HD For Indies

UPDATED Monday 8pm: Missed something - the 17" model has optical digital audio in and out. From the Apple page:

Audiophiles Rejoice
The new 17-inch PowerBook also includes built-in optical digital audio input and output for connecting to devices such as decks, receivers, digital instruments and 5.1 surround sound systems. Because optical digital audio transmits data as impulses of light rather than electrical signals, it enables true, noise-free, pristine sound ó eliminating troublesome ground loops and ensuring higher audio and signal quality

So if you want to do 5.1 channel audio work in the field, the 17" model is the way to go - the 12" and 15" don't have it.

Further updated: see this link for more on other unique features of the 17" model

Apple announced improved Powerbooks today.

Highlights include:

-all models include Airport Extreme (already had in previous versions) and BlueTooth 2.0, which is faster than the 1.0 spec (when working with 2.0 rated devices). Also lets you do GPRS data transfer.
-all models include a new Sudden Motion Sensor which detects sudden changes in postion/rotation such as from dropping the 'book, and quickly parks the drive heads to prevent data loss. This is a biggie.
-all SuperDrive models include 8x DVD+/-R buring SuperDrives
-all models include 512 MB RAM base (finally!) that is of course upgradeable.
-bigger hard drives of up to 100 GB
-all models include the new scrolling trackpad, which lets you drag two fingers at a time to scroll or pan around a document (slick!)
-All 15 & 17 inch models includ the backlit keyboard now

AppleIsider has a nice summary of all the specs.

Mike's Commentary

All of the new models have faster procesors, which is good, but implies that they might draw more power, thus reducing battery life per charge, which is not so good.

Larger and faster stock hard drives are an improvement as well.

Backlit keyboars standard instead of BTO is good, since it greatly helps working in the dark.

An increase to 512 MB RAM is long overdue. For the 12" models, it's actally a bit of a pain, since the cost effective upgrade is to ditch the 256 MB (or sell it on eBay or whatever) and buy a 1GB stick, since the 12" only has one slot for memeory. For the 15 & 17 inch models, the 512 MB stick is a good thing, since that means you can add another 512 MB to get up to the 1GB required for FCP HD editing.

The Sudden Motion Sensor is BIG news, since that vastly increases the survival ods for data on a dropped laptop. Dropping your laptop is perhaps the leading cause of data death among young powerbooks. (Yes I'm punning)

DVD+/-R burning in an 8x SuperDrive: the ability to burn "whatever" media si definitely a plus, and 8x is a big bump up from 4x for DVD burning.

Bluetooth 2.0: nice but not mandatory. I'm not awar of any bluetooth 2.0 devices, but forard compatibility is a always a good idea. The website mentioned something about GPRS data communication that I didn't understand fully, perhaps something about using your cellphone as a modem? Not sure.

The 12": is what I use (I have last year's model) I like that it is very small and has long batery life (up to 3 1/2 hours the way I use it when writing). Pros: small, light, fast enough for FCP editing, can burn DVDs. Cons: 1.5 GHz max, no FireWire 800 port, no PCMCIA slot, no backlit keyboard, screen too small for full sized 720p previewing, tiny speakers. Only one RAM slot, so 1GB max, and it's an expensive stick of RAM (much more expensive per GB than 2 512 MB sticks would be). Screen isn't so great - has been described as "the only iBook screen in the PowerBook line." Single FireWire 400 port can be a problem with some FireWire based video decks.

The 15": Pros: up to 1.67 GHz (fastest available), DOES have FireWire 800 and PCMCIA (PCMCIA will matter for editors later this year, all I can say for now), better speakers, 1280 pixel wide screen is sufficient for 1:1 720p previewing, bigger screen also gives FCP more room to breathe for the UI (user interface, windows etc.)backlit keyboard standard now, 2 RAM slot for more flexible and affordable RAM upgrading, MUCH better/brighter screen than the 12". Cons: Hmm, not a lot. Bigger, heavier and more expensive than the 12", shorter battery life...tha's about all I can think of.

The 17" aka "the Cafeteria Tray": the El Jefe PowerBook. Pros: huge screen gives lots of room to see bins and preview windows in FCP, including a 100% sized preview window AND a timeline at t the same time. Ports etc. are the same as the 15", includes the backlit keybaord standard. Envy of all who witness it. Cons: Big and heavy and awkward. Using it in an airline seat is an Experience, and not in a good way. Bigger screen is big, but not big enough for 1:1 1080 res viewing. Shorter battery life than other models most likely (I don'thae hard numbers on that) but a big screen is a big power draw.

So if you are looking at old vs. new PowerBooks, unless you saved $400 or more dollars, I'd suggest getting one of the new PowerBooks as the way to go.

The 15" is probably a good fit for a lot of people. If you have the budget for the 17", evaluate the practicality of it before plunking down tall coin on it.

If you're on a budget, the 15" is best bang/buck. The 12" does a lot, but does have some functional hindrances (solo FW400 port, 1GB RAM max), and upgrading it to FCP HD specs is costly (single RAM slot, costly 1GB RAM sticks).

Update: but if you want built-in optical digital audio, the 17" is the only model that supports this. Are there FireWire breakout boxes that support 5.1? I'm not sure, I'm not an audio guy.

So evaluate your total package costs, not just the machine "plus stuff".

-mike