My full/long review of the new iBook

Question

Okay, so I remember a few weeks ago, everyone was comparing iBooks to other notebooks, to powerbooks, and just about everything else on the market in this forum. I've had mine for a bit over a month and decided to write a full review on it.
So here are the Specs:
1.42GHz PowerPC G4
512K L2 cache @1.42GHz
512MB memory (DDR333 SDRAM)
14.1-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
ATI Mobility Radeon 9550
32MB DDR video memory
60GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Scrolling Trackpad
Sudden Motion Sensor
Yes, this was a special model with the superdrive removed. Read on and i'll tell you why.
So, let's start with basics: why a Mac?
Let's start with the quite famous OSX.
I remember last year, I wanted to find a song on my regular computer (yes, a PC). It took Windows over 3 minutes as it searched each folder for it. Now, with my iBook, I needed a document for a test but I could only remember one of the terms I typed (I didn't remember the file name and did not want to look through 20 documents). I typed the term and by the time I finish typing the second word, the one document appears in the Spotlight. Another consideration is that if you buy a PC computer or laptop and you're not one of the ones who gets it with the computer, borrows it from a friend or gets a pirated copy, you must pay $250 (retail) for Windows XP. OSX comes to $100 and even less if bought with an Apple (although all new Apple computers come with it). I am no computer expert and I have not used previous Apple OSs (like OS9) so I can't compare. There have been several minor freezes when opening several programs or having several windows open but I intend on buying more RAM. Pretty cool features as well. For example, in world book, any word that you double click on will turn into the word's definition on the left side as well as give you the option of hearing the pronounciation. Same thing in the Dictionary. Very, very useful for students. I don't know if this was in OS9 but it's very cool. I really don't want to get into the OSX 'cause we've all seen the ads and read the articles... there really is very little room for improvement in it and the little things that can be fixed are really nitpicking and everyone can tell you that XP is way behind it (and $150 more).
Features
When I bought this, the one thing that would make me go to a powerbook was the videocard. I really don't think that in this day and age, any laptop should come with a 32 MB card. Heck, even some AMD labtops come with 128 MB and cost less than $1400 CDN. But then again, those are heavy, loud, hot and can't stay unplugged for an hour. There are currently only 2 games on the Apple market that can't be played on an iBook, Doom 3 and SW: battlefronts. So, unless you MUST have those 2 games or will be doing intense video editing, the graphic card won't give you a problem but for the record, a 32 MB card in 2005 is not really all that kosher (for lack of a better word).
Yes, the thing is heavy. But my teacher has a 12 inch model that is 2 years old or so and side by side, mine is lighter (he wants to trade claiming that his can be auctioned as an antique one day). The weight isn't really a problem though. I mean, I'm a student and I carry around at least two textbooks and other accessories at all times so carrying 21 lbs. instead of 23 lbs. in a backpack isn't that bad. I take the bus and metro to school so I would never walk with it for more than 20 minutes straight but I have several times and the weight does become noticable. As for size, I usually have my bag on my lap and the iBook is on it. This way, I don't feel the heat of it and it's high enough (about one and a half feet from my lap). My school has several classrooms with those French desks so I put my textbooks on those.
DO NOT expect the casing to stay in perfect condition for long. I am rather gentle with it and there are many little scratche

Answer 1

John, while I appreciate your "full/long" review of your experience with the iBook, do you have a specific technical question about using your iBook? It's not up to me, but unless you have a technical question, the Apple Moderators may determine that this/these post(s) are inappropriate. They may simply "lock" these posts so they're still available for others to search for and read, but they could also be deleted because you don't have a question anyone could answer. Again, I think you provide some important and pertinent information, but it may not be appropriate for the Apple Discussions.
-Doug