iBook/Powerbook RAM Compatibility

[MacManDan]

Hi Guys,

So recently my girlfriend has gotten sick of her windows-based PC and is looking at a 12" iBook. She will be purchasing very soon (most likely within the next couple of days, but after the Creative expo thing in New York .. just in case), but she had a question that I couldn't answer. (I did a quick search through the forums but did not find an answer) Is the 15" Powerbook and 12" iBook RAM compatible? For example .. could you take a 256 or 512 stick out of a 15" and stick it in the 12 (and would it work properly, etc)? She is wondering because we found an auction on eBay that is selling a 256 15" PowerBook stick and the auction claims that it works in iBooks as well.

Also .. we're shopping around for cheap RAM but the only RAM manufacturer I know of is Crucial. Are there any other cheap(er) alternatives that are just as reliable?

One more thing (off the topic of RAM). Many people think it goes without saying that AppleCare is a must for PowerBooks, but what about iBooks? Do iBooks need that extra protection, if they are more durable, etc? Opinions are great as well.

Thanks guys. Ahead of time, I appreciate your responses

 

[yzedf]

iBook RAM is different than PowerBook RAM. iBook is supposedly PC100:

http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html

PowerBook 15" is PC133:

http://www.apple.com/powerbook/specs.html

PB 12" and 17" use PC2700 DDR.

Mixing PC100 with PC133 is not advised.

However, I do believe that Apple now puts PC133 memory in the iBook:

http://www.18004memory.com/category.asp?catid=9&subcatid=902

If that is so... $80 should get you the 512MB upgrade chip, maxing the iBook at 640MB. Compare to $200 for the same upgrade from Apple.

http://www.ramseeker.com/ is a decent place to find a deal.

http://www.pricewatch.com/ is another good place to go.

<edit>

I think that AppleCare is advised even for the iBook. My roommates 500MHz iBook (1st gen of the new style) did have a major problem; the clasp broke. Of course this was a month or so after the initial 1 yr warranty expired. A call to Apple revealed a $600 cost to get it fixed. Needless to say, he did not go for it. And sadly, Apple lost a customer that is willing to spend money, as well as tell other people (friends, family, and co-workers) when he thinks something is a good deal (when he bought the iBook) or when it is overhyped (what he thinks now of the iBook). Within 1 year he convinced 3 people to buy iBooks (the last being my ex g/f who got her 800 a month or so before his broke). A shame really.

</edit>

 

[jxyama]

[ed] i erased my previous content because yzedf answered them much better than i did [\ed]

as for best ram deals... you might want to check local computer stores, best buy, circuit city, compusa, etc. also to see if they have any rebate deals. that way, you won't have to wait for them...

 

[MacManDan]

Thanks for the replies. We found the best deal from Amazon (no sales tax, free shipping, $100 rebate!), and she found cheap memory from 18004memory.com. She also got an airport card for cheap off the Apple store using an education discount. All in all, she saved a ton of money off what she COULD have spent if she didn't shop around. Thanks again for all your help!

One more quick question: do the 12" iBooks have a problem with the keyboard marking or scratching the screen like the 15" Powerbook?

 

[jxyama]

i don't own an ibook, but i do own a 12" pb. two of them have a very similar profile, so i really doubt that ibook keyboard will scratch the screen. you might want to go check out: Apple's discussion site to see if anyone has had any problems...