Apple iBook G3 Review

Good Points
Well constructed.
Excellent quality LCD display.
Appearance is trendy, but not attention-seeking.
Bundled software is very good.

Bad Points
Expensive.
Extended warranty is ridiculously expensive.

General Comments
The design of the Apple iBook is smart. There are no notches, switches (apart from the lid release switch) or catches which could potentially break or get snagged on anything. The battery is released by means of inserting a coin into a rotating switch, which seems sensible. However, it is disappointing that the battery door on mine does not perfectly line up with the chassis, which seems rather clumsy.



All iBooks are manufactured in the colour 'snow', which is unordodox, but doesn't appear unprofessional. There is a translucent layer on the outside of the chassis which, apparently, is made of polycarbonate. I am told that this is the same material used to produce bullet-proof glass. However, I still get the feeling that it would still be very easy to scratch this material.



Setup is very easy - you simply plug it in and you're virtually ready to go. It is unfortunate that it took me so long to figure out how to open the lid. When you press the lid release button, you must also apply pressure to the lid. This procedure is quite straightforward, but those who are unaware of it may struggle to figure it out. It doesn't help that the documentation contains no instructions regarding this.



The quality of the LCD display is superb. I had planned on buying the 12" model, but ended up getting the 14" because the 12" was out of stock and not expected for some time. I am glad that I ended up with the 14", because the difference is definately noticable (plus the 14" model has an extra 128Mb of RAM which generates a significant performance boost). I would recommend buying the 12" model only if you already have a desktop PC, and intend to use the iBook as a secondary computer. The built-in speakers are average at best, but I usually use headphones anyway.



It is a pity that the 3 year extended warranty option on this model is prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, New Zealand law requires that all goods function properly for a "reasonable" period of time. I know of cases where laptops have failed within the space of three years, and vendors have been forced to repair them free of charge despite them being out of warranty. Hopefully people in other countries can also enjoy similar statutory protection.



The iBook is a bit more expensive than other notebooks with equivalent specifications, but the thoughtful and pleasing design, along with the fantastic OS X, make it worthwhile.