I have to admit up front that I like Apples. I have always liked Apples and I probably always will. I am not a techno-geek that knows everything on why I like an Apple compared to a PC. All I know is that I can work an Apple well without thinking about it.

I needed to get a laptop computer for work. I am a teacher and I like doing PowerPoint presentations and since the school I am at uses Apple, I thought I would get one that allowed me to do my marks on the run and I could carry around to my different classrooms.

I bought the iBook because it was on sale. I wanted to get a PowerBook, but the cost of those things was enormously high and I wasn't sure if I wanted to use OS X. I liked OS 9.2 and everything was great. I purchased Office 2001 and I was flying. Well, I am now using OS X and Office X and it's great. A definite plus is being able to use Jaguar on the iBook. Advantage that is quickly going to be obsolete. As I am writing this on my 500MHz G3 (with a slow system bus), I know that it has become slower the moment I put in Jaguar. There is no chance of upgrading the processor on the iBook. Also since the faster FireWire and USB 2.0 came out, the iBook is not up to speed on that. It does have Bluetooth capability but not really ready for it. So, the new peripherals with USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 will not work with the iBook.

The other new thing that just came out is AirPort Extreme wireless hub with faster connectivity (54 Mbps) to the Internet. A new standard 802.11g that allows that faster speed but you need to be able to use the AirPort Extreme card, well, my iBook is not able to use that card but instead use the old AirPort card so I'm stuck at 11 Mbps even if I have an AirPort Extreme.

The last gripe I have is with the connectors on the side of the computer. My ethernet connection broke in the first week I got the computer. It was made of plastic and it just snapped off and now the ethernet doesn't stay in its socket (number one reason I went to wireless at home, but at work I still have to keep shoving in the wire to maintain the connection). I brought it into the Apple Store to fix, but they said I had to buy a whole new motherboard to fix that (which would almost cost as much as a new iBook. I thought that was rather cheaply done.

Otherwise, I love this computer. If you are not looking to break the world speed record in processing and not making videos and mixing lots of music and are looking for a functional computer that runs most of the software out there, this is a great computer. It's sleek and the keys are beautiful to use. It has a solid feel to it (except for the connections on the side) and the cooling fan is quiet. Everything is placed in the correct place and the screen is bright and legible. It has definitely improved on the clamshell iBooks with more connections and a VGA output which allows you to connect the computer to projection machines for presentations. I have the iBook with DVD, so playing movies is an added bonus (especially when I go on trips and nothing is better than watching the movie I want to watch on an airplane).

Great computer for someone who needs a laptop but is on a budget. But like all computers, so will need to change the computer a lot sooner than if you went out and bought a PowerBook.

Update

Just to let you know, I just bought the new i Book G4. Numerous improvements that are great.