WHY-OH-WHY

[lopri]

OK, so I've been searching for a notebook for almost 2 months now, and so far it's been excruciating. In short, I've been looking for something like a PowerBook G4, in the PC world.

I have a hard time understanding why PC makers can't come up with something like a PowerBook, so if any of you genious have a clue please share with me. I'm frustrated to no end. Following are the traits of the PowerBook that I've found attractive.

1. Sleek design. (Obviously)
2. Powerful enough for a portable. (1.5 Ghz PowerPC)
3. Lots of functionality. (Basically everything a top-of-the-line PC notebook has, including a DVD burner)
4. Support for powerful video card such as Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 Mb RAM. (Rumor has it that it will come out with Mobility Radeon 9800 in Jan. 2005)
5. Most importantly, All of above in 1" thick

One might bring up the price issue, but as far as I've looked through those DTR PC notebooks are, if not more expensive, just as expensive as a PowerBook. What's bothering most is the weight and thickness of PC notebook. If I try to match the specs of PC notebook with a PowerBook, they easily become over 8 lbs, and near/over 2" thick.

I've been seriously considering a switch, and I think I can handle with the OS X, but I can't afford/don't want to go through the hassle with all the applications I need - Office, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Norton, Alcohol 120%,.. and most importantly Games. I don't want to waste money buying softwares that I already have (Mac softwares are also outrageously expensive), and that's if they are available.

Can anyone explain why PC makers can't make a beautiful/powerful notebook like the PowerBook? Or am I missing something? If so, please give me a suggestion. I'd like something like,

1. 1.5 Ghz Pentium-M or above
2. Mobility Radeon 9700/9800 (preferably 9800) or Geforce 6800 Go with 128 Mb RAM minimum
3. Pretty look (not necessary)
4. less than 1" ~ 1.2" thick (necessary)

Thanks in advance,

lop

Edit: After seeing some benches and considering that ATI has a product that is 2 generation after (M28), I'd rather avoid 9700.

 

[Moe Madness]

Since you didn't list a budget, I'm going to say IBM T42P.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Hi,

For the software, the Mac has Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Norton. I use all of those on my Mac. As for Alcohol, it is not available for the Mac. But, if you use Toast Titanium and an external SCSI burner, you should be able to burn raw data, the same way Alcohol burns the cd's I believe. So burning games would work like the original.

OS X is very easy to use. You will get used to it in minutes. My brother, a die hard PC user, got used to it very very quickly. Also, Mac OS X comes with many applications. You get iPhoto, which replaces the digital camera software, You get iDVD for making and burning your own DVD's, You get iMovie to edit your own movies, and Xcode to make your own Mac OS applications using C+, C++ and Java, and more.

 

[Tiamat]

Sony S series has all that you want. Maybe except good customer support and hardware reliability, but on paper, its got what you want. Looks, processor, decent screen, and GPU.

 

[Wuzup101]

I personally own a powerbook and I tend to agree with you. However, I will say that the IBM T42 is the closest you're going to get, and they are a damn good computers. I made the switch because 1) I was having the same problem deciding as you 2) I wanted to try OSX.

I will say that I've been very pleased with the powerbook so far. OSX is a dream compared to windows XP pro, it's something you just have to try. Many people's bad experiences with macs stem from times before OSX where performance and ease of use was lackluster at best. OSX is simply better... it's a great OS. Also, as far as programs are concerned, I know macromedia has a dirrect transfer of lisence. If you currently own the programs you can download their mac counterparts directly off of the macromedia web site and transfer the lisence for free. I'm not sure if adobe offers the same thing for photoshop CS; however, you might want to check on that. Also, as far as norton is concerned, if you're talking about the antivirus software it's simply not necessary on OSX. As far as other software is concerned, your right, they don't make every game for OSX, and those that we do get usually don't come at the time of launch. It's definitely one of the trade offs we face. However, mac software isn't any more expensive that the PC counterpart. Companies that offer software for both platforms, even games, price them the same.

Also, new powerbook should be announced with the 9800 pro with 128, possibly 256mb of ram come this jan at MWSF.

 

[MDE]

If you could live with a 64MB Mobility Radeon 9600 and an Athlon 64 3000-3400+, the eMachines M68xx series fits the bill. They aren't pretty, but they're not ugly either.

 

[w00t]

get the powermac g4

 

[hopejr]

another vote for the PB. I recently switched (I have a iBook G4) and haven't regretted it.

I've noticed that some mac versions of software are cheaper, but not all are like that.

 

[sk560]

I don't think you need Norton in OS X.

 

[Burbot]

1. 1.5 Ghz Pentium-M or above
2. Mobility Radeon 9700/9800 (preferably 9800) or Geforce 6800 Go with 128 Mb RAM minimum
3. Pretty look (not necessary)
4. less than 1" ~ 1.2" thick (necessary)

Asus M6Ne. SXGA+ or WXGA (your pick), Pentium M, quite thin, and looks quite well. It does not have next generation video, but then the only machines that do have 9800 or 6800 are tanklike bricks or just vapour. If you were considering Mac, I do not think you are much of a gamer, so I do not see how video is relevant to your choice. And there is pretty much no way for anyone to squeeze one of those monsters into thin and light laptop. I'd suggest you to figure out what do you *actually* want, and then hunt for machines.

 

[ultimatebob]

Since you didn't list a price, I'd recommend an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad T42p.

Besides, if you were seriously thinking of buying an Apple Powerbook, you're probably loaded anyway

 

[amol]

the things i dont like about powerbooks are :

1. slot loading optical drive
2. no choice of screen resolutions
3. expensive (of course, its APPLE)

the slot loading optical drive is the reason its thin . . .

 

[hopejr]

No choice of screen resolutions? I think not. The PB 12" might only have 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768, but the others have more choices, including different types of letterboxing, etc.

 

[Philippine Mango]

IBM T42.... I got one, make sure you get one with a good video card if your going to be doing any video rendering or gaming.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Anandtech servers stalled?

 

[addragyn]

Nobody makes that machine because it would too expensive. Cost is viewed as primary in OEM PC, quality & industrial design almost always take a back seat.

Dell has consistently been kicking ass in the PC market. And they reason Dell does so well is not because they're so good at technology it's because Dell is so damn good at the business of minimizing costs.

Take for example HP & Dell in the printer business. HP spends about 1B a year on R&D in this area. That is more than Dell entire R7D expenses. That's servers, desktops, laptops, switches, routers, MP3 players AND printers.

Take a read at these articles.
http://earthlink.com.com/Insid..._3-5428990.html?tag=nl
http://www.news-record.com/new...ll/dell_nyt_122204.htm

 

[addragyn]

Custom boutique consumer electronics with exceptional design will be a niche industry in the fuuture. It's already started in Japan and Europe to a lesser degree.

Loo here - http://www.business2.com/b2/we...21937,783574-1,00.html

 

[BGil]

Originally posted by: lopri

1. 1.5 Ghz Pentium-M or above
2. Mobility Radeon 9700/9800 (preferably 9800) or Geforce 6800 Go with 128 Mb RAM minimum
3. Pretty look (not necessary)
4. less than 1" ~ 1.2" thick (necessary)

You do know that a 1.5ghz Pentium M blows away a 1.5ghz G4, right? It's not even comparable.
Try cyberpowersystem.com

System Summary
15.0" SXGA TFT LCD DISPLAY 1400X1050
Intel® Pentium® M Processor725 @ 1.6Ghz 2MB CACHE ~ CNB144
Intel® 855GM CHIPSET MB W/ Centrino? TECHNOLOGY
512 MB PC2700 333MHz DDR MEMORY
60GB 5400RPM ULTRA ATA 100 HARD DRIVE
MOBILE ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB VIDEO
16X/4X CD-RW/DVD+RW COMBO DRIVE
BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND

Price: $1500.00
http://www.cyberpowersystem.co...p?v=d#configurator_top
OR Abspc.com
http://www.abspc.com/app/config.asp?mono=1851

An Acer
http://www.pricegrabber.com/se...l.php/masterid=4215649

 

[halfadder]

Until last December, all of my computers were PCs. Then I bought my Apple PowerBook. Now I use Mac OS X on the PowerBook (iMovie, iPhoto, Keynote for presentations, and email/web when I'm on the road) but I use my desktop PCs with WinXP for everything else.

I was not able to find a notebook that was as classy or built as well as the 15" PowerBook. At the time, the fastest notebooks used the Pentium 4, and had very short battery lives. The Pentium-Ms were slower, but had better battery life. I went with the 1.25 GHz PowerBook G4 as it was still quite zippy for its time and I have been very happy with it. Today the best price/performance notebook would be something with a Pentium-M.

I highly recommend the PowerBook... but Apple had better give it at least a 1.67 GHz G4 and Mobility 9800 or better very soon. Either that or make some more price cuts.

Mac OS X is very nice, but if you don't feel like experimenting or just don't like Mac OS X at all, then there are still many quality PCs to choose from. You won't get the fit and finish, but if you're like me, the class and finish probably isn't **that** important.

Either way, PowerBook (or iBook) ... or a PC notebook built by a reputable company.... you'll be happy.

 

[Looney]

Sounds like you're not looking around hard enough. Try the Acer Ferrari.

 

[Commodus]

Hardcore:

That's hardly what I'd call a comparable notebook - 1.5" doesn't equal 1", and it's only tasteful if you're the sort who makes "vroom vroom" noises when you play a driving game (and are the sort who buys anything with the Ferrari logo on it).

 

[daba]

Did you forget, IBM X-series. Exceptional build quality at only 2.7 pounds!

 

[shadowfaX]

Oo... IBM X series have Mobility Radeons now? Or are they still stuck with the Intel Integrated Graphics thing?

I'd put in another vote for the IBM T42(p). Wonderful laptop. If I had the ca$h, I'd buy it.

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: addragyn
Nobody makes that machine because it would too expensive. Cost is viewed as primary in OEM PC, quality & industrial design almost always take a back seat.

Now that's just silly.

There are some laptops which are thinner than Apples. There are laptops which look nicer. There are absolutely more expensive ones out there, too. It's not like NOBODY makes nice Windows laptops.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Addragyn didnt assume no one makes nice Windows laptops. From what you just quoted, you cannot assume that addragyn is saying no one makes nice Windows laptops.