So I'm looking at the PowerBook G4. Love it, hate it, worth the money?

I adore my now-three-year-old one. I want another, though until I can afford it, I'm just upping the RAM in Fredlet.

It survived a tumble that bent the frame, for crying out loud. (The frame's since been fixed.)

So I'm looking at the PowerBook G4. Love it, hate it, worth the money?

I've had mine for a year now. (One year tomorrow!) I love my Trixie. And she gets heavy use. Home, work, travel, at the Bean. I've really had no complaints.

Love it, hate it, worth the money?

Shrift - I just got a 12" powerbook in December and I have no regrets. I love it and - yes, it was expensive - but it was worth it.

I had momentary buyer's remorse when the MacBook Pro was announced but then I realized I really don't need anything 4x faster than the G4. It is plenty fast for me.

Also note: the only reason I got the powerbook was because I wanted a 12 inch notebook with a superdrive and you can't get the iBook with both of those things (only the 15" and 17" iBooks can come with superdrives). You may want to look at an iBook instead if those two things are not essential to you.

Chiming in as one who loves her Powerbook.

Well, I'm comparing the iBook and the PowerBook, and basically drooling all over the PowerBook hardware. I can afford a PowerBook, so... I'm trying to figure out what screen size I really need, and if I feel like spending ridiculous amounts of money on the 17". Or go smaller screen but up the hard drive.

I got the 15" and am quite happy. I will say that, while the 17" is supercool, it's a bitch and a half to find a cute laptop bag it will fit into.

I will say that, while the 17" is supercool, it's a bitch and a half to find a cute laptop bag it will fit into.

Dude, this is exactly the type of info I was looking for, and why I love the Buffistas.

I didn't get the 17" either. I almost did, but decided I didn't need the extra real estate. The 15" is great--I've seen a friend's 17" and it didn't ping envy, no matter how much he tried. I watch video fullscreen on it all the time and it's lovely.

The 17" Powebooks are a huge pain in the ass. Ginormous. The 15" is as big as I can imagine using - it really cuts a fabulous compromise.

I do actually prefer the 12" form factor in some ways, because it's just so damn portable. Still, the 15" is a LOT nicer when sitting at a desk, so your preference may vary.

I you're interested in a Powerbook G4 right now, you're probably gonna get a better deal surfing ebay and craigslist and such for slightly used ones (still in warranty so you can add applecare to it if necessary) being sold by new Macbook Pro order-ers. Or, you could join me on the slightly scary cutting edge and go for a Macbook Pro yourself - I think they're gonna rock. And since they kept the same design as the Powerbook, it shouldn't be quite as risky a proposition as a true first generation release... knock on wood.

HA! You know, I wondered as I was typing it, if that was a stupid thing to care about. But it wasn't!

The 15" doesn't even fit in my old laptop rolling bag but that's okay. I got a supercute hot pink laptop bag and just use that as my purse when I go on the plane.

And what ita said regarding full screen video.

ETA: The 15" has never really felt unwieldy to me. I mean, I carry it everywhere, every day. Then again, it's light as a feather when compared to the brick of an old Dell laptop my former company had assigned to me.