New 17" PowerBook

* The new 17" PowerBook has 1140 x 900 resolution, and the keyboard is the most solid keyboard we have ever shipped, says Jobs. The keyboard is backlit. [10:42 ET] * The ports are on the right side. [10:40 ET] * It is one inch thick when closed -- thinnest PowerBook ever, says Jobs. [10:39 ET] * Jobs unveils 17" landscape screen PowerBook. [10:38 ET] source >>

* 1GHz G4, 1MB L3 cache, SuperDrive slot load, GeForce 440 Go 64MB, FireWire 800 with an adapter, BlueTooth and Airport built-in, and Gigabit Ethernet. [10:46 ET]

$3299 available February. And a new 12" powerbook version for $1799 in 2 weeks.

I'm more interested in the 12" powerbooks actually. I'm an ibook user and the size is perfect. The small footprint makes placing it next to my 002 really easy. And with faders now physical, I only need a screen for the Edit window. But the PB should be a nice performance boost over my 500mhz ibook. Looks like the 12" only has a level 2 cache though. Also, less RAM capability (640mb?), and different RAM type, strangely enough. Connections seem the same as the ibook. Weird... hmmm, so what makes the 12" PB different from an ibook?

Sidereal - The main difference would be the G4 processor in the powerbook vs. the G3 that comes in the iBook. Pretty important if you have any desire to run altiverb! As far as heat and laptops and towers are concerned, most laptops do have slightly different processors. In my experience the reduced heat dissipation in laptops leads to shorter lifespan. For example, over the past 8 years I have gone through 5 laptops but I still use the same tower (of course the laptops are PC's and the tower is a MAC if that matters;)

I just noticed the 12" powerbooks do not have the light-sensitive illuminated keyboard that the 17" model has. But they have a third speaker, which is interesting.

here's an idea...that 17" powerbook might seem nice...but...at 3299...that's pretty expensive. Look you can get TWO 12" for 3598. And that's 24"...plus you can REALLY do two things at once...mix audio on one, while you do your taxes on the other, or surf the internet on one while you compress a movie on the other...