Power Users: you'll find nothing better
Written: Aug 17 '00 (Updated Aug 17 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: See review for complete list
Cons: See review for complete list
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| Robespierre's Full Review: Apple PowerBook G3 (M7308LL/A) Mac Notebook |
I feel that the best way to write reviews is by beginning with a list of what I see as the pros and cons of a product – if you want a quick breakdown just check it out, and keep reading the review to see me give a paragraph or two explanation on each line item. My philosophy is this: no matter how great something is, it usually has a few minor drawbacks…you know, those little details that are so easy to overlook if the product is really great? Though I love this machine and have had an almost trouble-free experience while owning it, few things can ever be labeled as perfect. But hey, let’s get to the good stuff because the PowerBook G3 rocks, by a long shot.
Apple Macintosh PowerBook G3 (Bronze/Lombard)
Note: to clarify, the currently shipping model of the PowerBook G3 is also known as the FireWire (FW) or "Pismo" model. The Bronze/Lombard model shipped from May 1999-February 2000.
PROS:
1. Fast/Powerful
2. Gorgeous design (keyboard, screen, etc.)
3. DVD playability
4. Ease of use
5. Reliable/Great support from Apple
6. No floppy drive
CONS:
1. A bit large/heavy
2. Gets hot during extended operation
3. Pricey
So I figured that since I love this machine so much I needed to at least write a review on the thing, after spending so many hours using it to do practically everything. I must mention that when Apple says they’ve made a machine for the “road warriors,” that is to say those who do it all (presentations, graphic/web design, publishing) and want a serious work machine for the road, they aren’t lying. Whether running it as a file server, designing pages in QuarkXPress, outputting web and print graphics in Photoshop, ImageReady, or Dreamweaver, downloading, converting, and writing audio to CDs, as well as the occasional game of StarCraft on Battle.net, my PowerBook (PB) has seen quite a variety of tasks thrown its way. I can happily say that, without incident, it has continued to deliver superb performance and rock-solid reliability. If you take only one thing from this review, let it be these four words: this machine is incredible.
My PowerBook G3 was my first portable machine, and since I’ve had it, I must confess that it will be difficult going back to a desktop computer. Apple has packed almost all of the features found in a desktop into the PB, except for most of the expandability and upgradability, which is understandable, considering the fact that it is a laptop. As you may have guessed by now, I can rave on and on about this machine, but let’s get down to the details of the pros and cons I laid out at the start of this review:
PROS
1. FAST/POWERFUL. As I have been saying, this machine is fast, and a real workhorse. It shipped with 64 MB of RAM, which I increased to 192 through the addition of a 128 MB DIMM (very smart), a zippy 400 MHz G3 processor, 6 GB hard disk, and a gorgeous 14.1” color TFT XGA active-matrix display. The PB also has a great full-size, very responsive keyboard perfect for all sizes of hands. One cool element of the Lombard/Bronze PB series is that they keys are, in fact, tinted a very slight bronze/brown color, which looks nice. Though the currently shipping model is now the PowerBook G3 (FireWire), it shares the same enclosure and thus the same external design elements as the Lombard/Bronze model that I have. While the Lombard PB only contains an 8 MB Rage LT Pro graphics chip, the FireWire model ships with a faster 8 MB Rage 128 Mobility chip, providing better graphics performance. Regardless, this machine has been able to do all that I’ve asked it to do, save running Quake III at a reasonable rate due to the anemic Rage LT Pro. But you can’t have everything in the world in a single package.
2. Gorgeous design (keyboard, screen, etc.). As I discussed a bit in the previous point, the design of the PB G3 is superb. With such phenomenal sales of the translucent, fruity iMac, Apple made some significant rumblings in the world of computer design. Then again, they have always been known for changing the status quo, or at least trying to. Kudos to designer Jonathan Ive and his team working in Cupertino at Apple HQ. With a slimmer case than its predecessor, the Lombard and FireWire series of PBs are made in the traditional clamshell fashion, with curvy plastics and a sub-2" thickness when closed. These PBs are also quite a bit lighter. Both models weigh in at 5.9 lbs. at their lightest (w/ weight-saving modules in the bays), according to Apple documentation, making them about 20% lighter than their predecessors. This is a big improvement, though some work can still be done, as I will discuss later on. Take a full-size keyboard, responsive trackpad, and you have the complete package. I found the machine relatively easy to take with me, though if you add an external mouse, battery, disk drive, and cables to a bag, I can say from experience that it will be quite full.
3. DVD playability. The ability to play DVDs on a laptop is nothing short of fantastic. With the exception of some minor compatibility problems between certain DVDs and the MacOS (i.e. The Matrix), necessitating quirky workarounds, which really aren’t Apple’s fault, DVD playback is excellent. While the new iMacs use software decoding to handle DVDs, the Lombard/Bronze PB still uses hardware, preventing the annoying loss of audio/video sync. Here is a more detailed explanation, thanks to the people at EveryMac.com:
“The PowerBook G3/400 "Bronze" has a ZiVA-PC DVD decoder soldered to the motherboard which controls 2 MB of SDRAM. This makes full NTSC and PAL video decoding possible, resulting in smooth video playback. The only drawback is that since the DVD-ROM is hardware-based, the PowerBook G3/333 "Bronze" can only be upgraded to DVD by a third-party solution. The PowerBook G3 "FW" [the currently shipping model] series uses a similar software-based decoding system.”
Therefore, since the currently shipping models use software decoding, I have no idea as to the quality of playback, but I would assume that it is just fine. All you need to think about is watching movies on those long transcontinental flights…ahhhh.
4. Ease of use. The Macintosh has always been known for ease-of-use, and this machine is no exception. While it may take you a brief period of time (a day or so) to get used to using the trackpad if you have never used one before, you should be up and running perfectly in no time.
5. Reliable/Great support from Apple. The Mac has also been known for reliability – at least in my experience. With the exception of one instance, my PB has been an ultra-reliable machine. About 3 months after receiving my machine and subjecting it to nothing more than average use, one day I came to find it with the hard drive spinning and a black screen. Thinking that it may have gone to sleep without spinning the HD down, I unsuccessfully tried to wake the ‘Book. After attempting to restart the machine, boot from a CD, and every other troubleshooting technique I knew of, also devoid of success, I ended up talking w/ Apple tech support over the phone about what I certainly thought was a dead machine. The Hard Drive was spinning up but the poor computer wouldn’t boot, and I was worried. Tech support overnighted me a padded container to send them the computer in, and after popping it into the box and overnighting it back (all paid for by Apple), I received my PB, good as new, in TWO days. Not a week, not ten, TWO. Apparently my logic board had somehow melted down, and Apple just had to replace it. To this day I remain very satisfied and have no worries about what may happen to my computer the next time I may need tech support. NOTE: I have heard that, for some people, Apple’s tech support has been far from stellar, but once again, in my experience, it was nothing short of great.
6. No floppy drive. After working many Apple Demo Days in CompUSA, Sears, and recently Circuit City as an Apple Rep, I think that, deep down, I wanted to include this as a rant directed towards those archaic, conservative types who, in their fit to find someone capable of holding their hands and wiping their rears during the difficult time we like to call “change,” make it their mission to lecture me about how Apple should never have removed the floppy drive from all Macs. I’ll try not to dwell on this for too long, so please bear with me, or just skip to the next section. Actually, I feel as if this topic is more than appropriate, considering how much fun industry pundits have had ragging on the fact that Apple removed the floppy from their machines while the apparently “advanced” Wintel types still put the things on the majority of their computers, though I think that the firestorm surrounding this one has certainly died down. But, to get back to the point…
How many major pieces of software currently ship on installer DISKS? None I can think of, EXCEPT Quark, who uses “Installer” and “User Registration” disks. Now THAT is annoying. Even Iomega seems to have realized that 100 MB Zip disks are too small, increasing them to 250 MB, yet so many people find the time to whine about how a 1.4 MB, 3.5” square is controlling their lives by preventing them from transferring text files the size of miniscule e-mail attachments from one computer to another. Man oh man. Frankly, when you buy a computer once every 10 years you need to realize that technologies change, regardless of whether we’re talking about computers or toasters. I know that you love those floppies, but we all need to let go. The floppy had its day, but that time has passed us by, and if you have a 10-year old machine with nothing but a disk drive to transfer files with, you can most definitely spend the extra $70-$100 on a USB floppy and go to town reliving memories with those 50 floppies you have in the house. Bar none, Apple made the right decision in removing a dying medium for data transfer from their computers. I have a cheap external floppy and use it VERY rarely, and gladly bought the thing so that I might have an extra bay on my computer for a battery or DVD drive (i.e. something I might actually routinely use).
Sorry about that one. Let’s finish by discussing the few negative aspects of the PB.
CONS
1. A bit large/heavy. While Apple undoubtedly likes to hawk the PB’s decreased size quite a bit, it still is a hefty machine. Just think about all of that computing power you have inside of it! While 5.9 lbs. is not really all that much, when you throw it in a bag with some papers, books, etc., it does become a bit of a package to carry around. Just a piece of info. Doable, but like carrying a dictionary if you are into those wafer-thin notebooks made by some computer manufacturers.
2. Gets hot during extended operation. One of the biggest complaints heard by users of the Lombard/Bronze series is the fact that, largely due to the reduction in machine size (i.e. same stuff crammed into a smaller space), the PB gets hot, and I mean HOT, after extended operation. I have read, in some cases, that people can no longer keep the machines on their laps because they simply get too warm. While I have not personally experienced this phenomenon, I think a key point here is to realize that if you are going to be working on your PB somewhere for a long time, keep the bottom well ventilated. I always balance the machine with one of my legs on either side, leaving the center uncovered for proper ventilation. NEVER let the machine rest on an absorbent surface with low breathability, such as a couch or carpet, as the surrounding fabric will simply absorb the unit’s heat and prevent it from dissipating, creating a cooker of sorts. Your clue to the PB’s rising heat level, in the case of the Lombard/Bronze and FireWire models, is the startup of the fan designed to cool the toasty innards. When that happens it’s time to either turn it off for a bit or give the bottom exposure to some air. It also makes sense to rest the back end on something (i.e. the AC power converter) if you plan to work with it at a desk for an extended period of time. Experience will teach you the conditions under which the computer is likely to get warm if used for a reasonable amount of time.
3. Pricey. Finally, I must make mention of price. I don’t know if this is necessarily a drawback of the machine, as the functionality for a piece of equipment this expensive is most definitely worth the price tag. Unfortunately, due to economies of scale and the fact that Apple, as a company, does all of their own hardware and OS design and production, we Mac users have to pay a bit more than our Wintel counterparts. I was fortunate enough to receive this as a gift (yeah – I was utterly dumbstruck with awe and glee as well), so price doesn’t mean nearly as much to me as it would to someone actually forking out the cold cash for one. But it boils down to this: right now a top-of-the-line PB will cost you $3499, while the low-end machine is $2499. Apple also offers a $3997 flavor, in which you get a bigger hard drive and an extra battery and AC adapter. Yeah, that’s a lot, but if you need a great work machine for the road, I bet that in no time you’ll be glad you spend the money for one. If you are looking for something cheaper with much of the same functionality, check out the $1599 iBook (http://www.apple.com/ibook/) or $1799 iBook Special Edition (SE).
If you are thinking about acquiring one of these machines, whether for work or personal use, or even both, you can’t go wrong. As I have mentioned over and over (as if you couldn’t pick up on it in this review), I think that this computer is AWESOME. Enough said. While the trackpad is perfectly acceptable for most applications that don’t require any type of rapid-fire mousing, if you foresee yourself playing a few fun action games (and why not? This baby can certainly handle them), it makes sense to get yourself a decent multi-button mouse ($30-$50), which can certainly be put to work when you are at a desk or a nice clean, flat surface suitable for the rodent. The optical ones are great – check out www.Kensington.com for nice input devices. You may also want go with a cheap floppy drive as well, even after my little rant. Make sure to check out O’Grady’s Power Page at www.Go2Mac.com/powerpage/ for tips, tricks, and all sorts of information for the PowerBook and iBook user, and, most of all, enjoy. I hope you’ve enjoyed my rather lengthy review, and that I didn't bore you to death with my long-windedness. I’ve simply had a great experience using this computer and want to let others know about it. This is what portable computing should be.
Here are the specifications for my machine, just F.Y.I. (Lombard/Bronze PB G3), courtesy of the fine folks at EveryMac.com, an excellent site for specs on all Mac models ever made. (The following information was found at http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g3/stats/powerbook_g3_400.html):
Introduction Date: May 10, 1999
Discontinued Date: February 16, 2000
Processor Type: PowerPC 750 (G3)
Processor Speed: 400 MHz
Processor Upgrade: Daughtercard
FPU (Integrated): PowerPC 750 (G3)
System Bus Speed: 66 MHz
Backside Bus Speed: 160 MHz
ROM Size: 1 MB (NewWorld)
Data Path: 64-bit
Level 1 Cache: 64k
Level 2 Cache: 1 MB (backside)
RAM Type: 10 ns SO-DIMM
VRAM Type: Video SGRAM
Standard RAM: 64 MB
Maximum RAM: 384 MB
Motherboard RAM: None
RAM Slots: 2
Standard VRAM: 8 MB
Maximum VRAM: 8 MB
Standard Hard Drive: 6.0 GB
Int. Hard Drive Type: IDE
Standard DVD-ROM: 2X
Standard Disk: None
Standard Modem: 56k (internal)
Standard Ethernet: 10/100Base-T
Case Type: Portable (Black)
Form Factor: PowerBook G3/333
Exp. Slots: 1 Type I/II PC Card
Exp. Bays (Free):N/A
Battery Type: 50 W/Hr LiIon
Battery Life: 5 hours
Built-in Display:14.1" Color
Supported MacOS: 8.5-8.6, 9.0
Dimensions: 1.7 x 10.4 x 12.7
Avg. Weight: 5.9 lbs.
Original Price: $3500 US
Est. Current Price: $2000-$2300 US
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Robespierre
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Member: Ryan
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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