Thanks for your thoughts and post Richard. Decided to go with the 12"iBook. As tempting as the 12"PB was, it's just a tad too hot and a tad too expensive compared to the G4 iBook. Did resolve some of the negatives: RAM limitation: 1 Gig stick will work in iBook Screen size: <http://www.codetek.com/php/virtual.php> No SuperDrive: external drive with either Toast or hack No iDVD: hack (hopefully), or will just have to use my desktop Ice color that I don't care for: <http://www.macskinz.com/> I guess for a couple hundred dollars, you can save $700 :-) Rick