Home > Consumer Reviews > Apple Powerbook Laptop 15.2" M8859LL/A (1.0-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)

Apple has done it again. The PowerBookG4 is an amazing computer. What makes this product stand out from the rest of the notebooks on the market is the obvious thought and attention to detail that went into the creation of this laptop.

First the hardware:
As an avid bicyclist, this computer spends a lot of time in my backpack on my back. Its light and thin so not only is easy to carry but does not take up valuable backpack real-estate. You would think that this portability would equate to a downsized computer something with a weaker processor or smaller screen to conserve battery life but just the opposite is true. 1ghz processor and a 15+ inch screen make this not simply a great notebook but also a great computer. Throw in either a super drive or combo dvd/cdrw plus a 60 gig hard drive and you may never use a desktop again. Aside from that add in a ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR SDRAM and you have a computer that meets your needs no matter what your current needs are of future needs may be.

Software:
If you are a windows person, as I was, you might be hesitant to switch operating systems especially if you have become pretty adroit within the confines of the Microsoft OS. The fact is though that the learning curve for OSX is very gentle. Navigation is intuitive and adding hardware: printers, pda's, ipod etc.. is very simple - just plug and play. One of the most amazing things for me, in getting this new laptop, was the wireless network card. When I turned the computer on for the first time it automatically got onto my wireless network. There was simply nothing for me to do but just begin transferring things over from my PC desktop to this network.

Finally Value:
The cost of the PowerBook probably makes you do more then just blink. When I told my wife the price of this computer, after I had purchased it (newly married guys take note it is better to ask/ beg for forgiveness then to get a sub par computer) she nearly throttled me. But, look at all that this computer has to offer. When you take into account all that you get and compare it to a similar configured PC laptop from.. oh, wait a minute. There is no PC laptop on the market that is of this high quality. Well if you compare it to a pc laptop that ALMOST rivals this baby you will see, very quickly, that you have been very cost conscious.

In Summary:
If quality, portability and sheer sexiness are attributes you look for in a computer then look no further Apple is for you.

I've worked on and with Macs for years. Our company has around fifteen PowerBooks G4s in use, four of which are the 1Ghz models with the superdrive (DVD-R). I use one of them daily, and it is the strongest performing laptop I've used (I also use a Sony VAIO PCG GRX670, a 2Ghz P4, very comparable PC laptop). The Apple doesn't so much run circles around the SONY, they are about the same overall speed-wise, but the PB manages to *feel* faster by at least 15%. The PowerBook and the OS (Mac OS X 10.2) are better integrated.
I don't know how well the SONY will do over time physically. The PB G4 is basically the same as it was 2 years ago, and those machines have proved to be very durable, scratches being the only problem. Oh, and someone at work spilled a beer on theirs. It wouldn't start and appeared dead. Our local Apple dealer took the motherboard out, dumped it in water, let it dry a couple days, put it back together, and it started up just fine.
Anyway, great machine. If you need raw power in a portable package, enough so that you can replace your desktop with this too, then this is the machine for you.

I am a 40-ish person with a number of disabilities, to say the least. I recently completed my 4-year degree in multi-media, and am an author. I became spoiled on Macs in college, as they were so user-friendly and could handle the fast speeds and multiple tasks we required of them. Macs were made to do graphics and animation--no PC or clone can keep up with them.
I recently got my own computer, and there was no doubt about it--I got a Mac. I chose a 15 inch G4 Powerbook with memory upgrade. The size is comfortable, and the weight is light, and it is unbelievable that it can do all it can do in such a small machine. I have several animation programs, as well as several office and publishing programs on mine. No matter what type of multi-media I do, this computer keeps up with all I ask of it.
This computer also allows those of us with disabilities to customize the screen to better serve us, such as using larger type, and may also work on verbal commands alone if one is visually impaired. I must lay in a reclining position much of the time due to pain, and the light weight and portability of this system makes using it a dream. It comes in several sizes to fit anyone's comfort.
If you want a good laptop, for any sort of use, get the G4--you'll absolutely love it!

Mine is actually a generation back (800MHz processor). It's more than fast enough for the things that I do (graphic design, mathematics, music recording, programming, internet browsing... can you tell I have catholic interests?) The Apple bundled apps are fantastic, and iPhoto incorporates enough of what I do to my pictures that I rarely open PhotoShop any more (not to mention the permanent retention of the original photo is always a good thing). I rarely reboot the system (it's just not necessary unless I do an OS upgrade), or close applications and all is well. It's nice to have Word, Excel, Safari, iTunes, Eudora, Illustrator and InDesign all at the ready at a moment's notice.

Perhaps most exciting is the realization that with this machine I just don't need a desktop anymore. My G4 tower gets only occasional use anymore (and the PC hasn't been turned on for nearly a year). This is easily the only computer you'll ever need.

This is a fantastic notebook! The 15" display is beautiful, the ATI Radeon 9000 allows you to play the latest games, and the build quality is excellent (these Powerbooks are made by the same company that makes high end Dell laptops). In my mind this is the only G4 to get. At 1GHz you have more than enough cpu horsepower, however if you start going much below this, the venerable G4 starts to show its age. I strongly suggest you don't buy a Powerbook unless you can afford at least an 800MHz machine (and that is entry level only!). I also feel Apple should reduce the price on these by a third. I know from my job pretty much dead on what they pay to have them built, and it is *well* below a grand. I think a 200%+ markup is not warranted. You could buy a much more powerful P4 system for this money (of course then you're stuck with Windows). Apple should try to be a little more competitive.