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

Product Description

Affordable portable performance.

Fully loaded with a powerful G4 processor, a 5400-rpm 80GB hard drive, 512MB of memory, a faster-burning 8x SuperDrive and a nifty scrolling trackpad, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 boasts features few notebook computers can match.

With a processor speed of 1.67GHz, DDR RAM capacity up to 2GB, a light 5.6-pound weight and thin 1.1-inch design, the 15-inch PowerBook gives you the ideal balance between power and portability. Work and play in millions of colors on a stunning 15.2-inch (diagonal) widescreen display with 1280 x 854 pixel resolution that’s ideal for watching movies in their original wide-screen format. You can also make movies of your own with the included iMovie HD software, or get Final Cut Pro HD for more advanced video editing, compositing and special effects. And thanks to its built-in DVI port, you even have the option of connecting your PowerBook to Apple’s breathtaking Cinema Displays. Add optional dual-link DVI capability and 128MB of graphics memory and your 1.67GHz 15-inch PowerBook even supports the massive 30-inch Cinema HD Display.

As Smart as It Looks
The sleek exterior is as stunning as ever. The 15-inch PowerBook G4 comes with all the refinements and esthetic touches that make it the most coveted full-featured notebook computer on the planet: elegant aluminum construction, 1.1-inch thin design, slot-loading 8x SuperDrive and a brilliant illuminated keyboard. On the inside, a faster PowerPC G4 processor, a standard 5400-rpm 80GB hard drive, powerful graphics, up to 2GB of RAM and Mac OS Xthe world’s most advanced operating systemcombine to deliver off-the-charts performance.

Built for Speed
Inside the 15-inch PowerBook G4 is a screamingly fast 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine. Advanced processor design and memory architecture are among several core advantages that enable the PowerBook G4 to pack ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A word of caution
Apple needs to improve quality control and product support. The superdrive stopped working when laptop was 6 weeks old.Sent to Apple repair on April 4 and was informed 5 days later after I called that replacement wouldn't be available until end of April. New Superdrive could be quality control problem like permanent white spots on screens and batteries that catch fire of earlier models. Pity, because everything else about the machine is simply superb.

The Holy Grail of Laptop Computing
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 15 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 on this baby is gorgeous, no reading glasses for me here. This machine is svelte and sleek, comes with Airport Extreme built in. Has all the usual ports, plus FireWire 800 and it's crowning jewel, in my humble opinion, is the backlit keyboard. Apple claims it's ten times brighter than the old model. I can attest to the fact that it's brighter, but ten times, I don't know, I didn't see it. However, it's plenty bright enough to work in the dark. This 1.67 GHz model comes with a Superdrive and a scrolling trackpad (which I didn't mention in my other reviews). I found the trackpad scrolling business to be a little annoying, but no matter you can turn it off in System Prefs if you want. However, I imagine once you get used to it, one might find it darned handy.

Compared to my aging, but still working like a champ iBook, this baby screams. And the 80 gig hard drive gives you plenty of room to load up those MP3s to play in iTunes.

This, in my opinion, is not only the best PowerBook of the bunch, but the best laptop ever made. It is truly the Holy Grail of laptop computing. Apple has really gone and got it right this time.

Jack Priest, Sailor home from the Sea

tens years later... back from retirement
Had to return an hp laptop because it refused to cooperate.ProTools Le was too much for it.
I didn't want a powerbook, I needed one.
The blend of beauty and pleasure shocked me when I booted it up the first time.
Slipped in the gig of pc 2700 ram with no problems.
It hasn't complained once.
The superdrive is super-intuitive and easily backed up a full dvd in as much time as my pc would burn files to cd-r.
All my peripherals are compatible with osx.3.8 (which I had to download from apple...breezy.)
I'm enjoying the interface, a lot less clicks and menus to access files.
Got giggly about the zoom feature for the display.
When's the last time your pc made you smile?

In short, my g4 is the perfect houseguest.

Apple PowerBook Notebook
This is one of the best notebook PC's on the market. This has a 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 Processor which isn't too fast but it's pretty fast for the Apple computers. 512 MB RAM is just perfect but I would recommend 1GB or 2GB. 80 Gigabyte Hard Drive is really nice and it's almost the largest hard drive (100GB is the largest). It has a SuperDrive which can do whatever you want it to do. The styling on this notebook is no wonderful and comes with all the ports and features. 15.2" is pure beauty and the graphics on this thing are great. Here are the specifications of this laptop.

Processor| PowerPC G4
Screen Size (Inches/Diagonal)| 15
Optical Disc Drive| DVD+-RW / CDRW Combo
Hard Drive (GB)| 80
Memory - Processing RAM included| 512MB
Memory - Processing RAM Maximum| 2GB
Memory - Video RAM| 64MB Dedicated
Screen Resolution - Maximum| 1280x854
Wireless Capability| Built-in
Connection - Wireless Network 802.11| 802.11b / 802.11g
Connection - Wireless Bluetooth| Yes
Connection - Sound| In/Out
Connection - RJ11| Yes
Connection - RJ45| Yes
Connection - Video| Out
Operating System| Apple Macintosh OS X
Software| Pre-Installed by Manufacturer
Unit Dimensions - High| 1
Unit Dimensions - Long / Wide| 14
Unit Dimensions - Deep| 10
Unit Weight - Approximate with Battery| 6.0
Manufacturer's Warranty - Hardware| 1 Year
Manufacturer's Warranty - Software| 1 Year

Source: www.jr.com

if you're a heavy pc user, don't switch
I have Powerbook G4, purchased Nov 04, Mac OSX 10.3.8, 1.5 Ghz, upgraded RAM to 768MB.
If you're new to computing, or use Mac for non-business applications (heavy on graphics and creative work) it's probably a good choice.If you use Outlook (not Express) heavily, or use Powerpoint, Excel, and Word a lot and like XP, then the Mac is a snoozer.
reasons not to buy:
1-you pay a lot to get it to do the things a PC with updated Microsoft Office Professional Suite already does, and it never is quite as good...Mac Powerpoint feels pokier (saving, just in keeping up with my typing), Mac Excel toolbar gets on top of/in the way of my worksheets (haven't figured out how to make it go to the back), Outlook just isn't replicated at all on the Mac (unless you get Virtual PC)...Entourage just lacks the functionality
2-doesn't seem to handle the WEP password protocol on my Linksys wireless home network...even the folks at the Apple store said I wouldn't be able to get the DHCP security to work with my PC-based home network
3-Filevault....oooh, what a liability. Much touted file encryption will scramble and destroy files that are open if the Mac also goes into the won't-wake-up-again-sleep mode problem that it has. Though I never diagnosed this completely, I lost a number of key working files that may have been open when the Mac went into sleep mode (read:crashed) while I had Filevault going.I lost saved versions, and they're completely unrecoverable.Later the guys in the Apple store said they never use Filevault...it's "scary", they said.
4-Certain applications, like Visual Basic, aren't available for the Mac yet.
5-switching cost is high...getting contacts and files migrated over to the Powerbook took me a long time, and some of it is never the same. The contacts from outlook to entourage aren't organized the same (due to the fact that entourage contacts aren't as full-featured, lack some key fields), and the pc directories are only useful as read-only...I can't edit files in my pc folders and save them back into those folders (must have been some drive formatting issue that carried over); ripple effect of switching means you have to buy a lot of stuff new (back up drives, antivirus software, disk management software, backup AC cables, if you travel, etc.)
6-if you like XP, the Mac is NOT intuitive.What used to be left is now right, what's top is now bottom.I keep my mouse to the right of the screen (out of the way of typing)...but now important buttons like close/minimize are on the left, increasing mouse travel time.PC's usually have a disk drive light that lets you know the PC is working on something that involves the drive.I liked that...very intuitive way to let me know the PC is busy.No such light on the Mac.
7-you may have problems listening to Sirius radio on Safari; I needed to use Internet Explorer (Hah!much touted Mac browser useless for audio?), and even then can't get fully functional display due to some Mac technicality, according to Sirius techs.

reasons to buy:
1-Largely virus-free because virus writers get more leverage attacking pc's (more market penetration and more business focused); this is a blessing because I found Norton AV '04 to be dysfunctional, glad not to have to deal with it anymore.
2-Supposedly faster processing due to more streamlined operating system, though I don't find the mac to be any more responsive than even a lower priced pc
3-Faster boot-up and shutdown.
4-Fewer crashes-true, though not infallible either; mac's version of the PC blue screen is that some won't wake up after going to sleep
5-cool keyboard, backlit in the dark; very romantic and pretty.

Rating of 3 stars indicates sameness...it's as good as a PC, just different.I wouldn't recommend it for someone who's switching from XP expecting something superior. ... Read more

Product Description

PowerBook G4 Notebook, PowerPC G4 1.5GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 12.1-inch XGA TFT Display, 8X DVD+/-RW SuperDrive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Super Slow
The Apple 8X Superdrive only burns at a speed of 2X!!! Many owners are having that problem and Apple refuse to address it to the public.I suggest people that are thinking of buying this unit save the $200 and buy an external burner, you can burn DL disk and at a faster speed.

(...)

Everything else about the computer im happy with, but if I know it takes 35mins for me to burn one full dvd I would saved my money and buy a faster external drive.

It's the Battery, Stupid
Apple still can't seem to include a reliable battery in anything they produce. I've begun associating their products with the old adage: "Die young and leave a good looking corpse." This is because the damn things just don't go the distance without being plugged in constantly. Apple continues to use poor batteries in the iPod (sure they last longer on a charge, but see how many charge cycles you get before a single charge begins to take twelve hours to complete and then only three hours to drain.)

The saga continues here. I take this laptop into school and rarely do I reach the end of the day before the damn thing croaks off into sleep mode due to a drained battery after maybe four hours of use. For a product whose main purpose is to provide mobile computing in a solid, sturdy frame, this kind of battery life is just pathetic. I find myself all-too-often picking and choosing times to use it so I can make it last all day. This is not the kind of "freedom" I enjoy in my over-priced, ultra-portable computer (especially when numerous PC laptops go twice the distance for less cost.)

Aside from the battery issue, this is an excellent machine that delivers all the TV-commercial whiz-bang that it promises. If you use Toast, this burns CDs way faster than comparable PCs. The included software also blows doors on anything you'd find in a prepackaged PC. The keyboard is really nice and really takes a beating (unlike the iBook keys whose letters wear off the keyboard.) It has all the ports you need and none you don't. The aluminum body still looks sharper than any PC on the market and, although tiny, this laptop still feels like a tank without packing on the pounds.

As for faults, the WIFI detection could be stronger and the monitor lacks sharpness in outdoor areas while losing all contrast when subjected to even semi-direct sunlight. In other words, don't confuse these laptops with Apple's Cinema Displays. DVD playback is fine but will suck down the battery in no time.

Now that Tiger has been released, consider waiting until it comes pre-loaded. I've had my G4 for two months and definitely feel cheated about my newly-old Panther OS. Being the only major company to produce its own OS and the machines it runs on, it surprises me that Apple doesn't take better care of its hardware customers by offering free upgrades to very recent computer purchasers. Being asked to pay $130 for Tiger less than a month after the G4 hits my credit card bill is not a great way to convert me into a Mac Evangelist. I also own a PC am not loyal to either format.

Apple's are the best
If you are looking for a worry-free and just plain out fun computing experience then look no further than this Powerbook, or any mac that you can afford. I own the 1.33ghz 12" PowerBook and upgraded the RAM to 512mb - For those of you new to the Mac World 256 just won't cut it when it comes to OS X. I just installed the new version of Mac OS X Tiger on my PowerBook Today, and boy does it fly. This PowerBook is Perfect for Students (Like myself) I use to have a 15" but it use to weigh me down everyday walking around Campus. If you have an external Monitor buy the 12" load it up with as much RAM as possible (1.25gb) and you've got your self a great desktop replacement, and a great portable notebook. - Battery Life: Between 3-4hrs depending on what I'm doing. All in All a Great Notebook, Just get a good case for it and a Sleeve, because the Aluminum Case dings real easily.

Super Fast, Super Compact, Super Computer
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 a Superdrive and that, plus the fact that you get twenty more gigs of HD space with this model, is the only difference between it and the one selling for 200 dollars less. So if you don't want to record DVDs you might want to look at the more inexpensive model.

Compared to my aging, but still working like a champ iBook, this baby screams. And the 80 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 1700 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

The best gets better
I bought the second generation of 12" PowerBook (1.0GHz) and just upgraded to the latest version of the same laptop (1.5GHz).To the Windows fan who says the fonts look bad and that there is no software, I say quit trolling and learn the facts.To everyone else I say that Apple's smallest PowerBook is a terrific machine, running a terrific OS.

Now the XP guy might say that I'm just another Mac zealot, but that is not the case.I am actually writing this on an IBM ThinkPad, and always own one laptop on each platform (I have no use for desktops, though).The simple fact is that some things are better on the Mac (stability, lack of viruses, user interface) while others are better on the PC (games, compatibility with unusual devices, availability of obscure software titles).The Mac is a better system, in my opinion, for the average home user, but for advanced users it will depend on what you do and what you like.

While Apple does have the better operating system, their hardware is sometimes second-rate.Yes, the 12" PowerBook is lovely, but the aluminum enclosure transmits heat (its a conductor) and while not hot enough to damage anything, it does get hot enough to be uncomfortable on your lap.It is also heavy at 4.6lbs where many 12" laptops, even those with optical drives like the PowerBook weigh less than 4lbs.Finally, my ThinkPad only requires one screw and no dissassembly to replace the hard drive.Seven screws and no dissasembly to replace the keyboard.Keyboards are one of the most common items to fail on laptops, and as programs get larger and people collect more music and video, many users want to upgrade their hard drives, not to mention replace a failed or older drive that is getting noisy.

No computer is perfect, they are all trade-offs.In the grand scheme of things, I give the current 12" PowerBook 4 stars.or the frequent traveller who wants an optical drive built-in, it is not the lightest choice, but it is the best. ... Read more

Product Description

The Satellite M45 is highly mobile, outperforming many desktops with technology designed specifically for mobile PCs. All systems include a 15.4" wide-screen TruBrite display to make images brighter and more vivid. Push this machine as far as you want; it can take it! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Stripped OS
I'm generally happy with the hardware. The computer has many nice features for the price. But, all of the features of Windows XP Home edition were not preinstalled. Toshiba does not include the OS on CD ROM, only a recovery disc. Customer Support told me that I would need to purchase XP in order to obtain all the features of the OS, like the ability to Back-up.

Very pleased.
Screen is great.Love the WI-FI.Slower on boot-up than I
expected, but I still think it's a nice machine.

great laptop
Its my first laptop and makes me want to never use a desktop again. The keyboard is slightly different but you quickly adapt.
Its quick and quiet.The screen is wonderful for photo work. ... Read more

Product Description

Toshiba Satellite M45-S331 Notebook PC State-of-the-Art Computing At 6.2 lbs., the Satellite M45 is highly mobile, outperforming many desktops with technology designed specifically for mobile PCs. All systems include a 15.4" wide-screen TruBrite display to make images brighter and more vivid.Push this machine as far as you want; it can take it! Enjoy notebook-optimized Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, Microsoft Windows XP Operating System, hard drives to 100GB hard drive¹, and integrated high speed wireless LAN, all in one sleek chassis. The DVD-SuperMulti optical drive reads and writes to the most popular CD and DVD formats, making it perfect for movie making, or file archiving and exchange.At only 6.2 lbs., this system offers high-performance Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, Windows XP Home, an 80GB HDD, an IEEE 1394 port, and integrated high speed wireless LAN. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Nice for the money, but Tech Support is the pits!
I purchased this notebook for my daughter less than a month ago.She was very happy with it, and I was pleased with what we got for the money.Then the DVD drive began having problems.To make a long story short, after several calls to Toshiba it was finally determined that the drive must be replaced.The closest authorized service center is almost 40 miles away, so we must send it off to Toshiba and be without it for up to 2 weeks.I have dealt with other computer manufacturers who have sent out a technician to correct a problem covered under warranty.Why can't Toshiba do this?Or at least have a few more authorized service providers.I'm not exactly out in the sticks.There are several businesses in my area who could provide this service for Toshiba's customers.

A HORRIBLE Experience

Sleek notebook, but that’s the only positive.My absolute worst fears all came true only three weeks after I bought it.

Within three weeks the screen had died on me.Called the warranty service who advised me to send it to the Toshiba depot for repair, as opposed to taking it to a local service center.They assured me that the depot would have all the necessary parts, whereas a service center will have to order them and wait.They also assured me that I’ll have my notebook back in about a week.

Three weeks later, after countless phone calls, and many promises of delivery “next week”, they finally told me that parts are still not available and that it would take two additional weeks before they get them.

I called customer relations several times (get used to 45 minutes on hold, don’t bother leaving messages, they never return calls despite the promise of “within the hour”).Every time I was assured that this time they’ll get it right and that I’ll get my notebook within days.

Needless to say, two weeks passed, and the assurances turned to be meaningless.Customer relations’ only job is to get you off the phone, not to solve your problem.So here I am with a brand new notebook that spent twice as much time in the repair shop than on my desk.I called customer relations again, and asked to speak to someone who will actually do something to solve my problem, perhaps send me a replacement unit.I bought the notebook because I needed it, and I just can’t defer using it indefinitely.Guess what they told me?There’s not such thing as someone who could do something.There is no replacement policy.I’ll just have to wait for the part until it arrives – whenever that is.

A new notebook is not supposed to break right out of the box, but if it does, a respectable manufacturer should stand by their product and make up for the inconvenience to the customer. Toshiba has been utterly disappointing on all counts.

Poor Battery + Lots of Junk.....
Hi,

The Batter Performance is Poor. The salesman at Circuity City will BS to get their product sold. It hardly lasts more than 80 minutes. The Laptop is loaded with JUNK. It sux!!!!

I installed Red Hat Linux 9.0 and XP Pro with SP2.
Their are no Network Card Drivers for Linux, so I can easily say forget about your wireless working on Linux. Shame on both Toshiba and Intel for not supporting the same.

The system cannot hibernate nor turn itself off even after installing battry saver options that accompanied the CD.

So I have had a horrible experience. Pretty much whatever I want I don't get.I will never ever BUY Toshiba.

Love my Toshiba M45-S331!!
After some research, I was down to Toshiba M45-S331 and Dell 6000. Finally got Toshiba although it was more expensive(especially considering Dell online deals). So far am very satisfied and love its built quality and feel as compared to others in the same price & specs range.

PROS:
1. Great specs for the price
2. TruBrite screen
3. Harman/Kardon speakers
4. Keyboard Layout
5. Bridge-Media Aapter

CONS:
1. PC2700 RAM instead of a DDR2
2. Relatively less Battery Life. (< 3 hrs on a full-charge)

I experienced the FREEZING/LOCK-UP problem on plugging the AC Power Cord and have seen numerous such topics online. Toshiba Support insisted its a hardware problem but was not convinced.

Was finally able to solve this problem by tweaking the Power settings of the Laptop...

1. Go to "Power Management Icon" from your system-icon-tray on bottom-right corner of the screen. (It gives information about Current Power Source, Remaining Battery and Power Profile)

2. Right-click it and select "TOSHIBA POWER SAVER SETTINGS".

3. Click "SETUP OPTIONS" button on bottom-left of the window

4. "UNCHECK" the box marked "Change Power Source Profile Automatically".

Once you have done this....you should hopefully no longer have the freezing or locking problem when you switch to AC Power.

new laptop
This is the first time I purchased a laptop and cannot really compare to other laptops.However after a few minutes using this laptop, I realised that there was absolutely no noise coming from the laptop .. incredible .. very quiet!I was annoyed by the tons of software which were installed on it (most of them as trial) .. it took me a whole day to remove everything and install my software.

Screen is wonderful and you have to get used to work on a wide screen.The touch pad is excellent. ... Read more

Product Description

PowerBook G4 Notebook, PowerPC G4 1.5GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 15.2-inch WXGA TFT Display, 8X DVD / 24X16X24 CD-RW Combo Drive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Like another reviewer before me, I too have owned Macs for 20 years [at home].I also have worked with PCs at work for the past 20 years as well.I have watched and worked with the evolutions of the hardware and the operating systems.Both Wintel and Mac products have been, more or less, just fine.

I just purchased a month or so ago from Amazon.com [a good point of sale] a Powerbook G4 1.5. and of course Mac OS 10.3.8.

Yes, there are Wintel laptops that offer, at a higher price, brighter, sharper screens.Yes, there are laptops that offer, at a higher price, slightly faster operations than the Powerbook.But, if you combine the solid "feel" of the hardware with the absolute elegance of Mac OS 10, you have a combination hard to beat.

The more I work with this system, the more I am impressed.Two quick examples: I am studying Spanish and trying to practice writing sentences.Lo and behold I discover that OS 10 allows me the option of changing my keyboard from English to Spanish [or German or any one of scores of other languages] and thus I can type the Spanish punctuation [upside down question marks, for example].

I also had occasion to set up bluetooth devices on a PC and on my Powerbook.With the PC I had to insert a CD, go through a relatively elaborate set up process.It worked just fine, but with the Mac, there was no driver set up needed, just a 10 second "pairing" process and the blue tooth mouse was scampering across the table top.

These are not "assets" advertized or promoted.I just discovered them and I feel like I have a lot more pleasant discoveries ahead of me.

The only computer you'll ever need
I'm just a regular person with no training in graphics or computers. Apple has changed all that. I used PCs all my life and now realize that I wasted my time & money. PCs will never compare to Apple, and frankly, I don't undertand why people bother. I thought buying a G4 desktop was the best purchase of my life. But this powerbook (PB) is an even better purchase. Since I've bought it, I have totally (and I mean "totally") ignored my G4 desktop. I do all my computing from the comfort of my couch. I do everything wirelessly. Apple's OS X is unbelievably stable. This PB is great for the user who enjoys using higher end digital equipment and software. Apple software is simply the best. The graphics intense power simply sits on your lap. iPhoto is easy to use and with a .mac account, you can share your photos on the internet in just a few easy minutes. With music, garageband allows me to plug in my guitar and record my music. Then I use gargeband to add some bass, drums and other instruments. I then save it in iTunes and post my music on the internet where friends can download my music onto their iPods. I'm not even a good guitar player but garageband turns me into a musical genius. As for digital movies, I download my footage into Final Cut Pro and edit my movies while sipping latte at Starbucks. I then use my PB to burn my movies on a DVD and share them with friends and family. And I'm just getting started! As life goes on, Apple continues to improve and so do I. I highly recommend this powerbook. It will change your life...

A PowerBook to Die For
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 15 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 on this baby is gorgeous, no reading glasses for me here. This machine is svelte and sleek, comes with Airport Extreme built in. Has all the usual ports, plus FireWire 800 and it's crowning jewel, in my humble opinion, is the backlit keyboard. Apple claims it's ten times brighter than the old model. I can attest to the fact that it's brighter, but ten times, I don't know, I didn't see it. However, it's plenty bright enough to work in the dark. This 1.5 GHz model does not come with a Superdrive, but for an extra two hundred bucks you might not care.

Compared to my aging, but still working like a champ iBook, this baby screams. And the 80 gig hard drive gives you plenty of room to load up those MP3s to play in iTunes.

All I have to add is to say, well done Apple, you have created a PowerBook to die for. Five stars and worth every one.

Jack Priest, Sailor home from the Sea

One of the best laptops I ever used
I am using this Apple laptop for some time and thought its time to right a quick review. Apple as always famous for excellent design did a good job here as well. Few things I love about this machine
1. Very attractive look
2. Backlit keyboard to use in the dark (my favorite feature to use on the plane)
3. Good stereo speakers
4. Excellent screen resolution
4. Plenty of ports (Ethernet, Firewire, USB, speaker, telephone, etc.)
5. Built in Bluetooth (I think it's the best way to connect to cell phone)
6. Built in wireless (both 802.11b and 802.11g)
7. Lots of printer/scanner work well with this out of the box
8. Slot loading CD/DVD drive (I have DVD writer which works amazingly well and fast)
9. Built in Modem
10. extremely easy to change battery or memory, if you need to

Only two things I didn't like about it
1. Heats up fast and stays warm (and I read that its very bad for men to use a warm notebook keeping on lap)
2. Wireless connection lose some strength (about 20%)

As you see both the issues are because of the Aluminum case but it gives gorgeous look so I am ok with them.

long-time Apple user loves this G4
I've owned Apple computers going all the way back to the Apple II+. Along the way, I have had the very rare bad apple. However, this PowerBook G4 worked great right out of the box. It was nice to find it fully charged and ready to go. These days I'm not really a 'power user. I'm not crunching any serious numbers or even much game playing, but I still appreciated the crisp speed of the 1.5GHz processor. I can see a noticeable difference between the 1.5GHz and my old PowerBook G4 500MHz. I also like the keyboard and how it lights up in darker rooms. Finally the PowerBook hasn't lost any of its coolness. I still get people commenting on how cool it looks. I have to say that this is one of the best Apple Products that I've owned in over 20 years of owning Apple products. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Ideal for CPU intensive programs, the Toshibe Satellite A75-S211 features a hyper-threaded Intel Pentium 538 processor, which offers a blazing fast 3.20 GHz clock speed. You also get Toshiba's DVD Super-Multi drive, which offers compatibility for both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats. It features a 15.4-inch TruBrite screen, offering high brightness, high contrast, wide viewing angle. It also is loaded with hyper-threaded Intel Pentium 4 532 processor, 512 MB of installed RAM, 80 GB hard drive, and integrated 54g wireless LAN. It's perfect for digital media enthusiasts, young adults, and families.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The spacious 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage for both your work and home files as well as a multimedia library.
• Processor: The Intel Pentium 4 538 processor features a fast 3.20 GHz speed. It also offers Hyper-Threading technology, which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking. It is well suited for professional-quality image, audio, and video editing. It also has A 1 MB L2 cache and an 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (1 DIMM, PC-2700 DDR333) is a good start for power users. It can be expanded to a toal of 1.5 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The DVD Super-Multi drive is compatible with both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW discs (as well as DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM). It offers a 4x DVD read speed, and writes at 2.4x for DVD+R/RW and 2x for DVD-R/RW. You can also burn CDs at 16x and read them at 24x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The A75-S211 offers a basic set of expansion and connectivity options, including a PCMCIA slot for one Type II PC card and the following:

• 3 USB 1.1 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The A75-S211 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also includes Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken New User Edition, Napster online digital service (30-day trial), Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD (for playing DVD movies), ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD, and Sonic Solutions RecordNow Basic.

Dimensions and Weight
At 8 pounds, the A75-S211 is on par in weight with other notebooks in its class. It measures 1.8 x 14.4 x 10.8 inches (H x W x D), which is a little wider than other notebooks in its class.

Power
The included 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery has an approximate 2-hour battery life (during normal use). It also comes with a 120W AC adapter.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba A75-S211 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Bring mobile computing to your life without breaking the bank with the no-nonsense, yet powerful Compaq Presario M2010US notebook PC. It's powered by an Intel Celeron M 350 processor, which provides up to 3 hours of battery life. And you'll be able to work while on the go with the built-in 54g wi-fi LAN with 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support. This notebook features a 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of installed RAM, 15-inch display, and combo DVD/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Since the focus is on affordability, the M2010US comes with just a 40 GB hard drive (4200 RPM)--small compared with other notebooks, but in line with the price of this notebook. It's still enough room for home office productivity software, storing family photos, and a decent-sized digital audio library.
• Processor: The Intel Celeron M processor is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. The 1.3 GHz speed resides in the middle of the spectrum for this processor (as of March, 2005). It also features a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and large 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
• Memory: The installed 256 MB (266 MHz) is underpowered for today's demanding office productivity and multimedia applications and immersive 3D games. You'll want to take advantage of the 1 GB total RAM capability (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can read CDs at 24x, write at 24x,and rewrite at 24x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The M2010US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. The 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support will enable it to be ready for tomorrow's 125 Mbps wireless LANs. You get a basic offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 13.15 x 10.8 x 1.78 inches and weighs 6.27 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the M2010US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

HP makes bad products
HP products are horrible. After about 2 months since purchasing the laptop, something broke and I couldn't use it without the battery in it. So the battery was depleted quickly. Then the power connector on the back went loose, so I had to put up with constant interruptions because I had to always jiggle the power connector in the back for the power to get back on. After a while nothing was working. So I sent it for repair just before the warranty expired. They sent it back and they didn't do anything to fix it. I called customer service again and they told me to send it back. I also purchase a new extended warranty to keep them working on it. I wasted about a month on their incompetence and deception before they called me and said I have to pay for the motherboard because the motherboard is not under warranty. That was the first time I ever heard this. So now I am trying to get the money back for the extended warranty I paid for nothing. Customer service wasn't rude. But the company engages in deceptive practices and makes bad products. Too bad I couldn't give a 0 star.

Very Good Laptop & You Just Can't Beat The Price!
I got this at CompUSA for 500+tax AR. This was bought for my parents, so the majority of the usage will be for web surfing and e-mailing. I also have a Toshiba M35 that i paid over 1800 a year or so ago, the majority of this review will be a comparison between the two, yes i know that it is unfair to put this against that other one, but i was surprised at how this laptop can hld its own. I use the benchmark portion that is in a utility program called batteryeater to give you a reference between the two.

First off, as many people will tell you, the 256MB RAM (224MB because the video takes a minimum of 32MB and can be set up to 64MB) isn't enough, the laptop has two slots for RAM (1 is already occupied by the 256MB PC2100), so it would be a good investment to purchase another 256MB stick (~$30) or a 512MB (~$50) if you plan to do more than office work. Since i had an extra 256MB stick laying around, i did not have to spend the extra money for one, so i have 480MB or system RAM on this, whereas my M35 has 512MB of RAM because it has dedicated video ram. The score where 4012 for the 2010us and 4024 for the M35

The CPU is a 1.3GHz Celeron M 350, which has its ups and down, the up is that it has 1MB of L2 cache and 400MHz FSB, which is a bit stronger than the normal Celerons. The downside is that it does not support any type of power savings features such as SpeedStep on the Centrino line of CPU from Intel. The M35 has a 1.5GHz Centrino processor. The 2010us scored a 1470 where as the M35 had 1943 for the CPU benchmark.

The batter is a 53wHr Lithium-Ion, which lasts for a little under 2hours in the benchmark, Whereas the M35 had almost 3hrs with the speedstep on.

The LCD has a resolution of 1024x768, which is the lowest resolution for a 15" LCD by today's standards, and the LCD isn't high quality, the screen is bright...but that's only if you look at it directly on, from the side, the screen becomes dim and color reproduction is inaccurate. But considering that this is again for Office-type work this not so much a problem. my M35 a ultility that turns down the brightness of the LCD based on the amount of battery left, but i think a program of such can be found on the internet, but i just want to mention that because it would help to conserve the battery.

The mouse pad is an odd dimension, it is about 1.5"H x 3"W, which is a little short and wide compared to other laptops, it is made by synaptics, which makes touchpads for like 95% of the laptops out there. The one thing i didn't like is this mouse, the buttons are very slender and flushed with the palm rest and doesn't have a textured surface, so with my medium sized hand, i find it a little difficult to use without looking at it and having my finder directly on it, otherwise, i would have to use more pressure than on any other laptops because my thumb is about twice the width of the button.

Another thing that i would like to mention is that he power cord connection to the laptop seems very "fragile" it is thin and plugs into the left side, what makes is fragile is the fact that is plugs in perpendicular to the side so if you had this on your lap, and it happened to slip on the left side, i think there is a good chance that the plug would break. If it had a 90 degree plug, it would be a little better, a thicker plug, or having plugging into the back would help even more.

The hard drive is a 40GB @ 4200rpm, which is more than enough for office works, and some music and videos. The included DVD-Rom/CDRW drive is very nice addition on a budget laptop such as this, it doesn't come with a floppy drive, but all laptops today do not either. It scored a 2207 on the HDD bench, versus 3156 for the M35 which has a 60GB 5400RPM.

It has JBL pro speakers, which is better than most laptops i have used over the year and pretty much surpasses most of Dells laptop speakers. And it is placed on the front, facing you, so the sound is not pointed way out in space with some laptops. Though it is good, it cannot compare to the Harman/Kardon speakers on the M35.

This laptop has the intel extreme graphics2, with 32MB (can go upto 64MB) of ram, whereas the M35 has a 32MB GForceGo, so in the bench this only scored a 1912 whereas the M35 scored a 3441.

It does have 10/100 LAN as well as 54G wireless and 56K modem, 2 USB2.0 ports and a firewire port. These are all very nice addition with a budgets laptop such as this, the wireless get excellent reception from my wireless router, and is better than the intel 2200G that is on the Toshiba M35.

All in all, I think this is the best bang for the buck anyone can buy if you can get it for the 500 price, there just isn't anything else out there that I am aware of that can match this laptop in terms of features and price. But even at 700, it is still a very very good buy.

A Very good Budget PC
I received my computer yesterday and it was a pleasant surprise for me to open the box and take it out. Before ordering this one, I personally did not like the appearance of non-widescreen computers but this computer changed my view.

256MB RAM is a bit less and with shared video memory, XP crawls on this. Adding extra RAM is highly recommended, which I did by adding 512 module separately. After this small modification, this computer works wonderfully.

Beware of one small feature of HP's default system settings while you install the drivers. They set Clear type setting for smooth screen fonts, which make them blurred (display settings->Advanced->Effects). It took a while for me to figure that out.

In Summary, VERY happy with this purchase. Could not have expected more from a computer of this price (got it for $499.99AR from CUSA)!

Good Bang for the Buck
I got this for $599 on sale and after a rebate at Staples. It is what it is: An economy laptop with some unexpected bells and whistles.

The built in wireless internet is wonderful. The sound is terrific for a laptop. The screen is a nice size and produces a nice picture. I love having a burner and a dvd. It comes with the usual software that most preconfigured laptops come with. Has ilink/firewire hick is nice for us iPod users.

Negatives....not much to mention. I'm going to upgrade the Ram because 256 doesn't cut it nowadays. I'd like more than 2 usb ports.

If you're a gamer, buy an Alienware laptop for 4 times the price.This laptop should be more than enough for most people. The price is fantastic for a laptop that is a little more than basic. ... Read more

Product Description

Satellite R15-S822 Tablet PC, Intel Pentium M Processor 725, 1.6GHz, with Centrino Technology, 512MB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, 14.1-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Tablet PC 2005 ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent hybrid!!!!
I am a first time tablet buyer and thus read everything written on tablets before buying one. I am quite please with my choice.
I have owned an ECS desknote, Compaq Presario, IBM notebooks and Gateway desktop earlier. Right now, I am using the R15 along with my gateway desktop.
Several people wrote that it is probably better to go with a slate rather than a hybrid but I wasn't sure how much will I use my tablet functionality. It appears that I will use the R15 mostly as a tablet and sometimes as a notebook. So, my next purchase will be a slate.

I have such a poor handwriting that I cannot read it myself on some occasions. Thus I am surprised that R15 could read my handwriting so well. I didnt check the speech recognition function, but last time I looked at it, the technology hadn't advanced much.

Overall, R15 is a sturdy machine with good wireless card (I didn't have to set up the wireless). Battery life is good (and can stretch even more than 4 hours on some settings). The pen is very easy to use and pleasant experience. The drive makes a lot of sound but there is a silencer that can make the noise disappear (I am not sure whether it changes the perfomrance). I was quite worried about the cooling of the machine - I checked an averatec which was too hot to handle. R15 manages the heat disspiation quite well, thought it reamins warm (not hot like so many other machines).

I decided not to go with Averatec as I read too many bad reviews and my last experinece with an unknown brand was extremely bad. So, i decided to spend 350 bucks extra on a known brand.

I found the performance of the machine to be at least as good as my 2.2Ghz desktop. I simultaneuously ran word, outlook, excel and onenote and performnnce was still good.

Amazon gave a great deal (and when i bought it was the cheapest R15 around). They also shipped in just 3 days (although they said it woudl take 5-9 days). Buying at Amazon was a pleasure - as always.

The only thing I dont like about R15 is the weight. Although, as a laptop the weigth is not problem, when it is used as a slate holding it in one arm for long is difficult. But this is a trade-off I made to have a larger screen, built in optical drive, and laptop functionality. I am not disappointed with the trade-off.

Overall, I would recommend this machine to someone who doesn't know how much he/she would use it as a tablet and for first time tablet buyers. I would also recommend potential laptop buyers to take a good look at this hybrid as it has amazing features (as a tablet) that would change the way you work with your computer.

Overall it's a good machine for the price
I wrote a review of the R15 that would take too much space here.You can view at VBInk dot com.

In general, I agree with the previous reviews. I would recommend it for people new to tablets.My next one may be a slate though.I didn't think I was too mobile beofre getting the R15.A new world has opened up to me.In a couple years I'll be ready for a slate.Someone told me "If you buy a convertable, try to use it only in Tablet mode to really learn and benefit from the tablet features. Otherwise, you'll end up using the Tablet as a notebook and the purchase would have been pointless."

Excellent tablet pc - versitile - but A Monster
I agree with the previous review.I've had this machine for over about a week now and I love it...but it's a monster.Heavy and big.When converted into tablet form it is much more manageable (at least it's not so bulky then).I bought a verizon broadband card and I've been in heaven.Never have to worry about an internet connection now...I use the tablet form when in meetings and when I have to walk around.The machine itself is great.Comes with OneNote installed...great features...big screen (although that can be a pain because it makes the machine bigger; I like the big screen though)...and a very good price for what you get. If you're willing to spend over 2.5K you can get the Fujitu T4000 which is smaller and lighter and looks like a great machine....but you pay over 1K more (which I was not willing to do).The R15 is a very functional machine; it does what I need it for and although it's a bit heavy and bulky it is an excellent value.Hopefully it will stand the test of time and not fall apart on me after I write this review :)

BEST FOR THE PRICE
I wanted to buy a tablet pc for a long time but the only thing that was keeping me away from it was that the price was too high for something with very low computing power and in most cases no optical drive. For the ones with a good configuration and an optical drive the price was too high. I loved the functionality of the tablet pc so was not able to decided whether to buy a notebook or a tablet, but then this came along and I have to say it is the best for the price, I have given it 4 stars only because it is on the heavier side for a tablet pc, but then I guess you can't have everything for this price. If you want something light and can do without a CD/DVD drive and a smaller screen then you should consider the TOSHIBA M200 or the FUJITSU T4000. Except the weight this is a great machine. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Blending affordability with productivity power, the HP Pavilion dv4030us notebook PC is a great choice for both business road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts on the go. The 15.4-inch BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and movies and games will look clear thanks to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (with 128 MB of shared memory). And you'll stay productive with the battery-sipping 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M (Centrino) processor. This notebook also features a 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, built-in 54g wireless connectivity, dual layer DVD+/-RW drive, and multiformat memory card reader. For a step up in price, the DV4040US offers a faster Pentium M processor and 1 GB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is above average in size, and is befitting of such an entertainment-centric laptop. You'll be able to store a hefty digital audio library.
• Processor: The 1.6 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) Processor 730 is at the lower end of the speed spectrum for this processor class (March, 2005). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of installed RAM is a good start, but you'll want to take advantage of the roomy 2 GB of total RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB)for such multimedia needs as video editing and immersive 3D gaming.
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the dv4030us multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The dv4030us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot, which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a decent offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 Expansion Port 2 connector
• 1 IR receiver
• 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture Cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, Intervideo Home Theater, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 14.1 x 10.16 x 1.67 inches and weighs 6.5 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the dv4030us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Fulfill all your digital needs without breaking the bank with the HP Pavilion ZE2015US notebook PC, perfect for students, home office professionals, and families on the go. It features a large 15-inch display, which can easily tackle both spreadsheets and DVD movies, and a built-in 54g wireless connectivity. This notbook weighs just over 6 pounds and also offers a battery-friendly Intel Celeron M processor (helping to provide a battery life of up to three hours), a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is becoming the average size for notebook PCs, providing enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: The Intel Celeron M processor is designed specifically for m