New I-book, ibook vs powerbook Options

[14Angel]

I'm just about to buy a MAC notebook and I'm still trying to decide whether to go for an ibook or a powerbook. If I were going for the Ibook. It would be the new 1.2 GHz G4 with 512MB and a superdrive.

The alternative is a 15" Powerbook, but this works out at least 600 EUR more even if I just go for an upgraded 15" Combo (512MB RAM, superdrive).

I know the backlit keyboard is nice (and also extra) but I basically seem to be paying an extra 33% for a slightly faster processor (1.33 GHz vs 1.2 GHz) and a faster type of RAM and system bus.

I know there used to be quite a difference between ibooks and powerbooks, but it seems to me (though undoubtably a newcomer to MACs) that with the recently launched models the difference has now become quite slim.

Any opinions? Should I go for an even higher RAM spec (I plan to use it for basic digital recording and as a synth/sampler/noise looper)?

[bubbledave]

I am actually going through a similar debate right now and money is definitely a factor. I currently have a decent home setup (PowerMac DP500 w/ 1.5GB Ram, MOTO 2408, 1 SCSI/160 HD + 2 ATA's and 2 80GB Ext FW Drives running DP4 w/ Sylus and Mach Five w/ an Edirol midi keyboard) but have a small apt and a 17 month old who is obsessed w/ my computer. I am renting a monthly rehearsal space and am itching to make projects more mobile. I've just been offered a practically brand new 12" 1GHz iBook with an Airport card for $900 and it may or may not have Apple Care. Then I'd probaly go out and buy an inexpensive FW audio input box and be able to take my keyboard as well and do audio w/ Stylus and Mach Five. I know I'd get nothing for my home setup so I'm really just looking for a secondary, portable solution so I'm able to record and use my rehearsal space more for recording. If I went for a Power Book I'd be looking at spending roughly double what I can get the iBook for...and I'd still need to buy an audio interface. I figure I could use one of my external FW HDs as a recording drive and buy 512 RAM to goose itto 768. I'm really not looking to do much more than a few audio tracks at a time (8 would be the max) and mostly I'd be doing Stylus and Mach Five tracks. Will I be pulling my hair out? Should I go into further debt just for a little extra speed or is the iBook good enough?