G3 "Pismo" a Winner
Written: Mar 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: fast; well designed; powerful; flexible
Cons: DVD performance; virtual memory less stable; fire
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| TraderCraft's Full Review: Apple PowerBook G3 (M7308LL/A) Mac Notebook |
While I'm somewhat disappointed by the DVD and CD playback issues with the new "Pismo" 500 mhz model of the PowerBook (I understand Apple's OS9 patch due next week may address these), I find that this is by far the best designed computer I've ever used.
I've used a PowerBook 2400c (100mhz) and the difference is incredible. I've also used a Compaq Presario Laptop that I liked a lot too. I am no Apple zealot but I have a lot of respect for the attention to detail in design that comes out of Cupertino. (Apparently so does Microsoft.)
There have been many features that have migrated from the Mac OS to Windows - remember the Apple retort to the big Win95 launch? "Win 95 = Mac 1986". One that has made the return trip to good effect is the Alt-Tab application switching keyboard shortcut. The Mac now has Command-Tab to cycle through open applications - which can be a time saver. I'm glad to see that Apple is not suffering Not Invented Here syndrome on nice features that showed up on Windows first.
I like:
+ It wakes from sleeep just like I left it when I closed the lid - fast. I was on a Shuttle bus from San Francisco airport sitting next to a guy with an IBM laptop. When we departed the airport he pulled out the laptop and started his up. We were in Palo Alto (by way of El Camino) before it got through running Scan Disk and booted Windows. I on the other hand was up and running in 30 seconds.
+ It is FAST - application launching, booting, shut down, etc.
+ The screen is magnificent
+ It goes to sleep fast
+ It runs Windows applications like QCharts in Virtual PC - I get the best of both worlds
+ the nifty "yoyo" power adapter that winds up the low voltage cord on a reel like a yoyo.
+ the light touch of the keyboard (the 2400c was like a manual typewriter by comparison)
+ the long battery life. On a recent trip to Europe the battery outlasted my willingess to continue working on the plane!
+ the lighted Apple logo on the lid showing whether the display is lit or not. Tells you when you can move the computer after shutting the lid, putting the machine to sleep - nice touch and a smart branding move.
I wish:
- There was an Ins and a Del key (that deletes characters to the right of the cursor). Their removal from the keyboard smacks of Jobs-think.
- the DVD removal lever didn't catch on my briefcase when I slide it in - the design is such that the lever acts like a hook. I'm worried it will break off if I'm not careful
- virtual memory wasn't so prone to freeze up the machine. The system is much more stable (rock solid) when virtual memory is turned off
- the DVD performance wasn't "skippy" - and sometimes the audio seems out of sync with teh video. And I wish audio CD play didn't skip when interrupted by hard disk hits. Turning off Virtual Memory helped here but this shouldn't be neccessary. Hope 9.0.4 fixes it...
- Apple would provide standard Internet tools such as ping and traceroute and telnet - Windows does, after all...
All in all though I believe this is the best computer I've owned or used. It works, and it gives me flexibility and speed. Mostly pleased.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
TraderCraft
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Member: Gibbons Burke
Location: Mountain View, California
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 4 members
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