IBook G4 owner scorned: is the time right for MacBook?

Question

Hello,
I am the owner of an iBook G4 (early 2004), which replaced an iBook G3 that was serviced three times in the first six months I owned it. Earlier this year, I had to replace the logic board on the G4 (ugh), and, frankly, two and a half years into ownership of the current machine, I am nervous.
When is it time to replace? What is the life expectancy? Are the new MacBooks plagued with problems, like the iBooks were? I'm starting to think thoughts of upgrading, but I don't want to jump the gun. I just feel a bit insecure about this computer and don't want to end up in trouble. I use my computer nearly all day, every day, to earn a living.
Advice would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

I've owned an iBook G4 12" 1.33, an iBook 14" 1.42, a MacBook Core Duo 2Ghz, and now, a MacBook Core2Duo 2Ghz.
I've been buying and selling, wheeling and dealing in my upgrades over the past couple years, and I love each successive upgrade.
All four machines were brilliant- never a serious issue. Like you, I am using my laptop most of the day, and as such, we're the kinds of users that are prone to having issues occur, due to normal wear and tear.
My mother uses an early 2004 iBook, and so does a co-worker. I replaced the hard drive and the combo drive on his for him, and on my mothers I replaced her hard drive as well. I replaced the drives with 5,400rpm drives, and they were even faster and more perky than ever.
I think you might have hit a streak of lemons- all of the machines I've come across, except for one that was badly misused by the previous owner and needed a new logic board have been great machines.
You'll really enjoy some of the changes from the iBook to the MacBook. I think they're well worth the money, and the performance is unbelievable.
The only drawback for me is the decreased battery life, which comes at the cost of performance I guess.
The rest- glossy screen, hard drive upgradability, ram upgradability, higher screen resolution, magsafe, apple remote/front row, increased airport reception, dual-layer dvd drive, right click tapping... awesome.