Apple G4 15" Aluminium Powerbook...V...IBM Thinkpad T42

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spreadthemessage · #1 Post by **spreadthemessage** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 4:52 pm

I am a user of both Wintel and Macs, I have handled the best of both worlds and know that in the world of Wintel, IBM make the best laptops. Therefor it is up against the best of the Powerbooks, the 15" My question to you is which do you think is better?

Thanks

SimonCC · #2 Post by **SimonCC** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 5:04 pm

very interesting question. Well there is no denying that the powerbooks are pretty fast, however they are fast in accordance with their operating system. I have used mac os and find that you simply cannot do as much as you can in windows, its very reliable yes, but also quite limited. As for build quality, ibm wins hands down, for me the powerbooks feel like toys! The keyboards flex, the screens show key impressions, the lcd housing scratches like hell and it overheats very much like the t42 does also. What makes me laugh is that apple bill the powerbook as the professional choice! The powerbook would not last a month in any demanding lifestyle mainly because of its build. Apples are to be seen not used.

rocketman · #3 Post by **rocketman** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 5:47 pm

Well I'll tell you what. I just got a 1.5 GHz 15" Powerbook a couple of weeks ago and on Monday I'm receiving my 15" T42. After I get the T42 I'll let you know how they compare to each other.

Elhabash · #4 Post by **Elhabash** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 6:48 pm

The powerbooks are more sturdy than one would think at the first glance. Seen many older Powerbooks after heavy use, and apart from the bad keyboard and the scratched display (from the keyboard) they seemed quite OK.

Now if IBM only would manage to produce a processor (the ones in the powerbooks) on par with the Pentium M, especially regarding power consumption and heat generation, then Apple might also technologically catch up...

Plinkerton · #5 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 9:03 pm

I like them both, but after playing with Many Powerbooks, I would go for the ThinkPad. I actually was typing on a Powerbook today, and I missed my TP keyboard a lot. Marks on the screen would suck also. Plus, it's NICE to have the TrackPoint, and the touchpad.

They're both nice though...

Elhabash · #6 Post by **Elhabash** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:22 am

I might add that I also like is the grown-ups mouse button layout for people who actually can move their fingers independently already...
I don't see any advatage of having only one mouse button or only one for the Touchpad.

xtypestereotype · #7 Post by **xtypestereotype** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:33 am

Could IBM ever make a PowerPC Thinkpad?!?!
They are the chip makers anyway...

gruen · #8 Post by **gruen** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 3:17 pm

i sold my 15" powerbook for a t42.

was sick of buying 2 copies of every piece of software i needed

66GTO · #9 Post by **66GTO** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:09 pm

The Powerbook is a very nice tool. Mac OS X is interesting as well.
If the software that I run was available on OS X, I would try a Powerbook. Til then....

lvlolvlo · #10 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:00 am

gruen wrote:i sold my 15" powerbook for a t42.

was sick of buying 2 copies of every piece of software i needed

I just use VirtualPC

nello · #11 Post by **nello** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:06 am

I love IBM ThinkPad! so cool!

aleung · #12 Post by **aleung** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:32 pm

i am still thinking how can prevent the keyboard scratch to screen. I remember my 600 never have that issue. but it happen in my T30. I use those art work film on m T30. just like those nushield.

k3vb0t · #13 Post by **k3vb0t** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 2:46 pm

Radtech ScreensavRz... works perfectly, and cleans the dust and smudges off too. Get the 14-17" standard (4:3 ratio) one, if you have the 14.1" screen.

http://www.radtech.us/Products/Notebook ... vrzPC.aspx

Zirynx · #14 Post by **Zirynx** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:28 pm

Getting back to the original question

it all comes down to functionality and the individual's needs.

Myself, I've been a long time mac user (largely due to the proprietary software used in my profession being designed and written for macs. Naturally that infuenced my 'personal' choice, so I've been a powerbook user for a long time. Amongst my collection, I've still got a fully functional original G3 powerbook (once the 'fastest [not to mention, most expensive] computer in the world'

) which is built like a tank, and weighs alsmost as much!

But I'm not really a big fan of the G4 powerbooks, never have been. But I've used them out of requirement. They're relatively flimsy, the provision of a single mouse button is ludicrous for modern times, not to mention the positioning of it, and the screen res options leave a bit to be desired.

So as a Powerbook user, what am I doing in the Thinkpads forum?! Well, that 'proprietary software' has made a shift towards the wintel arena over the last 18 months, and I find myself needing to embrace Windows XP. I also need to delve into x86 Linux, but that's a different post! So I decided I would buy a wintel laptop, and the only sensible choice seemed to be a Thinkpad.

But, and this gets back to your original question, there is one (and only one) thing stopping me. It is for me, a killer differential that remains between a Powerbook (or iBook) and a Thinkpad, or for that matter, virtually any wintel laptop.

A 6-pin bus-powered Firewire port!!!

When it comes to an individual's functionality needs, this is a must for me (the 'workarounds' are not an option), and the only reason that I don't yet have a thinkpad. I hope things will change.

So, get what you need, not what other people tell you you need

rocketman · #15 Post by **rocketman** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:37 pm

I have both the new T42 I just received a few days ago and a 1.5 GHz 15" Powerbook. They are both teriffic computers and I have been enjoying using them both. I have to say that I am an OS X fan, for me it's a superior OS than Windows XP.
Hardware wise I think the T42 has the edge but not by any huge amount. The durability of the T42 and the Ultrabay are two positives the Powerbook lacks. The aluminum Powerbook is pretty but it does give a feeling at least of being a little fragile but this is only a feeling I have.
Using the T42 makes Windows more acceptable to me as it's such a nice notebook to use.

Apple G4 15" Aluminium Powerbook...V...IBM Thinkpad T42

Apple G4 15" Aluminium Powerbook...V...IBM Thinkpad T42

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