Customer Reviews

Apple iBook Laptop 14" M9628LL/A (1.33 GHz PowerPC G4, 256MB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, Super Drive, Built-in AirPort Extreme)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're a hard-core Windows user, PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE REVIEW!

Now that they're gone, let's talk about the iBook. It isn't the most powerful computer in Apple's line-up, but it's their least expensive portable. Look at what you get though.

CD/DVD burner...built-in
Wireless connectivity...built-in
Productivity software...built-in
USB 2 and FireWire...built-in
AV out port...built-in
Industry leading support after the sale...included
Movie creation software...included
DVD creation software...included
Music management...included
Music creation...included
Photo archiving and manipulation software...included
Protection from viri and trojan horses...included

Actually the last is a bit of a tease. No known viruses or trojan horses can get past OS/X. The only vunerability is if you type in your admin password and physically install an exploit. MS Windows should be so protected out the box.

Where it's lacking

Only 256 m of memory...Memory is relatively cheap. Apple should have put in at least 512 m.

60 gig hard drive only runs at 4200 RPM. This is slow. Apple should use faster (5400 or better) drives. Especially if you plan on using this as a multi-media editor for music or movies. While you can put in a faster drive (Not easily though. The iBook is a tough nut to crack), you'll void your warrenty doing so unless it's done through an Apple certified service center. Fortunately, there are several manufacterer's of USB 2 and FireWire based external drives ranging from 20 gigs to 250 gigs and up. If portability is an issue, make sure the drive can be buss-powered. The iBook can supply power for such drives through its USB 2 and FireWire ports.

No FireWire 800 ports. While this irks me, it really isn't that big an issue. There are few (so far) devices that use FW 800.

Only a 32 meg video card. If all you want to do is play games, you'll most likely be disappointed by the iBook's graphics card. If this is an issue, spend a little more and get a PowerBook which has a 64 meg card.

No backlighting options for the keyboard or screen. The PBs have this (15 and 17 inch), but it is not an option on the iBook. Not that big a deal unless you are a mole living in total darkness most of the time. The light off the LCD provided me with enough light (Barely) to see the keyboard in low-light conditions.

While it may seem like I have a lot of complaints about this computer, I actually prefer it in many ways over its much more expensive sibling, the PowerBooks. When the time came for a new portable to replace my G3 based Pismo (Apple fans know what this is), I chose the iBook instead of the PB. With my cost savings, I bought more memory and an external USB 2 80 gig Hard drive.

Last thing and then I'll shut up. I recommend the excellent AppleCare 3 year protection plan. Remember that it is a laptop and like any other small electronic device, can be damaged more easily than its tower cousins.

If you already have a desktop computer and are looking for a notebook for wireless Internet access, e-mail, word processing, and other portable applications, the iBook is ideal. The higher priced PowerBook is a great machine, but the iBook offers a much better value, even when compared with competing Microsoft Windows PCs. Even "PC Magazine" ranked the iBook as #1 in its price range.

I own a dual-processor 1.25mHz G4 desktop and was expecting the iBook to feel sluggish by comparison. But it is surprisingly fast. Just be sure to have at least 512mb of RAM. 256mb is the bare minimum, in my experience. A second RAM chip is easy to add on your own.

As with Apple's other products, the iBook's build quality is top notch. There's very fine attention to detail. The battery life of five hours is impressive. The LCD screen is bright and crisp. It's a solid machine all around.

Then, there's OS X, the UNIX-based operating system. That alone is worth the price of admission. It is such an elegant, powerful, intuitive and robust OS. If you're currently using Microsoft Windows and have had problems with security and other issues ... boy, are you in for a pleasant computing experience!

The bundled software is a good start for home users. AppleWorks has word processing, spreadsheet, database and drawing modules. This program will open and save Microsoft Word documents, too. Then, there's iLife, a suite of great easy-to-use multimedia programs for editing video, making DVDs, creating music, and managing your digital photo library. (If your iBook comes with iLife '04 installed, you can send in a coupon to Apple to upgrade to the new iLife '05 package.)

The iBook has wireless capability (Airport Extreme) as a standard feature. I've been able to access the Internet with my iBook at coffee shops and the local mall. If you buy an Airport Extreme transceiver, too, you can have a wireless network within your home.

The iBook ... right out of the carton, everything works just as you'd like!

I am not one who typically writes reviews for products, but finally escaping from the Windows world, my voice just has to be heard.

I'll admit I used to bash Apple since I used an old Mac back in 1995. Never liked the interface, never made any sense, and was just not for me. Since that time (I was in 5th grade), I've become a fairly well respected computer technician in that same school district, a hardcore PC gamer, and like I said, trapped in the Windows world. Finally, my 3rd year of college, I decided it's time to buy a laptop. I've been building PCs for nearly 6 years, so this is a pretty big event in it's own. I'm buying a computer? Woah!

Anyways, knowing I wouldn't want to play games on the laptop, I decided to experiment with the new OS X Tiger, since I heard so many good things about it. So I checked out the Apple website and decided on a 14" iBook. What a great decision it was. It game standard with a 1.33GHz G4 processor, 256MB RAM, 60GB HDD, and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive, and an Airport module. Please note that I would recommend upgrading to at least 512MB RAM, especially when you consider the amount of graphical effects that are standard with OS X. So obviously, I custom ordered mine with 512MB RAM and a Bluetooth Module. Also, I threw in iWork because I WILL be using this for school, and I am not sure how good AppleWorks was (Included), and I wasn't going to risk having to buy iWork later if needed.


The software packaged with the iBook is just amazing. iLife, which, by itself is $79.99 has got to be one of the best built-in software packages I've ever seen. iTunes, iDVD, iMovie HD, iPhoto, and GarageBand. (Package called iLife) We can just push aside iTunes though, considering it is available as a free download on the Apple website. But taking a look at the rest of the iLife package really makes you wonder how they do it. Every piece of software included is insanely easy to use. Simple drag-and-drop is probably the hardest part of even using it.

This part is probably for the not-so-computer-savvy people. The ease of using OS X is unmatched. I've been teaching computer lessons to students and adults since I started here, and I think if everyone picked up a Mac, then i'd be out of a job. I felt dumb about this, but I installed some software (a game...boo hoo) and needed to uninstall it due to the confusing installer (Blizzard stuff). I searched the HDD for an uninstall program for hours. Searched the net for hours..no one could tell me how to uninstall! Turns out, the way you uninstall on a Mac is actually the was we were told to NEVER delete software in Windows. Just simply drag the directory to the trash. It's that simple. Also, burning CDs is equally as easy. No disfunctional, expensive burning software. Just drag the files to the CD drive on your desktop and hit Burn. This simplicity of things is sickening.

I know I will be shunned out of my tech clique I'm in for saying this, but everybody, unless you are gamers (not including Blizzard games), ditch that PC, get a Mac. If you need a good, affordable Laptop, stay away from Windows, unless you want a professional teaching you how to maintain your machine, get a Mac. Sure, they are a tad bit more expensive, but so what? Want a desktop? For $1,299, get an iMac. You will NOT be disapointed.

I recently bought this iBook with a couple of modifications: I upgraded my Hard Drive to 80 GB and bumped the RAM up to 768MB. I also had a Bluetooth module installed. The computer works beautifully. I've been a fan of Apple for about three years ago, ever since I was introduced to them by the flat panel iMac. As much as I loved my iMac, however, I feel this iBook is far superior.

Reading reviews, you'll notice that the majority of Mac users are very loyal and devoted to their computers and Apple products in general. This is because they just WORK. This notebook will do what you want it to, just as it's designed to do with very few problems. Mac OSX is simple and intuitive, yet powerful at the same time. The book itself is well designed, with great battery life and durability.

I would, however, recommend purchasing extra RAM, as 256 just isn't enough for tasks beyond basic internet/emailing/word processing. I just order the extra RAM preinstalled, but if you'd like to save money, it is not difficult to install more yourself.

I would especially recommend this system to students or anyone who needs a dependable and easy to use portable that is stylish and functional. It is, by far, the best computer I've ever used.

I love this computer! I'd had it for a little over a year. I wanted a notebook and searched for the best possible one. Apple offers the latest technology and you are guaranteed high quality. I had my memory upgraded to 768MB RAM and don't have the Super Drive, but this computer is fast. It's great having wireless - I can pick up wireless points all over campus. My parents were worried about software but I haven't had a problem so far. Microsoft makes Microsoft Works for Macs (Word, Powerpoint, Excel).

This computer is small, and light weight for its size (I dare you to compare). I have also been very pleased with the battery life. I get about 4 hours on average- more if I dim the screen a bit.

The 14" iBook has the best screen I have seen in a laptop. The additional screen space over the 12" seems to be more than just the 2" I have had no problems with it. The built in Airport has been very useful. The processor speed is fast enough to do a good fast job in PhotoShop.

I was very pleased with the performance of the iBook overall, however, mine has a dead pixel in the middle of the screen which is very annoyingly noticable when watching movies. When I contacted Amazon to replace it they said that less than three dead pixels is acceptable and I should just deal with it and refused to replace it. I'm returing it and am going to rebuy it from a store so I can check the screen before buying it. My one complaint with the iBook itself is that the display really isn't that sharp when watching a video or dvd

I love my laptop, it goes everywhere, long lasting battery, runs nicely when I work with different programs at the same time, graphics look awesome, audio is very decent, touch pad is nice, even after 2 years of wear, my laptop works and looks great. Try to get a keyboard protector, the letters on the keys (not the actual keys) start coming off after use and abuse. I have abused my loyal laptop, and only letter "e" has come off. The best buy ever! Works beatifully with the printers, ipods, video projectors and any other peripheric I connect to it. If you take basic care of it, it will last a long time. I still run heavy programs and it works beautifully after 2 years.

hey,
i bought an ibook g4 12" in january this year. iv never been so happy with a product in my life! i can't fault it, apart from the lack of backlight with the keyboard but every other bit of this computer is beautiful. the packaging when it arrived is just classy, like u would expect from apple, and everything from performance to style is 100%, i can tell that the person who invented this was a genius! the screen is bright and really good quality and the OS X.4.2 that i got with it is amazingly fast and easy to use. i converted from a windows operating system and i'd never go back because mac makes so much more sense. bill gates just takes a thrill in confusing people i think.
i would recommend this model to anyone from student to business man/woman because i cant fault it, nothing has gone wrong and its just absolutely fantastic.

2 weeks after receiving the ibook, the optical drive stopped working. sending it to apple for repairs, they promptly lost my ibook for 2 weeks. on receiving the notebook i had still had problems with the optical drive, but am unwilling to be without my ibook for 2 weeks again. And to be able to use the optical drive, i cannot store any cd's or dvd's in the drive on putting the notebook to sleep or shutting it down which is time consuming and just silly. Also, on return, the different components of the ibook are not flush anymore and creaks. also one of the rubber "feet" on the bottom that the ibook rests on fell off and was lost since it covers a screw which the service dept. would have needed to access.

on the positive, i like the os, but in the future am unwilling to pay extra for the supposed superior apple quality and service.