Apple PowerBook G4 12.1 in. (0718908426234) Mac Notebook

So I'm looking for a laptop since as a computer science student, being able to program on the move is an incredible asset. Up until now, Apple computers have never really been a viable option. Overpriced, little compatibility, weird operating system to get used to. But then Apple released OSX. Things got a little more attractive. Apple released a couple new models of PowerBooks. Things got really interesting then.

All this adds to the appeal of what I use this laptop for. Primarily for programming, partially for games (whatever is out), and multimedia. Keep in mind that Apple systems are designed from the ground up as multimedia powerhouses. This does not disappoint. I use this for movie watching (private viewings are great since the power on the headphone jack beats that on almost all PC based sound cards), video editing and sound editing. The PowerBook is designed for all of this and does this with aplomb. For those of you multimedia heads out there, look no further if you need a portable system.

The 12.1" PowerBook is Apple's most affordable computer that doesn't have to sacrifice power. The iBook has always been hampered by the G3 processor and its limitations, but this computer doesn't have that problem. Loaded with an 867 MHz 128 bit processor, it has enough power to do what you want. And let me shed some light on the MHz myth. Since the G4 processor is a 128 bit processor whereas the Intel Pentium IV chips are 32 bit processors, most Apple fans will tell you that PowerPC chips are four times as powerful, meaning that this laptop does four times more work per clock cycle. That would mean that this processor could outdo a 3.2 GHz Intel Processor easily. Not true in practice. This will easily outperform an 800 MHz Intel processor. Maybe even 1.2, 1.5, 1.6. I wouldn't go much higher. But don't let that stop you. It still has no problem doing whatever you want it to. This computer won't hesitate in making you happy.

Also, the design on this system is incredible. This is definitely a head turner. Or at least when I sit in the library to do some work, people constantly come up to me and comment on how nice it looks. The sleek silver body with the light up Apple logo makes for one nice looking system. Not to mention the full sized, I repeat, full sized keyboard that comes with it. Gone are the days of getting a laptop where the keys are so tiny you either hit the wrong key or two at once. That's in the past. The keys depress deep enough and have enough surface area to feel incredibly comfortable to type with. Add the slot loading optical drive, no legacy floppy and smart port placement and you have one incredible looking notebook.

Even the packaging is great. It's not that important, but even the box looks great and it was packed incredibly well. Also, one thing to note is the AC adapter which is included. It comes with two little prongs that you can pull out (it retracts completely if you don't want it) so you can wrap your cord directly onto the adapter itself. It's really hard to describe, but it is incredibly clever and very useful. Also, the plug on the adapter is removable for plugging in an extension cord when you need it. You have to see it for yourself to completely understand, and it is things like this that shows Apple's meticulous attention to detail and is what makes the overall package great.

As for upgrading, it's as upgradable as any other laptop. Memory is expandable to 640 MB. You can add an additional Airport Extreme card and you can inrease the hard drive space to 60GB.

Airport Extreme is also worth noting. Apple invented FireWire (unfortunately FW800 is not available on this model), came out with the optical drive and now is the first company to come out with 802.11g technology. Bluetooth is also integrated with this system.

Another advantage is that you get to use Apple's OSX. This is an incredibly robust operating system that outperforms Windows with CPU usage and stability since it is written off the Unix kernel. It also looks a lot nicer than Windows does and is laid out more intuitively.

Don't let the fact that this is made by Apple turn you off. Don't let the thirty minute OSX learning curve turn you off. I kid you not, this is an incredible system and gives any WinTel based laptop a serious run for its money and is a completely viable alternative to any system by Apple's competitors. And this is coming from a former AMD/Windows fan.

Hands down, the best laptop I have ever owned. You'll love it too.