Home > Consumer Reviews > Apple PowerBook Laptop M8363LL/A (667-MHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive)

This is a beautiful computer. I have no complaints. I love it!

This is my first Mac, and while its two new operating systems present a serious challenge for a long, long-time PC user, I can say without reservation that it's the most beautiful piece of hardware I've ever used. The screen is bigger than my TV's and, because of the width, sharpness, and proportions, it doesn't _feel_ any smaller than my 17" desktop PC monitor. The keyboard has a nice feel. The power adapter is well designed. It rocks.

Now, if I could just (a) learn how to stop messing up the software, and (b) find a cool, sub-C-note padded bag to carry it in, I'd be in heaven . . .

Update, 15 months later: I still love my TiBook, my friends still envy it, and I hate having to use any other computer. I'll never go back.

Software:

I haven't had any problems with the OS since about a year ago. I now find it intuitive and fun to use. I work in OS 10.2.4 exclusively; the only application I run in Classic mode is Quark--and I've recently started working with Adobe InDesign, so I'm hoping eventually to be able to give up both Classic and Quark.

Font management has been a problem, because I have a lot of fonts and some are kind of [messed] up. I tried using Font Reserve for a little while but it kept crashing and wouldn't recognize some of my fonts, so I had to switch back to ATM for Quark and manual management (dragging fonts in and out of folders) for OS X. It's not a big deal, but I wish there were a better solution.

MS Word X is slow and poorly designed, and the implementation of styling is particularly lousy--definitely inferior to earlier versions of Word, and positively painful compared to Word XP. It's probably adequate for most users but frustrating for editors or designers who rely heavily on paragraph and character styles, as well as search-and-replace.

Hardware:

Yes, the silver paint on my computer's bezel has blistered or worn away in the places where my hands rest. It's disappointing, but it doesn't reduce my affection for the machine.

My CD drive has gotten to be quite quirky; this will be what ultimately drives me to send the laptop in for service (DO get AppleCare). I bought my TiBook refurbished and have always guessed that the CD drive was the source of the original problem. No way to know, of course.

I use an iSkin keyboard protector, which significantly dampens the notoriously loud cooling fan (though it also raises the temperature in the case).

In an attempt to avoid the notorious wifi reception problems of this model, instead of an Airport card I got an EnGenius wifi card with a built-in antenna, and I installed the free open source driver from wirelessdriver.sourceforge.net. While it worked beautifully for a while, lately I haven't been able to connect to anything. I suspect this is the fault of the driver, which is extremely beta.

Summary:

The most fun thing about the Mac for me is trying all the gorgeous new software that's being developed for OS X. There are fewer programs than are available for PCs or pre-OS X Macs, sure, but so many of the new ones are really innovative and well thought-out. I've found carbonized software (e.g., Word) to be a disappointment, but I expect that eventually those programs will be fully cocoa-ized and will improve.

Computing on my PC was never fun; it was just a tool--an awkward one. My laptop, however, is both an awesome, powerful tool and a beautiful, versatile toy. I recommend Macs to everyone now and am helping my mom make the switch . . . from DOS!

I just replaced a whole pile of older Apple gear (including a 500 MHz IceBook) with this model (the G4/667/DVD). It was well worth it. The iBook is a great Mac for the money, but the newest PowerBook G4 systems are just great Macs, period. The speed is fast for virtually any task, and OS X 10.1 is snappy in a way that the G3-based systems can't touch. The improved Radeon Mobility video (with double the VRAM of the older G4) improves display performance, and mirroring is snappy, without the lag that some mirrored displays have been known to show. It fully supports the resolution of the Apple Cinema display (with an adapter, though - the Powerbook only has VGA out). Performance on the latest builds of the OS X DVD player is excellent thus far, and it can use the full screen for a simulated 16:9 effect. Built-in networking options include 10/100/1000 (!) Ethernet, an included V.90 modem, and an integrated AirPort card supporting 128-bit WEP (broken though WEP is).

Apple also addressed most of the design flaws from the original G4 series - the port cover in the back now has slits machined into it for better ventilation, the body flexes a little less, and disc alignment doesn't seem to be the problem it was in some earlier models. AirPort range is improved, though still nowhere near as good as what you can get with the iBook series - the antennas are quite limited by the metal case (Faraday cage, anyone?). The new power adapter is a big improvement over the previous "flying saucer" design, as well. Chances are good that you'll never need to connect anything to the built-in Cardbus slot, but one is provided in case 1 6-pin Firewire port, 2 USB ports, VGA and S-Video out, and the integrated Ethernet, modem and wireless aren't enough for you. Go figure.

What can I quibble about? Well, I still hope they find a better way to integrate the AirPort antenna. A DVD/CD-RW combo drive like the one in the iBook would be nice - but apparently none currently are available to fit the super-slim slot-loading format the G4 uses. Heat distribution isn't bad, but the back right corner can occasionally get uncofortable under heavy use. And finally, the keyboard is held in place by magnets as well as the little clips Apple uses - those magnets attach with adhesive to the keyboard bottom (and grab the metal in the inner case), and have a habit of the adhesive getting loose. Easily fixed, but a little annoying. Really nothing I'd take points away for.

All in all, this is by far the best laptop I've used or owned (and I've had a lot of them). No, the G4 doesn't offer the sheer processing speed of the latest mobile Pentium and Athlon processors, but the combination of a spectacular screen, light weight, good battery life, and general engineering isn't matched by anything on the market I know of. As an added bonus, the PowerBook G4 even runs Virtual PC very well if you really need Windows in your life.

What's new?

1. 667 MHz G4 (up from 500 MHz)
2. 667 MHz 256 KB L2 cache (changed from 250 MHz 1 MB L2 cache)
3. 133 MHz system bus (up from 100 MHz)
4. 512 MB PC133 SDRAM until end of 2001 (up from 256 MB PC100)
5. Quieter 30 GB hard disk (up from 20 GB)
6. 6X DVD-ROM drive (up from 4X)
7. ATI Mobility RADEON AGP 4X graphics with 16 MB DDR RAM (changed from ATI Mobility Rage AGP 2X with 8 MB SDRAM) -- much greater performance, higher resolution when driving external display
8. Gigabit Ethernet
9. Improved I/O for faster FireWire throughput (as much as 2X greater bandwidth)
10. Built-in AirPort card (was optional)
11. Improved AirPort reception range
12. A/C power connector glows then connected to the outlet
13. Redesigned, smaller A/C adapter
14. Higher capacity battery (55.3-watt-hour vs. 50), but similar overall battery life
15. Improved fit and finish (e.g., battery holder, touchpad)
16. Cooler operating temperature
17. Keyboard layout change (2nd Command key, elimination of 2nd Option key)
18. Improved keyboard feedback (less spongy)
19. Includes OS X.1 and OS 9.2 (changed from OX X and OS 9.1)

I own several PC's (ugh) and several Macs. This Titanium Book is the ultimate. If you are familiar with Apple's superior OS, and Industrial Designs, you are still in for a delight!
Even my diehard WinTel friends drool! They just hafto touch it, and use it, if they're lucky.
You want it, you deserve it. Don't feel guilty, it'll pay for itself!

Pete