My 12" PowerBook Has Arrived
Ten days ahead of Apple's initial shipping estimate, my 12" PowerBook G4 has arrived. After kicking the tires and putting it through a number of tests, the following are a few thoughts about the laptop itself, and how it stacks up to my nearly two-year-old 500mhz iBook (Snow), as well as my dual processor 533mhz PowerMac G4.
The first thing you notice about the 12" is the enclosure - a smooth, yet lightly textured case that is quite cool (in temperature) to the touch (unlike plastic laptops which always feel about room temperature). The footprint is just as small as Apple claims, and is about the same weight as my iBook. If you want to get a feel for how large it is, put a piece of regular 8.5x11 paper in your hands, and you get the idea.
The most impressive feature of the PowerBook is the rigidity of the enclosure. You can pick it up with one hand from either corner, and won't detect any flex or bend in the frame. Like Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal recently wrote, the laptop feels "as tight as a digital camera."
The keyboard matches the finish of the enclosure (unlike other PowerBooks with black keys), and would appear to be made of the same plastic. Each key has an ample face and offers a nice sense of resistance when pressed - unlike the iBook, which has always felt somewhat spongey, soft and flat. I've heard that some people prefer the black keyboards to these, and that the metal-ized keys look cheap. I guess it all depends on personal taste, but I think the keyboard looks and feels great.
Part of the reason for the iBook's spongey keyboard was the fact that you had to lift it out of the enclosure to install memory or an Airport card. The 12" PowerBook has a panel on its underside for these items, so the keyboard never needs to be opened (not that you could).
Like every other laptop, the built-in speakers have a tiny effect to them, but the sound is much louder and more robust than my iBook. Part of that may be due to the fact that the PowerBook includes a new midrange speaker underneath the display connector, which alongside the left and right speakers, bounce sound off the angled display (instead of straight-up above the keyboard, as the iBook does).
Speaking of the display connector, I was quite pleased to see they increased the width of it to nearly six inches instead of the slimmer one on the iBook. By doing so, opening and closing the screen feels much more integrated and well constructed. Like the iBook, the display opens back and then down, to decrease its height when fully opened.
The screen is nearly as bright and crisp as my 17" Studio Display, and a welcome improvement over the iBook - which while satisfactory, is still darker and less refined.
Like the iBook, the 12" PowerBook has multiple ports (56k, Ethernet, FireWire, dual-usb, audio out, vga-out) running down the left side. But unlike the iBook, the power connector has thankfully been moved from the right to the left side so it doesn't interfere with access to the slot-loading drive.
The one feature I was most surprised by was speed. With a 867mhz G4 chip instead of the 500mhz G3 in the iBook, there is simply no comparison between the two. Applications launch blazingly fast - faster even than my dual 533mhz G4 PowerMac - and the OS X Finder is very responsive and nimble. Thanks to a GeForce 4 MX Go video card, the Genie effect is butter smooth, and window scrolling is just as fast. I had assumed the PowerBook might be nearly as fast as my PowerMac, but I had no idea it would actually beat it at certain tasks. Again when compared to the dog-slow Finder and application launch time of the iBook, the difference is literally night and day.
The PowerBook also has a slot-loading drive instead of the tray employed by the iBook, and is a very welcome change. I put a couple of DVDs in to make sure the drive worked, and they played full screen just fine. This is, actually, my first computer with a DVD drive in it, so to my eyes the picture quality is quite astounding. (I decided, incidentally, to hold off on a Superdrive to burn DVDs until I replace my PowerMac).
I ordered the PowerBook with an Airport Extreme card, and though I don't have one of the new Extreme Base Stations, the speed and reception were just as good as my iBook (which, it should be noted, has always had better range than the Titanium PowerBooks which suffered from interference).
As for fan noise, there simply isn't any. I transfered a number of files, unstuffed them, and performed a number of tasks without the fan ever turning on. The fan finally kicked in when I installed an application from a CD, but quit immediately thereafter. For the most part, it is totally silent.
And of course, there is the heat issue. Yes, the left side of the laptop, right under your left wrist, does get fairly warm. I'm somewhat used to the feeling of it, so it doesn't bother me as much as it may others. But in general, it wasn't any warmer than my iBook, despite having an aluminum alloy shell.
So in summation, the 12" PowerBook is very similar to the 12" iBook in form factor, weight, noise level, heat, and wireless reception, but is considerably faster, has tighter construction, a better keyboard, and an improved display. The PowerBook is quite simply the perfect road warrior.
I had initially assumed the PowerBook wouldn't be a good desktop replacement and more akin to travelers, but because it meets (and in some tasks beats) my PowerMac in some speed tests, users who aren't too concerned having a wide screen (which you'd have to pay upwards of $500 more for) would be quite satisfied with it as a desktop machine.
Do note that most of what I critiqued was a comparison between the PowerBook and the iBook, and not a Wintel laptop. I frankly haven't had enough experience with them, but from what I've read and seen, Apple is offering the best laptop experience around. If you're a Windows user thinking of switching, do seek out a PowerBook for a test run.
So that's my impression. If I missed anything, or didn't answer a question, let me know.
Comments
Yeah, I sorta regret having purchased a 700 iBook just a few months ago. I would have definitely preferred the new PB. I'm happy, though, with my iBook... I think the PB will be my next purchase however.
Glad you like it.
Posted by: Garrett Murray at February 2, 2003 12:33 PM
My estimate says 2-4 weeks, but I read another story of a woman who ordered hers on the 25th and got notification that it shipped on the 30th, so I'm hopeful that I'll get it soon. My 15" 500 MHz PowerBook has already sold on eBay (not shipped yet). Fingers crossed :-)
Posted by: Erik J. Barzeski at February 2, 2003 12:33 PM
I got to play with one of these at my local Apple Store this weekend, that is, once the crowd around it dissipated. Me wanty. The one thing that would absolutely cinch the deal for me would be if it had a DVI video out so I wouldn't have to buy an expensive VGA-to-ADC converter in order to hook it up to a Studio Display. But now that Formac has come out with a 17-inch VGA LCD flat panel monitor, that point is almost moot.
Posted by: Dave at February 2, 2003 12:35 PM
My only concern with a 12" PB (or iBook, for that matter) is screen real estate. When I'm coding in a text editor, it wouldn't be a problem. But apps with multiple toolbars, like Photoshop, Flash, etc., I have a hard enough time dealing with on the 15" screen I have in this Inspiron. Is is just something you get used to dealing with, or is it a daily hassle, moving toolbars around, etc.?
Posted by: Bob at February 2, 2003 1:22 PM
I think about selling my iBook and my G4 400 and replacing them with a 12" PowerBook. I think it would be very comfortable to have the complete office in such a tiny machine, but what if it gets kaputt (though I never experienced any problems with Apple´s machines)? Do you keep your G4 tower, Todd?
Is it possible to connect the PB to a third-party LCD-Display via DVI or do you need an adapter for that?
The PB costs EUR 2,100 over here, incl. VAT. Good price.
Posted by: Dirk at February 2, 2003 3:26 PM
Congrats Todd,
I took a look at the 12" PowerBook G4 at my local Apple Store and I was in love. I was actually at MacWorld SF 2003 but I spent my whole time looking at the 17" not knowing the 12" would better suite me. I believe you made a mistake in your article when you said "Thanks to a GeForce 4 MX Go video card. . ." The 12" PowerBook G4 has a GeForce4 420 Go video card. Well anyways, I am so glad that you enjoy you new PowerBook. Now only if I can get one. . .
Posted by: Phong at February 2, 2003 3:51 PM
alright, todd, you've twisted my arm.
I'm sold.
Please keep us updated if you ever run into any quirks or issues with your new baby.
congrats! :)
Posted by: courtney at February 2, 2003 4:02 PM
I'm surprised to see you write that an 867 mh g4 powerbook, beats a dual 550mhz g4 Powermac.
I guess it comes down to the videocard? Which videocard do you have in you Powermac?
I have a 550 h4 TiBook and I'm quite pleased it it. I switched back in march 2002, and I'm about to order a dual 1.25 ghz g4 Powermac with the radion 9000 pro. That should beat my powerbook in great lenghts.
Posted by: Brian Poulsen at February 2, 2003 4:27 PM
Funny, I just brought home my 12 inch powerbook from CompUSA today. And it is replacing my 500mhz ibook.
So far I'm blown away with it, from the solid keyboard (oh man, that ibook keyboard sucked) to the size and everything about it. I love it. I had been hoping for an iBook with a G4 in it and this is my prayers answered.
Even right now with the 256mb of ram (those ass-clowns at CompUSA gave me the wrong kind, I am maxing out the RAM asap), things are really smooth.
Posted by: Michael at February 2, 2003 6:31 PM
Hey Todd, when you get a chance why not run xbench so we can see some numbers :D
Posted by: Josh at February 2, 2003 6:38 PM
I'd also be interested in knowing what kind of battery time you're getting while using the Airport Extreme card.
Posted by: Greg at February 2, 2003 7:19 PM
Todd - sounds like a great little machine. I highly recommend getting a keyboard cover so your new screen won't get scratched: http://www.marware.com/keyboardcovers.html
Only $7 (I don't work for them).
Dan
Posted by: Dan at February 2, 2003 10:28 PM
I'm even more envious mof Mac owners. Damn -- only Macs can be described in poetic terms.
Posted by: Grubi at February 2, 2003 11:11 PM
I think it's worth remembering that the 15" PowerBook is still the sweet spot size-wize, and that it probably goes without saying that as soon as the current crop of PBs are sold out they'll introduce a 15" aluminum with all the goodies that are in the 12 (too small!) and 17 (too big!).
Posted by: Scot Hacker at February 3, 2003 5:12 AM
Finally, some good, literate Mac Porn...
I have been flirting with getting a laptop, but haven't been swayed by, nor at all interested in, the 17" notebook, which some have dubbed the iSUV. It's difficult for me not to think rather about replacing my G4 450MHz tower considering the latest on offer by Apple - price slashing and all. But now I'm not so sure... Weighing the (seductive) details you've listed, plus portability, against ramping up my workhorse has just become much more difficult.
Now I must go have a smoke.
Posted by: rtwerk at February 3, 2003 8:13 AM
Scott - I agree with you, the 15" is still my desire, being somewhere caught b/t portability and full-featureness. I'll replace my 1ghz/1gb ram/superdrive when theres a G5 in a 15" PB.
My Airport Extreme just arrived, time to go hook it up!
Posted by: Josh at February 3, 2003 9:25 AM
RE: "I?m surprised to see you write that an 867 mh g4 powerbook, beats a dual 550mhz g4 Powermac. I guess it comes down to the videocard? Which videocard do you have in you Powermac?"
My PowerMac 533 has a GeForce 2 MX in it, and 1.25GB of RAM. I did run XBench on both machines to satisfy my impression, and I was indeed correct. The PowerBook earned notably higher scores in the OpenGL / User Interface categories, which explains the very nimble Finder. It also beat the PowerMac at processor speed, though not by a whole lot. The PowerMac did win in the memory category, which likely means that it would handle multiple apps open and running better than the PowerBook would.
As for battery life w/ Airport Extreme, I worked in Flash MX last night on the PowerBook, sitting in my living room, with the display at max brightness. In that scenario, the battery lasted about 3 hours. My iBook would usually die after an hour of that.
Posted by: Todd Dominey at February 3, 2003 9:27 AM
For those looking for a way to aquire on of these sweet little devices, KCRW, the best NPR station in the world, is giving away several 12.1 Powerbooks during it's Winter pledge drive.
Posted by: Greg at February 3, 2003 11:00 AM
What versions of iPhoto and iMovie did it come with? Did you get the iLife versions or the older versions.
I'm looking forward to placing an order for one of these soon...
Posted by: Mark at February 3, 2003 11:18 AM
Any comments on the "real-world" battery life of the machine? I never really trust the marketing stats
Posted by: Tim at February 3, 2003 11:41 AM
The heat issue is the only thing that bothers me. Each of the models I played with felt uncomfortably hot on my wrists. It would be interesting to hear if the heat becomes too annoying to you.
Posted by: Hans at February 3, 2003 3:41 PM
If heat is a problem, check out this Apple Knowledgebase Article. So far, my friend's has never had a problem.
http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?50@51.A9U5a4ipgDD.10@.3bbf01b3
Posted by: Paul at February 13, 2003 2:51 PM
I just got ine of these today at a apple store in California and its decent for its price and is a cool little machines
Posted by: Maykal at June 13, 2003 4:45 AM
