A Superb, No Compromise Notebook for the Traveler
Written: Jul 19 '03
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Pros: Compact, full featured, no compromises notebook.
Cons: Wireless card not included, but can get thrown in free.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a full function notebook to tote around, I highly recommend this notebook as a no compromise solution.
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| abolinger's Full Review: Apple PowerBook G4 12.1 in. (M8760LL/A) Mac Notebo... |
For the longest time, I've been searching for a laptop computer that's not a compromise. There are no compromises with Apple's PowerBook line, in my humble opinion.
What comes in the box
The box the PowerBook is a small black box. It is solidly packed and there is no wiggling or jiggling of any of the contents. Everything in the box is deliberately packed and everything has a purpose.
You'll find a getting started guide, warranty cards, and some proof of purchase cards located in a plastic envelope. Additionally, you'll find the PowerBook in a foam envelope securely packed. Additionally, there's a small power supply (not the bulky ones you're accustomed to with other manufacturers notebooks). Also, you'll find a connector for hooking the PowerBook up to a VGA monitor and an S-Video out connector.
Description of the PowerBook
The entire exterior of the computer is a matte finish aluminum. It feels very solid and the metal screws that are visible add to the PowerBook's solid appearance. The keys match the appearance of the rest of the PowerBook, however they are plastic. Prior to this notebook, I've used IBM ThinkPads, Compaq Evos, and Toshibas. This notebook's keyboard is on par with the ThinkPad, the gold standard for notebooks, in my opinion.
The keyboard is comfortable to type on for extended periods. I do not have difficulty transitioning from my desktop (an iMac) to this computer and they are spaced in a manner similar to a desktop. The function keys across the top are used to control the brightness of the screen, three volume keys (up/down/mute toggle), and a numlock key. Additionally, there is a key to eject CDs from the computer. There is a small microphone built into the upper left-hand portion of the keyboard and appears as a small hole, similar to the hole you find on the back of a PalmPilot to reset it. Dedicated page up, page down, home, and end and several other keys do not have dedicated keys. Instead, a function key toggles the functionality of the arrow keys and a couple of functions.
There are no ports on the back of the machine, as is commonly the case with notebooks. Instead, they are located on the left side of the screen. In order, from back to front of the machine, they are the power cord input, fax/modem, ethernet, firewire, 2 USB ports, the VGA port, speaker, and headphone jack. The DVD/CD-RW drive is a slotted drive with no drawer that slides out. I like that because you don't have to worry about breaking anything.
Things that are missing
The computer comes with no wireless card, so you'll have tp spend approximately $95 for an AirPort Extreme card. Some vendors are starting to throw these in for free. Additionally, it only comes with 256MB of RAM., so you might want to upgrade. A 512 MB chip will set you back around $100.
Another thing I miss from my wife's ThinkPad is the light on the keyboard. A small light can be purchased for under $20 to plug into the USB port, so this is a pretty minor beef.
Overall, these are fairly minor missing parts and you'd need to purchase them with any other notebook on the market. The notebook works fine with standard memory, but I wanted mine maxed out.
How to upgrade
Memory: There is a dedicated space on the bottom of the machine for memory. You'll need a Phillips size #0 (not #00...I never knew there was a difference) to access the door. I picked up an all-in-one screwdriver to do this at Home Depot for $5.00.
Airport Extreme: The battery is located on the bottom of the machine. You'll need a small coin to unlock it and once you've got the battery out, there's a small door that needs to be opened. Then the Airport card slides in, then you plug in the antenna.
The "hotness" issue
There are a lot of people say this computer gets hot. Yes, it does. Just like any other computer. Rather than the heat building up inside the case as is the case with many notebooks with plastic cases, this notebook's case is made out of aluminum, which is excellent for dissipating heat. If someone sits in your seat and then gets up to let you sit down, that's how warm it gets. It's not extreme and you won't get burned by it, as the shrillness of the criticism would suggest. Most notebook PCs that I've used get hotter than this one. I have yet to hear the fan turn on, so it can't be that hot.
Battery life
The battery life of this computer is approximately 4 hours. You can extend this by turning off the AirPort. If you're travelling cross country in a plane, it's unlikely you'll have any use for the wireless networking while in the air.
The battery life of the notebook is indicated at the top of the screen, next to the clock. You can toggle it to just show a little battery indicator, or that with a estimated time left to use, or percentage charge left. If you set the power settings for automatic, the computer will turn itself off and save your work with around 10 minutes to go. As an experiment, I set it for maximum performance and found that the battery lasted for 15 minutes beyond what the battery monitor indicated on the screen.
If you set the battery performance for maximize battery life, getting 4 hours out of it is simple. The computer's screen goes dim, but you can still read it, after about 30 seconds of inactivity. Within a minute or so, the screen turns off. Within about 5 minutes, the computer hibernates. When the computer goes into hibernate mode, you'll need to use the power button to wake it up. Aside from hibernating, touching the keyboard or track pad will bring the computer back to life.
Software that's included
iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iCal, and iDVD [for those equipped with the DVD-RW drive])
iChat (AOL IM client)
Mac OS X Mail (a mail application)
QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition (a financial application)
OmniGraffle (a graphing application)
OmniOutliner (an outlining application)
Graphic Converter (a utility for converting graphics)
Microsoft Office v.X Test Drive (30 day free trial of Office v.X for Mac)
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Earthlink
Connectivity
This computer is filled with connectivity options. You can plug it in the old fashioned way to a network, but I much prefer wireless means.
AirPort Extreme
The wireless card on this card is a delight to use. The antenna is built in to the computer, so you don't have anything sticking out from the machine. The maximum speed on it is 54 MB/s, though I have yet to see connect to anything at that speed. It is effortless to connect to a wireless network. All you do is click on the signal strength indicator at the top of the screen, select the network you want to hit, and you're on it.
BlueTooth
This computer has BlueTooth built in. I have yet to use this functionality. However, based on my research there are a growing number of cell phones that allow you to synchronize wirelessly with a computer without having to plug anything in. Mac OS X comes with built in BlueTooth support. You can use iSync to synchronize all your devices. This enables you to use a cell phone to store addresses contained on your computer or utilize the phone as a remote control for using iTunes or the DVD player that comes on this computer. I've seen this in action, but I have not used it on my computer.
Where to buy
There are numerous websites out there that have Apple product listings and prices. Things to be aware of when making a purchase are the following:
Sites that were helpful
1) http://www.macrumors.com - This site has a buying guide area where it lists how many days it's been since the product has been updated and it compares the current number of days to the average number of days to the present to guess whether the product is due for an update soon. If a product is due to be updated soon, you've probably got some room to bargain on price.
2) http://www.epinions.com - You're here already, so you already know how value added this site can be in the purchase process.
3) http://www.cnet.com - This site has product ratings, though they are not as comprehensive as those you find here. I compare the positive/negative percentages that they provide with other products I'm considering. I also look at the negative ratings to see what potential pitfalls are associated with a given product. I believe that people who are dissatisfied with a product are more inclined to complain about it. CNet also enables you to compare prices across numerous vendors.
4) http://www.ebay.com - There are often good auctions on this site for computers that are either new or were purchased by people who ended up not using them. Oftentimes, they still have warranties remaining on them. During the manufacturer's warranty period, you can upgrade to the AppleCare plan for around $250 and get a 3 year hardware warranty. Just be careful that the person you're buying from has a good feedback record.
eBay questions to ask
1) Is the product new or refurbished?
2) Does the computer come with the manufacturer warranty or a DOA (dead on arrival warranty) or some other type of warranty?
I got a new one from MacWarehouse.com for approximately $1600 plus $85 for the 512 MB of RAM.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a powerful, no compromise notebook, I highly recommend this machine. It's been a delight to use. Battery life is great, it looks great, it's compact, and most importantly it performs great. If you're going to be using it as a primary computer and you plan to do video editing or other things that require a large screen, I would recommend you get a 15" or 17" model. If you're looking for something to tote cross country, this is your machine.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1675
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC G4
Processor speed: 801-900
Screen Size: 12 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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Epinions.com ID:
abolinger
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Location: West Coast, USA
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 2 members
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