Apple PowerBook Laptop 15.2" M8981LL/A (1.25-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-R/CD-RW Drive)

Pluses:
Aluminum case is extremely strong, scratch resistant and solid feeling
Keyboard is firm with excellent depth of th keys
Display hinge is sturdier than any other laptop I've seen
Ports on sides are easily accessible and thoughtfully layed out
Slot loading cd
Speakers are unusually good for a laptop - great separation
Display is gorgeous, crisp and bright - and enormous
Weighs only 5.6 pounds and is only an inch thick
SILENT: have never heard a fan go on in this baby. T O T A L L Y silent!

Minuses:
Display seems slightly warped - hardly detectable, but still.
Bottom of the casing gets very warm
can't think of anything else! Maybe price? It's always nice if things are cheaper, right?

Quite frankly, the fit and finish of this computer is second to none - beats the old titanium powerbooks hands down.

Macos X panther= fast, rock stable, beautiful, fun and intuitive

the combination of powerbook and macos x panther= unbeatable.


Apple Support more than adequate   February 8, 2004
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I read a couple of reviews about Apple support and would like to share my experience. We had a hard drive go down on Monday, called Apple Support on Tuesday and arranged a (free) pickup the next day, they came and picked up the computer on Wednesday late afternnoon, they returned the computer completely repaired first thing Friday morning (again with free delivery). Thats right, ONE DAY TURN AROUND.

Yes, Apple warranty does not cover cases where you break your computer yourself but what warranty does? Did that reviewer think he should be able to to drive his car over his computer and then have it fixed for free?

Apples stores are now available all over the U.S. At apple stores they have something called the "Genius Bar" where experts are waiting to help you with your problems for FREE. Especially in the case of a laptop, if you have a problem or wish to learn how to do something, just take your Mac to your local Apple Store and get all your questions answered. Instant Gratifaction.


WARNING: Don't make the switch!!!   February 5, 2004
 5 out of 32 found this review helpful

About a year ago, when researching the market for a computer system for my photography business, 9 out of 10 photography / graphics professionals highly recommended that I buy a Mac for my business. So I did. What a BIG mistake! I bought a G4 PowerBook, and since taking it out of the box, I have had nothing but problems. I am on my third disc drive, have a severe overheating problem (PowerBooks have a history of this, including melting keyboards), continuously have to deal with software issues, and now have a screen defect. And to make matters worse, Apple's customer service is, by far, the most appalling of its kind.(...)


yes, terrible support   February 5, 2004
 3 out of 9 found this review helpful

I have to add my comments as well after reading some of the support stories. I am a software developer that works with many macs, and can attest to the fact that when things do go wrong (which fortunately is not that often, I think the powerbook quality is excellent compared to any other computer on the market) but when they do go wrong, you will be almost guaranteed a hellish ordeal.

If you break the computer yourself, by far the most common thing I have seen, it won't matter if you have an applecare warranty, because accidents are not covered, only defects. In this case, you will find prices to be outrageous for parts, rendering the notebooks essentially unrepairable, ie. it will be cheaper to buy a new one, which, as you know, is not cheap.

I give this product 3 stars, because although it is like the ferrari of the computer world (both in price and quality), you don't have to take a ferrari back to italy for excellent service for a lot less than the original cost. A powerbook on the other hand, will be inescapably expensive no matter what if something goes wrong, both in time, frustration and money.

P.S. I had a similar applecare warranty experience as the person who wrote the previous review as well with one of the machines.


This is the best of the best   February 2, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have had this computer for a long time and it always works just perfectly. i have never had it brake, even with my constant droppings of it. So over all this is the toughest computer i have ever had.