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Re: Powerbook for OS X Java dev?
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Re: Powerbook for OS X Java dev?

> I currently develop using Eclipse on Linux, running on a 1.4GHz Athlon
> with 512MB of SDRAM, Sun JDK.
>
> Would I see a performance increase or decrease in tasks like ant builds
> and
> starting jboss on a Powerbook G4 1GHz, 512MB (a new 12 inch to be
> precise)?
>
> Which java IDE is generally considered best for OS X?

It seems most replies so far haven't given a straight opinion, so I'll venture one.

I moonlight as a Java client application developer that targets the Macintosh platform. I also do a bit of faceless server-side Java jive for my day job where I use mainly Windows.

Any new Powerbook would do you just fine. I would plan on grabbing more RAM than 512. Remembering that your preference for IDE is currently Eclipse, I offer that I haven't seen anything on recent Mac hardware that would make you switch.

Fwiw, on a now pretty old iBook (500 MHz with 384 megs RAM, 8 meg video), Eclipse -- what I used on a Pentium 4 2 GHz, same RAM -- had a really hard time and is horribly sluggish. I found Netbeans worked a better more quickly for what I was doing, for whatever reason (RAM, processor, what I've got in the background, phase of the moon, who knows?! :^D).

Again, however, now with a G4, twice the MHz, much more RAM, and a decent video chip (I've got an iMac, but it's pretty much the same as the 12" you mention), Eclipse runs very nicely. I do notice quite a dip in speed in compilation through Eclipse responsiveness compared to the P4 2GHz. After I get coding, however, I tend not to notice, which is to say it's not a horrible dip.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a road warrior, any Powerbook should do you just fine, and there's nothing I've seen with Java on the Mac that would make you switch from using Eclipse if you're already familiar with it and enjoy using it. Besides, it's a great OS, if you don't mind me saying.

Ruffin Bailey

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