Save $$$. Deals on Lenovo ThinkPad
Entered CNET Catalog: 02/01/2005
SKU: 0718908816707
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Manufacturer description
Take a high-performance PowerPC G4 processor, add a wide-screen display, and enclose it all in a lightweight titanium case. Apple has just created the PowerBook G4 - and redefined portable computing. If you need the utmost power for creative design, education, or business, the PowerBook G4 is ready to provide it wherever you go. Making a notebook computer the slimmest and lightest in its category shouldn't have to mean making compromises in performance and functionality. What makes a supercomputer "super" is its ability to execute at least one billion floating-point operations per second. It's a staggering measure of speed known as a "gigaflop". In addition, the PowerPC G4 can perform four (in some cases eight) 32-bit floating-point calculations in a single cycle - two to four times faster than traditional processors. The PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine works with the PowerPC architecture to accelerate the data-intensive processing required by next-generation video, voice and graphics applications. Among the G4 key features is a vector permute function capable of rearranging data in the registers - a priceless benefit when converting data from one format to another (often necessary with voice, video and graphics applications, which typically need to save data in a number of different formats). These vector-processing acceleration advantages give the G4 microprocessor a significant edge when it comes to fast visualization of large data sets and intensive math for real-time simulations, making the PowerPC G4 perfect for everything from digital video, graphics and 3D games to astronomy, the biosciences and predictive modeling.Product summary
The good: Beautiful sleek-and-slender design; robust software package, including Mac OS X Tiger; illuminated keyboard and scrollable trackpad; SuperDrive DVD burner.
The bad: Expensive; only 90 days of toll-free technical support.
The bottom line: The high-performance, fully loaded, simply beautiful 15-inch PowerBook G4 will satisfy students and creative professionals who can afford to sacrifice cash for style.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 08/04/2005
Buying a laptop typically demands certain trade-offs, but with the beautifully designed thin-and-light 15-inch PowerBook G4, there's no need to compromise: it delivers portability, performance, and a 15.2-inch (diagonal) display that's great for graphics work, watching DVDs, and just about anything else. Like the 17-inch PowerBook G4, this 15-inch model includes features such as a scrolling trackpad and a Sudden Motion Sensor that protects the hard drive when the laptop is dropped. In addition, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 is among the new fleet of Macs running on Mac OS X Tiger, and it ships with the iLife '05 software suite. Though the excellent software package adds significant value, on a pure hardware basis, the PowerBook G4 comes at a premium: a similarly configured ThinkPad T43, for example, costs $500 less.
The Apple PowerBook's sleek aluminum shell is hard to miss, and the 15-inch model has particularly pleasing dimensions. Measuring just 1.1 inches thick, 13.7 inches wide, and 9.5 inches deep, it is similar in size to the Portable One MX and the ThinkPad T43. At a reasonable 5.6 pounds, the PowerBook G4 weighs about average for a thin-and-light laptop--slightly heavier than the ThinkPad T43 and 0.5 pound heavier than the Portable One MX. Its 0.4-pound AC adapter makes for a total weight that's acceptable for carrying on the occasional trip.
Lift the lid of the 15-inch PowerBook G4, and you'll find the same minimalist design as on its 17-inch sibling: just a power button, a big keyboard framed by stereo speakers, and a large trackpad with a single mouse button. Unlike the lower-end iBook, the PowerBook G4 has a silver case and keyboard that do not pick up finger smudges. Though the keys are a bit shallow, they're wide, and we found them comfortable to use for long stretches of typing; we also loved the keyboard backlighting, which automatically adjusted to changes in ambient light levels. Like on other PowerBook G4s (and now iBooks, too), the generously sized trackpad lets you scroll through long documents and Web pages by dragging two fingers down the pad. The laptop's 15.2-inch (diagonal) TFT wide-screen display is adequately sized for most productivity and entertainment applications, and its vivid 1,280x854 native resolution teamed with the PowerBook's stereo speakers make it a good portable movie theater.
With two USB 2.0 ports; the rare combination of FireWire 400 and 800; a PC Card slot that accepts Type I and II PC cards; and support for DVI, VGA, S-Video, and composite video, the Apple PowerBook G4 can connect to virtually any peripheral, from digital cameras to ProTools hardware. It's equipped with Bluetooth to interface with cell phones, and you can access the Internet via 802.11g Wi-Fi radio, Gigabit Ethernet, or modem. This 15-inch PowerBook G4 also accommodates a neat slot-loading SuperDrive that plays and burns DVDs and CDs. Unlike most Windows laptops, the PowerBook G4 doesn't include a built-in media reader for flash memory cards, though the USB and FireWire ports can usually connect directly to peripherals that use card memory.
The PowerBook G4 now ships with Mac OS X Tiger, highlights of which include the incredibly cool Spotlight search utility and the customizable Dashboard, a collection of handy desktop tools. Our review unit also came bundled with the robust iLife '05 software suite, which includes iPhoto 5.0, iMovie HD, iDVD 5.0, GarageBand 2.0, and iTunes 4.7; the PC equivalent could easily run hundreds of dollars more. The software package does not include the new iWork productivity suite, which costs $79 extra and isn't necessary unless you make a lot of high-end newsletters and presentations.
Priced at $2,299 (as of August 2005), this 15-inch PowerBook G4 features a 1.67GHz processor, 512MB of slowish 333MHz DDR SDRAM (with an open memory slot that provides room for expansion up to 2GB); a zippy 80GB, 5,400rpm hard drive; and ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB video memory and Dual Link DVI functionality for use with a high-resolution monitor such as the Apple Cinema Display. In CNET Labs' iTunes tests, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 matched the performance of its 17-inch sibling, which has the same-speed processor and RAM; it ran only 11 percent slower than a PowerMac G4 desktop with a 1.25GHz processor and a faster 7,200rpm hard drive. However, the 15-inch laptop lagged behind both systems when it came to graphics tasks in CNET Labs' Photoshop CS tests and our Unreal Tournament 2004 game test. The 15-inch PowerBook's battery lasted only 2 hours, 42 minutes, or 12 minutes less than that of the 17-inch PowerBook G4, which has a larger, battery-draining screen. Neither model could match the 14.1-inch iBook's 3 hours, 24 minutes; if you're looking to work away from the wall socket for extended periods, the iBook may be the better buy.
The PowerBook G4 ships with an industry-standard one-year warranty that covers parts and labor, but toll-free telephone support is limited to a mere 90 days--well short of what you'll typically find on the PC side. The $349 AppleCare Protection Plan extends phone support and repair coverage to three years; by way of contrast, you can upgrade most PCs' warranties to three years of support for around $150. Apple does offer online troubleshooting, and its Web forums are a good resource to get tips from other users and download the product's printed manual.
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User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 User Rating: 
9/10
Very powerful, and it runs OS X?what else do you need?
Pros: Backlit keyboard, great video card, perfect screen
Cons: Battery life could be better
User Rating: 
10/10
This Apple is Delicious!
Pros: I don't think it gets any better than this! It runs smooth, fast, and looks beautiful while doing so.
Cons: The surface scratches easily. But, there are pretective skins and cases available everywhere for this model.
User Rating: 9/10
Great for ALL uses!!
Pros: CPU Speed, Memery, Graphics, SuperDrive, Communications, Light-Up Keyboard, Battery life
Cons: Weight (not super heavy), Power Cord
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent Laptop!!
Pros: Quick and Responsive, Great for all the Visual needs!
Cons: No iSight built in...
User Rating: 
6/10
Powerbook G4 is excellent but I have a big problem
Pros: I can do everything from digital illustration to Safari searches
Cons: My powerbook moved from English to Japanese, do not Know how
User Rating: 9/10
The Best laptop I've ever owned
Pros: Battery Life, Sharp Screen, Functionality, Doesn't wear and tear easy
Cons: No VGA port, horible onboard mic.
It's wide screen relistate is a plus. I love the light-up keyboard also.
One thing that I hate about the G4 Power Book is the built in mic. The mic is placed under the housing of the left speaker. It picks up all the noised of the laptops innards and every sound played thow the speakers. What a horrible idea.
User Rating: 
2/10
crashiest machine yet
Pros: looks cool, when it works it's fast
Cons: crashes all the time, does not properly save files, unhelpful and rude customer support
User Rating: 10/10
Best Computer I have ever used. Simply AMAZING!
Pros: Design, weight, battery, Speed, Graphics, Never crashes, NO viruses, did i mention its SUPER FAST?
Cons: hmmm, limited games? (who cares though this is the best computer ever)
To be short:
1) this is my first mac ever
2) this is the best computer i have ever purchased
3) 10x better than a dell
4) super fast, great battery, clean, never crashes
5)ITS PERFECT !
User Rating: 9/10
True portability with the right amount of features
Pros: fast, reliable, portable, good battery life, high contrast screen, quiet, too expensive
Cons: gets hot, no external controlls for iTunes, no settings for sleep mode with lid closed
So far I have found this machine truly amazing, worth every penny.
More reliable - if one program crashes, system is still stable. Works faster than my 1.87ghz centrino laptop (also 1gb ram, 80gb hdd).
The screen contrast is superior compared to the 12" powerbook.
Adjusting the screen brightness and keyboard backlight brightness automatically is a really cool gadget.
Photoshop works fast and steady. Playing dvds with 15 other programs open works just fine, no lagging.
Despite several complaints about the bad wi-fi on macs, I have not had any problems - where my asus laptop has about 900-1200kbps bandwidth, mac has solid 1800-1900kbps, so by my standards that's by far superior to the windows laptops. (I have tried it on linksys and DLink routers)
And finally, my 15.1" powerbook weights considerably less than 15.4" asus and WAY less than 15" toshiba laptop.
The problem is that it gets too hot on the bottom if you keep it on your lap for long enough.
I would also like to see external control buttons for the iTunes (since it's already integrated into the system) like many of the windows laptops do.
One thing I found annoying about my powerbook is that there is no settings for sleep mode when the lid is closed, it goes to sleep automatically - sometimes I like to listen to music with the lid closed or leave it for the night to download something, or simply go to work and wish to access powerbook remotely. However, there are third party apps for that, nevertheless I would like to see it built-in. (I have also heard that mac doesn't advise leaving powerbooks running with lid closed due to heat issues)
Question to Apple - is there NO way you can lower your prices on laptops???
User Rating: 10/10
Best Laptop Ever
Pros: Lightweight, Excellent Design...can't fit it all
Cons: No voice chat support in Yahoo, MSN Messenger....
If you are looking for a laptop than go no further.
User Rating: 
8/10
Still Going Strong
Pros: OS X, iLife,
Cons: No really good docking station solutions. Add ons are expensive.
User Rating: 9/10
Top of the range
Pros: Design, Price
Cons: Difficult to find
User Rating: 9/10
Fell in love with it
Pros: Quick, great display, nice keyboard with backlit
Cons: A bit expensive, only 2 usbs
User Rating: 9/10
Best move i ever made!!
Pros: awsome platform, very stable and much faster than a PC
Cons: Some programs not compatable.
User Rating: 8/10
Well designed and portable
Pros: looks amazing, long battery life, doesn't crash as much, very light,
Cons: bad inbuilt speaker sound, not much support for 3rd party software, expensive(if not a student and comparable specs)
User Rating: 9/10
It just works and has the power of UNIX when you need it.
Pros: Most stable machine I have owend. Stellar support, drop dead good looks.
Cons: Battery life could be better. Expensive, but worth it.
The security of OS X is leaps and bounds ahead of Windows. I have not had any problems with Viruses, Worms, Spyware, Adware, Trojans, or crashes. I cannot think of anything bad to say about this OS or the hardware.
User Rating: 9/10
Elegant design, fast, powerful and stable platform. What else do you need?
Pros: Bulletproof Apple OS X, Dual Layer Superdrive, Scrolling Ttrackpad, High Res Wide LCD Screen, Built-in Airport and Bluetooth
Cons: Battery life and Airport improved, but not great, Runs warm periodically
The real reason to buy this laptop, or any Apple for that matter is the Apple operating system. If you want a system that works intuitively and fulfills its promise without freezes, crashes, endless maintenance, or constant security risks, this is the platform for you. You turn it on, you use it, you turn it off. Windows is simply pre-historic by comparison. And though Apple's free support is only 90 days long, it's really good support from people who understand these computers and are great at walking you through the few issues that crop up. There will be occasions when I may be forced to use a PC again, but, when its's my money and my time it will be an Apple. Period.
User Rating: 9/10
This Laptop rocks...no more WIndows laptops for me!!!
Pros: Amazingly cool; seemlless functionality.
Cons: Way expensive
Bottom Line: a very smooth, functional laptop that effectively replaces any Win XP laptop.
User Rating: 9/10
if there is one thing to have this is it!
Pros: Sleek design, timeless, well thought out and above all reliable unlike the pc's
Cons: Cost is predominately the main barrier preventing people from buying a mac and forced in taking the 2nd option and buying PC's
User Rating: 10/10
Simply Perfect
Pros: Everthing its keyboard is like typing on a cloud. delightful
Cons: Gets hot after a while
User Rating: 10/10
Absolutely outstanding
Pros: Operating system!!! Ease of use, reliability, doesn't crash
Cons: Does not run windows applications
User Rating: 9/10
pleasantly suprised
Pros: screen, style, os
Cons: battery life, warranty etc.
i've had the machine for about three months now and i couldn't be happier with it. There are some slight irritations, but compared to those of windows, I can deal with these. The thing that bothered me the most was the 90 day warranty, and the extra 300 to upgrade to a 3 yr. I guess I'm so used to having problems with my computers I didn't see the 90 day being enough. So far I haven't had any reason to call the manufacturer, which is definetly different.
I travel to Paris every other week on business and this has proved to be a powerhouse of not only performance but design. I toss my briefcase all the time and this hasn't even got a scratch on it. No performance or screen issues, its a freakin rock. THANK GOD someone finally thought of the backlit keyboard. When IBM came out with the light from the monitor I thought that was a brilliant idea, but DUH. it is honestly one of the best features on the computer when you are working in a dark dingy plane.
well I just wanted everyone to know that if you are thinking of making the switch, stop contemplating the idea and make the plunge. this operating system is so much more reliable that I actually feel safer with my files on this computer than if they were on a windows based computer. i've even stopped backing up every pother day... the IT guy at the company I work for said that macs hardly ever crash and that it should be around for quite come time.
I'M HAPPY... YOU WILL BE TOO
User Rating: 9/10
Simply Stunning, but nothing is perfect
Pros: Apple has every pro possible...
Cons: There is only one... it can't support some of the same features as XP on certain programs.
User Rating: 10/10
best i have ever used
Pros: everything
Cons: people will try to be your friend
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent laptop. Unbeatable quality and great MacOS.
Pros: Never crash and no need to turn it off. Wireless network never failed.
Cons: Gets too hot to handle after long use.
User Rating: 2/10
average performance, but high quality exterior
Pros: high quality exterior, gorgous design
Cons: slows down, not stable after hours when on, simple program crash. average wireless capabilities, compatibility, expensive accessories, very expensive.runs hot.
User Rating: 9/10
worth the investment, secure w/ performance
Pros: Security, wireless, speed, ease of use
Cons: with drive and RAM upgrade, battery life suffers
User Rating: 10/10
The best Powerbook ever, hands down!
Pros: The perfect balance of power and portibility
Cons: out of reach of the average consumer
User Rating: 10/10
Its worth the extra money over a PC laptop DVI out
Pros: Looks great, Mac OS X, backlite keyboard, Screen, Light
Cons: can get hot, its to much of a target, attracts alot of attention
User Rating: 9/10
A review based on T.V. or no!WhoCaresAboutTheIdiotBox
Pros: I have a Custom $3000 P.C. Laptop and The Powerbook Blows it out of the water in useability My House Hold Queue's up to use it! We are addicted to it.
Cons: ThereAreNoConsTheOnlyThing Missing Is Project & Visio But You Can Find Comprable Softwear
Formac To Intro PowerBook TV Tuner Card
by Remy Davison, Insanely Great Mac
March 8th 2005
Finally, a digital TV tuner card for Mac. Long a staple of the portable PC crowd, PowerBook users have been forced to use external devices, like EyeTV, hanging off USB cables. Now Formac will intro a PCMCIA card at the end of the month which picks up digital TV, Hardmac, the English edition of MacBidouille reports.
The Formac Watch and Go card has an external antenna, and supports DMA (Direct Memory Access), so video is sent straight to RAM, by-passing the processor. It will also support MPEG-2 real-time compression, but a promised firmware upgrade will compress into MPEG-4.
But why waste this sexy machine just watching T.V. I have a custom $3000 P.C. with the best cards and 1000Gigs of memory but my kids and I have become totally addicted to my PowerBook and our new iBook, they just perform better, they are faster and easier to use the Operating system blows Microsoft out of the water in every application. Tiger is freaking amazing and fun to use, it is so sexy and sleek it just pulls you in and oh the envy of passers buy. Microsoft Office for Mac is super and even looks better in Apple applications. You can?t beat the PowerBook in terms of multimedia applications. If you go to concerts you see them on stage artist cant live with out their multiple PowerBooks, for a reason the best mixing software is written for Apple. The PowerBook can be your own recording studio, turn it in to a wireless hub, use dream weaver to publish the most awesome and innovative websites. Make movies, picture albums and slide shows, be the one in the office with the coolest multimedia presentation. Video conference in a snap no need to chase down I.T. because you can make the freaking thing work. Apple is easy even a grade school child could get a presentation going faster then you on your P.C. laptop.
User Rating: 9/10
Switch and Don't Look Back!
Pros: Looks great, runs great, everything works, no spyware, no worries, NO BSOD!
Cons: Runs hot, pricey, short warrenty
I waited over a year to switch - my winXP laptop was good enough, so I was waiting till I a reason to replace it - I can't believe I waited so long and was so nervous about it - it was EASY! everything transfered with no problems - it was easier to set up the PB on my wifi network than it was to set up my old winXP laptop! its so great to work with a computer that works FOR you instead of AGAINST you. And for all of you who never use standby on your win laptop because of the numerous bugs (believe me, I was one of you - I could never get my internet connection to go after waking up) - SLEEP on the PB works almost instantly, wakes up in seconds, and runs with no problems. no bugs. so switch - you won't regret it. i don't. not for a second.
User Rating: 10/10
the best notebook I've ever owned
Pros: build quality, high integration between soft- and hardware
Cons: a bit heavy
I can't recall how many laptops I've had in the past 15 years, but this one easily is the best I've ever owned. I've now used it as my primary computer for about eight months, and it is a rock-solid, reliable, workhorse. Unlike Windows machines, there are no glitches, no weird quirks, it just allows the professional to focus on his or her work. I consider Sony Vaios to be the best Windows laptops (i've owned several), but they don't hold a candle in comparison to this Apple machine.
User Rating: 10/10
Ultimate balance between power and portability.
Pros: Beautiful apple design, good screen, fast processor, OS X, best keyboard and trackpad, good balance between power and mobility.
Cons: Needs more USB.
The powerbook 15" is a perfect balance between power and portability. It serves great as a DTR or travel buddy which I use to and from work.
OS X is awesome, it never crashes and viruses and spyware really are not a threat to this operating system.
The software is good, lots of multi-media friendly programs as well as business apps to get your work done.
Apple rules, I don't see why more people switch.
User Rating: 9/10
Great, shiny laptop
Pros: Light, easy to use OSX, great for taking notes in class
Cons: Overheats like mad
User Rating: 9/10
Would marry it if it were legal
Pros: Awesome design, great screen, really tactile keyboard, pleasure to work with
Cons: Gets hot, battery life average, expensive
User Rating: 9/10
Elegant, sophisticated, and stylish notebook
Pros: Sleek, light, and fully loaded. OS X is amazing and all inclusive, and works right out of the box! Great discounts for students.
Cons: A bit pricey, especially with applecare, however once your purchase APP you're golden.
The user interface is intuitive and simple. Installing programs was a breeze (simply drag and drop into applications folder). No installation wizards, or craziness like that.
OS X had everything I needed, no need to go out and get a PDF reader, or other add ons. Everything is included.
9/10 because its a bit pricey, which probably deters some users from buying. Bottom line, if your not strapped for cash and you're interested in buying a high quality machine and incredible support pick up a PB with APP, you wont be disappointed.
User Rating: 9/10
Time To Bust a Myth or Two
Pros: Power, Speed, Looks, and Price(!)
Cons: Narrow-minded IT support
And this "Creative Professional" tag is a sign of a lazy reviewer. Apples run all MS Office applications as well or better than Wintels. If you need to run a Windows program get Virtual Windows, which ran simulation software faster on my PowerBook than on native PCs. And using a database on a PowerBook will blow your mind!
If you database, this is the machine for you. I created a 100K x 40 database. Using a Dell Pentium4, 3.3GHz with 1GB RAM, it took 45 minutes to do a single sort on MS Access. I couldn't waste time like this. I exported it to a CSV, and loaded it into FilePro on my PowerBook (1GHz, 512MB). A simple sort of all records took 4 seconds. A complex sort - 6 variables - took 15 seconds!
And clueless PC-philes (like the one writing the review?) still don't know that Apples will usually find the network for you, and all you do is add a recognized user name and password and you're up and running on the LAN/WAN. There's no trick. I've done it on 6 different networks in the last year.
Free support is available, but only if you live near an Apple Store - where it is absolutely great. And the extended warranty is pricey, so use a credit card that adds a second year.
Forget "creative;" if you're any kind of professional, this will be a great primary system that will knock your socks off, and turn you into one of those annoying "see how great my Apple is?" users!
User Rating: 9/10
Great, great product
Pros: VERY easy to use, lighter than most, average price
Cons: doesn't come in black (personal preferene).
I did notice that c|net, even thought thier own data don't support the contention, still hype the canard that Apples are more expensive. Compare the price and functionality of this laptop to all the others in their "best" products and you'll see that the Powerbook G4 falls right in the middle of the bunch: less expensive than some, and only slightly more expensive than the lowest priced. C'mon c|net, when ya gonna admit it, Apple products are no more expensive than *comparable* windows boxes. Sure you can buy a dirt cheap Dell, but it can't hold a candle to a Mac. Any comparable Windows box costs about the same as a Mac.
And to any laptop user out there: this is a great buy. Do yourself a favor, buy Mac and save yourself the nightmare of using Windows (yech!).
User Rating: 
7/10
Well designed but lacking in few areas
Pros: Flawless display; scrolling trackpad; firm keyboard; sturdy design
Cons: Battery life; airport reception; mid range graphics; expensive, no dual-layer SuperDrive
User Rating: 10/10
New MAC user update . . . first MAC product . . . fantastic! I'm impressed.
Pros: Everything works just like I expect it to . . . intuitive, user friendly, no surprises except that it really works!
Cons: Only one complaint: strange keyboard arrangement is difficult to get used to.
User Rating: 9/10
a much better value than the reviewer would have you think
Pros: very thin and light for such a full-featured notebook; OSX Tiger; class
Cons: aluminum can be tough to clean
This is a ridiculous comparison. The ThinkPad T43 is far from "similarly configured." The ThinkPad mentioned has a 14.1" screen (compared to the PowerBook's 15.2" widescreen). The ThinkPad also has a 60GB hard drive and lacks Firewire (IEE1394) ports. The PowerBook in question comes with an 80GB hard drive (no small difference in a laptop) and both Firewire 400 and Firewire 800. Admittedly, the ThinkPad has a lot more mouse buttons, a more cramped keyboard, and a parallel port (does anyone use it any more?). Of course, the Powerbook comes with built-in Bluetooth (something I'll actually use).
I'm on my second PowerBook and I would buy a third. It's easily portable, light, fully featured, and a good value for the money.
User Rating: 9/10
Best OS, aesthetics, and features
Pros: OS X, back-lit keyboard, thin & light, not plasticy, ambient light sensors, all the ports you could want (even FW800!)
Cons: Battery life is 3.5 hours
User Rating: 9/10
Elegant & powerful multi-purpose travel companion.
Pros: Outstanding keyboard & breath-taking screen; plenty of power for the road.
Cons: 90 day phone support is miserly to be polite; cost of AppleCare for laptop too high.
For anyone coming over from Windows the elegance and security of OS X will be more than worth any small premium in price. This computer has the best keyboard being made - laptop OR full-sized, a beautiful screen, and plenty of performance. Battery life can be extended significantly by setting the CPU to "automatic" or "reduced" performance and turning the screen backlight, which is almost TOO bright on full, down a couple of notches.
Besides being beauties PowerBooks are beasts: they can take a licking and keep on ticking. Better yet the aluminum case is hard to scratch or mar so a quick wipe with a cloth and your travel companion looks like new again, even after rough use like being thrown in a backpack with books & DVDs, etc.
Obviously connectivity with iPod is top notch, and the FW 400 and 800 cabablity make using external storage fast and easy. The only possible disappointment with this machine is its wifi reception which could be better - it's not bad, tho.
I've had a lot of laptops in the past 20 years (including ThinkPads) and the PowerBook 15 is definitely the best, by a wide margin.
User Rating: 10/10
Been using it for the last 2.5 years and still feel up to date
Pros: Pretty design, strong case
Cons: may need to get a new battery but thats a usual wear-tear item
User Rating: 9/10
After 6 PC laptops, this is the one!
Pros: Light weight, powerful, great design, bright screen, better battery life than any of my PC laptops and it looks good!
Cons: Had to also purchase Virtual PC / Windows XP for two programs. Good news is it works, bad news is it crashes just like always.
User Rating: 10/10
The Finest Laptop on the Planet!
Pros: Overall User Experience
Cons: None to Mention
User Rating: 9/10
Best notebook out there.
Pros: Mac OSX Tiger, brilliant screen, comfortable keyboard, firewire/USB 2.0
Cons: Single-click button, price, heat (on lap)
It's difficult to compare the Apple brand to a Windows laptop because the O/S, the applications, and the functionality are so tightly integrated, it makes for a much different experience.
This is the best laptop you'll ever own.
User Rating: 
5/10
Good for desk decoration, but not for work
Pros: Design, weight
Cons: Everything else
User Rating: 10/10
Outstanding for photo and video work
Pros: great wireless- easy to use- never crashes!!
Cons: I only have room for three in my studio!
User Rating: 9/10
For the Designer in You
Pros: Lightweight, sturdy, well-sized keyboard
Cons: Price, short battery life
The keyboard is nicely sized, with larger keys than some PC notebooks and a very sleek and comfortable feel. The backlight feature is also infinitely useful in low-light situations (night, airplanes, etc.) The optional 100 GB hard drive will provide plenty of in-system storage space, and the DVD-writing SuperDrive is perfect for transferring large image or video files off of the machine. The bundled software is also good overall, with iChat to replace the ever-buggy AIM client for those who are chat-inclined. The AirPort Extreme Wireless card also works very well, though it is an actual card and not a processor, like the Centrino (so don't expect the extended battery life provided by Centrino-powered PC notebooks).
Those who are a bit rough on their notebooks will appreciate the Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) technology of this notebook. The SMS technology helps to protect the computer's hard disk in the event that the system is dropped or exposed to vibration, decreasing the chance of data corruption and disk failure.
Those who are less than computer-literate will appreciate the well-organised, informative and cleanly designed User's Guide (which blessedly uses actual continuous page numbers instead of sections).
The system is unfortunately power-hungry (and made all the more so by its large screen), so if you have access to a power outlet where you will be using the machine, bring the AC adaptor (and extention) with you.
If you plan to use the system for heavy graphics/multimedia work, you'll probably want to increase the amount of RAM; the PBG4 has a 2 GB capacity, with 512 being standard. Fortunately, the RAM is very easy to install at home if you decide that you need more later, easily accessible from the back rather than buried within the system and only accessible by dismantling the computer (as it is in some PCs).
One all-important factor to consider is the price tag, which is high, especially if you upgrade the hard drive, RAM, etc., or have additional software installed. If your work requires the features of the system, it is a worthwhile buy. Otherwise, go for the smaller PBG4 12", which is even more portable and less expensive.
Time will tell whether or not this notebook will fall prey to Mac Syndrome (the fate of many Macs, self-repairing without informing the user, lulling them into a sense of security, and then becoming so badly corrupted that they just die without warning). Just to be safe, be prepared to shell out a couple hundred bucks for the 3-year Apple Care Plan.
If you happen to be a student, make sure to purchase and customise your system through the Apple website. Though still expensive, the student discounts for qualified buyers will save several hundred dollars (though my system when upgraded to my specifications as a graphics student still cost approximately $3000 with student discounts applied).
Overall, this sleek and sexy silver notebook is a very worthwhile investment for those who actually need it. For those who don't, however, there are much cheaper and more practical options.
User Rating: 10/10
The perfect notebook, hands down.
Pros: Way too many to list.
Cons: Shorter battery life, wifi reception not as good as iBook.
User Rating: 9/10
Easy to use, sleek, good power usage, excellent laptop.
Pros: Good battery life, sharp display, great OS.
Cons: keyboard is a little small, one mouse button (duh...)
User Rating: 9/10
Great laptop; far superior to PC models right now
Pros: OS X, huge HDD, SuperDrive, solid build, superb screen, performance
Cons: runs hot!, mediocre battery life
After having used it for a while now, I find this PowerBook to be even better than my initial impression. The battery life has actually gotten better after couple of months. CNET's still pretty off in saying the this Mac is lot more expensive than PC "equivalents". You can look up street prices - it's more often cheaper than the equivalent PC models such as ThinkPad T43p. As for slot drive being inferior to caddy loaded drives, the slot drive is simpler, takes up less space, and doesn't have as many flimsy parts to break off - you make the choice. On the downside, the aluminum casing is beautiful but dings/scratches do show up easier than on some cheaper plastic cases. All in all, it's an incredible machine, and I highly recommend it.
User Rating: 9/10
Fast, reliable and lightweight performance
Pros: Plenty of speed and with the 100GB hard drive you can store hours of video/photos/music. The G4 has the power to edit video, build DVD's and work with all your digital media. Excellent design too!
Cons: G4 processor is power hungry and battery life therefore suffers. While not terrible, it cant compete with the Centrino.
User Rating: 9/10
Does not crash
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Battery does not last that long.
User Rating: 8/10
Very Reliable laptop out there!
Pros: Upgraded from 1.33 to 1.67, 128 mb of memory to 512 mb. It comes with iLife '05 which is super sweet. I was a window user, and I just love my apple. I spend more time on an apple. Thank you Apple.
Cons: Price Price Price way too high. Its because people are not buying more Apple and making them to sell their stuff at high price unlike PCs. They would sell them at reasonable prices if more people are buying apple.
User Rating: 9/10
How can you not live without one!
Pros: This is new, so it is 1.67GHz. Which is great considering it used to have 1.33GHz. The configured version itself is great. The video memory can up to 128MB instead of going to the 17 inch. A sleek design, and it comes with iLife '05 which is also a big pl
Cons: The price may steer most people away.
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