Rating: 
Summary: The jaguar of laptops for discerning users
Review: I have had the Apple iBook 800MHz laptop for about 6 months and have yet to experience any technical difficulties. If you're seeking a stable, reliable, high-performance, and visually appealing laptop, you should seriously consider the venerable Apple iBook. Though more expensive than today's P4 1.X laptop PCs, Mac OS X alone is enough to convert even the most diehard PC user. Though getting around the "unique" interface of the OS can take some getting used to, you will surely appreciate its stability and user-friendliness. With upgraded memory, an AirPort card for wireless web surfing and Office:Mac, you will have everything you need to work or play with incredible performance for everyday tasks. Throw in the iLife suite of applications for DVD playback, music/MP3 management and much more, and you have an amazing productivity pack for multimedia, a longtime strength of Apple computers. I would wholeheartedly recommend the iBook for those seeking a trusty companion for work, play, or multimedia. The 800MHz G3 processor has never been insufficient for any task I've thrown at it and the AirPort card makes an ideal accessory for connecting to the Internet without wires. If you have $1400-2000 to spend on a laptop, don't overlook Apple. Edit: My pre-owned iBook is now nearly 11 months old and has developed the rampant logic board failure, which has plagued many a user. Luckily, with about a month left in my 1-yr AppleCare warranty, I did not have to pay a cent and waited about a week and a half to get it back. Please keep in mind that if you purchase a newer G3 iBook, you may very well be one of those who experiences a logic board failure, and apparently it can come back again and again. Buy the 3-yr AppleCare Protection Plan and you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent choice, although somewhat less attractive ...
Review: I have to respectfully disagree with a lot of the negative remarks in these reviews. I purchased this model iBook on November 8 from the Apple Store at Woodfield Mall, Illinois. I was clearly informed that the "double your RAM" promotion would invalidate the ability to return it, and told all the terms that they say here. When making a purchase, you must be a careful buyer and examine all terms -- not blame the retailer for not being a careful consumer. As for the iBook not being an 'intelligent' machine, that is, with all due respect, laughable. Like anything, to make it powerful and use it to its full capacity, you need to devote time to it. My iBook basically screams with efficiency, because I've spent time with websites such as Mac OS X Hints and ResExcellence to learn about my new machine and the capabilities of both its operating system and its Unix underpinnings. The system is a pleasant one, but were I now in the market for something in this price range, I would consider, instead, the 12" PowerBook G4. It is the attractiveness of this newcomer that makes me downgrade it one star nowadays: the 12" PowerBook G4 is only roughly $300 more, and offers a great deal more options for that money: a G4 processor, 10GB more of hard disk space, a more recent graphics card, integrated Bluetooth, and compatibility with Apple's new 802.11g card ("AirPort Extreme"). The unit is smaller, however (12.1" as opposed to 14.1") and additionally, the PowerBook line has been criticized as being a little less hardy than the iBook. I purchased the iBook in November and do not regret my choice in the slightest. It is a hearty little beast that has a lot of power under the hood and a lot of hardiness in the frame. Unfortunately, when reading the reviews in these forums, one must keep in mind the inherent bias of the reviewer, as "Windows vs. Mac" has been a long-standing feud since the Internet was young.
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent choice, although somewhat less attractive ...
Review: I have to respectfully disagree with a lot of the negative remarks in these reviews. I purchased this model iBook on November 8 from the Apple Store at Woodfield Mall, Illinois. I was clearly informed that the "double your RAM" promotion would invalidate the ability to return it, and told all the terms that they say here. When making a purchase, you must be a careful buyer and examine all terms -- not blame the retailer for not being a careful consumer. As for the iBook not being an 'intelligent' machine, that is, with all due respect, laughable. Like anything, to make it powerful and use it to its full capacity, you need to devote time to it. My iBook basically screams with efficiency, because I've spent time with websites such as Mac OS X Hints and ResExcellence to learn about my new machine and the capabilities of both its operating system and its Unix underpinnings. The system is a pleasant one, but were I now in the market for something in this price range, I would consider, instead, the 12" PowerBook G4. It is the attractiveness of this newcomer that makes me downgrade it one star nowadays: the 12" PowerBook G4 is only roughly $300 more, and offers a great deal more options for that money: a G4 processor, 10GB more of hard disk space, a more recent graphics card, integrated Bluetooth, and compatibility with Apple's new 802.11g card ("AirPort Extreme"). The unit is smaller, however (12.1" as opposed to 14.1") and additionally, the PowerBook line has been criticized as being a little less hardy than the iBook. I purchased the iBook in November and do not regret my choice in the slightest. It is a hearty little beast that has a lot of power under the hood and a lot of hardiness in the frame. Unfortunately, when reading the reviews in these forums, one must keep in mind the inherent bias of the reviewer, as "Windows vs. Mac" has been a long-standing feud since the Internet was young.
Rating: 
Summary: Should work well...but doesn't.
Review: I have used Mac's for a bout 4 years now and I quite like apple products for the most part (other than the usual complaints!). But I bought this ibook in Dec of 2002, and at this point I really wish I could get my money back. Maybe I just got a lemon, but it has already had to be sent back to apple once (took over a month to get back too!). After 2 months of heavy usage (I travel, and it's my only computer) the machine just died and would not start up. After much difficulty sending it off (and hours of stupid tech support walk throughs) they replaced the hard-drive and optical-drive. I don't really think it fixed the problem though. The machine gets very hot with extended use, and I am still having the same problems as I was before I had to send my machine off. Problems like slugish performance (that wasn't the case when i first got the machine, as it was very quick), programs crashing unexpectantly, modem errors, programs not performing correctly, etc. I am very afraid the hard-drive will just die on me again, so I neurotically back up my data every week. honestly I really think it has to do with the fact this machine gets so hot, but that is just my layman theory.
Basically I wish I had spent the extra cash and got a powerbook. Maybe that would have worked better.
I hope this reveiw helps you make a better buying decision. Maybe I just got a lemon, but I wouldn't buy an ibook ever again.
Rating: 
Summary: The switch was worth it!
Review: I love my new I-book. In addition to it's sleek appearance it offers everything my PC offered plus more. The picture is so crisp and clear, everyone at work mentioned it looked better than most of their television sets at home. The sound quality isn't the greatest, but isn't an I book all about portability. I bought some inexpensive headphones and the sound is now incredible. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. Buy an Ibook it's worth switching to!
Rating:
Summary: The switch was worth it!
Review: I love my new I-book. In addition to it's sleek appearance it offers everything my PC offered plus more. The picture is so crisp and clear, everyone at work mentioned it looked better than most of their television sets at home. The sound quality isn't the greatest, but isn't an I book all about portability. I bought some inexpensive headphones and the sound is now incredible. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. Buy an Ibook it's worth switching to!
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware...
Review: It's a cute little thing no question. It has a lot of neat features HOWEVER...Apple does not provide the customer with any explination of those neat little features or instructions as to how to impliment them. Worse yet, the productivity pack is a real disappointment. The word processing capabilities are non existent. I don't know who this machine is designed for but, it's really not for someone who has any serious work to get done. The marketing makes it sound like it's the answer to your PC prayers. It's not...keep praying. And lastly when I decided to return the machine to Apple I found out that by taking advantage of a "Free Memory Upgrade". I had "customized" the computer and that they could not take it back. After some pleading they decided to let me send it back BUT I will pay the SALES TAX (on something I am not going to buy) and a 10% "restocking fee. This was a "HUGE" lesson in falling for the hype. I'm not going to say you shouldn't buy it but I will say that you shouldn't "customize" it and you shouldn't expect very much and maybe you should shop around. If you are a grown up and you have to get something accomplished with your PC this is not the machine for you. If you are 14 and you want a very "cool" toy, go for it. To sum it all up: This is the Disney World of PC's. The marketing is just so great you really don't understand why you aren't having any fun.
Rating: 
Summary: So so in the World of Apple
Review: Just purchased this pretty thing, and it's turned out to be tougher to switch from my PC to this... purchased as a second computer, and it's refreshingly compatible with our printer/cable connection etc but ALL of our Software is PC only and that Virtual PC program is quite pricey. It's much easier to use than a PC, but it's almost simple to the point of being catered to the stupid crowd. *Needs mental challenges* Again, on the pretty side, but definitely not as intelligent as my twice-the-price Dell.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Laptop
Review: Over the years I have used a wide variety of computers. Recently, I decided to purchase a top-of-the-line iBook (800mhz-40gb-Combo Drive-640mb ram) for personal and professional use. Apple has really done a great job on this laptop. Besides looking great, the iBook provides a first rate user experience. The operating system is ingenious and has yet to crash. I get about 5.5 hours of run time on it's lithium-ion battery. I use my ibook for every imaginable task, from running large graphics through photoshop to testing sites via it's apache server application. I even do some 3D work on it from time to time. I run Word, Power Pt. and Excel with no problems. If fact, it runs these programs better than on the dell I use. If I wish I can even run XP on the rascal via virtual PC. I tried to think of any downshots to buying the iBook, and I can't think of many. My only suggestion would be to get a higher end model and purchase the maximum amount of ram. Two minor increases in the price, but definately well worth it. A word about the one star review - they couldn't have possiblely purchased the same product I did. I hear about this PC/apple rivalry taking this form and that's unfortunate. I guess it's a case of the fox and the grapes. What one of the previous reviews said is true, pc laptops are underclocked to extend battery life and reduce heat buildup. The OS is another matter, XP is a country mile behind the macintosh operating system. If you were to spend time working in both OS(s) it would be clear. The aqua environment is easier to look at and interact with than the interface Windows provides. If you intend to spend any time in front of one of these things that fact alone is a big consideration.
Rating:
Summary: Triumph of advertising over engineering
Review: Poor performance at twice the price. How does Apple do it? Get a good ad company, by five year old G3 from Motorolla for the price of a DVD or two. Contract a company in Taiwan to build the computer and then sell it for 3-4x the cost. PT Barnum was right. There's one born everyday.
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