I was all set to get a 12" powerbook, then came the iBook update. I was torn between the 12" and 14" iBook: I plan to travel on an airplane a bunch next year, and was weighing the relative inconvenience of the 12" lack of internal DVD burner and the 14" bigger size without higher screen resolution.

To muddle the issue even more, UCSD came out with the following deal #2 (pasted below)on the Powerbook - $1399 including superdrive w/ $50 discount on applecare (which I had planned to buy) - a total discount of $150 off the regular student price.

Configured with 80 GB drives and applecare, the totals come out to 12" iBook $1222, 14"iBook $1427, and 12" PB $1588

I'm really stumpted, and I've gone throught most of the threads here. Advice?

1. Apple iMac G5 at a special UCSD price:
1.8GHz,20"display, 512MB RAM PC3200 (1 DIMM) , 160GB HD SATA, nVidia FX
5200, SuperDrive, Bluetooth, wireless keyboard and mouse. (M9824LL/A)
Now only $999.00 when purchased with AppleCare @ $119.00.
(Sorry, no price adjustments on previous purchases, no rain checks, must
purchase Applecare, limited to quantities on hand.)

2. PowerBooks $100 off the academic price:
In-stock 12" and 15". Buy Applecare extended warranty with the PowerBook and
get $50 off the AppleCare! Limited quantities, so act fast!

[MCQ]

That 20" iMac is a steal any way you look at it. If you had enough money to get one of each and they allowed it, I'd buy iMac + whatever laptop you wanted, sell the iMac and put the difference towards whatever the laptop cost is.

Sign me up for some classes at UCSD.

[Franz Josef]

You need to decide whether you need portability or not. The iMac looks good value but only if it is really what you need. Assuming you need portability and the choice is beween 12" PB and 12" and 14" iBook, I'd recommend the 12" PB. I wouldn't really consider 14" iBook simply because you get greater size and weight without greater screen resolution and that looks unattractive if you are flying.

The 12" iBook is good value, particuarly after the recent bump, and if you don't want to burn DVD's, may be a good cost / spec trade-off. I fly alot with my 12"PB and it is both lighter and smaller than the iBook - it's about three quarters the volume and if you spend alot of time in airport lounges, that makes a difference. Add to that the superdrive, better VRAM spec and faster harddrive.

Either way, get 1GB RAM and at least 60GB (and preferably 80GB) harddrive.

[MacUser06]

Do the think the smaller size of the 12" PB is really a big difference when flying or running around? I have used a 15" PB for the past 4 years and I'm having a tough time making my mind up on my next laptop. The new upgrade to the iBook line has me wondering what I should get. Do you find the 1024x768 resolution to be too small? If you had the cash, would you get a 15" instead?

Thanks