Apple PowerBook vs. Thinkpad

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phat_mats · #1 Post by **phat_mats** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:58 pm

I know most on this site will be hardcore PC lovers. My journey for a notebook started with apples and they're shiny finish and liquidy operating system. Over to the practicality of a PC and now is ending with a flat out comparison. Here are the two models, your thoughts comments and questions either way.

Apple
1.5 GHz w/ 64 MB
512 RAM (512 x 1)
80 GB @5400
CD-RW/DVD-R
Backlit Keyboard
Built In Firewire
15.2" Screen (1280x854)
5.7 lbs
b/g connection
gigabit ethernet
bluetooth ready
height: 1.10 Inch
width: 13.7 Inch
depth: 9.5 inch
$3127

IBM (2373-CYU)
1.8 GHz w/ 64 MB
512 RAM (512 x 1)
80GB @5400
CD-RW/DVD-RW
Backlit Keyboard
no firewire
15" screen (1400x1050)
5.6 lb
a/b/g connection
gigabit Ethernet
bluetooth ready
height: 1.00-1.20 inch
width:12.1 Inch
depth: 10.0 inch
$3338

Price: ( includes 3 year warranty, extra battery, and of course system)

Things that I know ... battery life is better on thinkpad, DVD burner is faster on Apple, less viruses on apple, Apple has "cool" factor

Things that are up in the air ... windows vs MAC OS, quality in the long run (both are very good from reports I've heard), which really suits my needs better

Both computers are a bit of overkill for a freshman who does a bit of video editing, word processing, and very light gaming (if any at all). I will be in Europe for the next couple of summers (ie. travelling lots but I need a 15 inch screen for typing thos late night term papers. This computer has to last me through University.

Anywho I'm rambling ... let me know what you think.

#2 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:01 pm

Buy the one you want.

cynic · #3 Post by **cynic** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:47 pm

boring... second nonny's recommendation. (btw, I don't believe any of us are "hardcore pc lovers"-- that's zealotry-speak and this group is above that)

phat_mats · #4 Post by **phat_mats** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:57 pm

nonny wrote:Buy the one you want.

lol
thanks nonny ... didn't waste any time getting to the point.
All I'm saying is the computers are very similar, I have nowhere where I can actually look at a thinkpad before I buy it so I'm hoping someone has some hands on with both of these computers and can help me. Thanks

#5 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:40 pm

My style has actually been described as... terse! ;-)

But I'll be verbose.

You're trying to compare Apples and oranges here, and there really is no way to compare them. Both are elegant, powerful machines that will probably serve your needs for several years, but they're very different. No one else can make the decision for you regardless of how many details they give you about why they picked one over the other.

In this forum, it's quite likely that, even if there was considerable lust for the Apple, the TP won out for practical reasons. Even I have slobbered over a Mac's sleekness, and many here know how committed I am to basic black with a touch of red. You have to think about your needs and wants and decide for yourself which one will serve those needs and wants best. If you've never held a ThinkPad before, that's going to be hard.

Txiasaeia · #6 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:53 pm

nonny wrote:No one else can make the decision for you regardless of how many details they give you about why they picked one over the other.

He wasn't asking somebody else to make the decision - he was asking for our "thoughts comments and questions either way."

Bob Collins · #7 Post by **Bob Collins** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:34 pm

I have used a PC almost exclusively, so I may be a bit biased, however I love FreeBSD and the new Mac OS is based on the old Mach kernel from FreeBSD, so I am kin to that. Both machines will be wonderful to work with. I think your biggest question that drive your solution is: what applications *MUST* you use?

If you do not require *ABSOLUTELY* anything particular to M$, you would perhaps be better served with the Apple. You will like video editing better on an Apple. You will like AutoCAD or ESRI's ArcGIS on the Thinkpad better. I would love to have an Apple, but due to my obvious mentioning of AutoCAD and ArcGIS, I *NEED* the Thinkpad.

In all honesty, you have to know WHAT you will do with the machine and let that drive your decision.

ian · #8 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:28 am

I'd just like to know since when the 2373-CYU has been supplied with a 'backlit keyboard' ?

ian · #9 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:30 am

I'd just like to know since when the 2373-CYU has been supplied with a 'backlit keyboard' ?

ian · #10 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:31 am

I'd just like to know since when the 2373-CYU has been supplied with a 'backlit keyboard' ?

ian · #11 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:34 am

profuse apologies - problem at this end, and post seems to have appeared three times - perhaps one of our kind moderators could delete the excess. Thanx in advance.

n3il · #12 Post by **n3il** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:45 am

Definitely not backlit - but there is the ThinkLight....

n3il · #13 Post by **n3il** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:49 am

Definitely not backlit - but there is the ThinkLight....

Edit: Triple posting for some reason!!!!

n3il · #14 Post by **n3il** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:54 am

Definitely not backlit - but there is the ThinkLight....

Edit:Triple posting for some reason!

ian · #15 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 7:27 am

ok smartass

Seriously though Ne3l, he's quoted a 'backlit keyboard' for both the Apple and TP in his first post - where does this come from? I've seen some pretty hideous attempts at backlighting keyboards - NOT for Thinkpads methinks !

n3il · #16 Post by **n3il** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:20 am

It wasn't me! It triple posted all of its own accord!!!!

Backlit keyboard:
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/index17.html

There is a wee quicktime movie on that page showing the "keyboard in action"!!!

I've never used an Apple or OS X (and frankly wouldn't have a clue how to) - but a T42 would be lovely!

Neil

ian · #17 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:03 am

Well I've ordered my T42 (2373-CWU) from Bill and am eagerly awaiting a mail saying something along the lines of "Ok, so it's here - I'll UPS it today"

As for the backlit keyboard, think I'll wait on that - neat movie tho...

benz · #18 Post by **benz** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:42 am

HAH we have our own form of keyboard illumination....the Thinklight!

cynic · #19 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:50 am

The Apple backlit keyboard doesn't work quite as well as it looks in that movie. First off, at many angles, you catch the light from under the keyboard in your eyes. Second, the keyboard is painted silver and gets glare from the LCD light. Combine that with the keyboard being backlit and suddenly the keys become of even contrast and you loose it completely (think of it this way, if you change a black area to white (in this case the etching for the letters are black when unlit and white when lit) and the surrounding area is already white (from the reflection of the screen light), what would happen to being able to read anything as it is now white on white?)

It only works well when the LCD is tilted far enough back that it isn't glaring on the keyboard and the room is dark enough to create some definition of the letters. The problem is that the LCD on the PBs uses a drop down hinge so it has a limited ability to angle back before it hits the desk/rest of the PB (I think it is about 135 degrees or less, though I haven't measured it) I've tried using it taking the ambient light sensor off and increasing the brightness, but it still doesn't work well. In the end, everyone I know has turned off that "feature" a few days after playing with it. Of course, all of these problems could be fixed if re-engineered (anti-reflective keyboard, change the keys from silver, redesign the LCD hinge again; though it would be anti the Apple philosophy of form over function.)

The ThinkLight is a better solution, though it too faces a few problems (but at least it is usable) It is a better solution if only because it is natural to have overhead light illuminating objects you wish to see. The biggest problems I can see are that the light itself at the top of the screen can sometimes get in your eyes and the screen has to be situated at particular angles to light the keyboard, the keyboard has a little bit of a glare (nowhere near the silver keys of the PB), and the reach of the light isn't as far as it needs to be on a T series to completely light the keyboard. However, the glare issue doesn't really happen unless in complete darkness (in low light conditions it's unnoticeable.) If the white lettering on the keyboard used something reflective (think car headlights illuminating the white lines on roads) to pickup the light and emphasize the text on the keys, the ThinkLight would probably be near a perfect solution. (However, the text on the keyboard would need to be low-key when not having light shined on it in order to keep with the unassuming nature of ThinkPads.

)

cynic · #20 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:52 am

deleted; dumb double post

ian · #21 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:35 am

Strange - I thought it became dumb the third time...

benz · #22 Post by **benz** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:07 pm

cynic wrote:If the white lettering on the keyboard used something reflective (think car headlights illuminating the white lines on roads) to pickup the light and emphasize the text on the keys, the ThinkLight would probably be near a perfect solution. (However, the text on the keyboard would need to be low-key when not having light shined on it in order to keep with the unassuming nature of ThinkPads. )

Thats a good idea, you're thinking about that reflective tape that runners wear and are on typical running shoes. However, theres a problem with using that for the letters on the keyboard - it only reflects light back in the direction of the light source. Try it sometime with a pair of shoes if they have that stuff: shine a light on the tape and change your viewing angle until the reflected light is the brightest - it will be when you're almost directly inline with the light. So basically it would only really work if you were looking straight down on the keyboard in a similar angle as the Thinklight...but you probably wouldn't be able to see the screen that way

phat_mats · #23 Post by **phat_mats** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:11 pm

my bad with the posting of "backlit keyboard" under thinkpad. For some reason I was under the impression that this was the case ... when I went back to double check the info I couldn't find it ... twilight zone ... or maybe I just made a mistake

ian · #24 Post by **ian** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:36 pm

Please don't get me wrong - I wasn't criticising, simply curious to know where you got the info.

Apple PowerBook vs. Thinkpad

Apple PowerBook vs. Thinkpad

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