretty typical of a lot of people here, so your advice could be helpful to more than just me,” Rob Hof writes for BusinessWeek.
“Anyway, my question is this: Which Apple laptop to get–iBook or PowerBook? I don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, given that the Intel-based Apples to come out starting next year look promising, and I’ll probably want to upgrade at some point. On the one hand, I want something that has a reasonably big hard drive, since I’ll be using it as my main storage for all multimedia files, and that will last me at least a couple years–which suggests PowerBook. On the other hand, after lugging around a Dell D600 for years, I like the light weight of the iBook. And screen size doesn’t matter much–for my purposes, smaller might be perfectly fine,” Hof writes. “So, should I go for the best iBook I can get, or for a lower-end PowerBook?”
Help out Mr. Hof with your advice here.
Advertisement: Purchase Apple Certified Refurbished PowerBooks, Mac mini, iMac, and iBook computers at the Apple Store while supplies last. iPods, too. Free shipping.
Switching from Windows to Mac? Never forget to ask to “crossgrade” your software. That is, if you’re switching to Mac, ask for the Mac version of your existing Windows software for the upgrade price before you just go out and buy a whole new version for full retail price.
Related articles:
Windows switchers, now’s your chance: Apple Mac mini with Mac OS X Tiger for $379 – November 03, 2005
Switching from Windows to Mac is easy and liberating – September 14, 2005
Windows to Mac switch like repeatedly getting whacked in the face with baseball bat of common sense – September 01, 2005
Students and teachers: going Mac could save you money on software – August 23, 2005
Mossberg offers resources for Windows users interested in switching to Apple Mac – August 18, 2005
Switching from Windows to Mac? Save money by asking to ‘crossgrade’ your software – April 13, 2005
don’t switch. The dell is a lot better then the POS apple.
To the zealot flamers:
Are “stupid” Windows users still “stupid” when they switch? If not can a Windows user be smart and still use Windows?
Also, what is the sound of one hand clapping?
*clap*
A 15″ Powerbook is a really nice computer. I bought mine refurbished from the Apple Store.
Jerry, it’s pretty simple. As soon as you go Mac, you instantly get a little smarter.
Switch now, before another ten viruses are written for your Windows PC. That means you’d better get that Mac tonight.
Not all stupid people remain stupid for the rest of their lives. Some of them actually wise up over time and break out of the stupid mold. So, there’s hope for everyone. If a stupid Windows PC user wises up and decides to switch, then it’s a sign his brain is developing. And after a while of using a Mac after he makes the switch, he gradually sheds that “stupid skin” of his old stupid self, and gradually becomes a wiser, smarter, Mac using person.
Rob Hof:
You get what you pay for – hence the the useless chatter. Or maybe no one believes you would sincerely ask for such advice in a publication. Suggest you get a real Mac buddy to get you started and pay them for their professional advice. You will not regret the switch. I’ve assisted hundreds to purchase Macs, no one has ever told me they are sorry.
I hope the guy has got a big inbox to handle the welcoming suggestions.
Sounds like Rub Off has been playing too much pocket pool.
i think us mac users are too hard on windows users sometimes. instead of stupid, i’ve found most are just naive. every person i’ve ever shown my powerbook to has found something they really liked about it, whether it was expose, an os x only application (garageband, FCP), or even just the sleep light.
rest assured, they are waking up, and its articles like these that we should use to help everyone we can make the right decision.
I’ll sell him my 800mHz 12″ PB. Perfect for his needs now and not to expensive to upgrade later.
If you move around a lot, get the Powerbook, I like the aluminum case with the full width hinge between the body and the screen.
First off, it doesn’t matter which Mac you get, OS X is a world better then Windows. After switching from XP to OS X 3 years ago, I couldn’t believe how stupid I felt for not trying a Mac earlier. My Mac has brought back the fun to using a computer.
I think an iBook is a great machine. I just bought a new 15″ 1.67Ghz Powerbook to replace my 14″ 700Mhz G3. That old iBook is still a great machine and has held up well. I moved to the Powerbook for the bigger screen and the ability to run my 20″ cinema display as an extended desktop. That being said, I don’t think you can go wrong with an iBook with a Superdrive for your first Mac. It’s good looking, a good performer, and it’s tough.
scott writes: “i think us mac users are too hard on windows users sometimes. instead of stupid, i’ve found most are just naive.”
Ah Grasshopper, indeed! Some are stupid, some naive, and some merely unenlightened.
iDon’t: When a boy grows up, he is no longer a boy, but a man. When a Windoze user buys a clue, gets a brain or attains enlightenment, he switches to Macintosh.
Correction, i meant Jerry T, not iDon’t!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”red face” style=”border:0;” />
Rob Hof,
I have been using Macintosh since 93, and I love it and would not trade it for nothing as for iBook or Powerbook, I have a iBook that I keep and carry to work everyday, its lightweight a very durable as for power and speed I would have to recommend a Powerbook. When you use a Mac something inside of you changes, your Mac becomes your best friend, you never hear people talking about Windows the way Mac fans do. I hope you find this helpful and “Think Different” believe me you will love it.
>don’t switch. The dell is a lot better then the POS apple.>
>Jerry, it’s pretty simple. As soon as you go Mac, you instantly get a little smarter.> NOT!
Just look at iDont. He didn’t and —enough said.
I’ve been thrilled with the 14″ iBook I snagged recently- it surfs like a champ, handles the light duty photoshop duties I need, snaps onto wireless networks without any effort, and has a killer OS.
Supposedly “faster” PC’s at work are crippled by malware- mine just trucks right along.
Why did I go iBook instead of Powerbook?
Simply because I wanted a “toe in the water”- and the 14″, with Superdrive, is more than capable of most anything I need to do now. IF, in three years, I truly feel I need something more powerful- then the extra $$ I DIDN’T spend on the Powerbook will go nicely with whatever Apple is offering then.
I’m not knocking the Powerbook at all- I just simply realized that it’s a lot like buying a truck: the V6 was more than enough power for what I truly need, so I don’t need to spend more for the Hemi (or the Turbo Diesel).
I love my iBook- and I’m a switcher too.
OH NO!
Another writer says he’s going to switch, then gets tons of hit traffic from us MacHeads.
So what do we tell him?
Slow G4 iBook or semi-slow G4 Powerbook?
First impression the Powerbook is the best, but the cost is high.
What does he need a Mactel box for anyway?
Multi-media? Powerbook if he needs portability.
iBook is a let down.
Troll article. Why pose the question in public? I need a pair of shoes. What do shoe users suggest I should get if I don’t walk or wear shoes much and I still have athlete’s foot? Geeze….
If portability is no issue, get the most power and storage for your bucks, otherwise, get the smallest one with the most power and storage for your bucks.
Are “stupid” Windows users still “stupid” when they switch? If not can a Windows user be smart and still use Windows?
—
No, Windows users are accused of being ignorant. Why else would they use Windows.. So the fact that you know what a Mac is, and have actually checked one out means you are NOT ignorant of alternatives.
Are “stupid” Windows users still “stupid” when they switch? If not can a Windows user be smart and still use Windows?
—
No, Windows users are accused of being ignorant. Why else would they use Windows.. So the fact that you know what a Mac is, and have actually checked one out mean
s you are NOT ignorant of alternatives.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again:
What got me to switch was having an Apple store in close proximity to my home. Without the Apple store I would not have considered a Mac for my most recent computer purchase. Without the Apple store I would nto have been able to play around with OSX and get hooked.
Since June, I’ve purchased a PowerMac for a desktop and a PowerBook for my wife.
Happy.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
MW=quality… hmmm, this one doesn’t need any help.
Overwheming imperial evidence confirms.