Is this Ibook sufficient for photography

[bimmeracer3]

I have the opportunity to get an ibook g4 800mhz notebook for really cheap that would only be used for photography and PS. The HD has been upgraded to 80GB and the ram is expandable up to 1.25gb.
Will this ibook be sufficient enough for an amateur like me who uses PS and LR?

[poppie guy]

It would drive you nuts. I have an old iBook G4, 1.42 GHz that ran so slow in Lightroom that I couldn't stand it and upgraded to an iMac this summer. IMO it's better to get a good computer/monitor than extra gear.

[MaxxuM]

I agree with poppie... Too slow.

[René Damkot]

While I agree that it would drive you nuts for LR (I have a PB G4 (http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/stats/powerbook_g4_1.33_12.html)/1.33GHz/1.25Mb: bottom limit for LR IMO), it *might* do for PS or DPP.

I've edited 1Gb .psd's on the PB.

Depends very much on your expectations, and how much is "really cheap"...
You *will* need to max out the RAM though, and use another machine for LR.

[bimmeracer3]

wow. didnt know LR used needed more speed and uses more ram that PS. Im getting to ibook for about $150 which includes me ordering a new charger and ram.
I do have a hp dv2550se which I currently use for everything, but I was hoping to keep it as a general PC and use the apple for photography. I guess I can use the HP for LR and use the apple for everything else.

[Moppie]

wow. didnt know LR used needed more speed and uses more ram that PS. Im getting to ibook for about $150 which includes me ordering a new charger and ram.
I do have a hp dv2550se which I currently use for everything, but I was hoping to keep it as a general PC and use the apple for photography. I guess I can use the HP for LR and use the apple for everything else.


Why would you want to use an older, lower spec computer to do your photo work on?
The HP is not exactly cutting edge but it has twice the performance of the iBook your looking at.

Photoshop will run on an old spec computer, but some operations will run slowely, and dealing with large file types could be a painfully slow process.
Lightroom, as has been mentioned, will barly run at all, and will not run at all with a large number of photos in it.

[bimmeracer3]

The only reason why I dont want to use to hp is because I use it for so many different things (Music, Dj programs, Movies, etc) and I was hoping that the apple would be sufficient until i can afford a newer laptop for photography.

[Moppie]

Why use a seperate computer?

I use mine for work, gaming, web surfing, photography etc.

[bimmeracer3]

I currently only have a 160gb HD and 2gb of ram max on the hp. Plus my external 500gb mybook died and my seagate external HD only has 80gb.
I am going to order a 500gb seagate free-agent and have WD switch out my mybook to a passport under warranty.

[MaxxuM]

I currently only have a 160gb HD and 2gb of ram max on the hp. Plus my external 500gb mybook died and my seagate external HD only has 80gb.
I am going to order a 500gb seagate free-agent and have WD switch out my mybook to a passport under warranty.

If it is only separation you can buy a very inexpensive computer by piecing one together from used parts. You could get a KVM switch so you can use the same monitor to make it more inexpensive. You could probably put together a computer 10x more powerful than the laptop at only $400.

What you probably want is portability + separation and that can get expensive. As an older person in the tech industry with a pretty good job and part time photojournalist I can afford to get nice things. With that I would say, spend only on what you 'need' right now and save up for a laptop (maybe for Christmas). You probably won't like anything less than 2Ghz dual core Turion or Core2Duo with a 500Gb external drive. Just my .02

[René Damkot]

Im getting to ibook for about $150 which includes me ordering a new charger and ram.

Let me get this straight: You can get this iBook (http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/stats/ibook_g4_800_12.html) for $150?

I say; go for it. It will be nice to have for "simple" work on the road and thethered shooting on location. You probably won't use LR on it, except in an emergency, but you can use it for other stuff.

The est. current price mentioned on that link is a bit high IMO, but the thing is worth more then $150. I'd guess it would fetch about 300 to maybe 350 euros here...

[bimmeracer3]

yup, thats the one. If I can get that kind of money for it, I might consider selling it and use that money to attempt to get another laptop on black friday.

[Colorblinded]

I've got a Mac Mini with the 1.25Ghz processor and 1GB RAM and it would drive me nuts if I had to use it for post processing work. Unless you're really cash strapped and didn't already have another computer I'd say pass on it, even if it is $150. Your HP will definitely outperform it easily.

On the other hand it's only $150, but still it's going to be an awfully sluggish thing.

[René Damkot]

If I can get that kind of money for it, I might consider selling it

Do some research first in your local area, I have no idea what the current prices are there ;)

I do know I prefer my PB G4 12" over faster laptops, because of it's small size. I can work on it in public transportation. IMO a 15" is too big for that.
A bit higher res screen would be nice though. 1024x768 is awfully small...

Guess I'll just have to wait for apple to finally introduce a 12" MBP :p