Apple Powerbook G4 12in

Apple Powerbook G4

Apple Powerbook 12in Superdrive 1.5 Ghz

I've finally gone and done it. That getting my Apple powerbook. Its a 12in Superdrive 1.5ghz model and its superb. It's far better than I hoped for, OSX is amazing and makes windows xp look like windows 95!

I've had a few teething problems mainly to do with my HP printer but I'm getting there.

Great speed, thanks to a 1.5GHz PowerPC G4 processor. Lots of memory: 512MB, to be exact. Plenty of storage, with a 5400-rpm 80GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. And the power to burn with an 8x SuperDrive. The only minimalistic thing about it is its footprint, and its easygoing £1099 starting price.

As Smart as It Looks

Housed in a stunning, scratch- and stain-resistant aluminium alloy enclosure and weighing just 2.1 kg (4.6 pounds), this diminutive powerhouse features a high-resolution 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display with brilliant 1024-by-768-pixel resolution. You'll marvel at the way this supersharp display fits into such a small frame: just 27.7 cm (10.9 inches) wide, 21.9 cm (8.6 inches) deep and 3 cm (1.18 inches) thin. Perfectly smooth on all surfaces, the 12-inch PowerBook has no doors, protruding latches or levers to break, no external buttons to accidentally press and no sharp edges to snag on your clothing.

NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 Graphics

The 12-inch PowerBook ships with the NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics processor and 64MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM, bringing crispness and clarity to your visual experience in every application.

Up to Five Hours of Battery Life

The PowerBook G4 comes with a lithium-ion battery that's good for up to five hours, depending on system configuration and usage. Stack of DVDs and CDs

Feel the Burn of 8x SuperDrive

Though it's the smallest portable Apple has ever shipped, the 12-inch PowerBook G4 packs formidable processing power for graphic design and editing digital video not to mention playing 3D games, listening to music and watching DVD movies between flights. As if that's not enough, every PowerBook now comes standard with a slot-loading 8x-speed SuperDrive for burning CDs and DVDs wherever you go.

Built-in Wireless

Bluetooth. Wi-Fi. Ethernet. Modem. When it comes to communication, the PowerBook G4 covers all the bases, offering state-of-the-art solutions that include built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, built-in AirPort Extreme, built-in high-speed Ethernet and a built-in modem. On every PowerBook model.

Sudden Motion Sensor

Apple equip PowerBook computers with an extra measure of data protection. Should an unexpected elbow send your PowerBook flying, the Sudden Motion Sensor technology built into every PowerBook detects the accelerated movement or sudden position change and instantly parks the heads on your hard drive. Once your PowerBook is level again, it unlocks the drive heads automatically.

Obligatory eye candy

The Specs are as follows: 1.5Ghz G4 Processor, 1.25Gb DDR RAM, 80GB hard disc, Superdrive.

Crumpler Wee Bee and Tucano Second Skin 12inch Thoughts and Pictures:

After getting my powerbook I needed something to keep my precious safe and clear from harm. I had a look at various options but the ones that leapt to mind were the Crumpler Wee Bee and the Tucano Second Skin

Crumpler Wee Bee

This is a tiny little bag for the 12in powerbook. I cannot believe how well made this bag is, material is top quality as is the seems and stiching. There is plenty of velcro to keep all the flaps in place. Opening it gives access to a small front pocket with a velcro opening I've put my network and phone cable in there. On the main flap is a small net pocket with a zip for smaller items. The powerbook has its own special slot with a large flap holding it securly in place.

There is space inside to put a fair bit of stuff along with your powerbook. The inside is a bright orange material which looks fairly waterproof which is a bonus.

The strap is nice and comfy with a pad for your shoulder.

Overall its very impressive and looks like it would take a lot of abuse without any problems.

I got mine for £51 inc vat and shipping from We Sell Crumpler it took a few days to arrive as it wasn't in stock at the time but they pulled out all the stops and even shipped it direct from the supplier for me which was very good. I emailed them and got a very quick response from Paula who answered my questions and helped me out. They are the cheapest by some margin so its well worth a look if you are after a crumpler bag.

One of its biggest plus's is that it looks nothing like your normal laptop bag so thieves wont be drawn to it when you are out and about.

Tucano Second Skin Black 12in

This case is very different from the crumpler its aimed at people who want to chuck there powerbook in any old bag. Its a perfect fit and seems very well made. It provides quite a bit of padding but I dont see the powerbook surviving drops for massive heights in this case, but it would help things a lot.

Its quick to put the powerbook in and you can tie it up with the wee bee for extra protection as it just fits into the slot for the powerbook.

My main critisms of this is all the silly writing on the outside I'd prefer a simple logo as it tells everyone you have a very expensive laptop for stealing.

I got mine from the local apple reseller it cost £25 which is far too expensive for me, you can get it for £16.99 online but have to pay a fair bit of shipping with most of the stores I looked at (9.99 in one!!) As no where had the in stock I just bit the bullet and got it.

iLap by Rain Design

I had a look around at all the stands for the powerbook and this one imediatly jumped out at me. I needed a stand for both my desk and when I sit on the sofa so this imediatly ticked both boxs. Nearly all the other stands were for desk use only.

The iLap is made out of two pieces of aluminium and two removeable padded cushions. The iLap is very light and matches the powerbook perfectly. The cushions are a nice touch and make it perfect for on the lap use. The cushions make typing very comfortable providing lots of support for your wrists.

It comes in various sizes from 12in upto a 17in model. My first concern was finding a source to buy it from. Cwonline have it in stock at a massive £49.98 plus shipping which was far too much , at this stage I decided to not bother. However I discovered via ebay a mac store Shetland Mac Shop that was selling them for £39 including shipping, they were based on Shetland which was miles away but a quick email followed by a telephone call had one winging its way to me.

Overall I'm very impressed with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a stand.