Should I buy a G4 Ibook or a G4 Powerbook?

[sore66]

I'm thinking about durability during travel, the chance of theft by the maid in the hotel room or when I take a quick piss at the friendly cybernet cafe. I'm also thinking about my own smile factor. I'm thinking about reliability, quiet (I know my G3 laptop is totally silent almost always), heat, weight, true portability.

The money is not the real issue but there is a $500 spread between the 2 plus an additional $100 extra cost for Applecare with the Powerbook.

I want to get one before the changeover to the Intel chip.

So if money is not the issue, but the above concerns are a factor, what would you get? The 14" ibook or the 15" powerbook?

G4 IBook specs
1.42GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @1.42GHz
512MB memory (DDR333 SDRAM)
14.1-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
ATI Mobility Radeon 9550
32MB DDR video memory
60GB Ultra ATA hard drive
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Scrolling Trackpad
Sudden Motion Sensor

Powerbook G4 specs
15.2-inch TFT widescreen display with 1440x960 resolution
1.67GHz PowerPC G4 processor
512MB memory (DDR2 PC2-4200 SDRAM at 333MHz)
80GB 5400rpm hard drive
Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics card with 128MB DDR memory
Full-size, backlit keyboard
Gigabit Ethernet
USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 & 800

[microcars]

I'm thinking about durability during travel,

hmmm...its a wash

the chance of theft by the maid in the hotel room or when I take a quick piss at the friendly cybernet cafe.

either are equally steal-able.

I'm also thinking about my own smile factor. I'm thinking about reliability, quiet (I know my G3 laptop is totally silent almost always), heat, weight, true portability.

you should be getting a 12" for better portability, but I don't think you will get any "Barbie Laptop" comments about the Powerbook.
Plus you won't regret paying a little more for it when you use those back-lit keys in the dark.

The money is not the real issue...

then you want the Powerbook

[timster]

if money is not the issue

...then get the PowerBook.

PowerBooks are more versatile as far as video goes. If you ever want/need to plug the laptop into an external monitor, the PowerBook will give you more options and a better resolution. A PB can also double as an expensive DVD player.

It sounds like you want a machine to hang onto for a while as this whole transition to Intel chips settles down. The PB is more likely to give you everything you need while you wait to make the jump to Intel.

[tstaheli]

I love my 12" ibook and my brother-in-law loves his 12" powerbook. I have to clean mine about once a month because it does get dirty. I'd recommend either. As far as speed is concerned, if you load an ibook up with RAM I think you won't see a difference in speed.