Close to a Decision
For me, it’s harder to say that the Mactel news will slow Mac sales, because that very news has drawn me to decide, or almost decide, to get a new PowerBook G4. Of course, I won’t be in a typical place.
Right now I have an 800 MHz G4 PowerBook (the first DVI model) which just turned three years old a few months ago. I have been waiting for a significant upgrade before getting my next Mac ‘Book, but the Mactel news has spurred me to move forward sooner than I’d planned.
The model I’d buy now is the 15″ PowerBook G4 running at 1.67 GHz, the Superdrive model. I should be able to get academic pricing from Apple Japan on a model with the US keyboard layout, meaning not having to ship from the U.S. and not having to pay high California state sales taxes. The cost would be about ¥245,000 ($2300) including tax. Add another $200 for an extra 1 GB of RAM. It’s not a quantum leap over my present computer, considering that it’s been 3 years. The new ‘Book would have double the CPU speed, but in the past, that’s happened a lot faster. However, there are other considerations, including 512 KB of on-chip L2 cache as opposed to 1 MB L3 cache (the former is better than the latter, for those of you who don’t know what cache is about), a (slightly) higher bus speed, better RAM, better graphics chip, and several other small points. The big differences would be a faster Superdrive instead of a slower Combo drive, double the size of the HDD (40 GB to 80 GB), built-in Bluetooth, USB 2, and AirPort Extreme to match my base station.
If I wait for the new Mactel Powerbook instead of buying now, I could be waiting as long as 2 years, and will have spent much of that time impatiently expectant of a new PowerBook “any day now,” not to mention trying to get along with a much slower computer than I’d prefer.
In addition, most completely new models–not just upgrades, but new designs–have kinks in the system that need to be worked out, and the new Mactel PowerBooks are probably more likely to have such bugs than other models. These bugs get smoothed out, but only after one or two revisions. Which means that when the first Mactel PowerBook comes out, it’ll be fast but with the risk of annoying problems.
Getting a Powerbook now means that it’ll be three years old (my standard computer retirement time) when the first Mactel PowerBook free of problems rolls out.
The risks: there could be a significant G4 upgrade soon, such as dual-core, that could come out in 3-6 months. If that happened, I’d be kinda pissed. However, the chances of that are low, and by waiting for that much longer, I would be getting started later on the lifetime of my next computer. Also, there is the chance that the first Mactel PowerBook out of the gate could be killer and have no flaws. Again, chances are low, but possible. Were both these things to happen, I’d feel pretty stupid. But I’d also feel like an idiot if I waited till MacWorld SF in January to find the next PowerBook model to be a minor speed bump to 1.8 GHz and little else, followed by a Mactel release in June 2006, 6 moths after buying the speed-bumped G4.
If I buy a new computer this week, I’ll even have a good excuse: today was my birthday. Taking time zones into account, it’s 2:35 am Japan time on Thursday, June 9.
So I’m probably a day or two away from ordering. Anyone has good reasons to stop me, better chime in fast!
Happy Birthday !!!
What about getting a Windows Xp desktop computer for $500 that will be 2x faster than the $2500 Macintosh computer?
Happy Birthday! Hope you had a good day.
To both commenters so far: thanks for the birthday greetings, so quickly too! (RSS feed?)
You Know Who: Because I need a laptop, not a desktop. I already have a desktop PC. And, as you may have noticed, I prefer Macs. 😉
Luis: You already know and outlined the possible risks involved in buying now. I’d consider those relatively low except that this move to Intel has been 5 years in the making and kept quiet. Who knows what else has been kept quiet (like new Intel-based PowerBooks)? However, given the time-line offered by Stevie-boy regarding a Mac running on Intel chips, I’d say that’s unlikely.
For me, the biggest issues when deciding to buy any new computer (and you know what a potpourri of Macs and PCs we’ve got so this is a frequent decision) is how annoying I find using my current model on a daily basis and what limitations I’m putting up with weighed against the potential gains of a new model at this time. I never consider what may be around the bend because that sort of thing will always leave you regretting your choices.
You know who: You need to learn the difference between RISC and CISC. Clock speeds on PowerPC chips aren’t the same as clock speeds on Intel-based chips. Computers aren’t like cars where all speedometers are measuring the same thing. A 2 Ghz Athlon on a $500 desktop PC is going to be quite a bit slower than a 1.67 Ghz PowerPC G4. It also isn’t going to include a high-quality flat panel 15″ display or a DVD burner (like the model of PowerBook Luis is considering includes) or be portable.
I’m guessing Luis would have made these points (since he knows them very well) but isn’t interested in trying to educate PC users with an anti-Mac bias, especially those kind enough to offer birthday wishes.
Happy Birthday!!
If you “feel” the time is right, I say just buy it and if something better comes out, sell it and buy another one. There will never be an ideal time to choose as we can never tell the future.
Actually, I’ve been thinking about the exact same thing but I already have a iMAC G5 so I don’t really need a powerbook…
We’ve got three Macs in the house now, the last one was 12″ iBook at Xmas. I also have a top of the range Dell laptop but use the iBook for virtually everything. It’s just a lot smaller and more convenient (not to mention more reliable). My wife is pining for a new iBook as well and the only thing that holds me back is ‘do we have the money?’.
Think you’ve made all the right decisions. What you buy now will have a three year life. New Powerbook models are a chance you’ll have to take. And I agree that the first wave of Intel books may well have flaws you could live without.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ gives good advice on if new stuff is coming and when the right time to buy is. Apologies if that is grandmother and eggs :). Come on – spend spend spend!!
oh – and happy birthday
buy the powerbook.
i bought the same configured model 3 weeks ago. its beautiful.
even after WWDC i think i have the best computer in the world.
buy it. enjoy it.
think different.
XP….Noooooo
I think maybe I’d hold off for just another revision. I’m on a 1ghz tibook, that’s getting on for 3 yrs old and I think that I’ll maybe go for an ibook in a few months (instead of the usual powerbook). I am still quite happy with this machine though, and would like a powerbook for the backlit keyboard more than anything else (along with USB2). Have you thought about upgrading the drive to a superdrive, and seagate have just announced a 160gb notebook HD which would be a fantastic upgrade ! I don’t think you’d regret splashing out the cash now, but it depends how you feel, and how often you see that beachball spinning 😉
ps I hope you enjoyed your birthday.
Matt: The superdrive and HDD would be nice, but the thing I’ve really been waiting for is a speed increse. And while the current AlBooks don’t have the quantum leap I’d been hoping for, they are pretty good at what they do.
Other considerations include the ability to possibly sell the PowerBook I have now; I’ve seen my model sold in personal ads/auctions for no less than 90,000 yen, and from resellers up to 130,000 yen. If I were able to get a halfway decent price selling it, it would slightly offset the cost of a new computer–say, make a Powerbook cost as much as an iBook.
And buying one last IBM Powerbook would give me something to hold on to as a way to run all current and past software at relatively high speeds (Apple won’t support Classic apps with the Mactel, or so it is said).
I just called the Apple Store, they said that I qualify for the educational discount. However, since I would order a PBook with the US Keyboard, that would be an individual specification and would have to be assembled overseas and shipped; it would then take 8 business days to get here, so it would likely be delivered on June 22.
Hmmmmm….
Hi:
I am thinking of getting an Apple notebook in Japan. You mentioned that you called the Apple Store here to order. Do you happen to have a number or email address and does anyone there speak English? I am now using the dreaded XP(English) on a Japanese desktop and I’ve had nothing but problems. I can’t wait to change if I can figure out how to get one. Thanks in advance for any info/advice.
inlandchi
The number is 0120-27753-1, listed right there on the web site. You’ll be given an option to choose English and will get an English-speaking operator. Be sure to mention which keyboard you want–Apple’s online store in Japan is the only place in the country where you can order an Apple laptop with an English keyboard, if that’s what you want.
Thanks for the phone number and info! I sure do want an English keyboard! Sorry to sound dozy, but is the software that comes with it English too? This will be my first Mac, so I have about half a clue at this stage, but I am reading up on it as much as I can. Thanks again!
Macs are great with languages; unlike Windows, you can switch the main operating system language to whatever you want. All of the Apple software (iLife, iWork, etc) will automatically switch to the language you choose for the main system.
Some software, like MS Office (last version I had, at least), is mono-lingual; if you buy the Japanese version, it’s always in Japanese. But Mac OS allows software to be just like Apple’s, that is, to have multi-language support. A lot of shareware is like that, for example.
When you get the Mac and start it up for the first time, one of the first things it asks you is what language you want to use. Choose the type of English you want, then everything from there is English.
remember to specify the US Keyboard when you order from Apple Japan, else you’ll get the Japanese one, which is usable but much less familiar. The US keyboard will probably delay the order by a few days, but is worth it.