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[smirkrevenge]

So NO this topic isn't about my sudden entrance into Gayming-Age, but rather...

I am about to buy a Apple Powerbook. It is going to be a 12-inch model, but I have a few questions before taking the plunge:

1) is 512 RAM enough? i don't plan on doing any hardcore image/video editing, but i do want to make this little machine run at a peppy speed. i'm thinking about upgrading to 1 gig, so where is the best place to purchase RAM? i know apple charges an arm and a leg for it...

2) where is a cheap and reputable place to buy this little sucker? i'm guessing i'll go for the student discount on apple.com + free shipping, but just wondering if other places online would work better. and tell me about AppleCare: is it worth it, how long does it last, etc.

3) there might be a chance that i'll need to run some windows-only programs on this machine. how good is the windows emulation for it, and what programs do i need for that to work?

4) should i get it with the new OSX pre-installed?

5) how's battery life? better than my ipod i hope...

6) is there...ahem..."places" to get "things" at "high transfer speeds" if i'm making this switch? i kinda enjoy..."trying things out" before "buying them."

ok...i think that's all the questions i have for now...but i know OT will come through.

 

[shantyman]

1) is 512 RAM enough? i don't plan on doing any hardcore image/video editing, but i do want to make this little machine run at a peppy speed. i'm thinking about upgrading to 1 gig, so where is the best place to purchase RAM? i know apple charges an arm and a leg for it...

Go for a gig, beleive me it's a good thing.

2) where is a cheap and reputable place to buy this little sucker? i'm guessing i'll go for the student discount on apple.com + free shipping, but just wondering if other places online would work better. and tell me about AppleCare: is it worth it, how long does it last, etc.

The Apple store is your best bet for pricing. I would recommend Applecare on a laptop.

3) there might be a chance that i'll need to run some windows-only programs on this machine. how good is the windows emulation for it, and what programs do i need for that to work?

I don't use Virtual PC, but AFAIK is is SLOW. Personally at work I RDC into a Windows box to do things that ned to be done on that playform.

4) should i get it with the new OSX pre-installed?

You won't have a choice, but that is not a bad thing.

5) how's battery life? better than my ipod i hope...

Decent, but not as good as Apple will advertise. You will need to turn down brightness, etc. to get it to last longer. That's true for all laptops though.

 

[StrikerObi]

Wait a week dude. WWDC is just around the corner and they might announce new shit.

 

[cvxfreak]

Wait a week dude. WWDC is just around the corner and they might announce new shit.

Wouldn't that be for the iBook line though?

I bought a PowerBook a week and a half ago and I've been 95% happy with it. I've crashed once though, but it probably won't happen again.

 

[ckohler]

1) is 512 RAM enough? i don't plan on doing any hardcore image/video editing, but i do want to make this little machine run at a peppy speed. i'm thinking about upgrading to 1 gig, so where is the best place to purchase RAM?

Get the Gig. I suggest crucial.com. They've always been the best bet when it comes to ram for Macs as far as compatibility and reliability.

2) where is a cheap and reputable place to buy this little sucker? i'm guessing i'll go for the student discount on apple.com + free shipping, but just wondering if other places online would work better. and tell me about AppleCare: is it worth it, how long does it last, etc.

You can't beat Apple's student discount.

3) there might be a chance that i'll need to run some windows-only programs on this machine. how good is the windows emulation for it, and what programs do i need for that to work?

You're better off just using Mac alternatives. Unless it's some homebrew program you yourself wrote, or some weird corporate thing, there's probably a Mac alternative.

6) is there...ahem..."places" to get "things" at "high transfer speeds" if i'm making this switch? i kinda enjoy..."trying things out" before "buying them."

Ahem. Rest assured that for any program you might have used on the PC to do such things, there's a of Mac alternative.

 

[Pochacco]

WAIT.