[usefulmatt]

Hi there...
I'm currently torn between the 12" and the 15" Powerbook, and am wondering if anyone has regretted going for the 12" and getting the 15"?
I will be doing a lot of coffee shop computing, designing webpages, editing photos, maybe MSN chats, listening to music for sure, and looking at on average no less than 10 webpages at once...
So the 12" would be great for the coffee shop bit.... But the 15" is going to be more flexible over the course of the 2 years that i'll be paying back.. and for pictures and video the screen has a lot more contrast and is brighter.
Also the resolution of the 12" is only 1024x768... which although a few years ago we all used on our 14 and 15inch monitors, and some laptops still use it, larger resolution would be good too...
So really.... I guess I'm wanting to know if anyone who was torn like me, and went for the 12"PB over the 15"PB, has regretted going for the 12"?

Usefulmatt

[Crazyoyo]

Most decisions involve a fair amount of compromise my son. I sincerely wish that you'll be soon rich enough never to compromise and for a start buy both the 12" and the 15"

[Earthling7]

Short answer: NO.
Long answer: The 12" is perfectly balanced for portability. Sure, when working in GoLive (and so probably Dreamweaver as well), you sometimes need to scroll slightly to see the whole page you're working on. This is especially true when designing for 1024x768. Most sites are still designed for 800x600 and those you can see while having your inspectors visible.
TFTs are never good for colour-sensitive work. Whenever you make a graphic or a web site, make sure to check it out on a CRT as well.
Cafe tables are usually not very big and they are crowded. The 12" will feel fat enough. I think the 15" will leave no room your coffee.
I am personally using my 12" for video editing in FCP. I sometimes wish that the LCD had a higher resolution, but never that it was bigger. As far as I'm concerned, the 12" is the only notebook I would use. I used to have a 14" ThinkPad. Not much difference one might think, but the difference is that I always take my Powerbook with me. I only carried the ThinkPad around if I knew I would need it.
The 12" is perfect. Now, let's get a 15" enthusiast to give you the other side of the coin

[pdrayton]

Used to have a 15" and have never regretted going to the 12". Frankly, I like the 12" a lot more.
The 12" is perfect for coffee shops (as Earthling has noted, you'll want room for your coffee and maybe a snack, too).
I realize you may have lots of friends who use MSN for chat, but iChatAV is far superior... do give it a try and encourage your MSN contacts to get an AIM account (AIM is compatible with iChatAV).
Tabbed browsing in Safari makes viewing multiple web sites a breeze.
I find that I use Expos frequently when working with multiple applications... it's as effective for me as it is viewing side-by-side apps or windows on a 20" Apple Display. I have my dock located in the right-siide of the screen (set to appear only when I move the cursor there), and about 2 1/4" of "real estate" on the right side of the screen left open for widgets (all my apps are aligned to the left and set not to extend into the blank desktop real estate), chat, desktop printer icon, etc. I'm quite effecient with my screen real estate and am able to view all sorts of things just by glancing at the screen
You'll enjoy the 12" PowerBook... so light, so portable, a great laptop!

[Pilot]

Tech-wise, the 12" PB is trumped by its 15" cousin. The 12" is just a glorified iBook. I'd rather have a 14" iBook.

[macnuke]

short answer.. NO
long answer ... HECK NO
I have 20" and larger displays at home and work.
i want portability, not lugability.
the Al looks more professional than the white, so the iB was out.
ah likes it /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Nobody]

No... but then I do have both. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[gdsegel]

Having both a 12" and a 17" PowerBook, I can say the 17" sits under the desk and never gets used. The 12" offers for me, excellent resolution, ample screen real estate and extreme portability.
The only 15" I can compare it to would be the 15" Ti that I've owned previously. Hands down the 12" beats it for everyday use especially in a cafe use comparison (size wise).
Good luck,
Gregg

[risc]

I have a 17incher and I love it to death, but I know some people who have the 12inch and I'm amazed at how portable it is. I was actually envying my friends' 12' PB. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif That thing is so small but almost as powerful as my 17 (the newer revision powerbooks). I say get the 12 unless you absolutely need more screen space. Oh, and it's perfect for cafes.

[funkyJunc]

I agree with Risc. I have a 17" PB and I wouldn't part with it ever (not even in a coffee shop), but I have plenty of friends who will swear by their 12". They don't differ a tremendous amount in 'power' and it gives you the real estate you need ... I just like the feeling of not being over crowded. Plus, Flash tends to monopolize screen space, so the lager 17 is good for me. Tabbed windows is a tremendous help and expose should help you manuever in even the most cluttered desk top.

Although, I still think you should get both ... 2 PBs are always better than one!

[Brettcamp]

Not really, but only because I also have a 17" DVI external display for desk use. If I used my 12" more on my lap, I probably would crave the 15" brighter, sharper screen and space. But most of my use is at my desk, in part to spare my neck and back and wrists from the ergonomic problems of extended laptop use. When I do take the 12" with me, whether it's downstairs or across the country, I'm grateful for its light weight. I use it only for writing, email and the web, no photo or video stuff, but even so, I wouldn't want it as my only screen -- the external display is essential. And the price of a really good 17" LCD display (recommended by Macworld) was less than the price difference between the 15" and 17". I'm sure I'd have been happy with the 15" if I'd gotten it, though. So I guess it depends how much you'll be using it with an external display, and how much you need the extra power and features (e.g. backlit keyboard) of the 15". For my uses, the 12" is perfectly adequate, but my uses aren't heavy duty.

[Brettcamp]

Oops, meant to type: "And the price of a really good 17" LCD display (recommended by Macworld) was less than the price difference between the 15" and 12" Powerbooks. "

[DanKnightUK]

I am very happy with my 12" but I have thought of one thing that I can't do with it that I could do with the 15" - add a PCMCIA 3G WCDMA Modem card. There is no PCMCIA on the 12" which I didn't think would be a problem as my Thinkpad used PCMCIA for firewire and WiFi which the Pb already has. Having said that I've never had any problems finding a wireless hotspot and that is both cheaper and faster. Just a thought as it may be something you'll need but overlooked.
Dan

[usefulmatt]

Hi there..
Well I'm a little closer to the decision.. I think I want the 12"'s portablity.... although every time I move forward 3 steps in my decision, the size of screen/res of the 15" knocks me back 2...
Regarding 3G though, I've been with 3 since they launched in the UK, and am on my 4th 3G handset... The data transfer is only 384kbps at the moment.. and my actual network is the only 3G operator that doesn't provide data access, so I'm not too worried about that.. Looking for london wifi hotspots (other than the Apple store) will be my next quest when I get it finally! hehe..
Thanks for all the help though..... no one can help me now though.. it's just down to my own decision about size........

Usefulmatt