Laptops : Apple iBook G4

I Bought my ibook G4 from an authorized dealer nearly a year ago. I feel I have owned it long enough to give an informed opinion on it. I will start with the cons, then the pros.

Cons

1. I do not like the fact that the iBook does not come with wireless access capabilities. Most PC's, even some "lower end" models come with PCI hardware. In order to go wireless, you must purchase an Airport Extreme, or Airport Card. For the price I paid; $1,700, 15 inch, + a Super Drive, a card should have been included. Flipside? The Airport Extreme Card is far less expensive and far more effective than anything designed for PC's, including many of Cisco's hardware which is supposedly "better". Also, Apple's Airport Base Station and Airport Express Base Station have no competition from any other Wireless Repeater or Extender developer in terms of quality and ability. What I can do with my "Express, iTunes and Airport Extreme Card" makes the purchase of the card "seperately", more than worth it. I can be anywhere in my house with my iBook, open iTunes and transmit my music to my reciever, then through my 5.1 surround in better than CD Quality. Finally, Apple's inability to provide wireless technology with their lap tops has everything to do with the ignorance of the majority of consumers in the area of computers. This ignorance effects Apple's market shares, which in-turn, affects their financial abilities to provide more to their consumers.

2. The G4 processor is a horrible piece of hardware. It severly lacks the ability to delivery the power of OSX. Users will find themselves frustrated with the G4 after countless Force Quits from the finder menu because the processor surrenders to the overwhelming power of OSX. In this area, PC users are blessed. The fact is, Intell Pentium 4's are the cream of all Processors. Flipside? When not running a heavy work load, the G4 is greased lightning!

3. The LCD screeen is not back lighting. Using your Ibook in broad day light? Forget about it. You can't see anything. Flipside? PC's aren't much better.

4. Apple has choosen very akward locatons for their ports. Instead of being in the rear, Apple opted for the left side for the DVI, Fire Wire, USB, Phone, Ethernet and Audio, and the right side for the power Adapter Port.. This is non practical and high in damage risk. The rear would have been much better. Flipside? None.

5. Apple Has Always Been Stuborn about two buttons. The touch pad has only one long and stiff button that makes a horrid and loud clicking noise. Annoying! Flipside? None.

6. The speakers are horrible. Just bad. Very, Very bad.Flipside? None.

7.DVD player is horrible. Has very little adjustments options. Flipside? None

8. Apple Customer service is top notch, but is limited to only 90 days. A full year will cost you big. Dell is king in this area hands down. Flipside? (1)Buy A thousand dollar Dell, (2)get the best and longest support in the industry, (3)hook up thousand dollar Dell,(4) surf Web,(5) get virus(6) call Dell, (7) get "sorry but we can't help you answer". Also, Apple techs are far more knowledgeable. You wont call Apple for support and end up talking to someone 10,000 miles away that can't speak english and must read from a help desk essentials book because they are incapable of owning a Dell, because they work for fifty dollars a month.

Pros

1. It is sexy. Apple is The Ferrari of Computers. And it's OS is The Porsche.

2. Its Quite.

3. It has stability.

4. If you ever get a virus, you must call Apple Customer Support. First, you must explain what you were doing prior to the crash, then....... wait!, What am I saying? Apple's don't get viruses. Never did, never have! Hmmmm, 10,000 dollar Apple, 1,000 dollar PC that will do the same, which do I buy? Hum Jeopardy tune. What is Apple? Yesssssssssssss...... genius.

5. Finally, the OSX. This says it all. This is where the can be no comparisons. trying to compare windows to OSX is not only bias and unfair to begin with, it would be tragic. So I wont do it. If I began listing just a quarter of the things the OSX can do that windows cant do, this already long review would evolve into a book. Like Steve said, " Tiger! Long before longhorn"

Conclusion: If you buy an Apple Lap Top, dont go for the big screen. Get the Power Book G5 with the smallest possible screen. The bigger the screen, the more inconveniant it becomes. Intstead get the Airport Card and Super Drive. If you do get the ibook G4, your life will change forever. It is a wonderfull lap top as a whole. I wouldn't want anything else. I lament when I must use my Toshiba Satellite with XP. Once you go Apple, you will always regret having ever used anything else.

Thanks for reading this and good luck with whatever you decide to buy Hide Full Review

I have mostly been a PC user - work and at home. However, the many secruity issues that are associated with the PC platform finally convinced me to discard my PC at home and buy a iBook G4, with additional ram - 768 MB and the 1.33 Ghz is very good. The ease of use was nice Converting from a PC was a non event.

I chose a laptop, instead of a desk model, simply for the fact I can use my iBook anywhere in the house, with wireless connectivity. When I want to print, all I have to do is hook up my printer - very simple. I can also travel with my laptop, so I am never without my files, and internet access. I have the 14" screen which works great for my use.

The .Mac account, which I am using on a trial basis, is an easy way of learning the Mac world. Hide Full Review

I just bought a new iBook to replace the clamshell model I bought to take to on vacation in 2000. I loved that iBook, but I'd pushed the system software as far as it was practical, and it just wasn't keeping up. Also, the thing weighs something like 8 pounds.

The new one is awesome. I just took it on vacation, and was able to plug into the hotel's high-speed connection with an ethernet cord, and operate wireless in hot spots. It's fast and stable.

My digital camera plugs right in and downloads via iPhoto, so I could send pictures home with no fuss. AND I watched a DVD on the plane. The monitor is clear and bright -- I kinda wish I'd sprung for the next bigger one (no special reason -- just because), but I can live with the 12-inch.

This one weighs about half what the old one did, but it still got heavy lugging it around airports.

Also -- be sure to "mark" yours in some distinctive way. There were two identical new iBooks that went through airport security screening one right after the other, and the screener wasn't sure which belonged to whom. We had to turn one on to figure it out. On the trip home, I put a post-it with a "note to self" on the track pad.

I've been using Macs since 1989. This one more than lives up to expectations. Hide Full Review

I am happy to have made the switch to apple. I no longer need to worry as much about viruses, it easily connects to wireless, and it seems to hold up pretty well for gaming but I would recommend a Power-book if you wanted to have the graphics turned up high.
This computer is a bargain for $999. Hide Full Review