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Return to the PowerBook

From Dixon Chan

Hi Charles,

I bought a PowerBook!!!! Yeah!

A slightly used G4/867MHz Ti model.

After YEARS without a powerbook/laptop, I’ve returned to the fold.

A little history

I started computing with desktops and then came across a deal for a PB1400c that I couldn’t pass. After hot rodding it with a G3 upgrade, starting a website dedicated to movie playback on basic machines (the now defunct Moviemac.com), I came across a chance to flip the 1400 and G3 processor and ended up with a Wallstreet with MONEY to spare.

My needs were modest so I stuck with the Wallstreet for about 9 months. Then Apple released the G4, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes and I returned to the desktops....to which I’ve remained now for 3 years and 4 PM’s latter.

With my needs now “stable” and basic again (not too much of a power user) I decided I would take the plunge for a lap top again (too busy to play much beyond communications and digital photography) . Had made by on an old ultra light P2/300MHz Win98 system for my portable needs, but it never felt useful beyond email.

Since I had a desktop at ever desk I work at (2 offices and home), there was NO rush for a laptop. I knew that the longer I waited the better the systems would get...and for less money.

I did miss having a laptop at the 2-3 tradeshows I do a year. I had elaborate dreams of computer invoicing, multimedia presentations, etc....

But what were my REAL needs....

Recently having moved to a new home I decided it was time to be serious with what my needs were for a laptop.

1. set up my home office in the ROOM I wanted. The room with the phone/DSL line wasn’t best suited for my office. Hard to wire into the better room. 2. realize that my needs for portability were little beyond 4-5 weeks in a year....desktop replacement was critical 3. external monitor, keyboard and mouse

4. powerful enough to run OS X... Bootable into OS 9 also (re: Scanner) 5. upgrade or equal speed to my desk systems (B&W G3/900, B&W G4/500MHz and PM G4/550Mhz)

Once the G4 iBook was announced I knew that I would have to consider a real Powerbook...but I wasn’t willing to pay the $500 premium for the one feature I needed...DVI/VGA out.

Looking at recent clear out prices for the Ti 867 15” or the Al 12” I realized the 15” was faster all around and better long term value. The key was the OS 9 bootability for the Ti 15”

I decided to turn to eBay and found a new like system with extra RAM/battery/bag for less than a new 12” 1GHz model....With the seller being in Canada...no taxes, and Canadian cheque was fine.

It’s time to play a little now...ordering an Airport card and base station soon and I’ll be set.

I fully expect paint peel, possible hinge problems, but with some care I hope (and pray) to be fine. Not that the new 15” Al book is any more reliable.

This new laptop will also be best suited to try out OX X Panther...

I believe I have met my goals for a laptop...price, performance, value and still being full featured...Will I miss Bluetooth? no, can be added. USB 2.0? Maybe but current scanner is fine and I use digital cameras/media reader. Firewire 800? With the current troubles in OS X Panther...no, but I have zero issues using Firewire 400 for external drives. Fast enough. Lastly will I miss Airport Extreme? Probably not cause wireless will only be for the web and to “sync up” to my wife’s PMac (giving the home one to her) in iTunes. Both of which Airport “regular” is fine. Besides, there’s a PC Slot in the Ti 15”.......always thinking ahead.

Thanks for listening....

Dixon

Hi Dixon;

Welcome back to the road warrior fraternity! Enjoyed your reminiscences, and I agree with your reasoning about buying the TiBook.

Personally, I would find it a tough choice between the model you bought and the new 933 MHz iBook. For now, I'm very happy with my 700 MHz iBook (Altivec is not a big consideration for me, and I have Quartz Extreme support). I'm also getting a kick out of using my revived WallStreet again -- really fst in OS 9.0.

That OS 9 bootability in the Ti is a big plus yet. I'll see how things go in Panther, and I hardly ever boot into OS 9 any more on my production machines, but it's still nice to have it there.

Charles

Re: Return to the PowerBook

From Dixon Chan

Hi Charles,

I agree for what you do and for what I do, an iBook 933MHz would’ve been fine, but again the big sticking point was the DVI out. At home, my laptop sits on a desk. My biggest need I want is screen space. A minimum of 1152x870 pixels. The iBook just couldn’t/wouldn’t move the 14” model to the better screen resolution. If it did, video out would be a moot point. But now I have the choice of any monitor given it’s very good video out capabilities.

Yes, in the end, my document feeder scanner forced my hand and the ability to go into OS9 was something I wanted. The OS X drivers have limited features and it only supports up to 10.1.5

I still use OS9 for accounting, but OS X is that much easier/better for me when doing other tasks.

I still haven’t gone to Panther. I’d like to wait a couple months before migrating. I will definitely start first on the Ti book though since it’s fully supported. Just waiting and seeing how the “patches” work out.

Dixon

Multiple E-Mail Accounts

From Michael Koren

Charles

PJ Little said he's frustrated receiving email from multiple email accounts from multiple sources. I'm using Apple's Mail program and I have multiple accounts and within each account I list the various email addresses I want to receive mail for. I'm assuming that when he says multiple sources this is the same as Apple's multiple accounts and that multiple accounts are what apple would separate with commas as email addresses?

It is hard to respond without better info about what pj means - it is too vague as you noted.

Mail in the past did a poor job of this but with Jaguar it improved greatly and exceeds what Outlook Express used to offer to me on OS9. Although it doesn't allow you to log in with different accounts separately as Netscape Communicator for OS9 allowed. But then you don't need that functionality with multiple users of the system any more, assuming you aren't dividing your own self up into multiple accounts on Netscape, if this makes sense. I've not seen Panther's yet.

Michael

Hi Michael;

Thanks for the musings.

I expect that Mail will be tweaked again in Panther.

Charles

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

From Roger Born

Charles:

Check this out.

Roger

Thanks Roger.

C.

xBox to use Power PC

From judson

fyi/ xbox to use power pc

http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,61065,00.html

And thank you judson.

Charles

CM

Charles W. Moore

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