The Apple of her eye. It's the iBook G4
Written: Apr 17 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, durable, reliable, small, clear screen.
Cons: The warranty.
The Bottom Line: The iBook G4 is a terrific computer for the money. You can't go wrong but buy the extended warranty just in case.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Apple iBook G4 12.1 in. (M9846LL/A) Mac Notebook |
We bought our daughter the Dell Inspiron 4100 laptop computer in 2002 for her college graduation. About a year ago ago I wanted a laptop and she wanted a new computer. She wanted an Apple because she said that the medical students were all using them. Apparently for their presentations they find Apple to be the best choice. It was a win/win situation. I bought the Dell from her and she bought the Apple iBook G4 Mac Notebook. I am reviewing this computer because she has spent countlesss weeks with us. During that time I got to know the Apple iBook G4 well enough to review it as a layperson and consumer.
About the computer:
One of the beauties of the iBook G4 is its size but it has a lot going for it other than just the size. At the website www.apple.com you can see that you can buy this computer as is or build one which is just how Dell works. At the time my daughter built hers. However the two features she added are now standard for the same price of $999. These are the Airport Wireless Internet Card and more memory.
At the time 256 MB Ram was standard. Apple was charging $100 for an additional 256 MB RAM. My frugal daughter bought more memory herself and installed it herself for $50.00. It isn’t under warranty though. At this time the 512 MB RAM on this computer is standard as is the Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme (Wi-Fi 802.11g); built-in Bluetooth 2.0 EDR.
The iBook G4 is made from plycarbonate plastic. This is the same material that is used in bulletproof glass. The attractive white case is very durable. It feels very different than my Dell which has a texture to it. The Apple is smooth. Even with it going everywhere with my daughter and being shuffled around my house for 7 weeks there are no scratches on the computer.
From the website "Rubber mounted and equipped with Sudden Motion Sensor technology that helps protect your data in the event of a drop or fall, the iBook’s hard disk drive lets you store all of your digital goodies and still enjoy peace of mind. What’s more, the iBook has no I/O doors or protruding elements — and no optical drive tray, either — to break or snap off when tucked into a backpack or briefcase."
About the G4:
This nice machine has:
~ 512 MB RAM (Random Access Memory)
~ 40 GB hard drive (This is the storage space.)
~ Slot-Load Combo Drive DVD-ROM/CD-RW
~ 133MHz
~ 12.1 inch screen. For your information the same “guts” with a 14.1 inch screen costs the same. She wanted a small computer that she could haul around from class to the hospital, to the library and home taking up as little space as possible.
~ Built-in 56K V.92 modem
~ Full-Size keyboard
Specifications (from the website) not noted above. These specs are for the 12.1 inch iBook:
~1.33GHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine and 512K on-chip level 2 cache
~8x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW); writes DVD±R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD±RW discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed.
~Support for external FireWire and USB storage devices
~Support for millions of colors at 1024 x 768 pixel resolution
~ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics processor with 32MB of dedicated video memory and AGP 4X support
~Built-in 56K V.92 modem (RJ-11 connector) (3)
~Built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
~Two 480 Mbps USB 2.0 ports
~One FireWire 400 port at up to 400 Mbps(6)
~16-bit CD-quality stereo headphone jack
~Built-in stereo speakers
~Built-in omnidirectional microphone
~Support for external USB audio devices such as microphones and speakers
~VGA video output for video mirroring on an external display or projector (24-bit color) with included Apple VGA Display Adapter.
~S-video and composite video output to TV or projector (requires Apple Video Adapter, sold separately)
~50-watt-hour lithium-ion battery provides up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge(7)***
~Integrated charge indicator LEDs on battery
~Solid-state trackpad provides precise cursor control; supports tap, double-tap, drag and scrolling capabilities
Electrical and environmental
~Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
~Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC
~Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz
~Height: 1.35 inches (3.42 cm)
~Width: 11.2 inches (28.5 cm)
~Depth: 9.06 inches (23.0 cm)
What is it like?
~The Apple is 4.9 pounds and is the thinnest machine I have seen at 1 1/3 inches when closed.
~ I thought my Dell was fast. With 512 MB the Apple is lightning fast. The 512 MB makes a huge difference. I would highly recommend that you upgrade to that if you are buying any computer. I know my Dell often gets stuck when I try to open several pages at a time. This never happened to me when using the iBook. There was no stalling or hesitating when opening several pages at a time.
~I said that the screen on the Dell is excellent. I said it is sharp and clear. I will say ditto. I can’t say it is any clearer or sharper than the Dell but it is certainly as clear and sharp. Obviously the small screen may make a difference on my aging eyes. I asked my daughter her opinion and she thought the same thing. She thought her Apple is as good as but not necessarily better than the Dell screen.
~20 GB of memory was fine for her for the first couple of years of medical school. As she started doing PowerPoint presentations a lot she found that she really needed to upgrade. She is fine with the 40 GB. Perhaps at some point she would go even higher but certainly 40 GBs is quite enough for her. I am still fine with my 20GBs of memory.
~The iBook uses its own software. It does not use, for example, Windows XP which is what my Dell uses. For this reason the iBook is virus proof. This is a real plus if you are a medical student. None of us wants to get a virus but getting a virus as a student is just not an option that one can deal with. On the other hand because a virus cannot get into the internal works of this computer it can’t be reprogrammed, wiped out or reimaged – whatever term you may know this as.
Service:
My daughter has had no problems with this computer. The warranty is not great so I would like and I do recommend spending $249 on an extended warranty.
The basic warranty is 90 days of telephone support and one year of service coverage at an Apple-authorized repair center. The $249 will extend the one year to three.
***Please note: "In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities, Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide from October 2004 through May 2005 for use with the following notebook computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. These batteries were manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea.
The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Apple has received six consumer reports of these batteries overheating. If you have a recalled battery, please stop using it and order a replacement battery immediately. Once you have removed the battery, plug in the AC adapter to power the computer. If you must temporarily use your computer with the battery, do not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.
Apple has initiated a worldwide exchange program and will provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge."
If you own this computer but are reading this review you can find out how to identify the battery number at the website.
My final thoughts:.
I was told that the iBook was extremely compatible with a mini IPod if that is something you are wondering about.
I am certainly recommending the iBook G4. It is a beautiful piece of equipment. It is fast, responds very well, is small and for the money you get a lot.
Would I go out and buy an Apple? Probably not. When computers first came into being, Apples were the rage and then lost favor a bit around college campuses where my husband and children find themselves most often. I am stuck on Dells and IBMs. I doubt I would want to change but it has nothing to do with the computer. Having said that I know the iBooks and others made by Apple are getting very good press so I would never say never.
My daughter loves her iBook and would buy another without hesitation. I found it great to use and I love the size and durability of it.
Other related reviews:
IBM ThinkPad T40p
IBM ThinkPad Carrying Case
Dell Inspiron Carrying Case
Please note: This was originally published elsewhere. With permission from one of the leads it has been moved here. Thanks for reading. jo
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 999
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
Screen Size: 12 inches
RAM: More than 256
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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