I did it earlier this year and now I’m doing it again. Waiting for California to wake up and announce the new powerbooks at 10am. Back in January I decided to buy Dunstan’s 17“, rather than go for the new model. The 17” is lovely (and actually thinner than the 12" or 15“), but after lugging it around SXSW, @Media and a trip to New York this year, I decided its just too much. I now use it with a 20” cinema display, and just don’t need the extra size.
If it didn’t cost so much to upgrade my Titanium powerbook (more than a new one!), I’d have done that. Its lighter than the current models, and I prefer having all the ports at the back where they’re out of the way. It is a little worse for wear though:
And its got a lot worse since that was taken. With only one screw left on the bottom, it does tend to flap about a bit, and to insert CD’s, you have to lift the bent upper casing slightly. The thing is, I loved it. This 15" was the best machine I ever owned - the best balance of screen size and portability.
So, a month ago I decided to go back to a 15" powerbook, and get a new one. Mr Oxton expressed his interest in buying the 17", so it will have a ’heritage of sorts - Dunstan, then me, then John. Shortly after ordering the new one, the rumour mills started talking about new models coming soon, but I don’t let that talk bother me.
The new powerbook arrived last week, and was what Apple call “dead on arrival”. A faulty hard drive meant kernel panics everytime it started up, and I was not best pleased. The ritual of opening a new mac is such a wonderful thing (and rare), but the joy soon ended. After it was taken in to be looked at, they wanted 7 days to repair it, or 2 weeks to replace it. Thats no way to start its life, so I asked for refund.
Ringing round mac dealers, many aren’t taking orders for a new custom spec powerbook, as they all expect Wednesday’s announcements to bring new models.
So I’m waiting, and so is John.
Update - The event came and went, with new iMacs, not new powerbooks. Bugger….
Update 2 - According Computer Warehouse, they are still expected an announcement on upgraded powerbooks any day now. Could be today, or early next week…