Still King in Graphics and more.
Written: Dec 22 '01
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Pros: Sharp,Clean lines, Sturdy, Performs as well as it looks.
Cons: Usual Mac costs, tad heavy, Mac savvy marketing
The Bottom Line: AN absolute must for anyone who wants desktop power and great screen size in a lap top.
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| ddillon's Full Review: Apple PowerBook G4 15.2 in. (M8362LL/A) Mac Notebo... |
I am a college student majoring in graphic design, and all my school uses is Macintosh for this department. I have comfortable floated in using both Mac and PC for years. My recent educational needs required something portable and I was already set up nicely with PC desk tops so I decided to go with the Apple PowerBook G-4 Titanium. I had been around a couple of these rigs previously, but felt I could swing the top end Titanium price tag of $3495 (less other options) at the time. Funds come through to do so about the same time I heard Apple was fixing to put out and even faster Titanium at 667mhz, at this time Apple announced a price drop of $500 on the older (Top End) Titaniums, this was the time I moved on that, I felt I would not be gaining that much with an additional 167mhz over the 500mhz. I also assumed that when the new version hit the shelves they would be at Apples usual top end price at about the $3500 mark.
So I ordered my PowerBook G-4 Titanium 500mhz, 256meg RAM, 20 gig HDD, DVD-ROM with an additional 256meg of RAM giving it a total of 512meg RAM. I wanted to have the 30gig HDD option but was told at the time that would be an additional cost of $300, 10 extra gig was not worth that much to me since I planned on getting an external CD-RW anyway. After much sweet talking, I made my order for this rig for a total out of pocket cost of $3073. Several weeks later it arrived ( I will never forget that date for obvious reasons, 09/11/01)
I just cannot say anything bad about this lap top, it smokes through the graphic paces I put it through, it is solid in all respects both physical and O/S wise. It come shipped with Mac O/S 9.1 and 10.01 plus it qualified for the free Mac O/S 10.1 upgrade CD.
I have not used Mac O/S X as of yet for some minor fears of some compatibilty issues that might conflict with some of the software I use for school, although I understand Mac O/S X is wonderful. I did take the Apple O/S upgrade on my 9.1 to make it a 9.2.1 in which I could tell no difference in anything as of yet except Toast 4.0 for CD burning ceases to function under 9.2.1 in place of Apple's own CD burning utility.
The PowerBook G-4 Titanium has got to be one of the finest lap tops ever produced, especially when one considers its processing power, long battery life, good clean looks almost sterile in some respects. I am glad to see Apple got away from the older PowerBook G-3 look of curved lines etc and heavy use of polycarbonate plastics, although excellent performers in their own right. The PowerBook G-4 Titanium even has the look of quality, aside from the fact it is of fine quality.
I know full well as many others do that Mac and PC platforms were designed for slightly different purposes and it is always said if you want to do graphics go with Mac, if you want to crunch numbers go with PC, But I feel the industry has reached a thresh hold where one platform is doing more into areas that were originally another platforms strengths and visa versa.
The PowerBook G-4 Titanium that I run totally blows away a PC I currently run that in all respects is an equivalent computer in all graphic applications and performs just as well if not better in all other applications such as word processing etc.
The only physical problem I have with my Titanium is that the dust strip that Apple has on the slot feed for the DVD-ROM is a bit too stiff and snug against the disk being inserted and depending on the disk has a bit of trouble pulling the disk into the player, I understand this is a common situation with Titaniums and is a non issue with me I simply assist the disk as it feeds in.
really as I said before I really cannot say anything bad about the Titanium, its wonderful and is in my book probably the one of the best lap tops ever produced, no its not perfect but what is? I could have chosen many different Lap tops to do what I need done, but I have been impressed with Apple's quality for years and they didn't let me down on the Titanium in fact I went to extra measure on my Titanium by installing VirtualPC 4.0 software for applications that are only available for PC and not Mac, So I have Windows 98 on my Titanium as well and for me it is the best of both worlds its like having a PC and Mac lap top with me at all times (The Virtual PC 4.0 with Windows 98 O/S runs about $189)
My only major complaint concerning my PowerBook G-4 Titanium is Apple's marketing, as I stated before I jumped on the opportunity to get my 500mhz Titanium at a reduced price knowing full well and expecting the newer faster Titaniums would be at the $3500 (top end configuration)it is the way things have been with Apple for several years. Four weeks after receiving my Titanium I see the new 667mhz Titaniums with 256meg Ram (usually with the 256meg RAM additional free option),30 gig HDD (instead of 20gig), with airport card installed and twice the video memory at 16meg (instead of the older 8meg) at the exact same price I had just given for mine just 4 weeks before hand $2995.00 ouch. Apple played that one good in an effort to clean out older stock, so if you are thinking about buying near the end of the year, wait a few weeks longer because obviously things have changed.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 3073
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC G4
Processor speed: 401-500
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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Epinions.com ID:
ddillon
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Location: Goodspring, TN
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Honest to a fault and never says anything I do not mean.
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