Apple PowerBook Laptop 17" M9110LL/A (1.33-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-R/CD-RW Drive)

Product Description:

The new PowerBook family gives you power in a choice of three ultrafast portables. Whether you prefer the ultra-compact 12-inch model, the coveted 15-inch powerhouse, or the stunning 17-inch beauty, every new PowerBook G4 is loaded with advanced capabilities. Housed in a sleek, lightweight aluminum alloy enclosure, the PowerBook G4 is resistant to stains and scratches. It's also perfectly smooth on all surfaces, with no doors, protruding latches or levers to break, and no sharp edges to catch on your clothing. And whatever your notebook needs or desires are, you can be sure there's a PowerBook G4 that's perfect for you.Starting at just 4.6 pounds, the three new PowerBook G4 models are light enough to carry around all day. And thanks to the PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine, every PowerBook packs a tremendous punch for doing everything from crunching numbers to editing video and designing show-stopping presentations. You'll marvel at the way Apple has fitted the supersharp high-resolution TFT XGA active-matrix display into such a remarkably compact frame. To see it is to feel the strong stirrings of technolust.
Product Details
  • BatteryType: Lithium Ion
  • Binding: Personal Computers
  • Brand: Apple
  • ComputerHardwareType: Notebook Computer
  • CPUManufacturer: IBM
  • CPUType: PowerPC G4
  • DataLinkProtocol: Ethernet
  • EAN: 0718908495599
  • FloppyDiskDriveDescription: None
  • GraphicsDescription: ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 with AGP 4x
  • HardDiskInterface: Ultra ATA
  • HardwarePlatform: Mac
  • IncludedSoftware: Mac OSX Panther 10.3, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime, iLife, Filemaker Pro 6 Trial, GraphicConverter, Microsoft Office v. X Test Drive, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition, Zinio Reader, Developer Tools, and Apple Hardware Test, 30 days free Internet through Earthlink
  • KeyboardDescription: Full-sized keyboard with 78 keys, including 12 function key, 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement), and embedded keypad, illuminated with ambient light sensor
  • Label: Apple Computer
  • Manufacturer: Apple Computer
  • MemorySlotsAvailable: 2
  • Model: M9110LL/A
  • ModemDescription: 56 Kbps
  • MPN: C39599
  • NativeResolution: 1440-by-900
  • NetworkInterfaceDescription: 10-Mbps/100-Mbps/1000Base-T Gbps Ethernet
  • OperatingSystem: Apple MacOS X
  • PackageQuantity: 1
  • Platform: Mac OS X
  • ProcessorCount: 1
  • ProductGroup: Personal Computer
  • ProductTypeName: NOTEBOOK_COMPUTER
  • Publisher: Apple Computer
  • RemovableStorage: None
  • SpecialFeatures: 802.11g, Bluetooth 1.1, Built-in 54-Mbps Airport Extreme wireless networking
  • Studio: Apple Computer
  • SystemMemoryType: DDR SDRAM
  • UPC: 718908495599
  • Warranty: 1 year warranty

Customer Reviews

I switched from 10+ years of Microsoft's platform, MACS rule2004-08-04
This powerbook is a work of art.. Very well thought out from the hardware to the software.....
The windows platform has only one advantage over Mac products ....their price point. I have had this Powerbook for 2 1/2weeks and have only used my PC three times (to get files I needed).

I know the prices are higher on the Mac side, but the money is well spent..... If you can afford a MAC then get one, you will not be sorry

Hope is helps someone
best of luck
JD
First Class Computer -- Need Upgrades for Support2004-07-07
As other reviewers have stated, the hardware itself is great. The computer is visually stunning. And the OS is rock-solid and user-friendly.

Some people have complained about the size for traveling. It's about as small as a 17" computer could be -- but if you are sitting in coach and the person in front of you reclines their seat, it's hard to use. (Get the 12" if you think this might be a problem for you.)

Finally, a word on Apple service. I had some problems with this computer and needed to send it back to Apple several times -- which is a bad thing. On the other hand, I finally reached Roberto, a Powerbook specialist in AppleCare, who was understanding and expedited my repair -- which is a good thing. 4-stars -- would have been 5-stars except for the hardware problems.

Cost a lot, but it's a good computer2004-05-16
Now I've been down on Apple because they charge 2X for a computer built by they same people making computers for everyone else. But I have to admit, this thing looks great. Now I jumped ship to Centrino because I needed more battery life, but if I was to buy Apple again, this would be the one.
Great laptop...one thing i hate2004-04-14
I personally love this laptop....it's the best i've seen. 1.33ghz. Great speed. Lots of memory and love the Airport Extreme. One thing I don't like is the case. Your fingerprints will show like crazy but, don't worry about that..It's still good. I'm already burning movies in the first month. Love the Garageband, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD. Great stuff comes with this computer. I just preorded Microsoft Office v. X. I'm sure I'll love it. Anyway, overall...I give this computer 4-stars. If the case was better...5 ALL THE WAY.

P.S. Be sure to get the extended warrenty...you may need it. My 800mhz iMac just broke and I was 2 days away from my policy expiration date. Good thing i kept the receipt.

Best computer I've ever owned2004-04-14
I bought a 12-inch Powerbook after I gave my old Sony Vaio notebook the Pete Townshend treatment - I put my fist through it. (Yes, it looks like a stained glass window.) I hadn't used a Mac in years, but I decided I'd had it with Microsoft and Windows. All it took was one weekend and a good book - "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual," by David Pogue -
however, and I mastered the machine.

(Other than the size of the screen, the 17-inch model is the same as the 12-inch one.)

SOFTWARE
The computer comes with some great software. iTunes is the best media player on the market. I have almost 5,000 songs stored on mine. With the search function and browser display, it is easy to find a particular song. iTunes also keeps track of the number of times you've listened to a song and it allows you to rate your songs. It's easy to create a playlist. Also, burning one of those playlists onto a CD can be done with one click.

Safari is a great web browser. It has a Google search box built into the toolbar, prevents pop-up ads (I've never had one), has tabbed browsing (preventing a cluttered desktop), and allows for bookmarks to be added with one click.

iChat allows Mac users to customize their AIM and Rendezvous chat sessions in ways that the normal applications don't allow, such as adding pictures from iPhoto to their profile.

I haven't mastered iPhoto yet, but it is downloading pictures from a digital camera is as easy as plugging it into the USB port and clicking a button.

Also, Macs are less likely to get a virus or be overtaken by spyware.

The iCal and Address Book look good, but if you are going to sync a PDA with your Mac, you are better off using Palm Desktop software. Hopefully the functionality of those programs will be improved in the future though.

Finally, most of the programs work with each other. For example, if someone on my iChat buddy list is online, a green dot will appear next to a message from him or her in my Mail inbox.

I also use Microsoft Office, Quicken, Dreamweaver MX, and Palm Desktop - they all work well on the Mac. Office shares files perfectly with PCs.

HARDWARE
Spend the money and get the superdrive (CD-RW/DVD-R). DVDs have more memory than CDs and blank DVD-Rs are becoming more affordable. If you are into collecting videos of concerts, a DVD-R is a must.

I'd recommend upgrading to at least 768 MB of memory and the 80 GB hard drive. Burning a DVD requires a lot of memory and can take a while - this way you can use other applications while burning a DVD (on my old PC, if I was burning a CD, I couldn't use anything else). The hard drive space is really cheap. Plus, if you load your CDs on your computer, they can eat up a lot of memory, even as MP3s (my 5,000 songs take up about 25 GB).

Also, there is a lot to be said for getting the Airport Exteme card (although you can buy a third-party base station for less). I am able to browse the Internet in any room of my house - well worth the extra $100 or so.

I have the 12-inch monitor, but that was because Apple hadn't released the 15-inch in the new style when I made my purchase. The 12-inch is fine - it's much clearer than my old PC notebook - but if I had the opportunity, I'd probably go with the bigger monitor.

DRAWBACKS
-While most software is available for Mac OS X, there are some programs that aren't (Google toolbar, Yahoo! toolbar, Kazaa, AvantGo) or minor problems in software that is available (Quicken can't access accounts on Ameritrade via Macs)
-The PowerBook doesn't have a fan, which is great for the battery, but can cause it to get a bit hot underneath where the user rests his left hand.

Regardless of those drawbacks, however, buying a Mac was an easy decision. If you have any questions about it, click on my profile and send me a e-mail.

UPDATE: After 14 months, the hard drive started making noise and system performance got slow and I couldn't run as many programs as I used to. I called Apple and had to spend $300 for them to put in a new hard drive and some other hardware. They were unable to transfer my data to my new hard drive, so I've spent the past four days reloading all of my software and applications. No idea why the hard drive went. Hence I dropped the rating from five stars to four.

See all 14 customer reviews...

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