I've been neglecting my blog a bit lately due to a lengthy FileMaker project. I'm creating a custom version of Studio Manager for an Ad agency with special needs. It's been time consuming. All that time led to exhaustion and more money than usual flowing in which then allowed for the perfect remedy for exhaustion - a new Powerbook!
I considered going BIG with a 17" whose 1400x900 screen I would love but the weight and size were too much for someone like me who also has a major PowerMac 2-screen desktop set-up for office work.
I also considered going small with a 12" to save myself a pound and some size. But I am fond of the extra wide screen on my current Titanium 15. 1024x768 seems cramped and I plan to use this notebook for near full-on work on my couch or watching TV or when traveling for FileMaker projects (and vacation - don't leave home without it). Not just web surfing and email. I expect to be more productive with a TiBook on work projects which will easily pay for the extra price of the 15 over the 12.
Build to order is the way to go. This way I can create a cross between the econo 15 and the premium 15, like so: 1.5 ghz, combo drive (saving $200 - I already have 2 superdrives elsewhere in my house and must admit that I've never burned a DVD yet), 80 gb hard drive with the +$50 option to get a 5400 rpm instead of 4200 rpm, 512 mb RAM and the included built-in bluetooth, airport extreme and keyboard backlight, 2 USB 2 ports, 800 and 400 firewire ports. Total damages - a reasonable $2350.
Except, I chose to cough up another $350 for 3 years of Applecare. Applecare covers not only the hardware but all the Apple applications like isynch, addressbook, mail, ical, iphoto, imovie, itunes, quicktime, sherlock, appleworks plus OS X. When I get a spare $250 or so, I'll up the RAM to 1 gig which is what I have now.
I'm tracking the shipment several times a day. I even looked out on the porch this morning to see if it had arrived. Hope springs eternal. I ordered Saturday. So far, it just says expected ship date is Thursday. I'm hoping to have it Friday but Monday or Tuesday is probably more realistic as I'm using FedEx ground. I'll probably be making an ecstatic post the day of arrival. I always love the out-of-box experience when buying a new Mac!
UPDATE 11:34 pm Tues May 25
It shipped! Just got the shipping notice from Apple. They're very conservative (I hope) and are saying it should be here within 10 days. I'm hoping by Thursday or Friday... this week.
UPDATE 3:51 pm Wed May 26
Uh, maybe it will be a while. The Powerbook is shipping from Shanghai of all places. Ground shipping might be a long swim to the US. This global economy stuff sometimes sucks.