Home > Consumer Reviews > Apple PowerBook Laptop 17" M9462LL/A (1.50-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

This is the fastest, most powerful laptop I have ever seen. It simply blows away all of the Pentiums, and while the 14" G4 Mac is a tad faster, this 17" screen makes this computer a supercomputer in a thin aluminum case. I use both Windows XP and Mac OS X (Mac OS X is eons ahead of Windows XP), and to compare the 2 is not fair- the Mac wins in almost every category you can think of. I run Virtual PC on this computer, so in a pinch if I must slum a bit and use a Windows application, I can do so (although at slower speeds). The backlit keyboard is great, but the performance is what sells me on this awesome machine (my 6th laptop, and 10th computer in last 8 years). Best computer I have ever seen.

This is my first Mac. I've had it for six months. Prior to this, I had been a PC user all my life.

I bought the Apple based on the strength of reviews from legions of friends in the design field who were early Mac converts and my desire just to try something different. I use it primarily for editing photos and video. I do LIKE this machine alot -- it's beautiful and it's a genuinely solid performer. But the price/performance ratio -- despite ramping up to 1.5 MB of RAM from the paltry 512MB standard-- just isn't there. No way around it.

Photo editing bench tests for this machine versus similarly priced PC products prove its limitations. It's a fairly slow machine for the price. As for the Operating System, the Mac package is interesting (even fun at times) but remarkably less advanced and intuitive than I expected and has been touted.

Believe me, the "switch" is not as easy as Apple would have you believe. And surprisingly there's absolutely no support for those who take the leap. You need to decide if it's worth relearning everything you know about personal computing. Personally, I haven't found the payoff outweighs than the hassle. Yet.

I look back on what I could have got for the same money from HP or another PC maker, and I now feel a little stung and underwhelmed by this machine. Again, it's nice. But it's something of a sheep in wolf's clothing.

Think Different? Absolutely! But also think twice. And think hard.

I've had this machine as my primary computer, traveling to six of the seven continents with it (haven't taken it to Africa), and generally putting a lot of use and miles on it. I've replaced the battery after it didn't take as much of a charge, and a couple of years ago installed a larger hard drive. Sure, I'd definitely buy a new Intel-based 17" but I haven't really felt the need yet.

I've usually traveled with the laptop in a Brenthaven backpack designed for the 17" computer. The screen real estate is always a wonderful thing, though I admit that if I'm in the back of the plane, then I generally read rather than take up all available room in opening this beast up.

You have to get this great 17" Mac! Having just upgraded to this laptop, I cannot believe how awesome it is. Whether on the road or lugging it to and from the office, connecting via wireless or LAN/WAN it is so easy and convenient.
Buy it, you won't regret it.

After reading the in-depth review at www.laptoplogic.com (http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/apple/25/1/1/) I went out and purchased the laptop from the Apple store with 1GB DDR RAM and 5400RPM hard drive. Everything about this system is stunning -- the screen, keyboard, design, and power. I use to own a Toshiba 15.4" and this thing is LIGHTER than the Toshiba. I'm a new user of OS X and I absolutely love it. It's probably easier than Windows. I recommend buying this thing if you want a large screen notebook that is actually portable, unlike most desktop replacements from PC makers. Amazon offers it with free shipping and no tax in most states. buy it now