From: "Tim" <tjp314@pacbell.net>

Date: January 22, 2006 9:29:50 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: last questions before I order

Jon:

Another thing to consider, that I didn't realize until I was looking

for a powerbook last spring to replace one who's lease was up at work,

is that the 14" and 17" powerbooks have backlit keys, so you can read

them in the dark. The 12" doesn't. This turned out to be a MAJOR

plus in my view. My HP laptop is really hard to use in the dark,

because even at the lowest brightness setting, the screen dazzles your

eyes so you can't see the keys at all without a flashlight (or by feel).

-Tim.

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@o...> wrote:

Hi Jon;

On 22-Jan-06, at 1:30 PM, ji425bp wrote:

------SNIPPED-------

The more I look at it, the more appealing it is. I may just go ahead

and buy the PowerBook. I'm reading about some problems anyway with

Macmini hard drive upgrade and other difficulties, plus adding all the

extras as you and others mentioned. I see you mentioning that they

didn't have any iBooks listed... being Mac "illiterate", may I ask

what the difference is between a PowerBook and iBook?

Sorry about my "illiteracy".

Not a problem.

The major differences between the PowerBook and iBook are:

1) No PC Card expansion slots for the iBook. One reason I prefer

PowerBooks is that I can expand it OR replace functionality (i.e

FireWire, USB, Network, SATA for highs speed disk access) if it dies

and is out of warranty.

2) iBook has lower end graphics card with 32 megs of VRAM. If you

were playing games or doing a lot of video stuff, this might be an

issue - but likely not.

3) No FireWire 800 on the iBook - not likely an issue for you but if

you move files around a lot the FW800 drives really kick butt over

FW400 or USB 2.

The only thing I might beef up when ordering the iBook is the hard

drive space, as 40 gigs isn't a lot of space.

Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.

Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5

1-(403)-229-9456

milton@o...