Black Macbook vs Powerbook

considering after 10.6, there  won't be any support for  PPC's, it might be more wise to go with the  macbook.  Powerbook 12" are also stuck at the 1024x768 Res. and soon apps won't run on it.  So, if you get the Powerbook, it will be hopefully obsolete before you even get it.
I would just go with the macbook not as a windows box replacement, but for the potential that is left in it, and will save you from upgrading down the line...

There's nothing I've tried to run that requires above 1024x768. A 12" Powerbook will be able to run almost any new Mac app for at least the next two years.

The Macbook will be faster, though, so go with it.

Having owned a black 13" MacBook for a few months, and supporting a mixed bunch of machines at work, I can safely say that between the black macbook and the 12" PowerBook G4, the PowerBook is going to be vastly more reliable. That being said, if you have the extra money, I would go with a MacBook Pro, as they seem to be more stable and less troublesome.

The internal structure of the 15" MacBook Pro and the PowerBook G4 15" that preceeded it is one that is very service friendly and has plenty of room inside for all of the components needed. You should be able to find MBP's on closeout as well. I'd go with one of those.

I'm typing this on a 15" PowerBook G4 that I went to after a few months with the black MacBook (reliability was a major concern so I wasn't using it as much anymore, so when I needed money, selling it was not a big deal)

What's your source on this?

I was referring to the CPU architecture.  PPC is dead, and pretty soon there won't be universal binaries.  People will just want to make them for intel only.

Sorry for misinterperting.

As far as that goes, I fully expect Universal Binaries to be available as long as the OS is available in PPC form. Most OS X versions have some killer developer oriented features that make it unlikely that developers will continue supporting the PPC OS X versions after Apple releases an Intel only OS X version.

As an example, I'm currently working on an application that's Tiger only because it relies heavily on Core Data, a technology that just didn't exist under OS 10.3. OS 10.7 may include a technology called "Core Telepath" which lets your Mac read your mind directly. Obviously all Cocoa devs would rush to implement this into our applications, leaving everyone who's still using 10.6 out in the cold.

Based on Apple's corporate policy to provide parts support for six-eight years after a product has been released, and the fact that there are still people using OS 8 and OS 9, buying a PowerPC based Mac at a rock bottom price isn't such a crazy idea. Chances are good that you'll be getting a new mac within three to five years anyway, you may as well save the money on the PowerBook G4, and if you count on your computer for your living (like I do) - you will have less downtime and that investment will pay off quicker.

Here's a rule to go with - if you can get the PowerBook G4 12" cheap enough (by cheap enough I mean in the $700-$900 price bracket), I would go with that if only because it's a machine that you know can be counted on for reliability. The MacBooks, well, it's a little early to tell. By the time that PowerPC software is no longer available and Apple has stopped supporting the platform, you will likely have moved on to a sixth to eighth revision intel based MacBook.

If the price difference between the two is $100 and you're willing to take a gamble on the QA issues plaguing the intel machines, I would go with the MacBook. The MacBooks are great, but like the iBooks before them - there are issues. Any consumer level portable that Apple has made after the clamshell iBook has had some level of reliability issues. The Professional level machines have been fairly solid.

Unless you are clumsy and tend to drop your laptop, a 12" PowerBook G4 isn't a bad machine. If you are clumsy and tend to drop your laptop, spend some money on a good case (the Brenthaven's are hard to beat - the Volvo of laptop cases) or stick with a desktop.

Wait another month or two...

MacWorld of San Fran is coming in Jan. and octo-core Mac Pros are definitly going to be release at the MacWorld, and possibly the new iPods (I really hope). Who knows what they might bring to the MacBook and MacBook Pro line up.

PowerPC is dead? Ha, tell that to the Quad G5 owners.

...between the two I would have to lean towards the PowerBook G4. It really is a personal call, though. For graphics-heavy stuff, like games, etc., that eat up processor and RAM, I would go with the PBook (atleast given the two options you are looking at). If gaming isn't your bag, then the integrated graphics of the MacBook would do fine for you.

Not to seem mercenary, but if you find yourself in the market for a 12" PowerBook, let me know. The wife got me a MacBook Pro for graduation (needed more screen real estate on the road), so I am going to sell my cherry 12" PB and all its peripherals after the holidays. Was gonna go to eBay, but if you are interested PM me. Otherwise, good luck with your decision!

Happy Holidays!!!!

I am quite happy with my (2001sep) "iBook dual-USB" PowerPC G3 500Mhz running 10.1.5. As a rule, I've steered clear of any machine with "intel inside" which, over the years, I believe has saved me a considerably amount of time and frustration. Technology is changing rapidly, so in say 2011-2012 when I might consider a new hardware purchase, I suspect that what will be available then will be quite different from anything I am talking about now.

Funny you mention that- my current primary laptop is an iBook 500 running 10.4. I like it, but am looking for something newer. Reliability is not a concern at all because I will only be keeping the laptop for 11 months then I'll upgrade, so it will always be in warranty and always be virtually brand new. So I want to make a decision based solely on performance and resale value.

MacBook for the win. If you can pick up a refurb with warranty, that might be the best bang for the buck for an 11 month turn-it-and-burn-it laptop.

Go with the macbook definitly if it's this short a time. Funny, my main laptop right now is a 700 mhz 12'' ibook, but my main machine is a dual 2.5 G5, a macbook pro is in my future I think. Not having an intel processor is going to be limiting within the year for newer programs, same as 10.3 gets you by still, but some programs have features that just don't work in anything but tiger.

If you don't intend to keep it for more than a year, then a new/refurb intel based MacBook is going to be the way to go. The white superdrive MacBook will likely have the least depreciation of all the MacBook models.

With all this talk of getting a laptop for a year, then selling it and getting a new model, what is the best way to sell a not too old computer? Locally in classifieds (craigslist) or ebay?

Mutant_Pie

In my experience, eBay and Craigslist both work OK, but craigslist tends to have some deadbeats- someone will call and make an appt then never show up, or they'll show up and offer $20 for something worth 5 times that. If you're looking to get another Mac, then you could consider trading the old one in at Powermax.com or another mac store that does that.