Quick question, would this table that I found be an accurate showing of how the chips compare with one another for speed?

http://www.systemshootouts.org/processors.html

If so then I'm seriously reconsidering getting a powerbook. Right now I'm running a Gateway Desktop with a P4 2.4 Ghz, and I would rather see a speed increase rather than decrease. I was going to wait for a Turion but seeing as how there isn't too much of a performance increase I thought I'd skip it. Initially the Powerbook really impressed me with its size and I just like all the iLife stuff that you get with it. Is there any other laptops that would be comparable with the size of the 12" PB but with faster specs? Also if I decide not to get the PB, is there some kind of software package that is like iLife?

Interesting find. What specs are the computers though? Memory, graphic card, hardrive speed etc all add/subract preformance points to any benchmark.

not really, it really depends on the task at hand. And it appears that these ratings were just thought up based on what the marketing scheme is. For instance, the banias 1.5 ghz pm is wayyy faster than a p4 at 1.7 ghz. It should be comparable to a p4 at about 2.2-2.4 ghz.

but is that accurate for the speed of a powerbook? Hypothetically, let's just say that the computers all have 512 ram, same graphics card, and just running firefox, the only difference will be the CPU. Will the 1.5 ghz G4 really be that slow? Should I just get a Centrino or Turion lappy instead of going for the PB? Also, does anyone know anything about my software dilemma?

If you're concerned about processor speed & efficiency, yes, you should. I believe Adobe and Creative have some options in this area (although they tend to be expensive). It also wouldn't surprise me if Apple had an iLife version for Windows.

alright, thanks rob, its always good to get help from a fellow Minnesotan

Also, should I go for the new sonoma technology or should i try to save some money and just go for the regular centrino? that is if i go for the centrino over the turion. I mean, does a laptop with the new DDR2 ram perform that much greater over the DDR ram? I have heard reports that it really doesn't, but then again I'm not sure either way.

honestly, I'm really not sure either. you could get a system with carmel (pre-Sonoma Centrino) because "they're a lot cheaper", but they're not actually that much cheaper from what I've found. Or you could also get a Sonoma system because "everything will be Sonoma within 6 months", but again, I don't think so. There's a lot of hype and personal preference that gets involved. The newer processors have a bigger front side bus and are slightly faster, but I'm not really sure by how much in "real use". The only undisputed thing in favor of Sonoma so far is that the newest PCI Express graphics cards (ATi x700 & x800, Nvidia 6600 & 6800) kick the tail of the older AGP graphics cards, and Sonoma supports PCI Express, but Carmel doesn't.
Regarding memory types, DDR2 will run at faster speeds than DDR, but DDR2 also has higher latencies, so it's sort of a toss-up. They seem to be similarly priced right now, although conjecture will say that one or the other will get really cheap or really expensive, and nobody knows what will happen when DDR3 modules come out sometime next year, etc.
I'm typing on a computer that is running with Sonoma and DDR2, and I think it's great, but again, it's more that you have to like the particular computer, not just the technology that makes it. There's a lot of variety out there, even within the same "type" of computers. Hope that helps.