Features

• Works with both old and new iPods
• Fits any 12-volt accessory outlet or car lighter jack
• Convenient status LED
• Fused and filtered to protect your iPod
• 4-foot cable; simple to operate

Features

• Enjoy your iTunes music library in virtually any room of your house
• Share a single broadband Internet connection and USB printer without inconvenient and obtrusive cables
• Create an instant wireless network on the go
• Access an AirPort Express wireless network
• Compatible with Windows XP or 2000; Mac OS X v10.2.7 or later

Product Description

iPod photo lets you carry all of your music and digital photos wherever you goup to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos or any combination in between. The vivid color screen displays crisp, clear images both indoors and outdoors. Enjoy up to 15 hours of battery life for music and up to 5 hours for slideshows. View album art, rock out to your favorite songs and share slideshows anywhere with friends and family. Available in a 60GB capacity, the ultimate digital music player brings all your music and photos into focus. One-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Compatible with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or v10.3.4 or later; or Windows 2000 with SP4 and XP with SP2; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Comes with earbud headphones, AC adapter, and USB 2.0 cable
• 60 GB model holds up to 15,000 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
• Holds 25,000 photos and displays them on a 2-inch diagonal 65,536-color LCD screen with LED backlight
• Up to 15 hours battery life when fully charged (which typically takes 5 hours); fast-charge in as little as 3 hours

Reviews (8)

Great iPod .....but
I bought my iPod Photo 60GB last week and it gave me a lot of problems from the start. I charged the battery for over 5 hrs until fully charged and 5 mins later the ipod was telling me to charge again saying the battery was empty.I got a new replacement within 3 days and charge the battery to full.The next day I was listening to my ipod for almost 2hrs & 15 mins and the battery icon was down to red meaning the battery was almost empty.This didn't make me happy at all when the ipod was suppose to last anywhere from 12-15 hrs.I will return the 2nd ipod I got from Amazon.Too bad....I really wanted to keep it, but with the battery trouble....I'm returning it.

the scoop on the good, the bad, and the ugly
Apple Computer's iPod Photo: GOOD.

Getting sucked into an unscrupulous marketing ploy: BAD.

The flood of unwanted email, telemarketing calls, and faxes you'll receive after signing up for an "offer": UGLY!!

sign up if you want junk mail "to the next level"
Don't make the same mistake I did! I signed up for one of those get-iPod-free "offers" that are continually being posted here.

Within one day, I received over 200 spam emails and 15 telemarketing calls. What a pain. I guess there really is something to the saying "you can't get something for nothing".

I hope everybody here will learn from my extremely bad experience and avoid these ridiculous pyramid schemes.

The 60Gb iPod Photo is a great gadget. It's too bad they're being used as bait by unethical people.

The truth for prospective buyers
My wife bought me this for my birthday.I noticed that some of my cds were deteriorating, and wanted to digitize my library.My friends raved about this gizmo so she obliged me.Here is the whole story.

This is a marvelous invention, one actually fortunate consequence of our technology mania outside of the medical field.That being said, it has flaws.To use Apples Lossless Encoder which recreates cd quality sound, you will not get anywhere near 15,000 songs, more like 4-6000 max.Next, ITunes sucks.Pardon my crassness, but you need to have a mirror version of what is on your IPod on your pc for maximum enjoyment, ease of organization, auto-synch, or other benefits extolled by Apple.In short, if you have a huge library and would like to digitize and preserve the master copies in storage, take this into account.Itunes must be a revelation if you have a mini or a shuffle, but if you are condidering an IPod this large, it gets unwieldy.I had to buy a 100 gig external hardrive to send the music too (since I will probably get a new pc soon and don't feel like transferring the songs).

I am sure that any 5 year old or high school student can provide a go around or a better way to use technology, but if you are an audio-nut but not a computer-nut, this gadget is as close to perfect as it gets.

Great, not Perfect
"Yeah, its an iPod." Then you get to boast about the 60 GB and that wears thin pretty fast. But you have to admit its a damn good looking player. You've read the millions of reviews so I'll only bore you with my thoughts:

$450 and no case? The dock may have been low on the list of usefulness, but come on Apple... this thing scratches if you look at it hard. So the REAL price of this player is more like $490 after you get the required case.

It takes a day to get used to the controls. My wife was so frustrated she tossed it aside and never looked back. The controls are simplified to the point of complexity. Menu is power on (but not power off, that's Play/Pause) but its also back... You get used to it, but I wouldn't sell it as a feature.

The EQ is worthless. I found that ROCK works best and everything else sounds muffled or distorted. It's also a pain to browse EQ settings for the currently playing song. You have to navigate back a couple of menus then into settings then spin down to EQ. After selecting an EQ setting, you drop back to the settings menu. If you don't like that EQ setting, you have to go back into the EQ menu and start the dance all over. Why cant the EQ settings apply live as I spin down them? The song will end before you have time to try them all...

Everyone loves the touch wheel and so do I until you realize you don't remember the group, you have 7800 songs and the one you are looking for begins with a "Z". After about 15 fast laps around the touch wheel it does accelerate, but I wish there was a faster way...

The battery life for me is pretty much as Apple stated. I am concerned that sometime next year after the warranty expires the battery will go poof and die. Apple hasn't done a good job making people like me feel better about the longevity of an iPod. Still, I did take a chance.

I like the Album art when playing. When I used to play CD's (or god bless - my vinyl), I would always have the cover there with me to look at. Something feels more natural having it displayed.

All in all, if you can convince yourself that a portable music player should cost $450/$490 then this is definitely one of the best ones to get, even with its quirks. ... Read more

Product Description

The second generation iPod mini holds up to 1500 of your favorite songs in a compact, colorful package that goes with you everywhere. Its durable anodized aluminum shell comes in a choice of four bright colors, including pink, so you can make a bold fashion statement. Its long battery life lets you enjoy your music for up to 18 hours on a single charge. One-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 6 GB model holds up to 1,500 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• Up to 18 hours of battery life

Reviews (24)

practical and easy to use
let's put it this way, if you want to store all your music in your ipod ( and when i say all your music, i mean ALL), thenthis ipod mini is not for you, 'cause as you guys know, this ipod mini only holds up to 1,500 songs (6gb). Now,that's a lot of songs if you ask me, that's an entire week of music, i love classic rock and i filled my ipod mini with all of my favorite songs, you know how cool it is for me to take this everytime i go to the beach or if i'm having some company, i can just press shuffle and enjoy without the hassle of getting up everytime, you know to change cd's??, so if you're looking for something that's not that expensive and just want to have a good time and easy to use then i recomend this little item!! Respeta a un varon!!!!!

Outstanding MP3 player.
I began looking into an iPod purchase over a year ago, and was almost sold on the 4th generation iPod.I liked the colors of the mini and was okay with 4 GB of storage (though that was a tad on the small side), but the main thing that deterred me from the mini was the less-than-desirable 8-10 hour battery life.

Then the 2nd generation mini was released.Apple seemed to fix and improve every little thing I had held against the original.They made the colors brighter, increased the hard drive space to 6 gigs, and most importantly, at least to me, increased the battery life two-fold.

The 18 hours that Apple advertises is EXTREMELY conservative.If you're content listening to music and don't need the backlight for more than a minute or two every hour, the battery can run for about 24-25 hours.I can go a week and not have to worry about recharging my battery.I could listen every waking moment of my day and never have to stop and recharge before I went to bed.It's a wonderful thing.

The blue is very bright and pleasing to the eye--I've seen the pink and silver versions and they too are visually appeasing.6 gigs is nothing to shake a stick at--on the contrary, I've found that 6 gigs is just about the perfect size for someone who has a vast number of interests musically but doesn't have thousands upon thousands of CD's to rip and upload.Unless you have literally hundreds of CD's in your collection that you plan on putting on your iPod, I'd recommend the mini, since you'd more than likely end up with half the space on your regular iPod sitting unused.

Despite the fact that the iPod scratches easily, there are several cases which work extremely well...I'm partial to the ones made by Power Support, though you have to import them from Japan.Uploading your songs is quick and easy.Navigating the menus takes about 15 minutes to master.There's really nothing more I can say that can do the iPod mini justice.

I will make a quick note and add that I'm not an Apple fanatic.I think that Apples are good computers, but I'm still attached to my PCs.However, when it comes to MP3 players, there's really no comparison; it's going to take many many years before Microsoft or any other competing company can put out any MP3 player nearly as nice as the 2nd generation iPod mini.

Also, if you have a friend that's a teacher in a school, look into the education discount on the Apple website.It ends up being 20 or 30 dollars off.

GREAT!!(after I survived setting it up)
I just got my 6 gb mini for my birthday.I also got most of the accessories as presents, too, so I don't have to worry about forking over the cost of the mini itself for them (seriously, mac).I AM IN ELECTRO LOVE!Wow, and I think this time it's for REALS.:-)I am coming fresh off the iRiver boat (funny how they use the "i" in front of their name, too), and have been extremely pleased with my little 256 mb player... and I do mean LITTLE.BUT, I am extatically (word invention there) adding album after album on my iPod as I type this.Yeah, it's kinda annoying to convert WMA files to AAC, but they do the work for you.I love the organization, I love the style, I love the size, I love the balance between form AND function.I do feel like I've just joined a cult of iPod users, however.Oh well, not as bad as Mormonism

Gotta Buy This!!
Let me start off by saying that I was amazed at how small this thing is. I bought the IPOD MINI.When I got it and opened it up I was amazed at how small it was. It was crazy small!Plus it holds around 1,000 songs.Right now I have about 500 and it's a little over half-full on the memory. I got a 4GB IPOD MINI.So, there is plenty of memory space for lots of songs.The software was easy to install.I thought it was tricky figuring out how to select songs and actually put them on the ipod.But after a while I figured it out.Also the volume on the ear phones is amazing. I almost blew out an eardrum by accidentally turning up the volume!The only problem i've had so far with the ear pieces is that the foam ear pads keep coming off the earbuds.NO biggie though.I would recommend getting some sort of case to protect this thing since you've already paid $200 bucks what is another $20 to make sure it's safe!There's plenty to choose from.Charging is it easy, you just plug it into the usb port and it automatically starts charging it.I have a computer so it's no biggie.If you don't have a computer with a usb port its gonna be tough finding a place to recharge it.I haven't tested the battery life yet, but it seems to be ok.Probably more than what i need.Lastly, I was a little worried that the songs would not transfer over to the itunes software. I have lots of songs that I got elsewhere :) I hoped they would transfer over to the other software and they did. They also sound great, the play fine. It's not a problem at all. Now i have over half of my music collection on this thing.It's a really great product.5 stars!!

Why?
I ordered this item on March 22, but not shipped until today(April 27), why? ... Read more

Product Description

Fashionably Compact
Weighing in at just 3.6 ounces and smaller than many cell phones, iPod mini fits your lifestyle and your bag, whether it be cocktail purse or messenger duffle. The chic, matte anodized aluminum case resists stains and scratches, all the while protecting your iPod mini. Recessed in the case to keep its surface pristine, the 1.67-inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song and album titles, artists’ names and more.

Under Your Thumb
The iPod mini Click Wheelfeaturing color-coordinated iconsgives you the enhanced durability and sensitivity of the iPod Touch Wheel, with buttons underneath. The Click Wheel takes best advantage of miniscule space and lets you scroll single-handedly through up to 1,500 songs from your iTunes music collection.

Clip and save
Your iPod mini includes a convenient belt clip so you can attach it to your belt, purse or backpack. You can even clip your iPod mini to a lanyard around your neck for the ultimate fashion statement.

... Read more

Features

• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 6 GB model holds up to 1,500 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• Up to 18 hours of battery life

Reviews (24)

practical and easy to use
let's put it this way, if you want to store all your music in your ipod ( and when i say all your music, i mean ALL), thenthis ipod mini is not for you, 'cause as you guys know, this ipod mini only holds up to 1,500 songs (6gb). Now,that's a lot of songs if you ask me, that's an entire week of music, i love classic rock and i filled my ipod mini with all of my favorite songs, you know how cool it is for me to take this everytime i go to the beach or if i'm having some company, i can just press shuffle and enjoy without the hassle of getting up everytime, you know to change cd's??, so if you're looking for something that's not that expensive and just want to have a good time and easy to use then i recomend this little item!! Respeta a un varon!!!!!

Outstanding MP3 player.
I began looking into an iPod purchase over a year ago, and was almost sold on the 4th generation iPod.I liked the colors of the mini and was okay with 4 GB of storage (though that was a tad on the small side), but the main thing that deterred me from the mini was the less-than-desirable 8-10 hour battery life.

Then the 2nd generation mini was released.Apple seemed to fix and improve every little thing I had held against the original.They made the colors brighter, increased the hard drive space to 6 gigs, and most importantly, at least to me, increased the battery life two-fold.

The 18 hours that Apple advertises is EXTREMELY conservative.If you're content listening to music and don't need the backlight for more than a minute or two every hour, the battery can run for about 24-25 hours.I can go a week and not have to worry about recharging my battery.I could listen every waking moment of my day and never have to stop and recharge before I went to bed.It's a wonderful thing.

The blue is very bright and pleasing to the eye--I've seen the pink and silver versions and they too are visually appeasing.6 gigs is nothing to shake a stick at--on the contrary, I've found that 6 gigs is just about the perfect size for someone who has a vast number of interests musically but doesn't have thousands upon thousands of CD's to rip and upload.Unless you have literally hundreds of CD's in your collection that you plan on putting on your iPod, I'd recommend the mini, since you'd more than likely end up with half the space on your regular iPod sitting unused.

Despite the fact that the iPod scratches easily, there are several cases which work extremely well...I'm partial to the ones made by Power Support, though you have to import them from Japan.Uploading your songs is quick and easy.Navigating the menus takes about 15 minutes to master.There's really nothing more I can say that can do the iPod mini justice.

I will make a quick note and add that I'm not an Apple fanatic.I think that Apples are good computers, but I'm still attached to my PCs.However, when it comes to MP3 players, there's really no comparison; it's going to take many many years before Microsoft or any other competing company can put out any MP3 player nearly as nice as the 2nd generation iPod mini.

Also, if you have a friend that's a teacher in a school, look into the education discount on the Apple website.It ends up being 20 or 30 dollars off.

GREAT!!(after I survived setting it up)
I just got my 6 gb mini for my birthday.I also got most of the accessories as presents, too, so I don't have to worry about forking over the cost of the mini itself for them (seriously, mac).I AM IN ELECTRO LOVE!Wow, and I think this time it's for REALS.:-)I am coming fresh off the iRiver boat (funny how they use the "i" in front of their name, too), and have been extremely pleased with my little 256 mb player... and I do mean LITTLE.BUT, I am extatically (word invention there) adding album after album on my iPod as I type this.Yeah, it's kinda annoying to convert WMA files to AAC, but they do the work for you.I love the organization, I love the style, I love the size, I love the balance between form AND function.I do feel like I've just joined a cult of iPod users, however.Oh well, not as bad as Mormonism

Gotta Buy This!!
Let me start off by saying that I was amazed at how small this thing is. I bought the IPOD MINI.When I got it and opened it up I was amazed at how small it was. It was crazy small!Plus it holds around 1,000 songs.Right now I have about 500 and it's a little over half-full on the memory. I got a 4GB IPOD MINI.So, there is plenty of memory space for lots of songs.The software was easy to install.I thought it was tricky figuring out how to select songs and actually put them on the ipod.But after a while I figured it out.Also the volume on the ear phones is amazing. I almost blew out an eardrum by accidentally turning up the volume!The only problem i've had so far with the ear pieces is that the foam ear pads keep coming off the earbuds.NO biggie though.I would recommend getting some sort of case to protect this thing since you've already paid $200 bucks what is another $20 to make sure it's safe!There's plenty to choose from.Charging is it easy, you just plug it into the usb port and it automatically starts charging it.I have a computer so it's no biggie.If you don't have a computer with a usb port its gonna be tough finding a place to recharge it.I haven't tested the battery life yet, but it seems to be ok.Probably more than what i need.Lastly, I was a little worried that the songs would not transfer over to the itunes software. I have lots of songs that I got elsewhere :) I hoped they would transfer over to the other software and they did. They also sound great, the play fine. It's not a problem at all. Now i have over half of my music collection on this thing.It's a really great product.5 stars!!

Why?
I ordered this item on March 22, but not shipped until today(April 27), why? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you thought your Apple iPod was just an MP3 player, you're in for a surprise: Griffin Technology's tailor-made iTalk plugs into the top of your iPod and turns your digital music player into a world-class voice recorder with literally thousands of hours of recording time.

With iTalk you can record seminars, meetings, classes, notes in your car, songs in the woods, whatever your life or imagination dictates. iTalk's built-in monaural microphone is designed to record crystal-clear audio from sources up to 100 feet away, and onboard Automatic Gain Control ensures optimal recording levels. You can even connect an external microphone directly to iTalk for greater flexibility.

iTalk's built-in speaker is great for playback of voice memos. You can also use iTalk as a mini-speaker for your iPod's music files. Play your favorite audio book through iTalk or listen to a downloaded seminar. You'll never realize how much you've missed a built-in speaker--until you have one.

There's a stereo headphone jack too, of course. It includes an iPod passthrough circuit so you can monitor your voice recording or listen to your music without removing iTalk. You can even download your recordings to play back on your computer. ... Read more

Features

• Converts your Apple iPod music player into a digital voice recorder offering thousands of hours of record time
• Built-in microphone with automatic gain control
• 2 watt loudspeaker lets you listen to your voice files or music files
• Stereo headphone jack with passthrough circuit so you can listen to either voice files or iPod music files
• Includes a .125-inch minijack input for use with an external microphone (not included)

Reviews (3)

Useful for voice memos
I bought the iTalk to take memos when I'm out in the field. Camera in one had, iPod in the other. I read the reviews first so knew it would be risky but it sounded ok for my uses and I got it cheap.

* Files are about 1 minute per Mb, stored as wav.
* Sound quality is understandable but not as good as AM radio.
* For a fully charged iPod, I got about 90 mins recording before the battery showed empty.

Pros

* Recording works fine, and I can dictate captions for photos as I think of them on site. Typically these are 1-2 minutes at most. I have also made an hour-long recording as a test without problems. I tried recording conversation in a cafe but it picks up too much background to be understandable.
* The best feature for photo memos is that files are time stamped, so I copy each memo to the same folder as my photos (which are also time stamped) making them easy to match up.
* iTalk can take an external mike which cuts out background white noise.
* Files are automatically sync'd to iTunes Voice Memo list and stored in the iTunes unknown artist folder. (If you have this feature set in iTunes)

Cons

* Software glitches randomly lock up the iPod under almost every condition except for the initial condition (more about this below).
* The iTalk covers the iPod lock. This is a serious design flaw given how quickly the battery drains. It means that you can't carry the iTalk connected to the iPod and easily lock the keys.
* The line that takes a mic also doubles as a line out. If headphones are connected and you try to record, the recording light shows but nothing is recorded. It creates a file but it's empty.

Hints

Prevent freezing: If the iTalk is in place when the iPod is turned on, it will often freeze. To prevent freezing, remove the iTalk before turning on the iPod every time. Under these conditions I've never had it freeze. If the iPod does sleep, to prevent freezing, remove the iTalk then insert it again (i'm not sure how often this is necessary, but I haven't had to reset the iPod since the first day).

Reset: To reset the iPod, remove the iTalk and hold down the iPod's MENU and PLAY '>||' buttons for 10 sec. I used this 5x the first day with the iTalk but haven't needed it since.

Locking: Slide a laminated card (my credit card is too thick) between the iPod and iTalk to lock, or carry the iTalk separately (annoying, but not as annoying as rebooting every time).

Saving: It's not enough to pause a recording, you need to remember to stop and save it before removing the iTalk. The MENU button will also save files.

Finding the files on PC: I have iTunes set to automatically sync files. To find the files in iTunes, look under the Voice Memos list. It's a trifle disconcerting when they disappear from one list and appear elsewhere unless you're prepared for it. On my PC, they can also be copied from
iTunes music/unknown artist/unknown album

Battery: I tried letting the battery run out while recording. It ran for ~50 minutes while the battery was showing empty then shut down with no warning. The file appears to have been saved ok.

Battery life: Check out the apple web page for battery tips (...) (I know this comment is outside the scope of iTalk, but if you use a voice recorder with the iPod, you're going to be dealing with battery issues.)

Summary

Despite the glitches, I like having a handy memo system and will keep it til something better turns up. Doesn't sound like Belkin is any better in terms of software glitches or battery life, but it looks like it would be possible to lock the iPod with the Belkin in place which would be a plus. The minus is that Belkin doesn't take an external mic.

Griffin dropped the ball with the iTalk
I owned the belkin voice recorder then somehow lost it and then I saw ads for the iTalk. Since I owned the iTrip and was happy with it, I thought this was a blessing in disguise. I'm a college student and record my lectures, for the most part the Belkin voice recorder worked well but the iTalk claimed to have auto gain control etc. I'm buying another Belkin. I've recorder a week of lectures already and not a single one has come out with the iTalk. I know it's not the lecture halls because the Belkin voice recorder worked just fine. I don't know where to even begin about how bad the iTalk has worked so far. All my lectures sound like the beach. I cannot hear any voices at all. Just hours and hours of horrible background noise. It obviously does not work for lectures as claimed. Go with Belkin for once

save your money
this 50 dollar (after taxes s/h etc...) piece of cheap garbage is a big waist of money. distorts even if just recording your own voice talking. griffen advertises that you can use this product to record song ideas. tried that. all i hear is a muffled distorted version of what i played. the sounds quality is horrible. i get better quality recordings on my pocked pc's built in mic. bottom line.... DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM!!! you will feel ripped off... i certainly do. i'd give the iTalk negative stars if i could. ... Read more

Features

• Crystal-clear sound - from four custom-designed neodymium Micro Drivers (2 x 25mm and 2 x 18mm)
• Surprisingly deep bass - Revolutionary MaxxBass technology creates quality bass without a subwoofer
• Built-in Docking Station - provides same synchronization, data transfer, and recharging options as the iPod dock (cable not included)
• Extra long battery life - Highly efficient Class D amplifier delivers more than 24 hours of continuous playback with four AA batteries (not included)
• Auto Shut-Down

Features

• Compatible with the 802.11b wireless standard
• Ranges up to 150 feet indoors at 11 Mbps
• Provides tight security
• Use with an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station for added functionality
• Compatible with AirPort-enabled Apple computers

Reviews (9)

life changing
The wireless revolution has seriously altered the way I work. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, to be able to work anywhere in the house on a laptop. And then I was home over Thanksgiving and tried my father's - it was incredible. So, soon after I had my own and I love it - I even ended up getting another one for my wife's laptop.

Whether it's browsing amazon.com late at night in bed, checking morning email in the kitchen while the kids run around, or being able to set up a writing desk anywhere in the house without worrying about an accessible internet port - the airport system is awesome. Even if you only have a desktop computer it's worth it - you can to put the computer in a place where there's no internet plug, without the 40 foot cord draping your wall to connect it. All in all, a wireless system may seem extravagant, but once you have one you'll wonder how you got by without it.

The airport card, along with the base station, allows you to connect several computers, even ones that don't have wireless cards in them (i.e., we have two laptops on the wireless system, and then one iMac that doesn't have an airport card is plugged directly into the base station). You can print, scan - anything - wirelessly, as long as those extra components are connected to the base station.

If you have a big house and the base station won't be centrally located, you may want to look into the antenna. I have a 2500 square foot house and the base station is at one end of it. I can get access from anywhere in the house without the extra antenna, though in one or two places it's a weak signal. My father's house, on the other hand, is over 5000 square feet and the base station is at a far end - you can't even get a signal on the other side of the house. However, he purchased the antenna and the signal is now very strong wherever you are. A warning - you should make sure your airport network is password protected, especially if you get the antenna. The signal will be broadcast through half your neighborhood and if not protected, people can get on and use your airtime, clogging up your bandwidth.

Make sure you get the right card! There's the airport extreme card and the regular airport card (I believe they are both compatible with either base station). Check Apple's website for direct compatibility between your computer and the two different cards. They are different sizes and will only fit in the right kind of slot.

One final word - I've heard from others that certain products from Net Gear or other wireless manufacturers accomplish the same thing as the airport card and base station for much cheaper. I can't attest to the validity of this, but it might be worth looking into. I'd exercise extreme caution, since if you go with Apple products it will be covered with tech support, even if it's more expensive. And putting third party hardware in your computer will likely void the warranty on your computer.

Watch out, this does not fit an Apple iBook G4!
Recommend and rating, hard to say. My intent is to make sure that people don't make the same stupid mistake that I did! An Apple iBook G4 can only accept an "airport extreme" card. I suspect that most of the latest generation ibooks, powerbooks, and powerpcs and etc can only take the extreme card.

Do your homework beforing buying the M7600LL card.

Adapter Comments
Just to clear things up a bit further on the adapter business. When Apple started selling Airport-capable systems and cards, the cards could be used with the CRT iMac or an iBook or Powerbook. Rather than build a special slot in the iMac that you could slide the card into, the card came with a little wraparound bit that had a socket on it which plugged into the iMac. If you were going to use the card in an iBook or Powerbook, you didn't need the adaptor, the card slides into a slot. I guess after awhile they decided to including the adapter was a bit wasteful if a large segment of the buyers weren't going to use it, so they made it an optional extra. The fact that their newer systems didn't need the adapter, and that sales of the CRT iMac were slowing down probably had something to do with it as well.

I've bought 3 Airport cards myself for various systems, and have been very impressed with the ease of use and reliability of the product.

it works like a dream
I am a recent convert and just got a new 12-inch powerbook. The retailer who sold it to me was supposed to have installed the airport card themselves, but they did not. The airport card came separately and I decided to install it myself. Not only was it the easiest thing to install in the world, it began working immediately. I'm impressed with how non-technical you need to be and how smoothly you can just do all these things that I would never have dreamt of doing myself in the PC world.

If only it worked
Switched to Mac? Switch back.

I built an 802.11b network for the PCs in my house. I set up everything and had it working and tested for a few weeks before tackling the Airport install. Since I'm not usually a Mac user, I thought I'd make sure everything else was working first.

Well, it was the right decision. 8 months later, my Airport card still does not work. I put it in our iBook, and it's recognized, but there is an error message that locks up all the wireless applications and configuration, so the Airport is useless. Yes, I have the right OS version, and I've gotten the latest drivers and applications, but nothing works.

I'll try again, sometime, but it's just really hard to get psyched up for hours and hours of beating your head against the wall, trying to get something to work.

Hey, it might work out of the box for you. If you have an older iBook, though, I'd prepare for a struggle. ... Read more

Features

• Black enclosure with red Click Wheel and autographs of all four U2 band members on back
• 20 GB model holds up to 5,000 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
• Up to 12 hours battery life when fully charged (typically 4 hours); fast-charge in as little as 2 hours
• Mac OS X or Windows 2000 and XP compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Comes with earbud headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable

Product Description

iWork '05 ... Read more

Features

• Integrated iLife media browser and photo masking
• Create, present, and publish work quickly and easily
• Cinema-quality slide presentations; streamlined, yet powerful word processing
• 40+ professionally designed templates with multiple page designs
• Freeform graphics canvas; easy-to-use text styles, charts, and tables

Reviews (16)

Don't Underestimate This Program.
A number of reviewers have commented upon how easy this program is and, I suppose, in one sense it is, especially if you stick to using the templates.However, as one who has had occasion to work with "Adobe Pagemaker," this program can do sophisticated page layout and, as such, there will be a learning curve for the inexperienced.

But, the User Manual is good and there are good books coming out, like one from Visual Start in July, that will help people learn.

It is wrong to think of this program as a word processor "in competition with" Word."MS Word" is a robust word processor; "Pages," as its name implies, is a page layout program.Having also worked with "MS Publisher," the real point of comparison and not "MS Word," "Pages" far exceeds "Publisher" in capabilities and yet for relatively simple layouts is as easy as "Publisher" to use.

I have not as yet put any real strain on the program, but at first blush, on my Powerbook G4 1.5, speed of operations is just fine.Yes, as a few reviewers have pointed out, some of the palettes could be more elegantly combined.One tends to get a clutter of open palettes.But, these are refinements that will be made in future editions, I am sure.

Bottom line: If you want to layout pages with a lot of the sophistication possible in the more expensive "Quark" and "PageMaker" programs; if you want to be able to export your documents to universal portable PDF file format and print out beautiful documents; if you want to pay, basically, only about $40 for these benefits ["Keynotes," the other half of iwork represents another $40], then buy "Pages."

And, if you are a novice with respect to not only page layout programs but also to very robust word programs like "Word," don't expect that everything will be simple.You will have to learn, but you will be rewarded relatively quickly.

I almost didn't buy it....
I thought, "I have MS Office for the Mac, why do I need iWork?" Was I wrong!

Okay fine I suppose I don't really NEED it. But it is a great program, and worth the price. The ability to export my work as a .pdf file is worth the price by itself. The Pages interface is much better, cleaner than Word. And the templates are suprisingly useful. I created a web page by costomizing a template and exporting it as HTML. I twas easy and quick and the result looked great. Most of the people I work with are PC users and because they were unfamiliar with pages the web Page looked fresh, not like a modified copy of someone elses work.

I use my Mac for research mostly and the ability to save documents as .pdf files is very valuable as they are searchable. With Tigers ability to search the text within a .pdf I can now save my work as a .pdf and later find everytime a particular work appears in the fines I've created. This has made cross-refrecing very easy and fast. I now use a program called Pyramid to create a "mind map" of my work and create links from the "map" to refrences in the .pdfs.

I don't use Keynote as much. I t more visially appealing than Powerpoint and pretty easy to use. The ability to use Quicktime movies in the presentation is helpful and the ability to export as a Powerpoint file is nice.

Great program if Microsoft can develop an imitation
Keynote and Pages, the two applications included in iWork, were flawless under the Panther operating system. The Keynote app has always suffered from its inability to share with PC users. Oh yeah, I know I can convert a Keynote file to Powerpoint, .swf, QuickTime, or PDF, but the problem is that, especially when converting to PowerPoint, Keynote loses all its buttery-rich goodness. It's a PowerPoint problem, I realize, but without a Keynote viewer, there's no way around it. Thus, Mac folks must rely on Microsoft for slide presentations if they don't want to lug around their Mac laptop.

Also, installing Tiger will mess up the purchased Keynote templates you have saved. Even reinstalling them won't help.

My humble advice is to wait a couple of years until Apple fixes the bugs in Tiger, then MAYBE think about using a Mac. Until then, I'm switching back from a Mac to a PC.

Big time winner!
iWork comes with two programs, Pages (a word processor) and Keynote (Apple's version of PowerPoint).Both of these programs are very simple to use and very effective.Without a doubt, there are better programs available, but their cost several hundred dollars more and for the average user don't provided more bank for the buck.

When I first turned on Pages I thought "How cheesey!"But as I got to using it I found my first impression was totally wrong.It's simple appearance is very deceptive.This is a word processing program that can do everything that is needed for ordinary personal documents and beyond.You have to be willing to explore the program to discover its gems, but once you learn were things are you will find it a very fast and easy to use.The real value of the program is its desk top publishing.The 40 some templates let you create profession grade newsletters, journals, resumes, invitations, marketing brochures, and many other kinds of documents.This is worth the price of the software alone.It seamlessly works with your iPhoto, iTunes and iMovies.This is one powerful piece of software.With it you can produce commercial grade color brochures or newsletters at an entry level price.

Keynote makes wonderful multimedia presentations, and like Pages is seamlessly integrated with iPhoto, iTunes and iMovies.If you are using graphics or want to import photos into your presentation, Keynote is significantly easier, quicker, and simpler to use that PowerPoint.You can't miss with this program.You can even save you presentation as a PowerPoint, Quicktime, or PDF file or post it on the internet for all to see with the easy of a single click.

I have used both Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and keep them on my hard drive but rarely use them.As my skill with Pages and Keynote has grown I have found them to be more than sufficient in producing quality documents from personal letters, teaching handouts, to professional grade overhead presentations.
For the cost, iWorks cannot be beat!And you will not be disappointed.

iWork `05 System Requirements
- Macintosh computer with a 500 mhz or faster Power PC G3, G4 or G5 (G4 for PowerBook); G4 or G5 recommended
- 128 MB of physical RAM (512MB recommended)
- 8 MB of video memory (32MB recommended)
- Mac OS X v10.3.6 or later
- QuickTime 6.5 or later

Pages is a disappointment
I had high hopes for Pages, Apple's new Word Processing Application, but these hopes were shattered once I tried to design a newsletter with it.

I find the interface unintuitive, unlike most Apple software, and the templates are not easily customizable. What's more, the application continues to mysteriously "erase" work that I have done, even after I have saved it.

Apple, I know you can do better than this... ... Read more

Features

• Meshes nicely with iPod style
• Compact, flexible design for easy installation
• 24k gold-plated contacts
• Y adapter connects 2 minijack (.125-inch) stereo headphones or speakers to one minijack output
• .125-inch male jack to two .125-inch female sockets

Reviews (5)

Simple solution with great design/aesthetics
OK, this is a splitter. You can buy a cheap one anywhere but this one is well-made. The design matches the iPod well but it's functional as well. The black circle is a rubberized material with ridges that provide a good place to hold the splitter while you plug or unplug headphones. It works great.

I bought the splitter to use with a laptop playing DVD's while on vacation so that my wife and I could both listen with headphones (extremely important not to wake kids, especially while trying to enjoy a quiet moment on vacation). It works well on the plane too where you must use headphones to not disturb other passengers.

SWEET!!!!
This thing is sweet, it works great to play your ipod through your stereo!!!

IPOD RETURN POLICY is sorta SHORT!!
Okay. Here is a write up, that I did, on the comparisons/contrasts on MP3 players. Mainly, the Harddrive versions (I.E. Rio Riot/Apple IPOD -both of which I own) and the flash memory type... (I.E. Memorex 3642 Mp3 Player, of which I own as well).
What prompted this little jaunt (of which you may send to as many people as you like) My $499 Apple IPOD died during a sync last month. Just me copying files over to it, and the battery ran out of juice. I would have not attempted to copy music had I known the battery was low, but the battery read FULL STRENGTH. Anyhoo, I called Apple, they said return it for maintenance.

I did. Sent it back.

They returned it, still broke.

To my suprise, there is only a TEN DAY return policy.

TEN DAYS.

I did not realize this at all... and it was a costly realization.

So, after a month or so of messing around trying to find another MP3 player... I decided to go with a flash memory MP3 player, the ones that use memory sticks.

SO, here are the pro and cons of these devices.

Pro's for the Memory Stick Mp3 players

-Cheaper. WAY CHEAPER than Hard drive types.

-If you go into music match and file convert to MP3 Pro and shrink the size of your MP3 to like, say 3o percent... you can really make a good Kompression. Example. My Memorex MP3 player has 32mbs of memory on board. It is expandable to 256mb. 32 mb will basically let you put one cd's worth of music. It is easy to put music on and off of them, due to your computer reading the USB as just another hard drive, so you drag and drop to put on, delete them to take them off. But, after you shrink your files to MP3 Pro 30 percent, you can put twice as many. So, basically a 256mb chip will allow me to put 208 songs on my little less than palm size MP3 player. And it wieghs like 3 ounces.

- More on memory. These little chips are the size of the upper part of your thumb, at least my thumb anyway. They come in 128mb, 256mb, 512mb and even though there aren't any MP3 machines out there to handle them YET, you can even buy a 1.5gig thumb size chip thingy. Considering the size of the chips and the shrinking kompression I told you about earlier, I could shrink my whole KOLLEKTION down to 10 of those 1.5gig chips. At the current shrink rate I am at 5 DVD's, which are way bigger and more fragile than these little chips.

- Not as fragile as hard drive type. You can drop one of these chips and not scratch it. I wouldn't stomp on one with my foot, nor get one in water, but they are encased in plastic. Ruggedish.

- Batteries last for like two days. There isn't much going on here, no moving parts, no laser or hard drive to put power to. Most of these flash Memory types have a single AA battery. I use a rechargeable type, so we are talking very low cost here.
In comparison to the hard drive types, where you will get a solid 8 hours of playing, this really whupps up.

- Size. Small. Very small. Mine is three inches by three inches. A square. But, you can get smaller ones. And the memory chips that go in them are the same ones you use for your camera. And you can put files on them. If you want to put a word doc on your memory chip, you can. Your Mp3 won't recognize it, but it is nifty storage.

COMPARISON/CONTRAST

- Size does matter. In the case of hard drive Mp3 players... lets face it, you can, if you so chose to, put a library of congress on these monsters. They are the caddilacs of the hand held devices, and guzzle batteries like gasoline. But when it comes down to it, size is the only thing they have going for them. I don't mean to downplay the hard drive types, but don't drop them, don't shake them, and after shelling out $499 to Apple you might consider insurance. Apple doesn't care about you or your apple after 10 days of ownership.

- Price/Komparison. IPOD ran me $499 bucks. My memorex MP3 player ran me 45 dollars. The 128 memory chip runs you 50 bucks. Owch. There really isn't a comparison to the two. The memory stick Mp3 players just kick butt on this issue. And, you get MORE than a ten day return policy, since you buy these things at Target/Wal Mart etc...

So, that is my review in a nutshell
*************************************

Not completely sure why I am getting such a roasting on this review. I am only reporting what happened to me, and how I bought another product and compared the two.... I am not trying to change anyones mind, but letting someone know what happened to me.

not just for the ipod!
This is a simple minijack splitter that takes one female 3.5mm stereo minijack and turns it into two! Wallah! You can use this anywhere a headphone jack exists. Use it on your laptop computer, your discman, walkman, mp3 player, even the soundcard on your pc - it doesnt matter it's just a splitter.

In typical monster style the splitter is made of the highest possible quality and offers excelent performance. It's also stylish, although it is made to fit with the iPod/iBook design scheme.

Bottom line, this type of splitter is ideal for gadget finatics and people who travel a lot and like to bring along thier music (unless you dont ever have the need to share). With this you can allow two pairs of headphones to be plugged into one discman, laptop, mp3 player, etc.

If you've ever wished you and your friend could both plug your headphone into your laptop so you could BOTH watch (and hear) a DVD on a bus trip this is the solution.

Great.
This is ideal for the new iPOD you want to share with a friend. As usual, the sound quality on the Monster product is superior. ... Read more

Features

• Award-winning virus protection from McAfee Virex with automatic eUpdate
• First-class email service - 15MB of storage and no ads
• 10 new templates for movies, photos, cross-platform file sharing, and more
• Over 200 new iCards and built-in access to .Mac Address Book
• Expert training from Apple for .Mac, Panther, and iLife '04

Product Description

iLife '05 Family Pack ... Read more

Features

• Easily perform, record, and create music with GarageBand
• Fun-to-use suite of tightly integrated creative tools
• Import, organize, edit, and share digital photos with iPhoto
• iMovie HD quickly turns home video into home cinema
• Create Hollywood-style DVDs with iDVD; iTunes digital jukebox

Reviews (1)

Great update
iPhoto 5 is a great update. It does lots more, and on a dual processor G5 really flies! It does have a bit of a funky response if you tweak the saturation of a photo in extreme highlights (window in a backlit situation) where the whole area of complete white goes a funky color. But just undo what you by reverting to the original and start over. iMove and iDVD are good updates too with the new 16:9 ratio and some really nice themes. Better performance, and more functionality. Garageband with recording up to 8 lines in at once is a major improvment, especially being albe to see notes appear as you write your music! It may not be Logic Express (also owned by Apple) but it really works well. Garageband alone is worth the upgrade.

And if you're an education professional, there is a great price break! ... Read more

Product Description

Ultra-compact. Full-featured.

More. That’s the word that best describes the 12-inch PowerBook G4.

It has more speed, thanks to a 1.5GHz PowerPC G4 processor. It offers more memory: 512MB, to be exact. It provides more storage, with a standard 5400-rpm 60GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. It boasts more power to burn CDs with its DVD / CD-RW combo drive. The only thing less about it is its affordable price.

As Smart as It Looks
Housed in a stunning, scratch- and stain-resistant aluminum alloy enclosure and weighing just 4.6 pounds, this diminutive powerhouse features a high-resolution 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display with brilliant 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. You’ll marvel at the way this supersharp display fits into such a remarkably small frame: just 10.9 inches wide, 8.6 inches deep and 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 catch on your clothing.

Built for Speed
The 1.5GHz PowerBook G4 delivers blazing-fast performance, thanks to the PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, which processes data in huge 128-bit chunks and accelerates the data-intensive processing required by next-generation video, voice and graphics applications.

Scroll Mate
Scrolling through web pages or large documents on a trackpad can challenge even the most nimble fingers. That’s why every 12-inch PowerBook G4 features a new trackpad with scrolling capability. Just drag two fingers over the trackpad to scroll vertically and horizontally or pan around any active window. Change this feature to suit your needs: Customize your trackpad settings or turn off scrolling completely via System Preferences.

Handled with Care
Now the 12-inch PowerBook G4 is equipped to help protect your most valuable asset: your data. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

it goes everywhere with me :D
i've been a mac user all my life, i have tried a few windows based systems but they just seem poorly integrated and clnuky and too much trouble, i don't mind playing with them at work for the 'geek factor' but i do all of my music and digital artistry on my macs and wouldn't have it any other way.

since the 12" powerbooks came out i have been drooling over them, but i had a 15" titanium powerbook and then recently got a g5....but when my titanium powerbook practically fell apart, i decided to buy the 1.5hz 12"pb (combo drive).

i absolutely love this thing, its so small and cute but it can handle anything you throw at it, i thought the screen would be too small to do my graphics work on it but i can easily sketch away with my graphics tablet wherever i am.

the battery life is good, its compact and relatively lightweight, made of metal, built very solid and runs osx.what else could you want?!

the one thing i was a little unhappy with was the screen because its just a regular lcd, alot of 'windoze' notebooks are using those nice shiny 'crystal bright' displays.
if apple had those displays in a widescreen form factor on this thing, it would be absolute perfection, bar none.

but overall im very happy with it and its abilities to perform anything i throw at it.
if you are considering one then go to an apple centre and play around with one for a while...i bet you will go home with one, or want to :D

osx tiger is fast, sleek, powerful, futuristic, beautiful.
and below the hood in the terminal you have access to its darwin/unix.
ive never had a virus EVER in my life thanks to being a mac user, no spyware, MUCCCH less chances of being hacked, my titanium powerbook only crashed once in the whole 3-4 years i had it, and my g5 and 12" powerbook have NEVER crashed.
sure it is possible to get a 'lemon' and have problems, it IS a computer afterall and there can be things that go wrong, but overall....macs just work. and in doing so they let you work without screwing around with settings and troubleshooting.

i honestly dont know why people still bother with windows, its primative compared to osx.

A TRUE Switcher!
I am writing this review in order to give you my thoughts on this powerbook versus the last guys that wrote a review about switching. First off there's no way you can compare apples to oranges, or in this case Apple to Windows computers. Because first off Apple's processor is much more efficent in the way it handels information. You can not look at Gzh! there are many more steps involved than just that. Now I will go down the line of "cons" that superman2k3 had.
1 - The screen is small, there's no doubt about it but that's what you have to sacrifice for the smallness of the 12 inch powerbook, and I still do not know what he means by clearity in the font, I can easily read what I am typing, what folders say on my desktop and anywhere else there is typing of FONTS!.
2 - I have 512 mb of RAM in my powerbook. It runs perfectly smooth and flawless. My powerbook 1.5 ghz runs faster than my neighbors 3.0 ghz pentium desktop!
3 - First off with the accessories the $60 mouse he's talking about is the Apple bluetooth wireless mouse. You can get a corded mouse much less. And second of all you DO NOT have to buy just Apple accessories. I have a mini wireless mouse that I got when I had a windows laptop (with windows XP) and to use it on the windows laptop I needed to install drivers and other software, well one night I decided to try it on my powerbook and it worked GREAT! with no drivers, nothing. The manufacturers website never stated it made for a Mac! Only for windows 98, 2000, ME, XP ect.
4 - Now I don't know about you but I personally don't have any reason what so ever to get to my hard drive. With 60 or 80 gigabyte discs I don't think I will be randomly droping new ones in. In fact I don't think I will ever even open up my RAM slot for more RAM. There is just nothing inside the computer I would ever want to mess with. Instead I would just send it in to Apple.
5 - Well in a way this is true. Most software for Windows won't work for a Mac but you can however get a $80 software called Virtual PC made my Microsoft for the Mac computer. This program enables you to run every program made for a PC. And when you buy future programs you will just buy the mac version instead.
6 - What do you mean NON SCROLLING. This trackpad in my powerbook has a built in scrolling function. Just drag two fingers over it in a webpage, a word file (yes Microsoft makes all of the Office suite, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ect. for Mac) pdf's, Jpegs, you name it it works. And I know it only has a single button but if you need a sort of "right click" just hold down the Ctrl button at the same time. A list (just like on a Windows) pops up.
7 - As I stated earlier you can't compare apples to oranges. The Apple computer will run faster, smoother, and is already pre-loaded with amazing applications that would cost you hundreds of dollers on a PC like iPhoto, but mostly like iMovie and iDVD.
8 - Innovation, give me a break!!! Apple invented the personal computer. They wrote the Mac Operating System (OS) that Microsoft eventially copied back in the 80's. In fact there was a huge lawsuit over it. You can search Google if you want to learn more! And Apple has to compete with PC's everyday. I mean you think about it, a person is not going to buy both an Apple laptop and a PC laptop together! THINK HERE MAN!
9 - You DO NOT have to order any more warrenty from Apple, Apple gives you a one (1) year warrenty for your machine already, in fact better than most PC manufactures, however you may want to purchase the extended warrenty because laptops get a more rugged approach to them then desktops. Now this would be the same case as if I were buying a Dell, HP, Compaq (owened by HP so is relativley the same machine) or any other PC. And they're all in the same price range for the extended warrenty.
10 - As I stated earlier (I seem to have to repeat myself a LOT!) almost all hardware devices work both ways. And software, if you want to keep your PC software you can purchase an $80 virtuall PC software that will run it just fine!

Now I hope I did not make anyone angery by this, it's just the facts. And in conclusion the Powerbook is a remarkable tiny, shiny, all around great machine that has the looks and feel of Apple all around, from the hardware, to the OS it is all Apple (with no viruses or spyware) and the best part of it is that if you ever have any problems at all, because Apple makes the whole thing (inside and out) there is just one (1) number to call for anything dealing with it. Try doing that with a PC company. They'll just refer you to another company who will refer you back. That's if you get an actuall representative! Not just a computer on the other end. Well I hope this helps to clear up any thoughts you may have. I am a TRUE switcher. I went from a PC for five (5) years to a mac for now my 3rd month. And I LOVE IT!

One more thing "Once you go Mac, you'll never go Back!"

~God Bless!~

Faster than My Old iBook, that's for Sure
I have a friend of a friend who works at an Apple store and just recenlty he let me play with all the new stuff, some old stuff too and here is my impression of the new, improved 12 inch PowerBook. First off, and I feel like shouting this, but I won't, "It's about time Apple put out a computer that had enough memory in it to actually run it!" I have an old G3, 14 inch iBook and right off the bat I had to buy more memory, bumping it up to 640 megs, so knowing this baby comes with 512 right out the door, will bring a sigh of relief to anybody thinking of buying one.

The screen is too small for my tired eyes, but if you're young and seeing 20/20 or don't mind reading glasses that shouldn't be a problem. This machine is small and sleek, comes with an Airport Extreme card built in. This model comes with the DVD/CD-RW drive instead of the Superdrive, so you can't record video, but for an extra 200 bucks, maybe you don't want to. Compared to my aging, but still working like a champ iBook, this baby screams. And the 60 gig hard drive gives you plenty of room to load up those MP3s to play in iTunes.

The machine does not, however, come with one of those nifty, light up in the dark keyboards and you don't get a FireWire 800 port, 400 only, but I guess Apple had to give them up, due to size considerations. But as I said, this machine screams, really screams and for 1500 bucks, it's a deal. It would have been nice if Apple could have figured out a way to engineer a G5 chip into the machine, but, I suppose they are still too hot and a fan or fans would have made this silent marvel both noisy and bigger. Anyway all in all I have to say, well done Apple. Five stars and worth every one.

Jack Priest, Sailor home from the Sea

You'll fall in love with this go-anywhere Powerbook!
I made the "switch" last fall when the 20" iMac G5 was released, and was looking to pick up a laptop with the same quality hardware and OS. I knew I wanted an ultra-portable laptop, partially because of the price and partly because a laptop is just not meant to require a desk to use it. (In my opinion, anything over 15" or 6 pounds is a desktop-replacement). I had originally considered the 12" iBook, which is a great value (1.2 GHz + Airport Extreme!) for the money. In the end, after getting the "i"Mac, I though I'd go with the "Power"book. My decision was partially due to the realization my 15 GB iPod is about 60% full, so importing the iTunes collection would have taken up a good chunk of the iBook's 30 GB drive.

It's quite a bit more expensive than the iBook, but you get a faster processor, a disk drive that twice as big and faster, Bluetooth, and an aluminum case that looks stunning. Also worthy of mention would be the new features in the 2005 Powerbooks, namely a scrolling trackpad (I wish my iMac had one now!), Sudden Motion Sensor that'll park the disk heads if it senses that it might have just been dropped, and Bluetooth 2.0, a standard so new there's no peripherals that'll use the 2.0 speeds, only its 1.1/1.2 legacy support. 512 MB is finally enough for standard usage (I can't endorse anything less than 512 MB for OS X), but I still upgraded the memory. Too bad Apple still has 256 MB built-in, as I had to pull the socketed 256 MB SO-DIMM to put in a 512 MB SO-DIMM, unlike the 15" and 17" which come with a single 512 MB SO-DIMM and an open slot.

If you can afford the extra money over the iBook and need the features, this machine will quickly become your pride and joy. If a 30 GB HD is big enough and you won't be doing heavy-duty iMovie editing, I still believe the iBook is an unbelievable price/performance value.

Items to get with your 12" PowerBook G4
There is no question this is one of the best laptops available at a great price. I have a new Sony Vaio laptop as well, which has an outstanding screen, but all comparisons stop there. The G4 12" wins hands down on all other counts, from the full size keyboard, easily accessible ports, etc.
The point of this review, however, is to suggest several items I use with the G4 12". First, a Tom Bihn "Brain Cell" laptop case... works well on its own but even fits in my backpack. This case is light but still strong; I never have to worry about my laptop while on the road. Second, an XT-Stand from GJB enterprises. This raises the laptop to a nice angle and allows heat dissipation while maintaining stability, and is nicely portable as well. Third, a Targus (or other reputable brand) optical two-button mini mouse, which I prefer wired so as never to have to replace batteries (a problem for wireless bluetooth or IR models). That's all you really need. ... Read more

Features

• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable

Reviews (196)

Small But Powerful
The iPod mini is built from the ground up as a portable device for people with fast-paced lives. It's small and lightweight physical dimensions are perfectly suited to be being placed in a pants or shirt pocket without being a burden.

But don't let its light weight fool you into thinking the iPod mini is a pushover. The 4GB hard drive (3.7 GB actual) can hold about 1,000 songs - enough to last almost three full days. The installed software includes four games; a calendar; a notepad; a contact database; a clock; backlight with timer; an alarm clock; and the abilities to customize the main menu; create playlists; and rate songs. All this is in addition to being able to be used as an external hard drive!

However, the most revolutionary aspect of the iPod mini (aside from it's size and weight) is its control interface. Incorporating the 'Menu', 'Pause/Play', 'Forward' and 'Back' buttons directly to the touch sensitive scroll wheel not only creates simplicity from a design standpoint, but form a user one as well. Accessing these controls is a breeze. Thankfully the touch wheel is designed well enough that accidental pressing of a control is unlikely to occur since you have to press down a bit to activate the button. I'd actually like to see the entire iPod line adopt this interface.

Some people complain that the iPod mini is only slightly cheaper than the 20 GB iPod and offers a lot less storage space. But what you loose in storage space you gain in portability. It is also important to consider that compared to other players of its size and weight, the iPod mini offers much more storage space, many more features, and a better music jukebox in iTunes 4.0.

I want to carry the most music I can in the smallest possible device that offers the best interface and features. For me, that device is unquestionably the iPod mini. If you have similar demands of a portable music device, the iPod mini is sure to become a permanent accessory to your lifestyle.

Small in Size not in Functionality
The iPod mini is built from the ground up as a portable device for people with fast-paced lives. It's small and lightweight physical dimensions are perfectly suited to be being placed in a pants or shirt pocket without being a burden.

But don't let its light weight fool you into thinking the iPod mini is a pushover. The 4GB hard drive (3.7 GB actual) can hold about 1,000 songs - enough to last almost three full days. The installed software includes four games; calendar; notepad; contact database; clock; backlight with timer; alarm clock; and the abilities to customize the main menu; create playlists; and rate songs. All this is in addition to being able to be used as an external hard drive.

However, the most revolutionary aspect of the iPod mini (aside from it's size and weight) is its control interface. Incorporating the 'Menu', 'Pause/Play', 'Forward' and 'Back' buttons directly to the touch sensitive scroll wheel not only creates simplicity from a design standpoint, but form a user one as well. Accessing these controls is a breeze. Thankfully the touch wheel is designed well enough that accidental pressing of a control is unlikely to occur since you have to press down a bit to activate the button. I'd actually like to see the entire iPod line adopt this interface.

Some people complain that the iPod mini is only slightly cheaper than the 20 GB iPod and offers a lot less storage space. But what you loose in storage space you gain in portability. It is also important to consider that compared to other players of its size and weight, the iPod mini offers much more storage space, many more features, and a better music jukebox in iTunes 4.0.

I want to carry the most music I can in the smallest possible device that offers the best interface and features. For me, that device is unquestionably the iPod mini. If you have similar demands of a portable music device, the iPod mini is sure to become a permanent accessory to your lifestyle.