Is it still worth buying a PowerBook?

If you are looking for something portable and easy to use I would steer clear from a 17". While it wouldn't neccesarily seem like it that is a pretty darn big laptop that might not be all that fun to carry. I would definately reccomend a plain old Macbook. Grab a base model one for like $1099 ($1049 + a free iPod if you are a student) then go to www.newegg.com and grab 2gb of ram (1gb would probably even do you just fine if you don't need to do any intensive work). It would end up costing around the same amount, give you more portability AND more performance (these intel core duo chips FLY). And if you go with an intel based mac you could even install windows on it through bootcamp or parallels as a safety blanket . I installed parallels and got windows up and running but then realized that I have no need for it, but its there just in case

O ya and from what you said about what you will be using this machine for I don't think spending twice as much on a macbook pro would help you at all. It would give you an option of a bigger screen but other than that the only other benefit would be the x1600 graphics card vs the macbooks intel gma950. If you aren't gaming or doing any other 3d intensive tasks it really wouldn't make any difference for you.

Some days I am determined to wait, since I have a 17" and a 10.6" Sony T250 it's not hard to. But for your requirements if you need one now I would go for the Macbook. I love my 17" only as a desktop replacement but the Sony goes with me everywhere. I am typing this in my vehicle in a parking lot using a bluetooth connection to a Sprint A900 phone. A 17" would be quite impractical in such tight situations.

Have to add that the MacBook sounds perfect for what you want. While you are getting a lot of computer for the price you'll pay for the used 17" PB, the MacBook is so sweet, I think you'll be glad you got it. Absolutely perfect for the applications you mention. With at least 1GB of RAM - the thing will fly and you'll be set for a long time to come.

I'd get a MB Pro if you are going to be doing video editing because the plain MacBook will be slower than anything trying to do HD video.

I am not positive on this one but I think that most video editing is more RAM intensive than video card intensive. People have shown that Intel GMA 950 graphics can watch HD video just fine, I am not sure how that translates to editing it. From what I have heard, integrated graphics do fine in video editing unless you are using extensive 3d transitional effects. One downside of integrated video, however, is that the integrated card borrows from you system memory, all the more reason to upgrade to 2gb! Almost forgot, students get big discounts on printers as well, when purchased with a new mac

The Intel iBooks are more than sufficient to edit video, even HD.

Here are some benchmarks for you that compare the macbook vs. the powerbook: http://www.macworld.com/2006/05/firs...ench/index.php If I were you I would go with the macbook with maxed out (2gb) ram. I would suggest that your problems with video editing with the store version had everything to do with the fact that it probably had 512 mb of ram in it, and if you used one with 2gb of ram you would be fine. Don't forget that: a) video editing is very ram intensive -and- b) the integrated graphics uses your regular ram so 512mb is just way underpowered

I'm helping my g/f pick out her MB within the next 2 weeks......can't wait! She's never partaken in the OS X phenomenon - I think she'll dig it.

I think she will. Just install the parallels trial and windows xp as a crutch. Tell her if she needs it she can use it for whatever program she needs. I did it and I haven't even found a program I need to install on the windows side needless to say I will be deleting that disk image soon.

I had bootcamp installed on my MBP -- man the games were smokin'. Wonder if they'll upgrade the video card on the Merom version......one can hope.

I'll buy that 17" for $1200. Who do I email?

No kidding. Buy that 17" for $1200, sell it on eBay and take atleast $400-$500 profit, then get whatever laptop you want. Or just keep the 17". Personally I see no use in picking up an Intel machine when so many important apps (Photoshop and DreamWeaver for me anyways) aren't universal yet. That 17" with 2GB RAM will blaze through any apps you throw at it, it's an AWESOME deal, and the display is great. You said yourself that you fell in love with the 17" display, and if you're doing graphic and video editing, you're going to want the most screen space available and a machine that already has all apps native. Don't let anyone talk you into getting something...follow your gut and get what you want. And besides, the build and form factor of the PowerBook is way beyond the MacBook (white anyways).

wrong you are.

I really think that any NB avaiable is capable of doing HD editing in real time...
Please correct if Im wrong...

yeh, it's more a matter of RAM, CPU, and HD speed. that and how the software at hand renders video. obviously real time editing takes a lot more resources than "blind" editing. iMovie converts clips into an uncompressed DV format which allows transitions and effects to be rendered rather efficiently. softwares which work directly with a compressed video source will have to do that much more work to possibly render an effect in real time. then again, with really high end systems u should be able to render most codecs in at least 30fps. HD i'm not so sure about however, so u'll have to look into it.