[quote=“fredericka bimmel”]One more question:
If I get the 15" powerbook with superdrive for 109k in Taiwan (about $300 USD MORE here after conversion than the online prices of $2799 or so),
I am getting a much more powerful and hardy notebook than if I get the 14" ibook for around 60k?
It’s two months extra rent, the way I see it, if I spend 40k more, to get the primo one. But I do like the aluminum case much more than the prissy plastic white one!!! [/quote]
Supposedly HK has the Macs for cheaper. But SARS isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, otherwise you could have asked a friend to pick one up on his way back from HK.
The part about the “2-month-rent”, yeah, man… I hear you. It broke my heart (and bank) having to part with so much money all on one computer. But to be completely honest, the only regret I have was not going the extra mile and get the superdrive… 
On the other hand, unless you are a power user or is on your way to be one, you aren’t going to notice too much difference with a G4 chip. Then again, do plan your purchase on what you will be using the machine for. If 98% of the time it’s just for web/email and occassional MS Word, I think iBook should serve you well. But if you are like me, who almost always regrets when I do get to push the machine for that 2% of the time, you might want to reconsider the PowerBook.
For myself, I use my PB to administrate my remote Linux server, occassional graphic editing, word, some home movie editing, music, but mostly web-based activities. I’d be the first to admit an iBook would have been sufficient, but like you, I bought into the Ti casing while easily convicing myself G4 and extended video-out were exactly what I needed… 
Some people complain about paint being chipped/fallen off from the Ti casing/rim. But 6+ months into using it with great care, I haven’t experienced anything of that sort. I have read articles about PowerBooks being run over by cars, baked in ovens (no joke) and fallen from desks and still operate fine (but you’d need to spend a bundle replacing the LCD screen). As for the iBook, its white plastic casing was made to endure 7th graders.
I don’t think I have answered your question per se. But maybe by offering my mental state at the time of purchase can help guide your conciousness towards buying the “right” machine for you. And by all means, do consider the Wintel machines too. With the attractive pricing available on the “Dark side”, it’s crazy not to take a look what’s available there. When I planned my purchase, I actually ruled Macs out due to pricing. But $3K+ later, I haven’t looked back since! 
