Customer Reviews

Apple iBook Laptop 14.1" M8862LL/A (800-MHz PowerPC G3, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Far better than anything the Wintel companies offer. Good battery life (up to a whopping SIX hours between charges), a great variety of programs that actually work, and build quality that is superb.

Unlike the ignorant comment made previously, the processor in this computer is fine. It isn't the latest model from the Power PC line and may very well be discontinued within the next year, but that is true of all chips, ESPECIALLY anything from Intel, et. al. And Apple doesn't have to de-tune these chips to get good battery life like every Wintel portable must do (the Pentium-class chips use 4 times the power that PowerPC chips use, so manufacturers must de-tune them to get decent battery life).

And unlike the people who gave this model only 1 star, I actually OWN this, and have tried many different models.

Try it ... you'll LOVE it.

After much research (and just having bought a Dell Desktop 1 year prior) I bought my very first Mac, an iBook on 11/02. I have to admit that the first 2-3 weeks I had my doubts, just trying to get used to a new OS. However, 5 months later, I am very happy with this small, but powerful machine. I agree with some of the other posters that for basic computing, etc. this laptop is the answer. I love the beauty of the iBook, the design and the ease of use. A book that I would highly recommend if you're new to Mac OS X is David Pough's "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual". This book has been a huge help to me in learning the OS and just how to navigate around. I also have the Airport Card (not Extreme) and it works great for wireless surfing. I could go on, but you get the point: I love my iBook and am glad I made the Switch!

As an avid pc user for years I was apprehensive about switching to this little laptop, but seeing the price comparisons tip in Macs favor, coupled with a surprisingly compact and reasonably powerful maching persuaded me to take the plunge. Contrary to some of the reviews I'm pleasantly surprised by the book's robust power in an affordable package. I was dismal about the G3 compared to the G4 processor but in the past few months notice no serious setbacks in my use. In fact, I'm surprised by the minimal edge the G4 has over most tasks. It is true that FinalCut, Color Transformation, and media editing intensive applications are noticeably faster on the PowerBook. However, all music, dvd watching, and moderate online gaming experiences have been smooth and completely satisfactory on my hand. Most of all,to the frugal consumer who still desires performance, this much Mac for that much money definitely makes up for any difference between it and the conservatively more powerful Powerbook.

I can see a lot of criticism of Apple on this product page and it shocks me. I made the switch in college, running the top Apple computers against the top Dell computers and Apple was easier to use, and ran faster. Today, I use Dell in the office, and Apple at home. I also use Apple at work, the laptop on this page, and it is still easier to use, and runs faster than the very nice Dell which sits on my desk.

The iBook has plenty of power, has a great battery, and runs on my Windows network at work. It opens Windows files easily, and basically goes with me everywhere. It also does lots of things that it's windows counterpart cannot do, things that really matter--like not crashing. I haven't rebooted in months, and I use it daily. Everybody that sees how often and how easily I rely on my iBook is impressed. My iBook simply works and works, while my Dell finds new and innovative ways to slow me down each and every day. I only have one regret....I should have bought an iBook sooner.

Over the years I have used a wide variety of computers. Recently, I decided to purchase a top-of-the-line iBook (800mhz-40gb-Combo Drive-640mb ram) for personal and professional use. Apple has really done a great job on this laptop. Besides looking great, the iBook provides a first rate user experience. The operating system is ingenious and has yet to crash. I get about 5.5 hours of run time on it's lithium-ion battery. I use my ibook for every imaginable task, from running large graphics through photoshop to testing sites via it's apache server application. I even do some 3D work on it from time to time. I run Word, Power Pt. and Excel with no problems. If fact, it runs these programs better than on the dell I use. If I wish I can even run XP on the rascal via virtual PC. I tried to think of any downshots to buying the iBook, and I can't think of many. My only suggestion would be to get a higher end model and purchase the maximum amount of ram. Two minor increases in the price, but definately well worth it. A word about the one star review - they couldn't have possiblely purchased the same product I did. I hear about this PC/apple rivalry taking this form and that's unfortunate. I guess it's a case of the fox and the grapes. What one of the previous reviews said is true, pc laptops are underclocked to extend battery life and reduce heat buildup. The OS is another matter, XP is a country mile behind the macintosh operating system. If you were to spend time working in both OS(s) it would be clear. The aqua environment is easier to look at and interact with than the interface Windows provides. If you intend to spend any time in front of one of these things that fact alone is a big consideration.

I have to respectfully disagree with a lot of the negative remarks in these reviews.

I purchased this model iBook on November 8 from the Apple Store at Woodfield Mall, Illinois. I was clearly informed that the "double your RAM" promotion would invalidate the ability to return it, and told all the terms that they say here. When making a purchase, you must be a careful buyer and examine all terms -- not blame the retailer for not being a careful consumer.

As for the iBook not being an 'intelligent' machine, that is, with all due respect, laughable. Like anything, to make it powerful and use it to its full capacity, you need to devote time to it. My iBook basically screams with efficiency, because I've spent time with websites such as Mac OS X Hints and ResExcellence to learn about my new machine and the capabilities of both its operating system and its Unix underpinnings.

The system is a pleasant one, but were I now in the market for something in this price range, I would consider, instead, the 12" PowerBook G4. It is the attractiveness of this newcomer that makes me downgrade it one star nowadays: the 12" PowerBook G4 is only roughly $300 more, and offers a great deal more options for that money: a G4 processor, 10GB more of hard disk space, a more recent graphics card, integrated Bluetooth, and compatibility with Apple's new 802.11g card ("AirPort Extreme"). The unit is smaller, however (12.1" as opposed to 14.1") and additionally, the PowerBook line has been criticized as being a little less hardy than the iBook.

I purchased the iBook in November and do not regret my choice in the slightest. It is a hearty little beast that has a lot of power under the hood and a lot of hardiness in the frame.

Unfortunately, when reading the reviews in these forums, one must keep in mind the inherent bias of the reviewer, as "Windows vs. Mac" has been a long-standing feud since the Internet was young.

Benchmark tests on the low end Mac website show that the G3 is comparable to the G4 on most applications; in some cases, it's even slightly faster. If you do video editing or intensive graphic design, the G4 is necessary. Otherwise, even with statistics applications, the G3 is comparable to the G4. The next line of Macs will likely be workstations run on an IBM chip.

I have had the Apple iBook 800MHz laptop for about 6 months and have yet to experience any technical difficulties.

If you're seeking a stable, reliable, high-performance, and visually appealing laptop, you should seriously consider the venerable Apple iBook. Though more expensive than today's P4 1.X laptop PCs, Mac OS X alone is enough to convert even the most diehard PC user. Though getting around the "unique" interface of the OS can take some getting used to, you will surely appreciate its stability and user-friendliness.

With upgraded memory, an AirPort card for wireless web surfing and Office:Mac, you will have everything you need to work or play with incredible performance for everyday tasks. Throw in the iLife suite of applications for DVD playback, music/MP3 management and much more, and you have an amazing productivity pack for multimedia, a longtime strength of Apple computers.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the iBook for those seeking a trusty companion for work, play, or multimedia. The 800MHz G3 processor has never been insufficient for any task I've thrown at it and the AirPort card makes an ideal accessory for connecting to the Internet without wires.

If you have $1400-2000 to spend on a laptop, don't overlook Apple.

Edit: My pre-owned iBook is now nearly 11 months old and has developed the rampant logic board failure, which has plagued many a user. Luckily, with about a month left in my 1-yr AppleCare warranty, I did not have to pay a cent and waited about a week and a half to get it back.

Please keep in mind that if you purchase a newer G3 iBook, you may very well be one of those who experiences a logic board failure, and apparently it can come back again and again. Buy the 3-yr AppleCare Protection Plan and you won't be sorry.

I have used Mac's for a bout 4 years now and I quite like apple products for the most part (other than the usual complaints!). But I bought this ibook in Dec of 2002, and at this point I really wish I could get my money back. Maybe I just got a lemon, but it has already had to be sent back to apple once (took over a month to get back too!). After 2 months of heavy usage (I travel, and it's my only computer) the machine just died and would not start up. After much difficulty sending it off (and hours of stupid tech support walk throughs) they replaced the hard-drive and optical-drive. I don't really think it fixed the problem though. The machine gets very hot with extended use, and I am still having the same problems as I was before I had to send my machine off. Problems like slugish performance (that wasn't the case when i first got the machine, as it was very quick), programs crashing unexpectantly, modem errors, programs not performing correctly, etc. I am very afraid the hard-drive will just die on me again, so I neurotically back up my data every week. honestly I really think it has to do with the fact this machine gets so hot, but that is just my layman theory.
Basically I wish I had spent the extra cash and got a powerbook. Maybe that would have worked better.
I hope this reveiw helps you make a better buying decision. Maybe I just got a lemon, but I wouldn't buy an ibook ever again.

I have had my iBook for a year and a half now and it has got to be one of the better investments I have made. Ever since I can remember I have used Gateway computers or other non-Mac computers, constantly having problems with them. But when I came to my school, which only used Macs, it was easy to pick up on how to use the iMacs. Apple computers are so much more friendlier than any other brand of PC/Windows operating computers. I have no regreats and having the combo drive and the outstanding memory has made life so much easier. No need to worry about certain things going wrong with this computer. But with that said I have had a few minor glitches. Every time I want to burn a CD through iTunes 3 I have to restart my computer every time because otherwise it will fail to burn the entire thing, leaving me with a wasted CDR. That has been the only minor problem I have had and I have no regrets whatsoever!