A Computer for the 21st Century!

I've long been a Macintosh computer fan, but had not, until this month, ventured into the world of notebook computers. In the three weeks that I've had my iBook, I've been converted. My desk top computer now sits idle...gathering dust. And with me, everywhere I go, is my trusty iBook.
This review is meant to be a practical one--while it provides all the technical specifications of the computer, it is meant for the non-technically inclined user. The one deciding whether the Apple iBook will be "user friendly," durable, practical, and well-supported by knowledgeable technical staff!

And so, I start with the basics:

1) East of use:

The apple ibook 14" screen lap top computer is one of the easiest to use, practical machines out there. It opens with the push of a button, it's light-weight and therefore easy to carry (see specs. below for weight), and the push of a single button will get you started. System 10.3 (panther) is pre-installed and very easy to navigate. With a few simple commands you'll be up and running with the ample software provided. (If you pop in an airport card and have the technology installed in your home, you're internet ready, anywhere in your home, without additional software, as soon as you turn on the computer).
The keyboard is fairly large by lap top standards, and constructed well. The keys are easy to hit, and comfortable to use. I have slight carpel-tunnel syndrome and I do not need additional wrist support.
The sound system is also very good, and the built-in microphone allows you to upload sounds, as well as hear it.

The 14" monitor is easy on the eye and large enough that you won't miss your standard desk-top type screen.

The mouse system on this particular model is a track pad with a single "click" button below. For those used to the PC left-and-right click mouse, this could take a little getting used to. Some prefer and real mouse to the track pad. If that's the case, a mouse is easy to install.

2) The Software:

One of the best things about this computer (and there are many) is the excellent selection of software included in the System 10.3 package. This includes an excellent mail program with a very good address book; the safari web browser (Internet Explorer is there as well for those who prefer it...I don't); the iChat software for those who want to instant message (with the addition of an iSight camera you can do easy video conferencing with no additional software); Garage Band (for those who want to do musical composition); the latest version of Quicken; the impressive WorldBook Encyclopedia (which updates constantly and includes features such as great historical speeches); iPhoto (an excellent program for uploading, classifying, printing and storing photos; iMovies (an equally phenomenal video storage and movie-making program); and more.

Then, there are the features of the computer itself. There's the CD/DVD burner (which means you can burn your music and movies, to listen to them or watch them on your home/car/portable CD and DVD players; the DVD player which allows you to watch movies wherever you are; the ease of connecting to the internet; and the multiple ports for attaching everything from a video camera to a digital camera to a PDA, to a Zip drive to the computer....at once!

3) How well does it work?

The ibook is also a fast machine (see below for specific speed details). By that, I mean that it "feels" fast. Applications load quickly. Data is updated instantly. The internet works more quickly on this computer than my desktop macintosh G3 computer. In other words, it works well and efficiently. I have had no glitches with it in the month and a half I've used it. None. Everything I've tried to do, I've achieved--and I'm probably the least technologically inclined person for miles around.

4) The Company and Support

One of the things I've been impressed with is the support given by Apple once you purchase the computer (and in the Apple store prior to buying the machine). The Apple hotline staff was more than happy to answer the questions I had (it turned out that one of the electrical outlets in my home was surging and causing the mouse to freeze...a problem that has never repeated in other outlets). Apple even offered to replace the machine (the day after it was purchased) if the surge had done any damage--which it had not. The staff at the Apple store was also particularly helpful and friendly. I should say that I decided to buy the extended warranty--not because I believe that there will be any problems with the machine, but because laptops are easily dropped and mishandled since, by nature, they move around alot. I paid $100 for the service, which will extend my one year warranty to three years.

Here are the specificiations for this particular machine:

Audio Input Type
Microphone

Audio Output Type
Sound card

Battery Run Time
6 hour(s)

Battery Technology
Lithium ion

CD / DVD

Read Speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD); ReWrite Speed, 10x
Write Speed, 24x

Dimensions: Depth, 10.2 in.
Height, 1.34 in.
Weight, 5.95 lb.
Width, 12.73 in.

Display Size, 14.1 in.

Display Technology
TFT active matrix

Max. Resolution
1024 x 768

Hard Drive: Controller Type, IDE

Hard Drive Capacity, 40 GB

Hard Drive Type, Portable

Installed Memory
256 MB (SDRAM)


Operating System
Apple MacOS X .3

Processor
PowerPC G4, 933mhz
Recommended Use
Home Use, Small Business

Memory, Installed Cache Memory, 512 KB
Installed RAM, 256 MB

Maximum RAM, 640 MB

RAM Type, SDRAM

Data Link Protocol, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

Floppy Drive, None

Removable Drive, None

Warranty, 1 year warranty