TiBook: What a laptop!
Written: Apr 10 '01 (Updated Apr 10 '01)
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Pros: SEXY! Lightweight, tough, ease-of-use, loaded with great hardware.
Cons: Too small? I don't think there are any...
The Bottom Line: An unbelievably reliable, durable, fast, double-take inducing, incredibly portable computer for the serious user.
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| agnostic_311's Full Review: Apple PowerBook G4 15.2 in. (M8362LL/A) Mac Notebo... |
"WOW!"
That's all I could say when I pulled it out of the box for the first time.
"It's so thin and lightweight! So cool looking!"
The external keyboard and mouse actually took up more room in my arms when I was delivering this computer to it's recipient than the computer did.
The looks and size, however, are a secondary benefit to this machine...I have used both flavors of this new, unbelievably innovative laptop, and I can honestly say it's the coolest, most amazing computer I've ever used in my life.
Hardware:
Both models have a slot-loading DVD drive, built in 56K modem, 10/100 ethernet port, VGA-output, 1 PCMCIA slot, 2 USB ports, 1 FireWire (IEEE 1394), and a beautiful 15.2" Mega-wide screen. They both also include a LiIon battery that, while they say it will provide 6 hours of life, will give you more like 4 hours of life. The "low-end" model has a 400 Mhz PowerPC G4 processor with 128 MB RAM and a 10 GB hard-drive, while the "high-end" model comes with a 500 Mhz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, and a 20 GB hard-drive. I believe there is also a third model that has a 30 GB hard drive with an extra AC adapter and battery...
Software:
Perhaps the shining point of the "new" Mac...No longer can Windows junkies say "Well, it's a Mac." No sir...With Mac OS X now released (and it will ship on these machines soon), Macs now have the most advanced operating system on the planet. It's rooted in FreeBSD, which is perhaps the most stable operating system ever made, and with thousands of software developers committed to developing software for the new OS X, the future is bright. Due to the new-ness of Mac OS X, there is a lack of software at the moment, but more and more is being developed every day, and within a few months, you should be able to get anything you want, including Microsoft Office X...
Peripherals:
You can add on any external USB or FireWire peripheral that's on the market...CD-RW, ZIP drive, printers, MIDI boxes, etc., etc., etc. There certainly is no limit on the potential of external devices available to increase the value of the TiBook to the end-user.
Overall Experience:
This computer will turn heads. Not only does it look great, but it runs better. It screams while performing simple tasks and renders video beautifully on it's huge screen. Since it's made of 99.99% pure-grade CP1 Titanium, it could probably literally be dropped time after time and still survive. It's incredibly durable, and there truly is nothing you can't do with it. The technical support and user community is, by far, the strongest on the market.
But, it's a Mac and the Sony Vaio is better...Besides, it's only 400-500 Mhz:
No way, not even close. I actually had one of the new Vaio's side-by-side with this puppy and the new Vaio was much thicker, noticeably slower at performing similar tasks, and all around couldn't even touch the TiBook in any aspect of computing.
As far as the computer only being 400-500 Mhz, well that's because it's based on the PowerPC G4 Velocity Engine (Altivec). Comparing that to a Pentium or AMD in Mhz is like comparing Apples to Oranges. A 400-500 Mhz PPC G4 is most comparable to a 900 Mhz-1Ghz Pentium.
All in all, I highly recommend this computer to anyone who is serious about productivity and needs a very reliable, stable, and durable portable computer. Of course, the "sexiness factor" is always a plus, but it's just icing on the cake with this wonderful machine.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2599-3499
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC
Processor speed: 401-500
Screen Size: Greater than 15
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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Epinions.com ID:
agnostic_311
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Location: Concord, NH
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
"1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I've always wanted, and now I have it. I RULE!"
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