I switched! (the media hype got to me)
Written: Aug 28 '02 (Updated Aug 28 '02)
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Pros: Smooth design, OSX, you can run linux apps on it, compact and light
Cons: Bad battery compartment design, the help is horrible
The Bottom Line: An excellent choice for anyone that is tired of Windows, afraid of Linux, or just wants a laptop that works.
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| whitesf's Full Review: Apple iBook 12.1 in. (M8485LL/A) Mac Notebook |
Make the switch
Okay, I didn't totally switch. I still use my 2 PCs for work and play, but now I have a Mac to learn on and travel with. My old IBM ThinkPad finally crapped out, and I decided to take the plunge in the world of Apple.
OS X - Two thumbs up!
I had never considered owning a Mac. I thought MacOS was kinda neat looking, but slow and clunky compared to Linux or even the newer iterations of Windows. Plus, I was intimidated by the artsy-savant mystique surrounding the Macintosh line.
I'm a Linux and Unix hobbyist (see some of my other reviews). When I heard that OS X would run on a kernel based on Unix, and still look pretty, I was hooked.
The latest updated version of the OS runs fast, and so far, hasn't crashed on me. That's a bold statement, because I like to run lots of programs at the same time and push the machine to it's limits. So far, so good in the system stability category.
The interface is very nice, with lots of eye candy. It's highly customizable and fairly easy to navigate. Since I'd never really used MacOS in the past, I was quite confused for a few days. Now I'm doing just great, having figured out where everything is, and how to make system adjustments.
System as tested by me:
700mhz G3
256Mb RAM
Combo Drive (DVD+CDRW)
12.1" LCD
20Gb HD
What I liked about this machine:
First of all, this laptop looks so damn cool. It just begs for attention. I'm glad that Apple didn't make the new iBooks in childish (but very fun) colors like the first generation. You could use this machine for professional purposes, and have people still take you seriously.
Second, it's really amazing how small and light this thing is. No matter how many times I read the specs online, I still wasn't prepared for the ultra-compact size and feather-light weight. It's very travel friendly. (I can't wait to take mine on a business trip that's coming up soon. Now I can watch a movie on the plane!)
What really blew my mind (As if everything else wasn't enough) was Apple's extreme attention to detail. For example, when the iBook is on and you lower the screen into it's locked position, the machine goes to sleep. Nothing new about that, right? Well, while asleep, the iBook shows you that it's on, but asleep via a small light on the front that slowly pulsates (as if it were breathing). It's that kind of detail that makes Apple hardware the top dog. There are lots of details I could share, but I don't want to ruin it for you. Discovering them is half the fun!
The battery operates for about 4 hours during regular use. When watching DVDs, it's more like 3.25 hours. Not too shabby. It takes about 5.5 hours to completely recharge from zero. I did notice that turning the machine off and on (or rebooting - same thing) zapped 3% of the battery every time. And for some reason, MS Office V.X keeps the processor running at about 10% while it's the active application. This will make a big impact on the battery life if you plan on using Office a good bit while traveling.
The software bundled with the iBook is quite comprehensive. I haven't really used most of it very much, with the exception of iTunes. The AppleWorks suite is similar to MS Works, but more robust. There are lots of cool utilities included as well, including a CPU monitor, which is one of my favorites. iTunes is a good program for listening to and cataloging music files, but I still think WinAmp is better. (Nullsoft has just released an alpha version of WinAmp for OS X.)
What I didn't like:
There's not a whole lot in this category, but here it is -
The battery compartment is poorly designed. It's too easy for it to come loose, and it doesn't fit flush with the body of the laptop. I've tried to make it fit snug several times, and I just can't do it. The battery is released by turning a slot-type screw (you can use a coin for this). I noticed that this screw tends to loosen itself over time. This could be a bad thing if the batter popped out while you were traveling.
The help is dismally scant. There were several questions I had that were completely unanswered by the help system. Luckily, Apple has a very good help section on their website. The manual that came with the iBook was also quite lacking. It was very aesthetically pleasing, but it really doesn't tell you how to do much. There is no manual for OS X either. I expected a much better documentation from Apple.
All the I/O ports are on the left side. This is great for southpaws, but for the rest of us right handed folks it's an annoyance. When using a mouse, I have to either run the cord underneath or around the back, and this shortens the available cord to work with. I think it would have been better to have them on the back, as this would allow easy use for left or right handed people. It's not a big deal, but slightly annoying sometimes.
The speakers don't have enough power for watching DVDs. This is really just a nitpick. Even in a quiet room, the speakers are not loud enough to really enjoy a movie. If you are going to watch a movie with the iBook, make sure you have headphones or externally powered speakers.
Overall
I highly recommend the iBook for work or play. It can handle a lot multi-tasking business apps, as well as playing music and games, and watching movies. I would suggest, however, that you get at least 256Mb of RAM for optimum performance. You can never have too much RAM.
Even techno geeks can get a lot of use out of the iBook. With it's Unix compatibility and X-term (looking) console with tcsh or bash shell, you can do a lot of geeky configuration or even compile apps to run natively.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1149
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC G3
Processor speed: 701-800
Screen Size: 12
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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Epinions.com ID:
whitesf
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Location: Hopatcong, NJ
Reviews written: 45
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
Guitar, amp, pedal junkie and DIY enthusiast.
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