Apple Powerbook G4... anyone have one?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Anyone have one? Do you like it? Any problems with it?

TTT is thinking about buying one…

Also, can you get a DVD drive with re-write capabilities?

Input, please!

Thanks!:wink:

2

Don’t own a powerbook, (wish I did.)

Here’s a couple links from ZDnet:
LaCie DVD-RW
PioneerDVD+RW

I don’t have any personal experience with these, but it looks like they’re starting to come down to a reasonable price. If you don’t need rewrite capabilities, you can get a DVD-R for $500 to $600 in your choice of IDE, SCSI, or firewire.

Who’s TTT?

3

There are reports of recently repaired Powerbook G4 CD drives coming back with a note from the repair service that they’ve been “upgraded” to a CDR/DVD. No Superdrive DVD writing capability with that drive. You can now get the DVD-R as an external Firewire drive though.
I personally would wait a few days, there is a rumor of a 600mhz model being announced any day now.
I’ve set up several PB G4s and everybody positively raves about the machines. But if I were targeting DVD creation, I’d probably still go for the desktop 867mhz model because all the compressors in programs like iDVD and DVD Studio Pro will perform much better in a system with higher CPU speeds and disk speeds.

4

I don’t have one but I want one, and am thinking seriously about getting one.

I’m also thinking about the iBook, too. I already have a G4 at home, so I don’t really need a G4 laptop (nice as it would be), and I would be using it for generally low-end purposes-no DV or 3D animation or whatever; mostly internet and some Photshop stuff.

And the iBooks are great little portables at a lower price. …for $1,229 it ain’t a bad deal at all!

5

I have one. It’s beyooootiful.

I bring it to class and take notes on it; the battery can stand up for 3.5 hours of constant note-taking and still have an hour of power left. I bring it to where I volunteer, hook it up to the TV, and watch DVDs on it. I burn incredible numbers of audio CDs with iTunes and my FireWire CD burner (DAMN I love FireWire). I print via infrared on my HP 2100M, no plugging in necessary.

If you carry it around in a case a lot, get a screen protector. The thing is built to such tight tolerances, the keys can be pressed against the screen when it’s clamped in a case and make little indents (or at the very least, the oil from your fingers on the keys will leave marks). I have a little leather rectangle that keeps that from happening.

Because it doesn’t turn the fan on unless it’s necessary, the bottom can get mighty hot. Get a RoadTools CoolPad. Very handy accessory. I got the portable version, take it to class all the time.

6

Thanks guys!

TTT is pretty much sold on buying a G4 now… but he won’t do it for a month or more (no money!)…