Apple Reviews

Ditto all of the lauditory comments of my esteemed colleagues here on the review page, with a few additional comments. AppleCare is a must since the "logic board" of MACs are notorious for going down. The plan is $300 additonal cost for a three year policy, and you absolutely have to have it (you may buy it during the first year after purchase). The shipping protocol of the computer is excellent, with prepaid shipping containers sent to you, but Apple will charge you an additional $50 to save your hard drive data in the event that it must be replaced, a cost that should not obtain in my judgement given the expense of the add-on policy. The quality of the call-in help line varies (as they all do with PCs), but it's necessary, particularly for PC defectors like me. Lastly, if you have a problem with the enormous heat generated by the unit, get an 11" x 14" zip folder at Staples or Office Depot to place under the unit and also to carry/protect it. And you will carry this unit since this is a truly portable computer with a 3 to 4 hour battery time (my old SONY Vaio pooped out after 40 minutes - it's like a dinasaur next to the PowerBook). Plus, truly amazingly, you can edit video and burn DVDs that work simply great on a home DVD machine. Unbelieveable.

Ah, the Powerbook. For many years, Apple's version of what a laptop computer should be. Then they created "consumer level" ibooks and the Powerbook was elevated to a status of Pro machines (which it always was). There used to be only a couple models (remember Pismo?). Then the Titanium wonder that shocked the portable world. Now, Apple has 3 different sized Powerbooks with various models inbetween those sizes. The compact little gem is the subject here.

This is one of the finest Macs I have ever used. The weight is so light. The aluminum case is amazing. The slot load Superdrive which burns either CD's or DVD's is elegant compared to slide out trays that risk being damaged. The keyboard feels amazing. I could go on and on. Battery life I have gotten has ranged in the 4 hour range...excellent for a G4 equipped laptop. ALthough 256MB of RAM seems rather low, it surprisingly does well (Though I did add a 512mb module later, and watched performance grow). The power adapter itself has hooks to wrap the cord around (though admittedly, the old doughnut design was better looking). The 12" Powerbook is an excellent piece of hardware for those looking to tote a laptop. Two Thumbs Up!

I received a 12" PowerBook for Christmas, and so far, I haven't turned on my old media center pc since. I absolutely love all the features. The computer is quick to boot up, quick to load application, and because of the design of each clock cycle, programs don't interfere with each other on a large scale.
I needed a computer that could edit film and audio, and render quickly and professionally, and while this isn't the fastest PowerBook, it is definitely the one that fits my life the best. It's portable and powerful, and compared to the machines that I was running on before, this is a superior machine. I have Final Cut Pro, Express, Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Adobe suites, not to mention all the handy iApps for simple cut and edit in film. I have yet to get DVD Studio Pro 2, but that's on my list of apps to get. This is the tool for a person who needs power, but the actual physical requirement needs to come second to their ideas and creativity.
The only con is the battery life, rendering and using this processor takes a toll on it, but when I do most of those type of things, it's near a wall socket, so it isn't a big deal. And despite what I had read about this machine before I got it, it is not blazing hot. The wrist rest gets a little warm, but I've yet to find a laptop that doesn't. And unlike those laptops, this one cools down when you put it on a hard flat surface, and I barely notice that the fan is running to vent it. It is a superior machine, and definitely worth the money. Couple this with a 20" Apple display, and you have all the screen space you would ever need.

I use this to hook my new iPod up to my USB 2.0 PCI card. This can only be used with the new iPod, as it uses the Dock Connector. My thoughts:

USB 2.0 worked relatively well. A few things that users should know: USB 2.0 shares bandwidth with all devices that are using the master hub. Therefore, the more you have hooked up, the slower the speed for each device is. I happen to just be using the iPod with my USB 2.0 PCI card. Another note: the iPod cannot take full advantage of USB 2.0. The iPod can only handle the 400 Mbps data transfer rate that FireWire supplies. The extra 80 Mbps does not make a difference in this situation.

Using this cable initially for my iPod (my computer's OS is Windows XP), I found the installation painless, and it works as advertised.

I get an IPod from someone. It's cable doesn't fit my USB port on my PC. I found out it came with a fire-wire cable. I searched for fire-wire to USB cable changer, but I found they don't exist. I saw this (Apple iPod Dock Connector-to-FireWire-and-USB 2.0 Cable), but I thought you had to have an I-Pod Dock and I didn't know what it was. Well, the Dock Connector refers to the port on the bottom of all I-Pods. You plug the "dock" connector to the bottom of your I-Pod (it's dock), and now you can plug the USB cable to your PC's USB port, whether you have 1.0 or 2.0 (2.0 is just faster). Also, now you take the extra fire-wire cable and plug it to your charger, so you can keep charging while your using your I-Pod on your PC. The alternative is buying a fire wire card and installing it in your PC, a little more expensive, a litte more work.

Basically, most people don't have a Mac computer, so most people only have USB connectors on their computers. So go to TARGET and get this Dock Connector for $14.95. It works great for USB ports, and the great Apple interface makes updates a breeze. Overall, great product for computers other than Macs.

I bought this card for my Dell laptop and new 20GB iPod. I pulled it out of the box, put it into the PCI slot on the side of my laptop, and my computer located it without a problem. I was up and running immediately. Transfers to my iPod are incredibly fast. I highly recommend this very low-maintenance Firewire card.

Some people are rating this card down incorrecty. To set the matter straight:

The PCMCIA bus specification does not provide enough power to allow the PCMCIA cards to power external devices. Therefore, the PCMCIA Firewire cards do not provide enough power to the Firewire bus.

NO PCMCIA firewire cards can charge an ipod by itself (using the laptop's battery). PCI firewire cards (the kind for you desktop) CAN, but PCMCIA cards (the ones for you laptop) CANNOT. It is not a "feature" that this card lacks.

HOWEVER: Some PCMCIA cards come with an input for an external power adaptor, including this Startech card (as another reviewer mentioned). So basically, you plug an external adapter into the port (which you can see in the picture) and the external adapter will then power the firewire card, letting it charge your ipod. As far as I can tell, this feature isn't available on a lot of cheaper models. But you WILL have to have an external power adapter to use this feature.

So again, NO PCMCIA cards can self power an ipod while charging. Don't rate a product down for something that's not possible.

Bought this to capture DV from Canon ZR20 to Toshiba Laptop with XP Home. Works great. Able to capture video to PC without loss of quality. Editing is easier with MovieMaker than with the included Ulead, but Ulead seems more versatile. I would definitely recommend this card for anyone trying to do the same thing.

I tried using a LinkSys wireless router and LinkSys PCCard for my Notebook and never had any luck. After a lot of frustration, I bought the Apple Airport and the Airport card for my iBook. Connected it to my cable modem..... I don't think anyone could have made this easier. What is amazing is the range! So far, I can reach every where in my house without any problems!

Now, I just have to find a PCCard that will work with it and is as easy to install....

I have utilized my Airport base station as part of a home network which consists of a: G4 PowerMac desktop, an original ibook and a 500MZ ice ibook. I am connected to a cable modem. The network was originally a challenge to get set up and running. It actually took two weeks of trial an error along with much consultations of internet resorce areas. Additionally, the 1.0 software for the Airport needed to be refined. The 3.0 version is a definite improvement! For the past 10 months the network has been a joy to use. I can have all three computers up and running without any noticeable slowdown in operation. I would recommend this unit for anyone with slightly more then basic knowledge of computers. Be patient and you should find that a wireless network is the way to go in the home.

Apple is known for making the coolest looking wireless devices and like the new Ipod, you don't even need to have a mac to enjoy it. No obtrusive antennas, sleek and clean all in one unit with a built in modem. Most WiFi devices don't come with everything right there, but this guy does, not to mention the range is great.

When I decided to buy an LCD monitor, I spent nearly two days comparing various reviews of LCD monitors and reading their specifications. Viewsonic VX 700 came out of them quite nicely, with response time 25 ms (which should translate to 40 frames per second in gameplay.) Should, should, should... the saddest words in the universe. Even with a state of the art Dell computer (Pentium 4, 2GHz and Abit GeForce4 Ti4600) the performance in first person shooters like Tactical Ops or Unreal Tournament is simply disappointing, even using DVI. Noticeable trailing (or "ghosting"), response time something like 15 fps, even though my hardware can handle EIGHT times more. Obvious conclusion: the company simply LIES in its specifications (what is "typical" response anyway?) to stay competitive. Well, if you really want to shell out that much money, do not hesitate and buy EIZO monitor (or Samsung 171p).
On the other hand, this is an excellent monitor for work, incredibly reduces eystrain, I did not find any dead pixels, the design is sleek... but having said all this, still... anyone playing Doom III will be disappointed.

Resolucion excelente, sonido muy bueno, controles de facil uso, el unico inconveniente es que no permite rotacion/movimiento horizontal izquierda-derecha y el vertical atras/adelante es muy limitado.

The graphics are awesome on this spectacular monitor. The person that posted below about increasing the hz of the monitor to 75 was right on the nose. I have seen no visible ghosting and recieved it with not one dead pixel. It came with a Digital and Analog cable, along with a international power cord and a normal power cord. It also came with the wires for the built in speakers. The monitor is a bit bright, but that is easily adjustable with its easy navigational features menu. This Monitor is nothing short of Fantasic!

If you enjoy printing photos at home from your digital camera, then the Sony Digital Photo printer is a must! I purchased this item a few days ago and have come to the conclusion that the pros definitely outweigh the cons. The PROS: (1) According to Sony, pictures will not fade or yellow for at least 100 years (ink jets do not even come close to this timeframe); (2) Beautiful pictures that rival (even beat) those developed at a photo lab; (3) Pictures will not be ruined if they accidentally get wet - they are protected by a special laminate coating process; (4) Printer was very easy to use and set-up (if you have Windows XP, make sure you download and execute the XP driver from the Sony website despite the fact that the read me file on the CD-Rom says XP drivers are included). The CONS: (1) Print speed is slow - about two minutes for a 4x6 photo; (2) The Sony 4x6 photo paper is rather pricey ...(3) The printer will only print 4x6 and 3.5x4 photos - another printer is needed for other print jobs. One more thing to mention....you can use a Compact Flash Card with this unit but you must purchase a PCMCIA card adapter ....In closing, I must say that I am extremely satisfied with this printer and do not regret this purchase!!

We use this printer as a standalone photo printer with our Sony digital camera and 128 meg memory stick. Well worth the investment. Photos are professional quality. Yes, the paper is expensive, about 50 cents a photo more or less. You get a new cartridge with each box of 25 photos. Printer is a little slow but it really is like having a photo lab in your house. It's the first photo printer the rest of the family can use without dragging me over to the computer. That alone makes it worth it.

The Sony Digital Photo Printer -- with its dye sublimation technology -- easily prints the most oustanding digital photos I've ever seen. The photos are borderless, waterproof and archival! And the colors are more vibrant than any ink jet photo I've ever made.

As a comparison, I also have a HP PS 100 and PS 1315, both of which make excellent 4x6 prints. But the Sony -- in terms of image quality -- easily blows them both away!

The printer uses (Sony branded) 4x6 paper (and printer ribbons) which are available from many sources, (such as Amazon.com, Best Buy and Staples). The printer uses heat to transfer the ink from the ribbon to the paper. I don't quite understand how it works. I just know that it makes fantastic photos!

The colors are so dramatic and intense, my friends and family can see the difference -- immediately -- when I show them my pictures.

The built-in fold-up monitor is also very useful in helping me to find just the image I want to print. I've been extremely happy overall with my Sony Digital Photo Printer.

For the best 4x6 photos -- bar none(!) -- this is definitely the printer to get!

I just purchased a Dell laptop, The touchpad was so sensitive it drove me nuts. So I looked at this model because it seemed to have all the right specs.
It took all of 5 minutes to install the software and have the mouse up & running. It is small enough to work on the right or left side of your laptop. It is optical W/USB & a PS2 adapter. It has a 3' extension. The mouse is small but very ergonomic with a 2 button scroll. Works with all Windows including XP OS & Macs.

I love this little thing. A lot of travel mice are too small, or the wrong shape, or easily broken, but this mouse is just right. The buttons have just the right amount of give to them, the scroll wheel is firm but not too firm, and it tracks well whether I'm using it on a tabletop, on my pants leg, or even on my laptop's wrist rest. Plus, it comes with a sturdy carrying case, so I don't have to worry about it getting damaged in my laptop bag, and an extension cord, in case the three-foot cord on the mouse isn't long enough for whatever reason. It looks stylish, too!

I really love the Traveler mouse. Yes, it's small, but I have very large hands and I've adapted to it quite easily. It tracks smoothly and the wheel has just the right amount of resistance. It even comes with a nice PVC travel case, perfect to slip into your laptop bag without scratching anything else up.

This is a great companion to a Powerbook, too, as it looks cool alongside! Now if Apple would just work on making the right button more useful in OSX...but I digress.

I reviewed this monitor when I first got it and gave it 5 stars. But recently the monitor crapped out. I've only had it for about 4 months. It doesn't turn on, the status light just clicks on and off and won't power on. NEC's warranty states that it will replace your monitor with new or refurbished equipment, so low and behold they told me that they're going to replace my monitor with a refurbished model. Kinda sux. Looks great whenever the monitor actually works.

After my I went through two Philips 19" monitors in a period of a month, I did a lot of research prior to buying. I bought this one because I couldn't find a bad review about it on the Internet and because NEC seems to have the best service policy.

My initial impressions are that it's an excellent professional monitor with beautiful colors. The only negatives are that the screen fonts could be a little sharper and the two thin horizontal lines in the middle of the monitor. I know this is standard for type of CRT, but I've never seen it on any monitor before . . . it'll take some getting used to.

Finally, the price here at Amazon was very competitive, especially with free shipping. Even with SuperSaver, I got it within two days.

When I was deciding on which 19 inch monitor to pick I did not base my opinion only on the reviews and experiences of other people. I decided to look at all the monitors that I thought were excellent or very good monitors (Samsung, Viewsonic, NEC, Philips, Sony). I went to my nearest retailer's and checked out their current displays. I was welcomed by the Viewsonic 19 inch monitors and was astonished by the Sony 19 inch monitor. The Samsung 19 inch monitors were not as impressive as I heard they were. I could not find any Philips displays. But I did notice one monitor that had both sharp text and rich clear graphics (Mitsubishi DP930). Its image was as smooth looking as the Viewsonic monitors with a hint of sharpness and slightly richer in color. What amazed me was that no other monitor compared to it except the Sony 19 inch monitor(which was very $$$$). I later found out that the Mitsubishi DP930 and the NEC FP912SB were the same monitors. Playing games and watching movies were excellent, but I did not get to do any image editing as yet. I highly recommend this monitor for its sharp text and very good graphics and image quality. I recommend you use the Naviset software to adjust the monitors settings.

This promising 6 port USB card caused my machine to "hang" because of the substantial overhead required by the USB 2.0 operations. I have a 3 year old 800MHZ machine with 256MB of ram. Adaptec says it requires "266MHZ or faster". I spent one hour on the phone with tech support ... trying a myriad of 'fixes' none of which worked. The tech ... said ". . . 800MHZ is marginal speed (!), a 3 year old machine predates the USB 2.0 spec and frequently the 2.0 cards will not work in a machine like this!!!" ...

Installation on a XP PC was super-easy. Just follow the instructions, carefully remove the back (case) of the PC, select the appropiate port, slap it in, replace the cover, turn the PC on - and PRESTO! you're ready to go!
XP recognizes the Port Card and it is ready to use.
Highly recommended.

I highly recommend the Adaptec AUA-5100 USB 2.0, 6 port card by Adaptec because of problems with Iogear. I originally purchased the Iogear GCI 250 U, 5 port, USB 2.0 PCI card and had severe problems. When shutting down my PC, the Iogear USB card would send a heavy pulse, most of the time, that would just about snap off the Microsoft Force Feedback 2 joy stick handle. Iogear e-mailed me a new driver. After installing the new driver, the problem still existed. Iogear told me to send the USB card back to Amazon.com for credit -- Iogear had no suggested fixes! The Adaptec AUA-5100 works just like Adaptec says it should. The Adaptec card is well worth the extra money. (Is the Iogear sending damaging pulses into printers?) Plus, Amazon.com promptly credited my account when I returned the Iogear USB card. I highly recommend Adaptec and definitely Amazon.com!

As other reviewers have stated, the hardware itself is great. The computer is visually stunning. And the OS is rock-solid and user-friendly.

Some people have complained about the size for traveling. It's about as small as a 17" computer could be -- but if you are sitting in coach and the person in front of you reclines their seat, it's hard to use. (Get the 12" if you think this might be a problem for you.)

Finally, a word on Apple service. I had some problems with this computer and needed to send it back to Apple several times -- which is a bad thing. On the other hand, I finally reached Roberto, a Powerbook specialist in AppleCare, who was understanding and expedited my repair -- which is a good thing. 4-stars -- would have been 5-stars except for the hardware problems.

I don't know what more I can add to all of these great reviews

but believe the hype!!!

this is one AWESOME laptop!

I'll just make a list of why I love it --- forgive me if it comes off with any irrationality ---

1. Portability ---- seriously, feel free to laugh, but this laptop really is portable....... yes, it can get heavy (by the end of the day) but it really is comparable, if not lighter, than most laptops available......... I commend Apple for doing such a great job on actually making this computer portable enough to throw in a backpack and take with you

2. The Widescreen 17" screen!!! gosh this screen is beautiful! Sometimes I find myself using a smaller computer and I can't stand it ---- I've officialy been spoiled! Even 15" widescreens won't do anymore!

3. Keyboard ---- there's something special about this keyboard - its pretty cool

4. Speed ---- Apple gets knocked around a lot for its speed, but seriously, the G4 in this thing really handles things greatly! I highly recommend 1 gig of RAM, for the ultimate speed and stability ----- this thing will run Final Cut Pro, Garage Band, OS X, all of those programs, greatly! Take my word for it ---- no probs at all!

5. Stablity ---- this is more of a software thing, but OS X is such a great OS!!! Never freezes, never crashes ------ I have five different apps open right now (Safari, AOL, Preview, MS Word, and iTunes) and the speed isn't slowing down one bit!

6. Output options ----- were talking Firewire, Firewire 800, USB, DVI, best of all, SVIDEO and AUDIO output ---- making it VERY easy to connect this baby to a nice TV!!! its pretty freaking cool

I don't know what else to say ---- buy it! IT ROCKS

for those of you afraid to switch, let me give you reasons why ---

- Microsoft Office on OS X (which works better here than it does on XP)

- Final Cut Pro (better than any Windoze editing system)

- All Adobe apps available here

- All Macromedia apps available here

did I forget anything?

Yes, yes, it's heavy and hot as hell. This is not the machine you prop up on your legs to read Google News in bed. Hopefully you have something better to do with your US$3K-$4K anyway.

I'm a professional media designer and image maker, and I replaced my old dual-processor Macintosh with the 17.1" 1.33 GHz Powerbook. This is a machine to tote onto a job site or to a presentation and produce great work...perfect for freelancers and those who might not work at their home base all the time.

Two great things I've not seen other reviewers mention are the audio hardware quality and dual-monitor support; these can't be under-rated. My Dell PC's audio line out is noisy and full of hiss, while the Powerbook's line out is so quiet that many musicians simply plug it into a club's audio system and it sounds great. Dual-monitor support is second to none. After chafing a bit at the widescreen nature of the screen (i.e., only 900 pixels tall), I instantly shut my mouth when I plugged in another monitor and it immediately started running at 1600 x 1200.

While there are some compromises one must make in going mobile, this machine does not disappoint. Rear legs for improved elevation, easy expandability, even a real tray for the DVD-RW drive ... all these things have been removed to make the machine as streamlined as possible. But I happily accept all these compromises to use a Macintosh that is powerful, relatively lightweight, portable...and sexy as all get-out. It's the only computing device I've ever owned that is a conversation starter. Now if these people would only just let me get back to work...