If anyone has a 15" Powerbook 1.67 GHz logic board they want to give me, I wil accept it. Otherwise, I'm thinking of upgrading. Since I'm so far from a Mac store, I'm doing this all online, with the loonies and the evangelicals. Mainly, I have two questions, if anyone knows the answers: 1. Has the screen-tilt problem been fixed? I don't want to buy a computer I can't look dirctly at the screen of. 2. Who has an actual opinion on glossy vs. matte screen? I would prefer to go with matte at this point, but I keep hearing both sides. Yes, I have looked at the 13" Macbooks, but I don't think I would enjoy doing photoshop on a little screen. Frankly, I'd rather find a faster Powerbook, but I don't think that's going to happen.
Glossy is cool when you are in dark conditions but it really is annoying if you have any light source that will provide glare. So if you travel all the time I'd go for non-glossy surface... but I suppose if your laptop usually sits in rooms with no glare issues, go for the glossy cuz it looks a bit nicer.
1. Not familiar with it. Explain, please. 2. Matte, especially if you're doing Photoshop. Don't forget to calibrate for your working lighting conditions. I've noticed glossy has a tendency to kill subtlety in dark areas - turns it all black - in favor of higher overall contrast.
Last year a number of people were complaining about the inability to tilt the screen back far enough to be able to read it well with the laptop in their lap or on a desk. This had something to do with the structure of the hinge (and the thinness of the whole computer). Apparently the Macbook Pro opened to about 120 degrees, while the Aluminum Powerbook G4 can open to about 135 degrees. These are not numbers I have personally checked. I didn't know if Apple had done a miraculous redesign to allow more screen tiltage, but it's my guess that they have not. I haven't been able to find any official statement on the amount of screen tilt you can get. Good to know, I would rather have this computer work well for PS than just as a glorified DVD player.
The AlBook definitely opens to ~135 degrees. I haven't tried to open a MBP fully, but I was under the impression that the chassis for that computer was the same, and I know the hinge design is. So it SHOULD open up to 135. If there's an Apple Retail store near you, go down there and take a look.
I'm using a Sony Vaio and I just checked out of curiousity- it goes to a full 180 degrees. I'm pretty sure it has a glossy screen, because I have all the glare problems mentioned.
I didn't think to look last time I was at a store around Christmas I'll have to see if there are any near ND.
What is the return policy? You could just order one, try it out and send it back if it doesn't tilt enough. If you call an explain the situation it probably won't be a problem. The amount of tilt you need is unique based on your desk/chair/body height and your posture. Even viewing at the store isn't really the same.
Assuming you have Fry's Electronics out where you are, you could also get a gander at one there. We have an Apple store up in Scottsdale, but the Fry's here in Tempe also carries Apple's full lineup, from the Mini to the Pro, iPod Shuffles to (presumably by now) Apple TVs to MacBooks and MBPs. Of course, keep in mind the issues Powa just raised -- you'll be able to test the tilt, but (obviously) they're not going to outfit you with a chair and a desk to set the thing on to see if it really fits ya.
