Customer Reviews

Apple iBook Laptop 12" M9623LL/A (1.2 GHz PowerPC G4, 256MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive, Built-in AirPort Extreme)

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First lets start by saying that I am a very conscientious consumer. I research stuff over and over before I consider buying something. I like to know that I am getting a good value for my money. I use Amazon and epinions to help reaffirm some of the decisions I've reached, and usually the other consumers on there reach the same conclusion I have. I can honestly say I spent many a night on Amazon reading other customer reviews.

Initially I was interested in getting a notebook, not necessarily an Apple. I started doing my research, and started to realize that many of the options that I wanted, and that most consumers would want, are available on the ibook, and for much less than the competition. Everything about the ibook is very practical, and I'm a practical person. I will break this review down into some key segments.

User interface and comfort: The apple ibook is very comfortable to use, the keys feel great, and the system weighs in at less than 5 lbs. It easily fits into my backpack, and the way the machine is constructed, I don't have to worry all day about the ibook getting damaged. The speakers aren't very loud, but in a quiet setting they are sufficient. Bass is pretty much non-existent, so if you are planning on listening to music, get some headphones. The ibook also has no protruding parts, making the machine look very sleek, as well as non-abrasive to clothing or anything else a sharp corner could snag on. The slot loading drive also makes way more sense on a notebook. Another feature I really enjoy is the ibooks' battery life, which clocks in at about 5 hours, almost double what competing Windows based notebooks have to offer.

Technical specs: This could easily become a recap of what Apple's, Amazon's and every other site has, just technical specs. I will try and break it down for everyday use. The ibook comes standard with a 30gig HD, however I will, as others have, recommend ordering a 60gig model from Apple themselves. It costs an extra $60 and is definitely worth it. Thirty gigs of HD is not enough for most consumers, as you could fill it up very quickly. Its nice to have the 60gig to be prepared for whatever applications you may encounter in the future. The ibook comes with 256mb of DDR ram standard. Now on a Windows XP machine, 256mb would be a joke, but on the OSX operating system, it is definitely enough to get buy. I am planning on upgrading the ram, but it's not something I need to go out and do right away. The CDRW/DVD drive works flawlessly, and the Airport Extreme for wireless Internet, that comes standard with the machine, works effortlessly. A Raedon 9200 video card comes standard, with 32mb of ram, not enough to run the latest games, but sufficient to run a decent amount, and more than enough for everyday applications. Last but not least, the 12.1" screen looks very good in all sorts of lighting, although best in lower key lighting.

The Mac OSX Operating System: If you are new to Apple computers, one thing that might make you hesitant to switch, is learning a new interface. I can attest that I was nervous before purchasing my ibook, while purchasing my ibook, while it was shipping, and up until I opened the package. Every fear or hesitation I had about the OS was immediately put to rest after about 2 minutes of use. I have never really used a Mac, not since the mid 90's, and then it was only for a few hours at school. The Mac OSX is way more intuitive and easy to use, not too mention more stable, than Windows XP could ever dream of being. Windows XP is a decent OS no doubt, but the OSX easily trumps it. Imagine a world without pop-ups, spy ware, viruses, and other annoying things associated with Windows. None of those problems exist when using a Mac. I have pretty much everything figured out after only 2 days of use. The most impressive thing however, is the OSX' ability to multi task, I can easily have 6 or 7 programs running smoothly and flawlessly. I can also switch between them with ease, no locking up, no delay, try that on XP with 256mb of ram. It really is hard to explain how great the OSX is, but have no fear in switching, for you will easily pick up on it.

Odds and Ends: Gaming is very possible on the ibook, but you won't be able to run games at full specs. I am sure once I add more ram I will notice better performance, as Apples are known to utilize ram very well. I will be honest though, if playing the latest games on the go is what you are looking for, the ibook is not for you. There are so many software programs that come free on the ibook; it has already become a part of my everyday routine. The Internet is the same, but you don't use Internet Explorer, you use Apples own Safari program, which I find superior, and you can also download Mozilla's or Window's browsers for the ibook as well. So in my daily routine I can do everything you could want to do on the internet, as well as manage my finances with Quicken 2005, research stuff for school with World book 2004, listen to music with itunes, watch a DVD, add contacts with the address book, plan events with the calendar, and use ichat (its IMing but with more features). With all these different applications included with the ibook, its easy to see how this "ibook" can become an integral part of your everyday life. Remember that I've accomplished and learned all of this in just 3 days of use.

So in Conclusion: I honestly could sit here and ramble on about the ibook for hours and not get bored, it really is that great of a machine. I find myself writing this not getting the least bit bored; I look forward to learning more and more about my new Apple. I don't make the best money, and spending a $1000 dollars on something I had never really had much exposure too was definitely a leap of faith, but now that my ibook is here I cant believe I used to live without it. Honestly, do yourself a favor, get to a CompUSA or an Apple store, and just sit down and play with a demo, you'll see what makes the world of Apple so appealing. I am now convinced that I need to try and switch as many people as possible over to Mac, for it truly is that much be tter.

The iBook is really the best way to get started in Mac ownership. It represents everything good about Apple hardware: it's attractive, efficient, and actually designed with the user - not just the specs list - in mind. The ports are easily accessible on the side, the slot-load drive means that you won't have a tray that can break or become jammed, and the instant sleep/wake function from operating the lid is invaluable. You might never have to completely turn the iBook off... just quit your programs and close the lid!

Also, this is definitely one of the better deals in genuniely portable laptops. It has a very good blend of features and performance for $999 - and it's even better if you can take advantage of the Amazon rebate going on as I write this. The only real laptop that compares is the Averatec 12" model, which falls completely flat in terms of video performance and battery life (Averatec claims 3 hours of life, where the iBook regularly gets 4+ in real-world use).

The only catch is the hard drive space. That's enough for Office, a few games, and an iTunes collection, but consider this: if you got a 20 GB iPod and filled it up from your iBook, about two thirds of your iBook's storage would be nothing but music! If you think you'll need anything more in the future, seriously consider the 14" iBook (with 60 GB standard) or custom-ordering a 12" iBook from Apple's own online store.

One last thing: I'd like to comment on D. Potts' review. The current iBook will still enjoy the majority of the benefits of OS X 10.4, and does in fact do pixel shading. It's just not as full-featured as the absolute-latest graphics chips. But if you really, truly NEED every graphics feature supported, there's a 12" PowerBook waiting for you.

The new 12" iBook has everything you need in a super-portable laptop. It's 20 percent faster than the model it replaces and 20 percent cheaper, with a hundred-buck price cut and wireless networking included.

The iBook features a brilliant, small screen, 4+hour battery, 4.9 pounds, an array of fast ports, industry-leading styling and the best repair record in the industry, according to Consumer Reports. Reliability and service is especially important with temperamental laptops. Apple laptops also never come with the cheap integrated graphics you will find on similarly priced PC products.

There also are the usual MAC bennies: No viruses to worry about, no spyware, no pop-up ads with Safari, faster, cleaner, smarter software, painless connections to printers and networks, and the coolness factor to boot.

My old laptop was a Compaq Presario 2100. It was getting a bit on the aged side so I decided it was time to upgrade.

Mac or Windows? Stupid question. I made the leap and got a Mac, a 12" Ibook to be exact (upgraded to a 60Gb hard drive and 512Mb of RAM).

I'm happy to report that I've been addicted for close to three weeks.

What I love:

1. Clean, elegant design. The slot-loading drive is mucho cool. And the Ibook's quiet. Very quiet.

2. 4-5 hour battery life, consistently. I watch a DVD and still get 2 hours more of battery life afterwards. Cool! My old Compaqs never got more than 3 hours when new. (My Presario 2100, was getting 1 hour 30 max on a full battery by the time I sold it.)

3. OS X Tiger. Tiger's way ahead of WinXP. No question about it.

3.1 Eye candy wise, it's stunning. (I like the way program icons on the dock jump up and down when they're trying to get your attention. That's attention to detail.)

3.2 The lack of borders. This is probably eye candy as well. But I love how, when you open a web page in Safari or play a video file using VLC Player (if it's not on full screen), except for the bar on top and/or the scroll bar, there are no other frames. I haven't seen that trick in XP.

3.3 Expose. I love the way you can call up all your open windows by pushing F9 to get a look at exactly what's running. I love that you can hide all your windows at a push of a button as well.

3.4 Dictionary. I haven't had much use for the dictionary. But, I have to say, the idea that I can push a combination of buttons and immediately get a definition of an unknown word on a webpage or an open document is way cool.

3.5 Dashboard. Ok, ok, Konfabulator has been doing this for a long time (and, truth to tell, Konfabulator's widgets are a bit cooler - but not by much). Here's the big difference though. Dashboard and all the widgets you want are free with your Ibook. Konfabulator is a $19.95 value.

What I like (warning, based on hearsay for now, that's why it's only "like").

1. No spyware, Adware and very little viruses. As a long time Windows user, I've gotten used to having Adaware, Spy Doctor, and Norton Anti-virus running in the background. OS X doesn't have the same problems (or so people say).

Here's what I do know, I've still to see any unwelcome pop-ups when surfing with Safari.

(But, I have to admit, spyware still scares me and I'm not entirely sure OS X is completely immune from spyware.)

2. System stability. I have not had my Ibook long enough to make a statement of fact.

What I do know, however, with Windows - and this covers XP, ME, 98 and 95 - I've had to wipe my hard drive and do a clean install at least once a year because Windows simply stopped working. (btw, in neither of those cases was it a hardware problem. The culprit was always Windows.)

I've heard no such horror stories with regard to OS X.

What I hate.

1. This remains true - lack of software. Yes, there are literally thousands of Mac titles out there. But, unfortunately, it will never be as numerous as those available on Windows. (I have not seen Half Life 2 for Mac, for example.) On the other hand, if you know what you want (and need) and it's available on the Mac, who cares, right?

2. OS X and Windows XP don't work together as well as advertised. For reasons unclear to me, I have been unable to get my HP printer (connected to my Windows desktop - I am not completely free from the Microsoft monopoly) working wirelessly with the Ibook. (I had no such problems with my old Compaq laptop.) And I've had problems with WPA and WEP wireless security as well - this time on a Linksys WiFi router also hardwired to my desktop.

3. Apple is more expensive (though this probably has more to do with the price-gouging practices of authorized Apple re-sellers where I live than with Apple itself. But I do wish Apple would impose a bit more price discipline on its authorized re-sellers -at least to the extent it can legally do so.)

Still, all-in-all, for beautiful design, the Ibook stands up very well indeed against all, except the most elegantly designed Windows laptops out there. (And even then, those elegantly designed Windows laptops are probably hundreds if not thousands of dollars more expensive than the Ibook.)

More importantly, OS X beats the pants-off WinXP any day of the week, including Sunday.

So what are you waiting for? Get a Mac already!

I got my iBook about a month ago and I love it. I'd previously had a Mac in college and had been using a PC because of work for the past seven years and I'm no beginner user - fluent in just about every type of software out there from Office applications to video/audio programs. After years of blue screens, 2 hour calls to Microsoft support, and unexplained program crashes/freezes, I am SO glad I went back to Apple. The iBook has been an outstanding reintroduction.

For those of you worried about going back, I've found no problems with compatibility in transferring documents back and forth, the OS environment is very intuitive and takes little extra effort if you are familiar with Windows.

The iBook itself is a great value. The 1.2 Ghz processor sounds small to Windows users, but it buries my old 2.0 Ghz Pentium3 that had 3 times the RAM of my little iBook. The screen is sharp and impressive, the battery life is good (not quite the 6 hours advertised, but a solid 4-4.5 hours), its incredibly portable, the full-size keyboard is easy to use, and I've easily integrated the iBook at home for the full desktop experience with a regular monitor, wireless mouse, and external drive (to make up for the small hard drive).

Having to buy Microsoft Office was definitely a negative of the iBook, but it was definitely worth the extra cost. And the iLife, iTunes, Quicken, and basic software included with the iBook is all really great. Best of all - it never crashes!!!

I've gone back to Apple, and I'm never going to stray again. I only wish I'd gone back sooner. Get an iBook. You'll love it. Its like getting your first computer all over again.

Having last owned a Mac about 10 years ago (Mac Classic in college), I've been eagerly looking at the platform since the release of OS X. I've recently switched both my home (eMac) and mobile computers (iBook) to Mac, and don't intend on ever going back.

The iBook is a great value (especially if you are able to get the Amazon rebate), and is a very complete package. In has pretty current hardware (1.2 Ghz G4 works great for most all current apps, but upgrade the RAM!), great functionality (small and compact with no edges to snag your clothing or your backpack, 6 hour battery life, built-in 802.11g wireless networking, great included iLife apps), great Apple industrial design, and a great operating system in OS X Panther.

Another truly great feature of the Mac notebooks is its sleep mode. Close the lid and the computer goes into power-saving sleep mode, where will happily sleep for days and days without using up the battery (I don't remember when I last reboot or shut off my iBook.) Open the lid, and it is awake and ready to go in a second or 2. Windows notebooks have this feature too, but my last couple of notebooks always end up crashing or locking up (1 was Windows 2000, the other was Win XP Professional), preventing me from using this feature. My understanding is that they take up more juice in their sleep mode as well, so they can't be used like the iBook- I feel completely comfortable putting my computer to sleep for the night without the power adapter.

Finally a comment about the Mac platform. Switching to a Mac is not as 'traumatic' an experience as is made out to be. Web, email, photos, music- all these applications are cross-platform and interchangeable between Windows and Mac users. Microsoft Office is almost completely cross-platform compatible as well. I also had a pleasant surprise the other day when I logged onto my Windows network at work with my iBook, with NO CONFIGURATION necessary! (when they set up the new network, an admin had to spend about half an hour on each Windows PC to make different necessary changes!) I don't know how that is, but within 5 minutes I was copying files from the network servers and printing to a network printer.

I have used Macs since 1990 (Classic, LC, original iMac, cube, Powerbook 140). This model replaces a G3 Pismo (400mhz) Powerbook that I bought when the 1st Titanium Powerbooks were announced. The Pismo was getting a bit too slow for my needs (especially ripping CD's & multitasking). Computers are always being upgraded & become obsolete very soon & I try to hold out as long as possible before upgrading & usually buy the most recent previous model when a new model is released (because of the price reduction). This time, I decided to "take a step down" (from a Powerbook to an ibook w/ smaller screen) but buy the newest version of a model that's been on the market (I like to avoid buying the first iteration of a brand new model). My decision was based on the fact that I often thought about dragging around my laptop with me (I like to bike instead of driving), however the thought of lugging it around (because of its weight & size) usually ended up making me leave it at home. So when this model was upgraded to 1.2 GhZ (& wireless built in) and [..] offered a $150 rebate, I jumped.

My initial observations after having it a week? It seems to me like this was my smartest computer purchase to date & I think it's probably the best computer value for the money of any type (PC/Mac, laptop/desktop) ever offered to date. I paid over $3000 for the Powerbook 145 in the early 90s, over $2000 for the Pismo in 2000 & now $850 for this laptop which is lighter & has many more features & better software than those previous models.

I really do like the more compact size of the 12" model than my 15" PB. Portability/Lightness & longer battery run time are more important to me than watching DVD's or editing documents side-by-side (that's why I have my 23" cinema display at home) and I don't need to use Final Cut Pro. When I take a laptop with me, it's usually for basic Word documents, email, internet surfing, ripping CDs & downloading pictures from a digital camera. The improvements in processor & bus speed in this model over my Pismo are very noticeable. While there is less screen real estate, new features in OS X make this less of a problem (Expose & the ability to instantly hide & switch between desktop applications).

This laptop does feel pretty durable & looks great out of the box, though I can see the white surface getting scratched/marked pretty easily, particularly if you use it a lot. It also attracts a lot of dust & dirt (static cling). I had initially stayed away because of reports of latch problems, but it looks like this version has fixed that. The screen sort of hovers slightly over the keyboard when latched (& 2 small rubber feet keep it from touching) & it opens up to fall behind the main section (so that it doesn't catch. Getting all the features into such a compact form, though, does have a price. I noticed that the airport signal sometimes drops from 4 bars to 3, despite the fact that I haven't moved my computer (my Pismo always maintained full strength with the slower wireless card).

While the computer is great, it isn't perfect. Some differences (in using cheaper parts) are noticeable from my Pismo. I installed a 512 MB RAM stick, (which wasn't too difficult) & noticed that the ibook's keyboard is cheaper/flimsier than my Pismo. Trying to remove it was a bit difficult (only because it feels like it could break more easily & the space in which it fits is much tighter). Also, the speakers are much cheaper & sound like it. The hard drive is only 4200 RPM & I was planning on replacing it with a 60 GB/7200 RPM model, however looking at what this entails (taking the entire laptop apart), I'm contemplating taking it in to have it done (I've done all my upgrades myself to date). The touch pad also seems a bit more sensitive (my mouse will often pop around on the screen when another finger might accidentally touch it while scrolling).

The only other downsides so far? Only one Firewire port (400). This makes it difficult if you want to use an iSight camera or an ipod or an external firewire drive. You'll have to plug & unplug devices & can't keep 2 connected unless you get a hub (which you'll have to carry around). The Pismo had 2 & because of it, I gravitated towards Firewire devices (over USB). While Apple did upgrade the USB ports (2) to USB 2.0, the only Firewire port is at the slower speed. Apple seems to be dropping the ball on Firewire for some reason...maybe they're no longer going to support it? Initially it was a better choice over USB (faster & the ability to power external devices), so it's too bad.

Also, Apple has changed the installation disks that come with computers. This model comes with 10.3.5 (no more classic/OS 9) and the disks will only work for this model (previously you could upgrade all your computers to the newest OS with a new computer's installation disks). But OS X has been around for a while now & has improved quite nicely since its infancy. The entire "i" suite (iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Garage Band, iCal), a basic Text editing program & Appleworks (which really has been neglected for a while now) & Quicken 2005, along with games & Utilities come bundled with the OS...and the manual? Get online & access Apple's support site or other Mac sites for help, they're far more informative than the booklet or the OS's Help system.

I had a 15" Dell Inspiron laptop that just went out of its extended warranty, and I wanted to buy another laptop on MY terms, rather than scrambling to get a new one when something bad happened to the Dell. When I saw the price of the 12" iBook and looked at the included programs, I realized that the iBook is the perfect laptop for me.

1) I am always on the run. The iBook is light and tiny. It's a pleasure to carry about, much easier to actually use on my lap than my Dell was.

2) I do browsing, word processing and desktop publishing, mp3s, and digital photo tweaking. That's pretty much it. On my Dell I had a hodgepodge of software that didn't work together. The iBook's iLife suite of software works together and is included along with Appleworks with the iBook at no extra charge. You can get a cheaper PC, but honestly, I don't think it's cheaper once you factor in the software you get and the quality. You are not getting a cheap processor like a celeron and a dumbed down OS like XP home.

I am not saying that macs are better than PCs. I like my Dell fine. I am just saying that for the average computer user who needs a laptop that packs maximum value for the money in a small package, you can't beat the iBook.

This iBook is a beautiful machine. Nearly everything about it is solid and well-designed, from the location of the ports to the mechanism that opens and closes the screen to the feel of the keyboard when you type. The screen is very clear for a 12" laptop and the sound quality from the tiny speakers is perfectly acceptable by the standards of any other laptop. And best of all, the battery is good for about five hours of use.

The white plastic case is not as flimsy as it looks--it is in fact quite solid. My only complaint about the case is that it stains easily.

I received my iBook on a Friday, turned it on, and it immediately detected my wireless network. I had to do nothing in order to get online. It took me two days to get my Debian Linux and Windows XP PCs to find the same network.

The OS X user interface is very intuitive, especially for an Apple novice like me (I last used an Apple product about 15 years ago). The free "Quicksilver" product extends the functionality of the Finder such that all you need to do is type the first few letters of whatever you are looking for, and it will find and open it for you. Having struggled with the various incarnations of Windows for the past decade, I'm especially glad to know that OS X is Linux-based.

The hard drive is only 30 GB, and you'll fill that up quickly. But you can always buy an iPod, or even better, you can get an external FireWire hard drive for $0.70/GB on which to store your media.

I don't know why you would pay twice the price for a PowerBook just to get twice the hard drive space and an aluminum case. The iBook is a killer deal [...]. If you're in the market for a good, solid, easy-to-use notebook computer, the iBook should be at the top of your list.

I have had this notebook since November of 2004, right out of the box anyone switching from a P.C. desktop or notebook, will notice the trackpad is sluggish and not very accurate. I called apple and went to the apple stores, everyone told me this is how the trackpads work for apple machines, even the desktops with mouses are like this( I thought my trackpad was broken ) They don't use the current mouse or redwood software, you have to find a free shareware named sidetrack, this will allow you to calibrate the tracpad to your liking and enable the side and vertical scrolling. (this is for those individuals who thought they couldn't get that option with apple notebooks) and you should upgrade the memory from 256 to 512 at least. (...)

The notebook itself is very nice, heavy compared to P.C. notebooks with the same size, but the material is much better and more sturdy with the ibook. Fast procesor, nice bright backlid screen and terrific battery life, I get an average of 4.5 hours or normal real time use (unlike P.C. notebooks that advertise 3 hours, but in real time use, surfing the web, typing, they end up low on power in 1 and 40 minutes) I mean why advertise you get 3 hours but only if you leave it on and don't do anything with it. I guess that is where apple came up with their 6 hours for the ibook on their website. Get this notebook if you travel and need word documents, spread sheets and internet. Do not get it for games (since Macs don't get any and if they do, they are buggy) This is a very nice notebook, great for students. Hope this review was helpful