stripethree

Today seemed like just another Tuesday. Until you remember that every now and then on the occasional Tuesday, Apple decides to hold a special event and unveil the next revision of whichever product line the spotlight shine upon. On this particular Tuesday, laptops were the objects of attention, as Apple announced significant changes to the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines along with minor updates to the MacBook Air. Now, I have had my trusty PowerBook G4 since the holiday season of 2003 and have watched as the PowerBook turned into the MacBook Pro, then was revised, and revised again (and probably again, I haven’t counted), then emerged the MacBook Air, and now, the newest MacBook Pros. Each time I ‘oh’ and ‘ah’ over the new features, and this time is no different. The nerd in me even appreciates the in depth presentation about the new manufacturing process, as a single brick of aluminum is turned into the majority of the laptops frame and structure. Today, as with every revision I’ve watched via streaming web video after the fact, I came across the same set of thoughts. Is it time to replace my PowerBook? Has it run it’s course? Can I resist the temptation of delicious new product?

The answer’s are still, for now, No, no, and yes. This laptop, the one I am typing this blog entry on now, is over four and a half years old. That is ancient, by computer standards, and ironically, I have an even older Mac (remember the Cube?) sitting mere feet from me, also still in service. My PowerBook’s life has not always been smooth sailing as it bears the scars of being dropped, scratched, dented, and spilled on. It survived the tail end of my undergraduate experience, the entirety of my graduate experience, and the first four years of my professional experience. I’ve replaced some wear items along the way – the hard drive, battery, and keyboard – but not enough that would justify the cost of a new laptop. It certainly didn’t hurt that I was ready and willing to take the thing apart and replace components on my own. My point is, the thing still works, and I really don’t do the kinds of things with it that would merit needing a much faster processor or other upgrades beyond what this computer can deal with. One of the real reasons that I have been able to resist the temptation is that this is the last laptop Apple offered in such a small form factor. Granted the new MacBook weighs the same 4.5lbs as my machine and it’s footprint is not that much larger, but I am certainly not the only one waiting for Apple to re-enter the so called, sub-notebook market. The MacBook Air comes close and really, was the biggest temptation, because it is all I would need or want in a laptop. I rarely use the optical drive, I rarely ever use wired Ethernet, and even those uses are ‘rarely’ and not ‘never’, it would probably never be the only machine at my disposal so I would have no reservations with a laptop lacking some of the more common hardware. It would be perfect and I would have one already, if it were just a size smaller. I’ve seen it in person and the form factor is great, but everytime I come back to my little marvel the larger 13.3 inch laptops just don’t seem as comfortable. I’m probably crazy for implying that a 3.0lb, stick figure thin laptop as powerful as the Air is over-sized and ‘uncomfortable’, but Apple, that’s your own fault for making this laptop so damn good.

I have to say, however, that I do see the writing on the wall, for both machines. The Cube has a lower ceiling for upgrades and the expense of a newer processor and more RAM will rival that of a more capable Mac Mini, especially as the market for used or refurbished units expands. I for one, believe the end of life rumors for the Mini are just that, rumors, so the second hand market should age like wine. The Cube cannot run Leopard without one of those expensive motherboard upgrades and as more years pass and more revisions of OS X come along, it’s only going to get further and further behind. Sooner or later it will be time to put it to pasture, but it can always look forward to a second life as a fish tank. As for the PowerBook, well, it’s future might be a little more secure. It will honestly depend on how hard and fast Apple closes the door on the G4 processor and if you haven’t noticed, Apple has already put a few nails in that coffin. I was disappointed when I found out that my trusty G4 didn’t have the power for the new iMovie, how much longer before it isn’t good enough for OS X as a whole? Will Snow Leopard mark the death bell for the Power PC processors? We will see. If OS 10.6 goes Intel only or even G5 and up, and someone at Apple convinces the bean counters that the market for MacBook Mini is alive and well, then there really won’t be much of a decision for me to make.

Until then, however, onward march my pair of G4s.