Ibook G4 Or Powerbook 12" G4, which should I buy? Options

[lamikem20]

I currently use a windows based PC with Cubase SX 1.06. I have been needing to be on the road more (school, and work) and I want to buy a laptop. I am really tired of my WinXP machine crashing. So its time for a mac. The audio hardware I use consist of an Yamaha S80 keyboard, KRK monitors, and an Edirol UR-80 audio interface. I want to either buy a 14" ibook G4 1Ghz or a 12" powerbook. I would rather buy the ibook, but I need to know will it be able to handle recording just as well as the powerbook. I use plug in effects, and virtual instruments, and a software sampler (kontakt,halion), and usually 10 audio tracks max. Also, I am buying an external FW400 drive to ensure good HD recording.

[kristin]

a tough call... but even with the smaller screen, i would still suggest the powerbook for the simple fact that you can upgrade the ram to 1280mb. that will be a substantial difference between the ibook -- only upgradable to 640mb. personally i have 1.5gb of ram in my powermac... one can never have too much ram, especially with the type of work you're doing.

secondly, twice the L2cache... powerbook, definitely. deal with the smaller screen... your applications are more demanding of performance.

--kristin

[bevlev]

Just went through that dilemma - ended up with a PowerBook G4 - 12" with SuperDrive and don't regret it - as Kristin stated, can never have too much RAM - the only catch with the PowerBook is that there is only one free expandable RAM slot - 256MB is hardwired, so you can't swop out the base RAM. And, if you can swing the SuperDrive version, it's great for immediate project backup, especially large native files.