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Pros
- Good performance and design.
- Very sharp and clear screen.
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Cons
- Needs bigger battery
Apple iBook G4 (12-inch) Specs
| Networking Options: | 802.11g |
| Operating System: | Mac OS X |
| Primary Optical Drive: | DVD-ROM/CD-RW |
| Processor Name: | PowerPC G4 |
| Processor Speed: | 1 GHz |
| RAM: | 256 MB |
| Rotation Speed: | 4200 rpm |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): | 1.3 GB |
| Weight: | 4.9 lb |
If aesthetics are important to you, Apple's got you covered, once again. At 4.9 pounds, this is the smallest Apple out there. Still, when compared with the other ultraportables here, the iBook is the heaviest (4.9 pounds). It also has the smallest internal hard drive (30GB) and lowest amount of graphics memory (32MB).
What Apple does give you, though, is iPhoto for digital pictures, iMovie for digital videos, and iTunes for digital music. The LCD delivers a sharp image and resists glare well. The iBook unit lasted 3:04 on our DVD rundown test when using the built-in DVD playback power scheme. (The JVC ultraportable fared best at 3:10.) The built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g wireless network adapter easily connects to Wi-Fi networks nearby.
Although its weight and small hard drive keep it from being an ideal ultraportable, the iBook G4 is a good choice for Apple users who care about style and affordability. (At press time, the Apple's price was lowered to $999 for models with a 1.3 GHz processor and standard AirPort Express 802.11g.)