Why not buy? 2.16GHz CoreDuo MacBook Pro

Question

I currently use a 17-inch G4 1.33GHz PowerBook and am ready for an upgrade. I'm considering to a new Core Duo machine. My uses are modest page layout (Quark Xpress) light photo editing (Photoshop) and presentations (PowerPoint). The ability to run Windows applications directly (With Parallels) is very important; moderate travel use and desktop replacement are the other criteria. There is currently what appears to be a screaming good deal from several of the mail-order houses ($1700 after rebates) on the original 17-inch 2.16GHz MacBook Pro. This is the version that came before todays Core 2 Duo machines and will obviously be slower and less capable. But saving a grand is attractive. Is there any compelling reason NOT to go for the Core Duo machine? Will it be unable to run applications that are foeseeable? Will it be an unloved technical orphan? Why might I regret the purchase?
Thanks for all advice.
PowerBook 17"   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Answer 1

Tony is right, BUT to be more specific the 15in Core2Dues include both Firewire 800 and 400, where as the 15in CoreDuo had just firewire 400. As for the 17in CoreDuo (the one Aces is looking at) that did have firewire 800 adn 400...
I want to also add that the programs you listed you work with are questionable to me. I mean this in regards to their native processor language, those programs are written for PowerPC chips. I am not sure if you are familiar so please let me briefly explain (I, as well as others can go into more detail if needed). Anyways, as you know, the new Apple computers such as the MBP have intel processors. Meaning the entire chip architechture is different then that of the G3, G4, G5 (all were PowerPC chips). So although Apple rewrote the Operating system to work for the new intel chips, many software vendors, such as the programs you listed (Photoshop, Powerpoint, etc...) have yet to be rewritten. Therefore it theory they would not work at all! But of course Apple needed to do something about this compatability issue or else consumers would not buy the new intel processors.
So Apple created something called Rosetta. Rosetta is an emulator that runs in the background and is always ready to translate PowerPC programs to work on the new intel platform. So, if you had your new MBP and launched photoshop, it would launch like normal. But underneath, Rosetta is enabling this PowerPC program to work on the intel. The problem with this is: a signifigant performance hit. If you ever ran Virtual PC on your powerbook to use windows, you know how slow it can be.
My point in telling you this is that software vendors, such as Adobe, are working to create intel versions of their software so that no Rosetta (thus performance hits) will occur. And since Photoshop and others are still off in the distance, like this coming spring/summer Q2-Q3, I would say why not keep using your Powerbook and wait to upgrade until every program you want to use properly works with intel. By then, you can also probably get the current Core2Due MBP for a steal.