The 'Book Mystique Mailbag - June 2, 2006
with Charles W. Moore
12" iBook G4 (recent models) between machines with fewest repairs needed ?
Testing MacBook
iBook for travelling in Europe
Re: MacBook vs. MacBook Pro
Not glossy black
What, no TiBook?
12" iBook G4 (recent models) between machines with fewest repairs needed ?
From Jacek A. Rochacki
Dear Charles:
After reading that
"the machines with fewest repairs needed were: The original (clamshell) iBooks
PowerBook G3
12" PowerBook G4 (2005)
12" iBook G4 (recent models)"
I see that my own misfortune with disappearing letters from keys in my 12" iBook G4 bought brand new ca 18 months ago is a kind of exception. Unfortunately I happen to know other iBooks G4 suffering from the same problem, including newer models.
This iBook works OK with third keyboard always covered by the iSkin. I can't say that it helps me typing. So my front line machine is still my Pismo 500 mHz, 640 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD, Combo drive, AirPort card, etc. The question is, for how long?
I did have certain hope that the black MacBook will be my next portable Apple computer, the rightful successor to Pismo. But I read a lot on the heat issue and I am having mixed feelings on the keyboard. Well, after my experience with the keyboard in iBook G4 which is too "plastic" under my fingers, I realized, that the responsiveness of the keyboard is an important thing for me, so I am patiently waiting untill I will have a chance of testing this black Mac Book myself; there are not many of them in Poland yet. I hope that at the the revision B some issues will be fixed by Apple. And maybe Apple will decide to offer the MacBook Pro with smaller screen in black plastic case.
I can't resist the general impression that the tools which used to be famous of their legendary, long lasting reliability, like Japanese cars and Macintosh Apple laptops, are not meeting anymore standards set by older models. We have been already discussing this, also here:
Are Today’s Apple ‘Books Too Fragile?
http://www.macopinion.com/columns/roadwarrior/04/09/21/index.html
As always
Jacek
Warsaw, Poland
--
Jacek A. Rochacki
PUC - Pismo Users Club
http://puc.santee.pl
Hi Jacek;
Yes; my daughter's experience with her 1.2 GHz G4 iBook has not been flawless either, although nothing catastrophic. She did have the keyboard replaced under warranty.
Like you , I shall have to wait to get my hands on an actual MacBook before I pass final judgment on the keyboard. My nearest Apple reseller is 150 miles from here. A friend of mine just bought a new G4 iBook a few days before the MacBook announcement. He is a bit disgruntled, as it's the same price. If he had asked, I would have advised him to wait, as he already had a late-version TiBook.
Ummmmm.... "A MacBook Pro with a smaller screen and a plastic case" sounds like a pretty good description of a MacBook to me,9 ( ;-) ) however I imagine you're thinking of the MacBook Pro keyboard, which is similar to the keyboard in my 17" PowerBook - an excellent 'board.
Charles
From Jacek A. Rochacki
Hi, Charles:
Exactly, I'll make no move before I'll test the MacBook myself and even then I will wait untill the rev B or even later. There is growing chance that soon I will swap my iBook G4 adding just a little more money for PBook G4 Alu 12" with faster processor and larger HDD. The real reason is not the faster processor and capacity of HDD; it is the surface of the trackpad and quality of keyboard in PB in comparison to the iBook.
This would be a little like following your own way - getting the last G4 before making final switch to Intel Mac in the future. What is tempting me for the MacBook is the factor of black color and plastic case; I am really tired of my present iBook white color, keyboard always under iSkin and the trackpad, too smooth/slippery and showing in spectacular way the shining "stain" in the center. Yesterday I was working for several hours at the PBook G4, the trackpad is not as smooth/slippery and signes of wear of the trackpad are not as visible as at my otherwise well taken care of white iBook G4.
It looks that because of different reasons we two have not that easy access to nearest MacBook to get hands on such machine; you happen to live so far to nearest Apple reseller, and I happen to live in the country where up to today there were imported very few Mac Book Pro and Mac Book machines, so we do not have them at the moment at the resellers in my area.
As always
Jacek
Hi Jacek;
I think your idea of getting a 12" PowerBook is an excellent interim measure. I love the 12-incher, and it was the other model I was seriously considering as my "last PPC laptop." Who knows? I may get one someday yet, although I am very happy with my 17" PowerBook.
I'm hoping that they can get a handle on the heat problem with the Intel 'Books, and it stands to reason that revision "B" will be a more desirablr machine with fewer issues than the revision "A". With this great G4 PowerBook, it's easy to exercise patience, which was my plan - working out well so far.
Charles
iBook for travelling in Europe
From: Sharon
When you say the Kensington adapter with the various tips will work "almost anywhere' does that include France and England? Do I need a transformer for European current for the iBook at all? I have the different plugs needed. And do autos rented in Europe have the same kinds of cigarette lighter plugs as autos here? Will the Kinsington adopter solve all the various problems for auto here, auto abroad, and plane, as well as be compatible with European current?
Thanks
Sharon
Hi Sharon;
My "almost anywhere" remark was referring to output (ie: for a wide variety of devices supported by Smart Tips), rather than geographic locales.
My daughter took her 1.2 GHz G4 iBook on her trip to Germany, England, and Italy last summer, and encountered no difficulty. Here's a shot of her iBook on St. Peter's Square in Rome:
Both the Apple power adapter and the Kensington Auto/Air unit will work with AC Line voltage inputs of 100 v. to 240 v, frequency: 50 to 60 Hz, so as long as you have plug format converters that let you plug it in, you should be fine with either.
Auto cigarette lighter sockets in Europe will be the same as in North America, so the Kensington or any otheer power adapter that works with 12 v. input from a ciggie-lighter socket (the stock Apple adapter doesn't) will work there.
In summary; the adapter that came with your iBook will be fine where you have access to AC power. The Kensington should cover all bases.
Charles
From Amy
Thanks for an informative article. I'm about to bite on a MacBook (white with Superdrive) and appreciate the listing of things I'd better make sure I won't miss too much. I don't think I will miss the things you listed, except that the glossy screen may drive me up the wall. I'm going to give it a chance, though. I also hadn't considered that the aluminum MBP will likely have lower operating temperatures than plastic. I hope this doesn't become a problem.
There are also a couple of factors in the MacBook's favor that you didn't mention -- theoretically a slightly longer battery life, and the two-fingered trackpad right-click, which seemed helpful when I tested it at the Apple Store.
I like the smaller size and weight, even though the difference isn't that big. There seems to be an awful lot of space around the LCD -- it's too bad the display couldn't have been just a bit bigger to fill the space, or the rest of the machine a little smaller, or something. I really didn't want a computer any larger than my current Titanium Powerbook. I was hoping to downsize a little, preferably to something that would be easier to work with in an airplane. The MacBook Pro is bigger than my Titanium -- the breakdown is
MacBook: 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches, 5.2 pounds Ti Powerbook: 1.0 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches, 5.3 pounds MacBook Pro: 1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6 inches, 5.6 pounds
Finally, a question for you: I might like to upgrade the hard drive on the MacBook from 60 to 100+ GB. I could BTO one from Apple, but if I did it myself I'd have an external drive for backups. Hopefully I can do it; it looks easy enough on, say, <a href="http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/86.4.0.html">fixit.com</a>. I'm having trouble finding many 2.5" SATA hard drives and enclosures. The only drive I found was the Hitachi Travelstar, which comes in 5400 and 7200 RPM and up to 100GB, and the only enclosure I found was this one from <a
href="http://www.cooldrives.com/almiposa25in.html">cooldrives.com</a>.
Do you know if these are good products, or if there are others I should consider? Perhaps over time more information and products will be forthcoming.
-Amy
Hi Amy;
Thanks for your comments. The points about battery life and the trackpad are well-taken.
I think one's satisfaction with the glossy screen will greatly depend upon what sort of lighting you use the machine in. Heat, however, may be a problem issue.
I too would have preferred a smaller form factor ( I love the 12" PowerBook's heft and dimensions) but it would have made the heat issue worse.
As for hard drives, you can probably save enough to pay for an external enclosure by doing it yourself. The Travelstar drives are a good choice, but you can check out what's available from them and other vendors here:
The IDE abd SATA pin interfaces are not mutually compatible, so enclosures made for IDE drives will not work. There are a few SATA enclosures, some out of stock at present.
http://www.cooldrives.com/almiposa25in.html
Hope this helps, and good luck with the MacBook!
Charles
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
http://www.usbgear.com/SS-CGS-25K1.html
From Peter Pedersen
Dear Charles W. Moore,
The MacBook does not sport a "glossy" black, a la the Nano, but has a textured, semi-matte black shell made from carbon fibre.
Regards,
Peter J. Pedersen
Hi Peter;
I wrote the article a few hours after the unveiling, and hadn't seen a MacBook, so I was working from press releases.
Perhaps I was letting my personal enthusiasm for glossy finishes run away with me, viz. this column published well before the MacBook intro. :-)
Anyway, you're right and I've removed the reference to a glossy black case finish.
However, while carbon fibre would be cool, the MacBook's case is made from,according to Apple, "ultratough polycarbonate"
Charles
http://www.macopinion.com/columns/ roadwarrior/06/04/18/index.html
From Chuck Fry
In your "Last Ten Best PowerBooks" list, I was surprised that you didn't even mention the titanium PowerBook G4 models. Have we forgotten the TiBooks so soon?
For some time I used an 800 MHz 15" TiBook at my job. It was eventually replaced by an aluminum 15" model, which is bulkier, heavier, and uses up its battery more quickly. The AlBook is nice, but I miss my TiBook.
-- Chuck
Hi Chuck;
I haven't forgotten the TiBook, and I mulled including it instead of the 15" aluminum PowerBook, but in all fairness, the 15-incher, notwithstanding the complaints you cite, is a better machine and more deserving of inclusion.
The Ti isn't a bad computer, but it is a fragile one, and very expensive to repair — especially the infamous screen hinge failures. There there were the RAM slot failures on some models (although the 15" AlBook has had some issues there too), the easily scratched/chipped/worn off paint finish.
If you chack out the MacInTouch PowerBook and iBook relaibility survey, the TiBook is at the bottom of the pack with the dual USVB G3 iBook for requiring the most repairs, and that squares with the experience of folks I know who owned them. http://www.macintouch.com/reliability/laptops.html
Treated gently, a TiBook can be a good PowerBook, but its unhappy reliability history rules it out as a great one.
Charles
Re: What, no TiBook?
From Chuck Fry
Charles, thanks for the personal reply, and thank you for explaining your reasons for not including the TiBook as one of the best PowerBooks. Of course, I'm extrapolating from my personal experience with a total of 2 PowerBooks!
FWIW, I bought my wife a 12" AlBook for Christmas 2004, and she loves it.
-- Chuck
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