Apple 15-inch PowerBook G4
As shown: $2,599.00
See manufacturer site for availability Set price alert
Scroll Left Scroll Right
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
stars Excellent
- Reviewed by: John Rizzo
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Thin and light; big wide-screen display; backlit keyboard; integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi networking; includes DVI and analog outputs.
The bad: Shorter battery life than predecessor; runs hot; free phone support lasts only 90 days.
The bottom line: The aluminum 15-inch PowerBook is a powerful notebook for the road or the desk.
Review: Three years after the popular ... Expand full review
Three years after the popular Titanium PowerBook debuted, Apple's new 15-inch PowerBook G4 improves on the original in nearly all areas except battery life. The notebook has the same sleek design as the titanium model but with an anodized-aluminum case and faster hardware. The $2,600 version includes a backlit keyboard that turns on when a room gets dark, a feature previously available on only the 17-inch PowerBook. In fact, this new model offers such an excellent combination of features and price that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it were it not for reports from some early customers of display problems, specifically faint white spots on the screen. We didn't encounter this issue on our test system, and Apple says that it is investigating, but once it is sorted out, the 15-inch PowerBook will secure a position high atop our list of recommended desktop replacements.Like the Titanium PowerBook before it, the 15-inch PowerBook hits a sweet spot in size. It's big enough for a wide-screen display (1,280x854) yet small enough to carry with you. The 15.2-inch screen fits snugly in the PowerBook's 13.5-inch width and 9.5-inch depth, but the unit measures a mere 1.1 inches thick. Both sides of the lid contain internal antennae for AirPort Extreme, otherwise known as 54Mbps IEEE 802.11g wireless networking.
As always, Apple's software package is stellar. You'll get the excellent iLife bundle--which includes iDVD, iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie--as well as iSync, iCal, Acrobat Reader, EarthLink TotalAccess 2003 (with 30 days of free service), a FileMaker Pro 6.0 trial, Microsoft Office X Test Drive, and QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition.The 1.25GHz 15-inch PowerBook smoked the older 1GHz 15-inch PowerBook in CNET Labs' application tests. The results were in line with what we expected, considering the new PowerBook sports a G4 processor that is 25 percent faster than the original. CNET Labs used two applications (iMovie 2.0 and iTunes) to test Apple's notebook performance. In iMovie, we convert a large movie file into QuickTime, and in iTunes, we convert a music file into MP3, timing each procedure. Thanks to its faster processor, the new 1.25GHz PowerBook beat its older 1GHz sibling by 27 percent in iMovie 2.0. This performance trend continued with iTunes, as the newer 1.25GHz PowerBook saw a 28 percent performance increase over the older 1GHz PowerBook. Performance analysis written by CNET Labs assistant lab manager Eric Franklin.
System configurations: Apple PowerBook G4 1.25GHz OS X 10.2.7; PowerPC G4 1.25GHz; 512MB DDR-333 SDRAM; ATI Radeon 9600 64MB DDR; 80GB 4,200rpm Apple PowerBook G4 1GHz OS X 10.1.2; PowerPC G4 1GHz; 512MB DDR SDRAM; ATI Radeon 9000 64MB; 60GB 4,200rpmThe new 15-inch PowerBook lasted little more than a disappointing two hours in our DVD battery test--about 20 minutes less than the older 1GHz 15-inch PowerBook, which had a 61WHr battery (compared to the new system's 46WHr battery). The smaller battery combined with the higher speed processor means that you'll have less time for watching DVDs with the Apple's latest 15-inch PowerBook. To drain the battery of an Apple notebook, CNET Labs plays a DVD movie in full-screen mode with the sound on. Battery life analysis written by CNET Labs assistant lab manager Eric Franklin.
System configurations: Apple PowerBook G4 1.25GHz OS X 10.2.7; PowerPC G4 1.25GHz; 512MB DDR-333 SDRAM; ATI Radeon 9600 64MB DDR; 80GB 4,200rpm Apple PowerBook G4 1GHz OS X 10.1.2; PowerPC G4 1GHz; 512MB DDR SDRAM; ATI Radeon 9000 64MB; 60GB 4,200rpmApple's warranty is a fairly standard one year for parts and labor, but the free telephone support lasts only a disappointing 90 days. You can extend both the warranty and the phone support to three years for an extra $349. Apple does, however, put resources into self-help. The PowerBook comes with an Apple Hardware Test CD to aid in help diagnosing hardware problems, and Apple's Web site includes an extensive knowledge base and a large discussion board. The 120-page paper manual provides good information on connecting to the Internet and to peripherals, adding memory, and replacing the battery, along with various troubleshooting topics. To find out more about how this product's warranty really stacks up and what you should look for in terms of service and support, take a look at CNET's hardware warranty explainer. Hide Review Compare to other laptopsCompare selectedUser ReviewsSee all user reviewsMost Helpful User Reviewstars 3 of 3 users found this review helpful "Great, but..." By heechyPros Beautiful, thin, state of the art, fast Cons Logic board problems, short battery life Summary In all fairness, I think I was sold a lemon so my opinion is biased. I've had the computer for 1.5 years now and I've had the screen replaced once, logic board replaced twice, battery replaced and A/C adapter replaced. Also, when I received the product ... Expand full review Most Recent User Reviews (Showing 2 of 175 reviews)SpecificationsSee full specsQuick Specs
 
Which laptop is right for me?
While a laptop has become a ubiquitous accessory for modern life, the actual process of choosing the right model can take some serious time and research. In this guide, we'll outline the different categories of laptops and which types are best for different users. We'll also take a look at CPU, hard-drive, and networking options. We've compiled a handful of typical user experiences that should help outline what type of laptop is right for you. Chances are, you'll fall somewhere in between two or more of these archetypes, so carefully consider what you'll be using your new laptop for.  
|
