Apple PowerBook G4 17 in. (M9689LLABUN) Mac Notebook
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- HDD Size: 100 GB
- Family Line: PowerBook G4
- Processor: PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz
- Operating System: Apple MacOS X 10.3
- Installed Memory: 512 MB (DDR SDRAM)
- Display: 17 in. TFT Active Matrix
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Apple PowerBook G4 17": Slick Powerhouse
Pros
It's gorgeous and it's a Mac! Beautifully made, great screen.
Cons
It bucks the trend for cheaper and cheaper computers ... that are all plastic junk.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
A computer for the egomaniac in all of us, the one that wants the biggest, the fastest and the best. And it delivers, in spades.
Egomaniacs like me just love the new PowerBook G4. It's safe to say that it's larger than life, with the full resolution needed to design software or run programs like Final Cut Pro or Motion.
And so it was Christmas, and Santa, in the guise of my business partner, was kind enough to purchase it for me and put it under the tree. Thanks, Santa!
Out of the box
As you would expect with Apple, the whole process is very smooth and slick. From the moment you open the box and see the "Designed by Apple in California" statement, you know this is going to be a special experience, and a very special machine.
The PowerBook resembles a fast sports car, a Rolex watch or any similar object of impeccable quality. The case looks like it was forged out of a single piece of alumnium. First impressions are flat-out awesome.
Then it comes time to actually use it, and the wait is excruciating. What am I talking about? Well, you open it up, fill in the registration screen, and it offers to recover data from your old computer, in my case a dual processor PowerMac G5. I had to turn off the G5, put it into FireWire target mode, plug my new PowerBook into it and watch as the information was copied.
At first it said it would take three and a half hours to do this. It actually took two hours, but that's an awfully long time to be without your main computer. I had an older PowerBook G4 I could use to surf the net, but with no updated data I couldn't do much else for that time. A very frustrating experience!
So when you turn on your new PowerBook, have it copy the data and then prepare to leave it alone for a while. Get lunch or something. Or back up the data that you need to use for the next few hours to another computer you might have.
It did, however, save me a lot of time and effort. All my applications went across smoothly. You do have to type in your Final Cut Pro serial number again. Hopefully I can find it somewhere :-(; right now I don't need it but that's going to be an issue in a few weeks when I start doing video.
I finished a book that had been sitting on my shelf unread for a few weeks.
Size & Weight
This is a huge laptop, and certainly nobody's going to confuse it with the 12" model. That being said, it's still pretty light and I have no problem at all carrying it.
I'm going to be flying with the machine next month, and when I do that I will update this section to say how well (or badly) it works in tourist class and Evergreen Deluxe Class (which resembles business class in seat size but has poorer amenities). Bear in mind, though, that a 17" notebook is only a couple of inches wider than it's 15" cousin, but has a lot more screen space and higher resolution.
One annoying thing about this model is that you cannot jam it into cases designed for lesser notebooks. You have to buy a new case, and so my beloved but beat up leather case I used for my old notebook is now residing in a closet. (I'm still using the old notebook for some testing.)
The new high-resolution display
This is, of course, the main reason you buy any PowerBook. The display is massive and stunningly beautiful. If you have aging eyes, you might find the default type size in many applications a little small. For me, it's borderline; I'm trying to get used to it because I love being able to cram so much information on the screen at a time.
One thing that may or may not bother you is that the illumination, while fantastically bright compared to the old PowerBooks, is not as even. I'm looking at my old 15" PowerBook at the same time as this, and the screen is so dim it looks pathetic. But the illumination is even throughout the screen. With the PowerBook the edges can be significantly darker than the middle. Generally you see this only if your eyes are pretty close to the screen, but of course that's the norm with a laptop.
I'm rapidly getting used to this, and the tradeoff for a much larger, brighter screen is well worth it to me. But it's worth noting.
Keyboard & Trackpad
The keyboard is much better than the old PowerBook. The metal-look keys (which I think are actually plastic, but they sure do look good) click nicely under your fingers, giving a positive feel reminiscent of the old clicky IBM keyboards.
It does seem a pity that with the Mighty Mouse out in the open, and the utility of a second mouse button therefore assumed, there is still but a single button on the PowerBook. It will be interesting to see how this changes in the new Intel PowerBooks when they come out.
If you happen to have a Mighty Mouse, you can plug it into the USB port and all functions will work immediately. One thoughtful touch here is that for left and right-handed people, they put USB ports on the left and right sides of the computer. I'm a lefty and I was expecting to see the port only on the right. But I underestimated Steve Jobs. He did the right thing, as he so often does.
The old PowerBook had ports in the back and a cover. This cover was annoying because it was always a pain to plug things in when you had to open, and of course the back of the machine is difficult to reach. Steve listend and put ports on the left and right, as described above. There is no longer a cover. That's a big improvement for the rare times (in this AirPort age) where you actually have to plug in Ethernet cables.
AirPort
The Titanium generation of PowerBooks had poor wireless networking due to the titanium shell blocking the signal. This is probably a big reason why they made the switch to aluminum.
I'd estimate that the aluminum at least doubles the range of the old PowerBook. Areas that were once marginal now get full signal.
Processor & Speed
Because it's an easy number to ridicule, people tend to focus on the clock speed of these machines, and the switch to Intel, and say that we're awfully far behind
That being said, the PowerBook has done everything I've thrown at it successfully and with aplomb. The lone exception is processor-bound tasks like unpacking files. I had my 9gb music collection to deal with and it did take a while to do that, and foreground tasks slowed to a crawl while it was happening. If you do a lot of things like that in the background, you definitely need a dual processor or dual-core or (best of all) dual processor dual core PowerMac G5.
But for everything else it's been sensationally fast.
Battery Life
Although I don't have hard and fast numbers, it's pretty clear that battery life is considerably improved over older PowerBooks. Even though I've taken it out of reach of a power outlet for long periods, I have never had it even come close to run out of battery. I'd say in practice that I'm getting at least 4 hours out of it with the display near full strength most of the time. This is a big improvement over about 3 hours on the old PowerBook, even with a new battery.
Perhaps this is partially because the battery is huge. It looks about double the size of the old one. One disappointment, then, is that you can't use your old PowerBook batteries with it. New ones are the same price as old ones - $129.
Quality
Components of the old Titanium PowerBook that were found lacking in long-term durability have been enormously improved in this model.
The old PowerBooks were built of thin but beautiful Titanium. This had the consequence of having them flex somewhat if picked up with one hand. Aluminum has replaced Titanium in this PowerBook, and I must say it's a huge improvement in structural stability. Picking up this computer with a single hand is no problem at all.
The latch, which would sometimes fail on the old PowerBooks, has been enormously strengthened on t his model. And the support for the screen is now a single long metal piece instead of the less durable two short plastic ones in the old model.
Perhaps best of all, the screen staining gremlin of the old PowerBook is gone. The screen has remained clear through many openings and closings of the unit.
I expect this machine to be much more durable than the old model.
Things you might not think about
This PowerBook stains very easily, much more so than the old model. This is because the case extends significantly beyond the edge of the keyboard, providing a built-in wrist rest. Unfortunately, the palms of your hands wind up here, and if they are not perfectly clean, they will stain the alumunum. I like this because it's ergonomically good, but the stains are ugly. Fortunately, I've been able to simply wipe them off with a wet paper towel.
The best thing about having a PowerBook as your primary machine - which it is, for the specific project I bought it for - is that you can work anywhere. If you have a few minutes or a few hours somewhere that you're not doing something else, you can be amazingly productive. I've found this very useful during tedious family functions and the like. When nobody interesting is around, or when your hosts are concerned with preparing dinner or calming the kids, open it up and get something done. It sure beats the usual boredom during such times.
I was somewhat disappointed with the speakers. I was hoping they would take advantage of the extra room in the case and put together a better speaker system than in my old 15" PowerBook, but it doesn't look like they did; speaker quality is about the same as the old model. It's not horrible by any means, but it's certainly no challenge to my home hi-fi. As a $2,500-odd stereo, trust me, there are better choices.
Intel
This machine was purchased because I have a high-intensity project to work on for the next few crucial weeks. Because of this, we didn't have time to wait for the new machines, which probably would have been shipped a month or so after Macworld. And of course the big attraction of the machine is the glorious screen, which probably won't appear on an Intel machine for a few months. (The most reliable information is that iBooks, not PowerBooks, will be introduced in January).
Really, for most projects, this machine is beautiful, plenty fast, and runs all the software I own. That's all I need for this purpose. Of course when the Intel PowerBooks come in and start looking good, I'll probably buy one. But only when I can afford to upgrade all my software too.
Value
You can get much cheaper 17" Laptops. No question about this. I think Dell's starts at about $1,200. But MacOS X is truly the ideal computing environment for many of us, and it turns out that if you buy Dell's higher quality laptop (to match with this slick aluminum beauty) and accessorize it to the same level, it's actually a little more expensive.
For someone like me, who loves Unix and loves video editing, the PowerBook is truly the ideal environment. I can enjoy the programming environment I'm used to, have a slick graphical interface that beats Windows by miles, and have no need to fear tiresome virii and spyware.
So although this is a very expensive machine, I'd say it brings with it excellent value for money. I certainly wouldn't want a different notebook since this machine fits my needs perfectly.
Beware Dodgy Deals on epinions!
I don't think anyone's trying to intentionally deceive, but the deals that you see when reading this review are for the previous version of the computer! If you see resolution of 1440 wide instead of 1680, you're buying the old model. If you want the programmer and video editor friendly higher resolution, be sure to watch for it and make sure you're buying what you really want.
Of course the higher resolution is not an unmixed blessing and people with tireder eyes than I might actually prefer the old model. Since the screen resolution and disk drive capacity is essentially the only difference between this and the old model, you can save a few bucks and rest your eyes by buying the older model.
So make that choice if you wish, but make sure you are making it - that you don't buy the older model without realizing it.
Conclusion
The PowerBook G4 is a formidable ally in your fight for productivity, whether it be better pictures, a cinematic masterpiece or just better web sites. The huge, high-resolution screen is a glorious canvas that will make whatever you need to do a little bit nicer, smoother and more fun.
And so it was Christmas, and Santa, in the guise of my business partner, was kind enough to purchase it for me and put it under the tree. Thanks, Santa!
Out of the box
As you would expect with Apple, the whole process is very smooth and slick. From the moment you open the box and see the "Designed by Apple in California" statement, you know this is going to be a special experience, and a very special machine.
The PowerBook resembles a fast sports car, a Rolex watch or any similar object of impeccable quality. The case looks like it was forged out of a single piece of alumnium. First impressions are flat-out awesome.
Then it comes time to actually use it, and the wait is excruciating. What am I talking about? Well, you open it up, fill in the registration screen, and it offers to recover data from your old computer, in my case a dual processor PowerMac G5. I had to turn off the G5, put it into FireWire target mode, plug my new PowerBook into it and watch as the information was copied.
At first it said it would take three and a half hours to do this. It actually took two hours, but that's an awfully long time to be without your main computer. I had an older PowerBook G4 I could use to surf the net, but with no updated data I couldn't do much else for that time. A very frustrating experience!
So when you turn on your new PowerBook, have it copy the data and then prepare to leave it alone for a while. Get lunch or something. Or back up the data that you need to use for the next few hours to another computer you might have.
It did, however, save me a lot of time and effort. All my applications went across smoothly. You do have to type in your Final Cut Pro serial number again. Hopefully I can find it somewhere :-(; right now I don't need it but that's going to be an issue in a few weeks when I start doing video.
I finished a book that had been sitting on my shelf unread for a few weeks.
Size & Weight
This is a huge laptop, and certainly nobody's going to confuse it with the 12" model. That being said, it's still pretty light and I have no problem at all carrying it.
I'm going to be flying with the machine next month, and when I do that I will update this section to say how well (or badly) it works in tourist class and Evergreen Deluxe Class (which resembles business class in seat size but has poorer amenities). Bear in mind, though, that a 17" notebook is only a couple of inches wider than it's 15" cousin, but has a lot more screen space and higher resolution.
One annoying thing about this model is that you cannot jam it into cases designed for lesser notebooks. You have to buy a new case, and so my beloved but beat up leather case I used for my old notebook is now residing in a closet. (I'm still using the old notebook for some testing.)
The new high-resolution display
This is, of course, the main reason you buy any PowerBook. The display is massive and stunningly beautiful. If you have aging eyes, you might find the default type size in many applications a little small. For me, it's borderline; I'm trying to get used to it because I love being able to cram so much information on the screen at a time.
One thing that may or may not bother you is that the illumination, while fantastically bright compared to the old PowerBooks, is not as even. I'm looking at my old 15" PowerBook at the same time as this, and the screen is so dim it looks pathetic. But the illumination is even throughout the screen. With the PowerBook the edges can be significantly darker than the middle. Generally you see this only if your eyes are pretty close to the screen, but of course that's the norm with a laptop.
I'm rapidly getting used to this, and the tradeoff for a much larger, brighter screen is well worth it to me. But it's worth noting.
Keyboard & Trackpad
The keyboard is much better than the old PowerBook. The metal-look keys (which I think are actually plastic, but they sure do look good) click nicely under your fingers, giving a positive feel reminiscent of the old clicky IBM keyboards.
It does seem a pity that with the Mighty Mouse out in the open, and the utility of a second mouse button therefore assumed, there is still but a single button on the PowerBook. It will be interesting to see how this changes in the new Intel PowerBooks when they come out.
If you happen to have a Mighty Mouse, you can plug it into the USB port and all functions will work immediately. One thoughtful touch here is that for left and right-handed people, they put USB ports on the left and right sides of the computer. I'm a lefty and I was expecting to see the port only on the right. But I underestimated Steve Jobs. He did the right thing, as he so often does.
The old PowerBook had ports in the back and a cover. This cover was annoying because it was always a pain to plug things in when you had to open, and of course the back of the machine is difficult to reach. Steve listend and put ports on the left and right, as described above. There is no longer a cover. That's a big improvement for the rare times (in this AirPort age) where you actually have to plug in Ethernet cables.
AirPort
The Titanium generation of PowerBooks had poor wireless networking due to the titanium shell blocking the signal. This is probably a big reason why they made the switch to aluminum.
I'd estimate that the aluminum at least doubles the range of the old PowerBook. Areas that were once marginal now get full signal.
Processor & Speed
Because it's an easy number to ridicule, people tend to focus on the clock speed of these machines, and the switch to Intel, and say that we're awfully far behind
That being said, the PowerBook has done everything I've thrown at it successfully and with aplomb. The lone exception is processor-bound tasks like unpacking files. I had my 9gb music collection to deal with and it did take a while to do that, and foreground tasks slowed to a crawl while it was happening. If you do a lot of things like that in the background, you definitely need a dual processor or dual-core or (best of all) dual processor dual core PowerMac G5.
But for everything else it's been sensationally fast.
Battery Life
Although I don't have hard and fast numbers, it's pretty clear that battery life is considerably improved over older PowerBooks. Even though I've taken it out of reach of a power outlet for long periods, I have never had it even come close to run out of battery. I'd say in practice that I'm getting at least 4 hours out of it with the display near full strength most of the time. This is a big improvement over about 3 hours on the old PowerBook, even with a new battery.
Perhaps this is partially because the battery is huge. It looks about double the size of the old one. One disappointment, then, is that you can't use your old PowerBook batteries with it. New ones are the same price as old ones - $129.
Quality
Components of the old Titanium PowerBook that were found lacking in long-term durability have been enormously improved in this model.
The old PowerBooks were built of thin but beautiful Titanium. This had the consequence of having them flex somewhat if picked up with one hand. Aluminum has replaced Titanium in this PowerBook, and I must say it's a huge improvement in structural stability. Picking up this computer with a single hand is no problem at all.
The latch, which would sometimes fail on the old PowerBooks, has been enormously strengthened on t his model. And the support for the screen is now a single long metal piece instead of the less durable two short plastic ones in the old model.
Perhaps best of all, the screen staining gremlin of the old PowerBook is gone. The screen has remained clear through many openings and closings of the unit.
I expect this machine to be much more durable than the old model.
Things you might not think about
This PowerBook stains very easily, much more so than the old model. This is because the case extends significantly beyond the edge of the keyboard, providing a built-in wrist rest. Unfortunately, the palms of your hands wind up here, and if they are not perfectly clean, they will stain the alumunum. I like this because it's ergonomically good, but the stains are ugly. Fortunately, I've been able to simply wipe them off with a wet paper towel.
The best thing about having a PowerBook as your primary machine - which it is, for the specific project I bought it for - is that you can work anywhere. If you have a few minutes or a few hours somewhere that you're not doing something else, you can be amazingly productive. I've found this very useful during tedious family functions and the like. When nobody interesting is around, or when your hosts are concerned with preparing dinner or calming the kids, open it up and get something done. It sure beats the usual boredom during such times.
I was somewhat disappointed with the speakers. I was hoping they would take advantage of the extra room in the case and put together a better speaker system than in my old 15" PowerBook, but it doesn't look like they did; speaker quality is about the same as the old model. It's not horrible by any means, but it's certainly no challenge to my home hi-fi. As a $2,500-odd stereo, trust me, there are better choices.
Intel
This machine was purchased because I have a high-intensity project to work on for the next few crucial weeks. Because of this, we didn't have time to wait for the new machines, which probably would have been shipped a month or so after Macworld. And of course the big attraction of the machine is the glorious screen, which probably won't appear on an Intel machine for a few months. (The most reliable information is that iBooks, not PowerBooks, will be introduced in January).
Really, for most projects, this machine is beautiful, plenty fast, and runs all the software I own. That's all I need for this purpose. Of course when the Intel PowerBooks come in and start looking good, I'll probably buy one. But only when I can afford to upgrade all my software too.
Value
You can get much cheaper 17" Laptops. No question about this. I think Dell's starts at about $1,200. But MacOS X is truly the ideal computing environment for many of us, and it turns out that if you buy Dell's higher quality laptop (to match with this slick aluminum beauty) and accessorize it to the same level, it's actually a little more expensive.
For someone like me, who loves Unix and loves video editing, the PowerBook is truly the ideal environment. I can enjoy the programming environment I'm used to, have a slick graphical interface that beats Windows by miles, and have no need to fear tiresome virii and spyware.
So although this is a very expensive machine, I'd say it brings with it excellent value for money. I certainly wouldn't want a different notebook since this machine fits my needs perfectly.
Beware Dodgy Deals on epinions!
I don't think anyone's trying to intentionally deceive, but the deals that you see when reading this review are for the previous version of the computer! If you see resolution of 1440 wide instead of 1680, you're buying the old model. If you want the programmer and video editor friendly higher resolution, be sure to watch for it and make sure you're buying what you really want.
Of course the higher resolution is not an unmixed blessing and people with tireder eyes than I might actually prefer the old model. Since the screen resolution and disk drive capacity is essentially the only difference between this and the old model, you can save a few bucks and rest your eyes by buying the older model.
So make that choice if you wish, but make sure you are making it - that you don't buy the older model without realizing it.
Conclusion
The PowerBook G4 is a formidable ally in your fight for productivity, whether it be better pictures, a cinematic masterpiece or just better web sites. The huge, high-resolution screen is a glorious canvas that will make whatever you need to do a little bit nicer, smoother and more fun.
