Amazon.com Product Description

Weighing in at a respectable 4.9 pounds and featuring an 800 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, a 30 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM (expandable to 640 MB)--plus AirPort wireless networking and FireWire, USB, and Ethernet ports--the iBook connects to hundreds of peripherals designed to fit your life.

This system features a brilliant 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display and razor-sharp 1,024 x 768 resolution. It's the perfect place for doing everything from working on spreadsheets to displaying your movies and digital pictures in millions of colors. (Incidentally, the iBook display scales down beautifully, again with millions of colors, for special games and applications optimized for 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 resolutions.)

Included is a CD-ROM drive for playing games and music CDs. The 800 MHz iBook ships with a 30 GB hard drive that provides exceptional storage space. In addition, this system comes with the ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics accelerator with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM and AGP 2x support for gorgeous 3-D graphics.

The iBook also comes loaded with Mac OS X, iMovie, iTunes, AppleWorks, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator, Adobe Acrobat Reader, FAXstf, AOL Instant Messenger (preview), WORLD BOOK Max OSX Edition, Quicken 2003, Sound Studio, and Otto Matic game software. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Absolutely Wonderful...
This is my first ever Apple notebook computer and I must say I am terribly pleased. At first I was worried about not having a G4 processor in it, but after recieving my G3 800 iBook and running osX and a few games I must say, I can barely ever discern a difference between this and my imac G4.

I ordered 256mb of ram with my iBook because this speeds it up significantly. You probably wouldnt notice many differences until you try to run more than one application at a time, then you start to feel a little sluggish.

This computer is great, I was worried that maybe it was one of the crappy logic board ibooks but nope, the serial number is far newer than the ones that are at risk for bad logic Boards.

And finally the look of the ibook is seriously cool. I can't wait to go to borders and study for awhile. While everyone else has the same colored gateway laptops plugged into the wall power that borders provides I can cruise with my trusty awesome looking ibook on battery. Also, the power adapter is small, and the thing about people saying the keyboard feels like plastic I disagree with, it is kinda ... hmm, hard to explain, but definitely a plus in my book. Im used to the hard cruching key boards and this one is much less crunchy.

Also, the 12 inch size is simply the best size for a laptop. Anythin bigger and portability almost seems like a hassle rather than a joy.

Awesome computer. Dont forget to pick up that extra 256 mb of ram to get it up to 384mb making it much smoother.. actually, completely smooth... Heaven on earth lol.

Absolutely spectacular!
First thing I should mention: I bought this laptop at a spectacular sale price. I paid $729 for this machine with 640mb of RAM (maxed out) and an Airport card with it. I highly recommend that you do max it out. I played with the 128mb version of this in Compusa and I noticed it to be significantly slower. When maxed out, this machine will run significantly faster than my 1.67Ghz Windows XP desktop in any task you will throw at it. On top of that, the Mac OS is far superior to anything ever put out by Microsoft. It's stable, easy to use, it just works. I have OS X Panther on this and I highly recommend it. I could never live without Expose, Apples far superior answer to the PC bar at the bottom. For those who are not familiar with it, this new feature in Panther will allow you to push F9 on the keyboard and show every window that is open. It will show exactly what is happening in that window at the moment, meaning that if I were to have a video running on it, the video would play on the tiny window as I look for the window I want. I click the window and it goes back to normal, only with that window on top. VERY USEFUL.
Besides that, this machine is very well designed. The ports are on the side, no more reaching behind to plug it in. Its got a thick layer of plastic casing, yet is just over an inch thick. The 12 inch screen is amoung the clearest I've ever seen, and is suprisingly easy to use. The speakers are just okay, but you don't buy a laptop for speakers anyway. The snow colored design is absolutly beautiful, and is a nice plus. The screen is on a solid bar, not one of those flimsy PC hinges. This is the most solidly built, yet lightest, thinnest, most compact laptops I've ever owned or used. I have had several PC laptops before this one, and this is, by far, the best machine I have ever owned.
By the way, the battery life on this machine is, to sum it up in one word, unbelievable. I can get about 4 hours of battery life while watching VIDEOS on this, surfing the web I can get upwards of four and a half or more! The low power consumption of the G3 processor makes this an ultra-portable machine.
For those who are considering switching. Don't be discouraged by the OS right away. It is something you will need to get used to, but after a few days you will never know how you ever lived without it. I now go back to my PC and just absolutly despise it every second I use it. I have now gotten used to the Mac and enjoy it more than I ever did with my PC. You know what they say, once you've gone Mac, you don't ever go back.

Well, to sum it up, this machine is perfect. I have yet to come across any sort of flaw whatsoever. Mac has thought this thing through, their attention to detail is amazing. Everything down to the little hook that comes out just as you close the lid to lock it shut has been designed perfectly. This isn't something that has just been scrapped together by Dell or something, this is a powerful piece of computing genius that has been designed for people out to make the intelligent choice for their computing needs. If you're stupid, go the ways of the PC world and conform to the ways of Bill Gates If you're smart, buy a Mac, you won't regret it. I guarantee!

Good battery
My girlfriend and I bought this computer for college for her and we both use it. Excellent Purchase

Pro- Great battery life (we've gotten 7-8 house using wireless and www/word/email
Pretty sturdy, not as much as my clamshell ibook but better than other laptops I've seen
Great display, clear and bright
Fast ENOUGH...

Con- Have had to repair it once for the display that stopped working, although the local repair center fixed it in 3 days and was covered under warranty

Would recommend that you buy applecare extended though.

Sad
I have never owned one of these computers, but In school we were assigned a research project to find information on the internet. Our teacher allowed us to use some new Ibooks that our school had just purchased. Everyone was so excited because these computers are so cool looking and everyone thought they were fast. We started our project and quickly realized that these were the slowest computers anyone of us had ever used. We were using wireless internet which may have contributed to the computer's slowness, but still it was pathetic. There were maybe 10 people using these computers and about 2/3 of us abandoned the Ibooks to go use the Imacs that our school got in 1998. It also could have been that (even with nortan anit-virus) these computers are very vulnerable to viruses. I'm not sure about how these computers perform in things other than the internet, but if you are planning to buy one of these Ibooks mainly for use on the internet, I would definitly not recommend this computer.

Uniquely outstanding
You won't only get what all windows based laptops have but a whole lot more of good stuff such as software and some fantastic applications that will blow your mind off. I can't live without my ibook . . . and I mean it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This model of Apple's new iBook line offers multimedia mavens something of a conundrum. On the one hand it offers a combo drive that handles both DVD-ROMs and rewritable CD-RWs, so you can watch DVD movies and burn your own custom CDs. On the other hand it forces you to live with a cramped 12.1-inch screen. So if you're serious about multimedia, our suggestion is that you look at the PowerBooks; consider the iBook if a compact Mac notebook is more what you're looking for. This model includes a PowerPC G3/500 MHz processor, 128 MB of memory (expandable to 640 MB), 10 GB hard disk drive, 56K modem, and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC. It comes with both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slick new Mac OS X installed. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The iBook is an elegant, highly portable notebook that offers a basic feature set at a reasonable price. With only 64 MB of RAM, a 10 GB hard disk drive, and a 12.1-inch screen, this isn't the notebook for power users, but it will serve well for standard applications, web access, and email. At only 4.9 pounds, this is one of the lightest notebooks around. It includes a 24x read-only CD-ROM drive, 56K modem, and 100 Mbps networking. Both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slick new Mac OS X are installed. If you are interested in Apple notebooks but are looking for more oomph, consider one of the DVD- or CD-RW-equipped iBooks, or one of Apple's superb Power Book notebooks. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

I Feel Like A Kid Again! More Fun Than My Apple II+
...This machine is PERFECT! I bought an Apple iBook Notebook M8603LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G3, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive). I also bought a 20 GB iPod, a wireless base station, an Airport card, a 1-year membership to .Mac and the extended service agreement. I also bought Quicken and Microsoft Office.

The whole package was not cheap however it works AMAZING. The iTunes/iPod ease of use and seamless integration is the best and no one should ever buy an old-fashioned .mp3 player that only holds 90 minutes. The iPhoto allowed me to build a slideshow and order photos on-line in less than an hour. The iMovie instantly recognized my JVC Mini DV Camera and Microsoft Office talks with my PC based office without a problem!

I have few complaints expect this box is not cheap, the additional service contract is too expensive and I bought additional memory from 8004MEMORY to get the max RAM (Apple's extra RAM is too expensive).

This has been a dream computer than NEVER freezes and I no longer think of words such as .bat, .ini, etc. If you buy one get a bigger hard drive if you plan to make movies, buy additional memory and if you want to use the iBook as a desktop replacement you may want to buy a bigger keyboard and a mouse. We bought one from Logitech that is made for Mac that has a number of iTunes and email functions on the keyboard.

Also if you own a Mac and don't have Jaguar yet, GET IT. It is great looking and brings your Mac into the new century!

Thinking of switching? Don't hesitate! This is the one!
I can say, without a doubt, this is the best computer I have used in the seven years I have owned PC/Macs. I switched from Mac to PC in 2001 and switched *back* after seeing all the features, style and value on offer from Apple with the new iBook.

Ready out-of-the-box for email, Internet, video editing, playing MP3s, printing photos, even burning CD-Rs. And all with the integrated easy to use and hassle free Mac OS X.

I can attest to the claims of 6 hour battery life, the wireless web works flawlessly and is a cinch to install. In fact, everything works so well that until I sat down to write this I had forgotten how good I've got it!

switched
I'm one of those who switched from a PC to a Mac about six months ago. I took some heat from people at work, and yet they were impressed with the iPod, and when they found that OS X uses Unix.

This iBook proved itself over and over again when I traveled from the East Coast , to Hawaii, and back to the Pacific Northwest. The battery life is very good.

OS X is simple and reliable. I've shown my friends in Hawaii and now they are thinking about getting a Mac too. I have the iBook next to my PC desktop at home and I find that I don't use my PC much at all.

I really enjoy iPhoto and iTunes . I hav'nt done much with iMovie yet, but I plan on it. I'm saving up now for an iMac G4.

I love it!!!!
I have always been a Windows user, but I have used Macs off and on, and liked them everytime I used one. Being an author, I decided to purchase a laptop to write on instead of using my desktop. I am very glad I decided on the Apple iBook. It is a very smooth running and beautiful machine. I especially like all the software it comes equipped with. A few weeks after buying the iBook, I purchased an iMac to replace my desktop PC, and it is just as wonderful and fun to use as the iBook. Take my advice and the advice of all the other reviewers on here who say that they love this machine. It is GREAT, and you will not regret it.

Worthless Product, Worthless Customer Service
I purchased an Apple iBook direct from Apple about a month and a half ago. About a week after I recieved it, it quit working without any notice what so ever. It would not turn on. After countless hours of talking to Apple on the phone trying to get an exchange or a refund, all I could get them to do was to repair it. I sent it in for repair and got it back about two weeks ago. Yesterday, while typing, a key fell off the keyboard, and it also decided to shut itself off and not come back on again. I spent 4-5 hours on the phone with apple again, and they just try to make everything sound okay on how much money I dished out for it and tell me all they can do is repair it again. Meanwhile, I am still paying for it. So, after owning it a whopping month and a half, it's going in for its second repair. Try and stay away from Apple. There are more duds than you think, I work with them all day. If you are one of the lucky ones to get a dud, Apple makes it your problem instead of theirs. BEWARE! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The iBook from Apple is an extremely portable, solidly engineered notebook for those who want a Mac system but don't have the budget for the Apple PowerBook. Its standout feature, a combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, gives you lots of options for multimedia use. At only 4.9 pounds and 1.35 inches thick, with a 5-hour rated maximum battery life, this is a trim, extremely lightweight unit that offers strong overall portability. The rest of the feature set is solid too: A PowerPC G3 CPU running at 500 MHz, 128 MB of memory (expandable to 640 MB), 10 GB hard disk drive, 56K modem, and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet networking. Our only quibble is the relatively small 12.1-inch screen, a design compromise in the interests of portability. The system comes with both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slick new Mac OS X installed. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My favorite Mac
This is a great computer. I have owned seven Macs over the last 14 years, and this is my favorite. It is easy to use, beautiful, and fast enough (once more memory is added) to meet most business tasks. OS X is wonderful - it never crashes.

Don't buy this computer
If you have lived your whole life in the shadow of Microsoft then you will truly understand how foolish you were to wait this long to buy the i book. I have a PC, laptop, and now an i book, and recently set up a wireless network. Using an SMC7004AWBR router to work off of my PC, it took me about 2 hours to configure both my PC and laptop to work correctly. On the ibook, it took me all of 2 minutes to install the air port card, 5 minutes to install the software, and another minute to restart the machine and have it autoconfigure to the wireless network. This has been the same story on every application or change with using this i book so far. Without a doubt I am a closet mac fan now.

A truly impressive lap top
This is an incredible lap top for the price. I have this iBook and a Dell Inspiron. Both do the same stuff, but the iBook is lighter, more portable, the battery lasts for 4 hours. All for half the price of the Dell.

I am really very impressed. The iBook is a truly portable computer, and a very useful one: you may burn your own CD's, watch a DVD, and also the Microsoft Office for Mac runs very fast in this computer, so you may make a presentation, write a book, or do anything you want. Did I mention that it had preloaded three spectacular 3D games?

The "bang for the buck" ratio is unbelievable.

Best Mac I've ever had.
I opted for the entry level iBook with CD-ROM (but immediately added an additional 256MB of RAM) because I already own an external CD-RW. This laptop matches or exceeds the capabilities of my office mate's Xyzz laptop (which costed twice the price) for almost every spec one can come up with.
I use it to maintain our College's website (in part when travelling on the train). With the addition of a USB mouse it compares well with a desktop machine but takes much less space. Soon, my office iMac will sit in a corner being a network server.

Think Real
The product is very good, but the features are no big bargain at the price you are offering. Sorry, but this is no deal. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Apple's new iBook is a solid choice for anyone who wants an elegantly engineered notebook but does not have the budget for one of Apple's stunning PowerBooks. At only 4.9 pounds and 1.35 inches thick, with a 5-hour rated maximum battery life, this is a trim, extremely lightweight unit that offers strong overall portability. Inside the case, the feature set is solid too: a PowerPC G3 CPU running at 500 MHz, 128 MB of memory (expandable to 640 MB), 10 GB hard disk drive, 8x DVD-ROM drive, 56K modem, and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC. Our only quibble is the relatively small 12.1-inch screen, a design compromise in the interests of portability. The system comes with both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slick new Mac OS X installed. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

My 3rd Mac Laptop
I have a Lombar G3, a Titanium Powerbook, and now this 14" iBook. This one is a great value. Lots of features, great build quality, a bright screen, a pretty fast CD writier, and a decent software collection ... and it looks pretty cool. It's met all my expectations. I highly recommend it. I run OSX exclusively and in OSX the sleep mode is superb. I rarely actually shut it down. I use it then just close the lid and charge it back up ... that way it's virtually "instant on" when you open the lid. Much better than in OS9 .... buy one.

It's not a flashlight----L@@K it's an iBook!
I was out of town on business a few weeks ago when a lightning
storm hit a sleepy New York town that was my temporary home.

A group of us were in the hotel dining room when all the lights
went out. The emergency lights were not enough to light the way back to the dark rooms.

An hour went by and we were getting a bit antsy.

I remembered that I had my iBook back in my room.
It was ready to go with the screen saver "slide show" on the iBOOK,.... a screen saver of my own
pictures I had taken while on the road.

The hotel clerk led me to my room by flashlight where I retrieved the iBOOK.
Opening the lid and turning on the machine made a good even
light to get back to the resturant in the complete darkness.

When I got near the entrance I was greeted with an "OHHHHH AHHH!"
--------you see the Apple on the cover was lit up like a beacon! -----and the angel like glow
from the monitor shone softly all about the room!

The slide show was a success, but the iBOOK won over the
crowd!!!
I was just finishing my iBOOK demo and putting in a jazz CD
to show off the audio when the lights came back on : (

This is a true story, the names haven't even been changed!

Enjoy your new MAC laptop and spring for even more RAM if you can.
Cheers!

Good buy
I am a regular Linux user and my requirements in having a laptop were (a) it have nothing to do with Microsoft and (b)
be easy to use and carry. I toyed with the idea of getting a bargain laptop and loading Linux on it, but after playing with the iBook in the university's book store, I decided this was it.

I have used this machine only for a month now, so I don't have extensive comments. By and large the machine is very good.

What I liked: Apple has done a very fine job when it comes to the screen. It is brilliant and crisp. Setting up the machine to connect to the network (both via modem and ethernet) was effortless. Appleworks is great in converting MS files and the presentation suite is very nice. Hooking up this system to a projection system was very easy. (I have seen people struggle with their Microsoft based systems.) Loading up with software such as TexShop, OmniWeb, etc. was very easy and I could get going without wasting much time. The "sleep" feature and "waking it up" work very nice and are very convenient.

What I didn't like: Apple should have made a much better keyboard. There is a perceptible and disconcerting keyboard flex. For an expensive machine such as this one, this would have been a basic requirement. Apple really cut corners in making the "press-to-open" CD drive. The drive itself couldn't get any flimsier. I can tolerate some keyboard flex, but the flimsy drive makes me not want to give it 5 stars. Of course, Apple's warranty system could be better, not that I needed to use it.

My first Apple product...
Boy! this is very beautiful, and good capabilities. my iBook is the 14" with 256 MB, and it runs quite ok. although there is slight down side with its speed while opening an app. or running a video. but rest its gorgoeus, and runs quite good, if you are in to looks and style this is perfect. its software integration is greate. and i absolutely love it. if its for personal use at home or studies this is perfect i gues.

Love my new iBook.
I bought this iBook on Amazon about a month ago. At first I wasn't sure if it was fast enough for me, but it has grown on me. In fact, I love it. Mac OS X is beautiful and runs fine on the iBook. I did add 512MB of RAM in it, which helps. Office v.X works great. I didn't like Apple's Mail program or Appleworks so I broke down and bought Office.

The CD-RW works fine, and I love iTunes and iMovie. In fact, this machine is fine for the semi-professional like me who dabbles in digital video or photography. I haven't tried iPhoto, but it looks like a great program to manage your digital photography.

I also enjoy the 14" monitor as well as the extra room on the keyboard for my hands.

Unless you need the power of a G4, I think you will be very happy with the new iBook. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Portable enough to take anywhere, the Apple iBook boasts a solid set of features and a design that will appeal to Mac and PC devotees alike. Weighing in at a mere 4.9pounds and standing 1.35 inches high, it is easily one of the most compact unitson the market. It comes with a 600 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 128 MB of RAM(expandable to 640 MB), and a 20 GB hard disk. Additional features include acombination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, and a12.1-inch, active-matrix display. The system comes with both the classic Mac OS9 and the slick new Mac OS X operating systems installed.

... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

One of the most compact sytems on the market, the Apple iBook delivers a comprehensive feature set and a slick design at a price that budget-minded consumers will love. Weighing in at a mere 4.9 pounds and standing 1.35 inches high, it is easily one of the most compact unitson the market. It comes with a 600 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 128 MB of RAM(expandable to 640 MB), and a 15 GB hard disk. Additional features include an 8xDVD-ROM drive, a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, and a 12.1-inch, active- matrix display. The system comes with both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slicknew Mac OS X operating systems installed.

... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Super-portable and reasonably priced, the Apple iBook might be just the ticket for those seeking a versatile Mac system for both travel and home use.Weighing in at a mere 4.9 poundsand standing 1.35 inches high, it is easily one of the most compact units on themarket. This notebook comes with a 500 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 128 MB of RAM(expandable to 640 MB), and a 15 GB hard disk. Additional features include a 24xCD-ROM drive, a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, and a 12.1-inch, active-matrix display. The system comes with both the classic Mac OS 9 and the slicknew Mac OS X operating systems installed.

... Read more

Reviews (45)

Super-Solid Laptop for Anyone on a Budget
To put it simply, Apple's new iBook is an engineering marvel. The design is sleek and elegant, yet the case can stand up to a good beating. The iBook comes with an awesome set of features--pretty much everything you might need is already part of the package, including FireWire, CD-RW drive, and 10/100 Ethernet. Despite having a relatively small screen (12.1" diagonal) compared to some PC laptops, it still supports a full 1024 x 768 resolution at millions of colors. The screen is very bright, and the battery, while not quite the 5-hour powerhouse that Apple advertises, still manages about three hours doing normal operations. The 500-MHz G3 processor is spritely and gets things done quickly, although it doesn't have quite enough power to do a large amount of movie editing or graphics work.

A few drawbacks are as follows:
The internal CD burner is only 8x at this time, which is markedly slower than the 16x and 20x external FireWire burners available now.

The iBook comes with only 128 mb of RAM, which is just barely enough for most things. I would strongly encourage upgrading to at least 256 mb total, as RAM is very inexpensive these days.

The video memory in the iBook is only 8 mb, with a weak graphics controller as compared to what goes into the G4 desktops. As such, the iBook is only mediocre at gaming.

The 10GB hard drive is already pre-loaded with almost 5GB of software and sample mp3's, so I would highly recommend upgrading to at least a 20 GB drive.

In conclusion, the iBook is a solid purchase for anyone who wants many of the features of a desktop machine, but in a portable package. The drawbacks listed above are mostly forgiveable, as sacrifices had to be made somewhere to make this such a reasonably-priced machine. The new iBook no longer has a built-in carrying handle, but Apple has managed to trim quite a bit of weight and bulk, making it a joy to use on a daily basis.

A great laptop! *****
Apple has reinvented the iBook as one of the best laptops. Not just Mac, but in all of the PC world. The second generation of this version has a faster processor, a larger hard drive, and still looks great. People are drawn to look at this machine from the time you pull it from it's case. I would certainly recommend a RAM upgrade. 128 is okay, but it is just barely getting by. I'd suggest at least doubling that. Since the iBook only has one RAM slot, you may want to do that on ordering. However, you can get quality chips for less from other sources, and since it's a fairly simple install you can do it yourself in a few minutes.

I use my iBook as a webmaster with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, and iMovie 2. My digital camera mounts as an external hard drive. My digital video camera links through the Firewire port with no fuss at all.

Overall, I would highly recommend the iBook.

Too slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Don't buy an iBook this slow
If you want to buy an iBook, buy a faster one. This one just can't run any modern software. Heck, it isn't much good for old software. Go for the 700MHZ G3 or don't bother! If you need to run any graphics software then buy a G4. My G3 can't hack Adobe anything! If I could go back I would buy a G4 based Powerbook (I use one at work).

Stellar !!
I am one of those switchers (apple.com/switch). I worked on mac 5 years ago, loved it but couldn't afford one. So I have spent the last 5 years in the PC family. Just bought the iBook. It's absolute perfection. No problem to switch files, so easy to use. I now have an ipod, a digital camera. I completely (re)adopted Mac's digital life.
Have no fear to get rid of your PC and ride a Mac. You will notice the difference. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The CD R/W is too slow
The 4x write on the CDR means it takes over 20 minute to create a CD! The standard these days on a entry level product like this is 16x. And because the CPU is so slow you can't do anything while it is creating the CD. I was not impressed.

AWESOME!
This computer kicks. I have been a hardcore Wintel user my whole life but I decided to give the extremely cool looking iBook a try. I have no regrets as of yet. OS X is by far the best operating system out there and is very easy and fun to use. The screen, depite it's 12 inch size , is very bright and sharp and looks just as bright when you are at different angles (unlike most TFT screens) , it doesn't look small at all when you're using it. The quality of the iBook's DVD playback is simply incredible. But arguably my most favorite part about my new Apple friend is iTunes. I am big on MP3 sharing and iTunes has it all when it comes to digital music. Ripping CDs is a snap and adding songs to your library is just as easy. The included visualizations, similar to Windows Media Player, are insane; bright, perfectly synchronized, and very trippy...

One complaint: Some of the keys fell off when i added my airport card. I got them all re-attatched except the delete key, which has still yet to be fixed.

Great Computer, highly recommended.

Fast, Faster, Fastest!!
I added 256 Mb RAM to the basic rig (128 Mb), and it's by far the fastest computer that I've ever owned! Can't wait to get it up to 630 when I get some more 'ducats'. And because I travel so much (twice weekly), the portability and, better yet, the DVD-ability are '...The [best]!' I'm stoked...can't recommend it highly enough! If you can spring for an extra battery ..., you've got it made on longer flights.

Best computer I've ever owned
This is my 11th computer and the best one I've ever owned. It's also the first one I've been excited to use in years. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Think Real
The product is very good, but the features are no big bargain at the price you are offering. Sorry, but this is no deal. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics:
An Apple notebook for this price? The Apple iBook Notebook M8602LL/A may not be up to speed with Apple's faster, costlier notebooks (such as the iBook G4 line), but it does deliver Apple reliability, super-lightweight portability and even DVD playing at a surprisingly affordable price point. Demanding users who need high-end power for the latest business applications, games and graphics will want to look slightly higher up the Apple mobile roster, but anyone who frequently hauls their notebook with them to remote un-plugged environments and engages in comparatively basic tasks such as word processing, data gathering, photo organization, contact management and email/Internet sessions may find the iBook M8602LL/A offers all they need.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. Driven by a 700 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, the iBook M8602LL/A is not exactly a speed demon. It is, however, quick enough for most typical notebook applications.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The iBook M8602LL/A incorporates just 128 MB of RAM, the minimal amount in today's notebook jungle. For this reason, the unit is not suitable for high-level multitasking, complex graphic applications or any memory-hungry tasks.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). When shopping for a computer, it's good to remember that a video controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. This system's graphics controller is an ATI Mobility Radeon with 16 MB of dedicated video memory. This is not an ample capacity of video memory, but it is dedicated solely to graphics processing. Thusly, the unit will efficiently display 2D and some midlevel 3D applications but shouldn't be expected to efficiently and smoothly render high-end 3D games or complex 3D animations and graphics, though it will.

Display:
Given its size, the iBook M8602LL/A sports a comparatively generous 12.1-inch display capable of crystal clear 1024 by 768 resolutions.

Hard Disk:
You won't be storing any enormous audio/video libraries on the system's 20 GB hard drive. Nor can you maintain an abundance of sophisticated high-end games or other potentially large applications. However, the 20 GB limit isn't a problem for a typical roster of mobile apps and user-created files.

Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can do all of the above, apart from recording DVDs.

Audio:
The unit is equipped with two miniature stereo speakers, a mini microphone jack and a stereo mini headphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via a 77-key keyboard and Apple Trackpad pointing device.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The iBook M8602LL/A offers both a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access and a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, but does not feature wireless technology. Other key amenities include two high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, a FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and an S-Video out for high-quality digital video feeds to external monitors and televisions.

Operating System and Software:
Apple will preinstall the rock solid OS X operating system and a selection of established multimedia utilities such as Quick Time, iPhoto, iTunes 2 and iMovie 2. Apple's productivity tool AppleWorks is also included.

Dimensions and Weight:
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The iBook M8602LL/A is definitely in the latter category at a mere 11.2 by 9 by 1.4 inches and 4.9 lbs.

Power:
Under ideal conditions, battery life is estimated at a stunning six hours. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Outstanding machine at a reasonable price
Unlike many PC notebooks that are stripped down and lack features, Apple's iBook is a no-compromise portable that is perfect for the student (I'm one). It comes complete with wireless network capabilities, a high-speed ethernet port,usb ports, firewire, and enough hard disk space to satisfy even the most prolific digital photographer. If you still need room, just burn a few data cds on the cd burner!

This new line of iBook really performs well too. It is fast. MOst of the student's activities (surfing the web, writing papers, checking email) will fly. Ripping cds and watching movies is also fast. OS X is also a HUGELY important reason to have this machine. It ROCKS.

Features aside, this notebook is just cool too! Screen is awesome, it's sweet looking, and is really, really portable and durable. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Nice laptop but be prepared for some problems
I really enjoy my iBook when it works. I not very computer savy and it is perfect for a novice like me. My main complaint is that I have had to send it back twice for repairs. The first time the screen died. I mean just died. I turned it on, heard a pop, and that was it. Sending it back wasn't much trouble, but by the time I got it back about three weeks had passed. Then it stop booting and made a funny grinding noise. They sent me a new hard drive (quickly this time) but that didn't do the trick. I just sent the whole thing back and I haven't got it back yet. So I love it, but I really wish it was more reliable.

A few flaws, but a good buy, overall.
Being a long-time user of Powerbooks and Apple laptops in general, this iBook was quite an improvement from its predecessors. The G4 Powerbook is far too expensive to interest a buyer like myself, however price and features combine to make this iBook a very solidly good computer.

Pros: The RAM is adequate, for the most part. The more the merrier, but 128 MB to start with is mostly adequate. Combined with a 700 mhz processor, the speed is also adequate for the most part in both OS 9 and OS X. The built-in CD-RW drive is also very nice and convenient, though. As well, the DVD player is a nice added feature. It also is a better shape than the colored iBooks since they couldn't easily be stacked...

Cons: This series of iBook is-- or feels-- less durable than the old series. My first time using one of these, I thought, "These feel really flimsy compared to my tangerine iBook..." at least it feels that way. The actual durability I have not put to the test that much. Also, the battery power on all iBooks is unfortunately very low. I can get 4 hours of use on a full battery charge most of the time, although I might be able to get 6-8 hours if I put it in sleep the whole time. There aren't that many other problems that I can think of...

Overall, a very good buy.

It does run CAD
I bought the 800 MHz version with the 12"screen and have added 512MB of RAM and an Airport card. I love the portability, the screensize is adequate, but I have never gotten used to not having a mouse (so I am buying one). I run the normal Adobe graphics and office stuff, but decided to load up Virtual PC, Win 98, and the CAD standard used by most engineers. It isn't fast, but it is definitely functional. Also, I can design when I am sitting out in the daughter's play yard (nice mid November day in the 70's). I have a wired/wireless LAN in the house, so I can just share my drawings with the wife's PC where my homework was usually performed. It's mighty convenient and the weather outside is better for my creativity (actually, I haven't started the PC in days). Although I usually run the Apple's Jaguar OS for my other stuff, the CAD seems to like OS 9.2 better with the emulator...I have no idea why.

PC Switcher Loves It!
I'm a PC switcher who used PCs until January 2002. This is my second Mac within a year. I love it. I definitely need to add more RAM; 128M isn't enough as it bumps against the hard drive which affects battery life. This is a great little portable. Yes, you can use Adobe Photoshop on it, but I generally reserve my high-powered applications for a larger screen; i.e., my 17" Apple Studio Display. The G3 chip in the iBook can handle Photoshop, and most apps, but remember this is a laptop with a 12-inch screen. I love its small size and portability. It's great to slip into a purse or take outside and surf wirelessly from my swing in the oaks. I would recommend adding more RAM. Also the cord on the battery adapter is a bit fragile, as it is made of the kind of wire that isn't very flexible. Apple says you can wrap the cord up inside the adapter, but I prefer to keep it stretched out so that it lasts longer. Other than the wire on the power adapter, which is a minor complaint, I can't say enough good things about this little book. I do wish Apple would increase RAM capabilities in these to at least 1 G. You can never have enough RAM! I have also really enjoyed watching DVD movies on it. It's great to surf in bed and is super quiet. A nice break when you're tired of your loud desktop. And I can't say enough about the relaxing benefits of surfing wirelessly. My battery life, if I play a DVD, which is what Apple recommends as a battery test, is 2 hours; Apple uses this as a test because playing a DVD keeps the hard drive constantly in motion. If I am only surfing and chatting, and I dim the screen to increase battery life, I get about 3 1/2 hours. You will get more battery life if you add more RAM and dim the screen slightly. It recharges quickly; in about 2 hours. I am so glad I have an Apple iBook and would not want any other notebook on the market. Love the style, love the applications, and I chose the 12-inch screen over the 14-inch because I wanted the portability. I have a desktop, a PowerMac, so I was not looking for a desktop replacement, just something to journal/blog in, use Microsoft Word, Photoshop occasionally, and surfing, email and chat. The iBook has lived up to all my expectations except playing games in Yahoo is slow, which is primarily a function of me only having 128M of RAM. Anyone knows that isn't enough RAM. Oh, and don't think of using the speakers to play your iTunes! Get an iPod, headphones, or use your desktop's speakers for that. I highly recommend the iBook. ... Read more