Update... even Apple can't fix this one
Written: Aug 09 '06 (Updated Sep 10 '07)
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Pros: Simple to understand
Cons: AppleCare can't fix, No 24/7 tech support, many compatibility quirks
The Bottom Line: No viruses, but compatibility issues make it more trouble than it is worth.
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| newsreporter's Full Review: Apple iBook G4 12.1 in. (M9846LL/A) Mac Notebook |
UPDATE: Two years after buying this laptop, I am now the proud owner of a lemon. After numerous calls to Applecare tech support, I was directed to send in my computer; but it came back in even worse shape. Avoid this model.
After years of occasionally pulling my hair out fighting computer viruses, a good friend convinced me it was time to go the Apple route. They don’t seem to be susceptible to viruses, which is one less big thing to worry about when it comes to computers. But while this is one big advantage (as you may know from the company’s recent commercials) there are other things to consider before going with Apple. (For those old enough to remember, it is similar to Beta versus VHS. Beta had better quality, but VHS became the industry standard.)
I chose the iBookG4, a laptop that is an attractive computer with a large screen big enough to please anyone. I ordered through MacMall, which saved me the sales tax I would have incurred buying locally. (No problem with the ordering or shipping by the way.) I also purchased “Applecare” for $300, which is a three year extended warranty, since I’ve never seen any laptop that lasted more than two.
The laptop is relatively simple to use, though I bought “Macs for Dummies,” which is well worth $20. After years of using PCs, a new Mac user is basically forced to re-learn how to use a computer. Take your time and go through the tutorials patiently.
While the computer seems to be set up in a common sense way rather than in geek-speak, there are certain quirks that can drive you crazy trying to deal with the PC world. First, you’ll discover that the word processing program known as “Appleworks” rarely translates perfectly on anyone else’s computer, if it translates at all. After sending out documents via email and having recipients tell me they could not open the documents or they came through as gibberish, I broke down and spent another $100 to get Microsoft Word for Mac. That seemed to solve the problem, till I wrote an article with semicolons in it. They don’t translate from a Mac, even on Word, resulting in a ton of run-on sentences. (You may be reading one now!) And printing from either word processor is an adventure. Hieroglyphics are quite common. And if you do a lot of writing, editing is a problem since there is no “forward delete” key.
Another included program that is laughable is the chess game. Even set at the highest level, the computer sacrifices its’ queen every time.
Now for the hardware problems. Maybe this is virus related, maybe not, but the computer has locked up many times, and on two occasions, the screen has simply gone black. Tech support tells me the latter problem is a power supply problem and have offered to fix it if it happens again. The other lock-up problems are from a myriad of causes, the most common being a corrupted version of Appleworks which can render the browser useless.
Speaking of the browser, it too has problems. It is known as Safari, and if you are doing any website work, you should know that many hosting companies do not support it. I have a business website and every time I have to change something I have to go to the public library to use a PC. The Apple will run Internet Explorer, but at an amazingly slow rate.
Finally, the biggest problem has been tech support. Though you get a polite person, you often don’t get a solution. I’ve had several calls lasting more than an hour with promises to call back, but the return calls never came. On two occasions the computer’s calendar told me it was 1969. Once again, I was told it was the suspicious “power supply” problem. But the biggest pain is that tech support is not available 24/7. They are closed at 9pm eastern. After paying several hundred dollars for this service, it is frustrating that you cannot get help after hours.
Do I like the computer? Well, other than not getting viruses, I guess it is OK. But to be honest, the compatibility issues and the other little quirks make me think I’ll buy a PC next time.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 1200
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC G4
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 14 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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newsreporter
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Reviews written: 23
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