iMac vs. iBook: The Happy Dilemma

Prospective Macintosh buyers have literally never had it so good. Today's "consumer" Macs are among the fastest, most powerful computers in the world, available at prices that would bring tears to the eyes of folks who bought those first 128ks and 512ks back in 1984.

Not only that, but there are two distinct varieties of inexpensive Mac to choose from -- the spectacular new second-generation iMac and its equally spectacular portable stablemate, the iBook. I know that many people are deliberating over which of these machines represents the best value for their personal needs and tastes, and the purpose of this article is to help weigh the relative merits and shortcomings of each respectively.

I'm not personally looking for a new computer right now, being very satisfied with my 10-month-old PowerBook G3, but if I were in the hunt for a new Mac, the iMac and iBook would top my short list. Being a PowerBook fan, one might think that I would automatically choose the iBook, but that's not necessarily the case. I use my PowerBook mainly as a portable desktop machine, and could quite conceivably get along fine with an iMac.

Value-wise, all of these machines (three iMac models and the iBook) are incredible, but the iBook is both the most expensive ($1,599) and the slowest, least powerful and least well-equipped. As it has always been, you pay a hefty price premium for portability and a flat-screen LCD monitor. Of course those are precisely the principal reasons why I prefer laptop computers to desktop models. Even though I don't lug my PowerBook around a whole lot, I like being able to, and I find it difficult to think of going back to staring at a staticky, flickery CRT monitor -- even a good one -- after becoming accustomed to the much gentler-on-the-eyes LCDs in my PowerBooks.

On the other hand, the most expensive iMac -- the very classy-looking "Graphite" DV SE model -- sells for $100 less than the iBook, but comes with a 400 MHz processor (vs. 300 MHz); 128 MB of RAM (vs. 32 MB); a 100MHz system bus (vs 66 MHz); a 13 GB hard drive (vs. a 3.2 GB hard drive); has two USB ports (vs. one USB port); two FireWire ports (vs. 0 FireWire ports); An ATI Rage 128 graphics accelerator with 8MB SDRAM (vs. an ATI RAGE mobility graphics accelerator with 4 MB SDRAM); Harman/Kardon Odyssey stereo sound system with optional subwoofer) (vs. a really pedestrian monaural sound system through a single, tiny speaker that just woofs); and a DVD-ROM drive (vs. a 24x CD-ROM Drive).

See what I mean. The iBook is very cool, portable, and has a lovely TFT LCD screen (800 x 600), but the iMac DV SE packs incredible value and features for less money -- albeit in a (still cool) 35 pound package with a not bad but not great 15 inch shadow mask monitor (1,024 x 768).

Even when you compare the iBook to the $600 cheaper 350 MHz entry- level iMac model, the iMac still comes out on top specs-wise by a country mile, with 50 MHz more processor speed; 32 MB extra RAM; a nearly twice- as-large hard drive (6 GB); twice as many USB ports (two); and the faster RAGE 128 video card; and the faster internal bus.

Both iMacs and iBooks come with a nice bundle of software (including AppleWorks 5); built-in antennae for AirPort wireless networking; 56k V.90 modems; and 10/100 Ethernet. I personally prefer the light-touch, short-travel keyboards Apple has used on its laptops since the G3 series, but some profess to prefer the more traditional feel of Apple's USB keyboard that ships with the iMac.

It really boils down once again principally to how important the iBook's two main advantages are to you -- portability and that flat screen. Another iBook advantage, however, especially if you live way out in the boonies like I do, is lack of worry about power outages. I can happily keep on computing, and even Web surfing through blackouts, as long as my PowerBook's batteries hold up, and iBook offers up to six hours of battery life. Another intangible is the laptop's relative subtlety -- a laptop doesn't dominate a room the way a desktop machine does, although using the word "subtlety" in the same breath as the visually arresting iBook seems a bit incongruous.

And of course, portable computing is not just a boon to business people on the road. It's a pleasure to be able to pick up the computer and work outdoors (in the shade -- you can't see the color screen in the sun) on a lovely summer afternoon, or just move to other locations in the house or office. It can be a lot more convenient to carry the same computer between home and the office, rather than dealing with the hassle of transferring files and them synchronized between two computers. When you go on vacation it's easy to take a laptop along, and in rare instances when your trusty iBook or PowerBook needs service, it's a lot less backstrain to carry a laptop into the dealer than a 35 pound desktop box.

However, if you work a lot with graphics, you probably will not find the iBook's 12.1" 800 x 600 screen, nice as it is, adequate, and unfortunately iBook does not support external monitors. The iMac's built-in 15-inch shadow- mask CRT is not really a graphics professional's dream come true either, but it does support resolutions up to 1,024 x 768, as well as 24 bit true ColorSync color calibration for uniform color from input to display to output, and that ATI RAGE 128 VR 2D/3D graphics accelerator with 8MB of SDRAM graphics memory and AGP 2X support is a lot more graphics-capable than the iBook's screen. And -- the DV and DV SE iMacs also have a standard VGA output port so you can hook up a larger external monitor (only in "mirror" mode, unfortunately).

Dedicated gamers likewise will likely not be satisfied with the iBook's screen and relatively puny graphics support, and even less with its relatively crummy sound output (although it does support 16-bit stereo sound output through a mini- jack).

Speaking of sound, a major shortcoming of iBook is it's lack of on-board sound input -- no microphone and not even a sound-in jack. There are USB-based sound-in workarounds available, but that involves more expense, hassle, and junk to drag around with you on the road. With the iMac, along with that hi-fi Harman Kardon sound system you get a built-in microphone plus front-mounted dual mini headphone jacks and analog audio input and output minijacks, as well as support for external USB audio devices

Having only one USB port means that unless you are a very light user of peripheral devices you are probably going to need to purchase a USB hub to use with the iBook -- again more expense, hassle and stuff to cart around.

By contrast, the iMac is very comprehensively equipped, especially the DV SE model which includes everything all but the most demanding professional users need in a personal computer. Those two FireWire ports (also on the regular. $1,299 iMac DV) will probably loom larger in the future as more FireWire devices become available, and it will take a very long time for most of us to fill up a 13 GB hard drive.

Consequently, even for a dyed-in-the-wool PowerBook fan like me, the choice between the iMac and the iBook remains a conundrum, and I honestly don't know which I would pick were I making that choice today. If the iMac came with an LCD monitor (something you can bet on for the future) it would probably tip my preference in that direction, but with the present specifications, it's pretty much a wash.

So ultimately, I make no recommendation here. You still have to make up your own mind. However, it's the happiest sort of dilemma, isn't it?

Charles W. Moore

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Tuesday, 09-Feb-2010 13:51:16 EST