To fill in some of the gaps left by other reviewers.....

I sent my TiBook back to Apple for a RAM upgrade and got it back in 3 days not 7-10. The keyboard is the one of the best you can find on any laptop, notebook, portable, whatever you want call it. The screen is easily the the best on the market. Look around. The colors are accurate thanks to colorsync and you won't find a brighter, clearer screen anywhere.

I don't understand why someone would complain about a slot loading DVD/CDRW drive. Who wants stuff protruding from your laptop that can be broken off? Tray loading optical drives are cheaper and that's why they are found on bargain basement designs. This is a preference argument for sure. To each there own. I'll choose the one that looks better and still provides the same functionality.

There is nothing quirky about my TiBook. It does what I want it to without having download patches and virus software updates every week. When was last Windows mandatory patch? Oh, yeah, I forgot you can't get online because the Blaster worm keeps turning your computer off. I haven't had to turn off my machine in over three months.

Happy computing.

When my pc laptop fell and broke, I needed a replacement. I agonized over what to get. I needed the following:

1. A laptop that was light, with good speakers, combo drive, strong tech support, good keyboard, and a clear screen for graphics.

I borrowed a t20 IBM, and was happy with it. It ran Windows 98, 2nd edition. Tech support was available and helpful 24/7. The machine was light, and fast. The only problem was that it had an eraserhead, rather than a trackpad, and I needed a trackpad, because I've been developing carpal tunnel syndrome, or something....

So, in the end, I thought, and read the reviews. I couldn't afford an IBM T40 souped up. I heard Dell had seriously flawed support issues these days, same for Gateway.

I called the Apple Store, and asked about their tech support. Apple reps. boast about their award-winning technical support. Too bad they don't say who gave it to them.

So, I fell for it.

I bought a powerbook 15 inch, G4, 867 mgh, a week or so ago. It looked beautiful with a marvelous design. The graphics were fabulous, and the machine boasted a 32 mgs video ram card.

I had a terrible problem configuring the airport...and, the next night, I used it for a couple of hours. I was in incredible discomfort. I ended up with a sore on my thumb because the trackpad button was so, stiff.

I called tech support. They said bring it over to an Apple service center. The next day, I trotted over, dragging this baby which doesn't seem that light anymore, to two Apple places, including an Apple Store.

One wanted to send it out right away. Approximate return time was: 7-10 days.

The Apple Store refused to try and adjust it. A girl looked at it, and said it is consistent with others of the same ilk. It's the design, the 12 inch has a smaller button.

What was I supposed to do? Use an external mouse, or return it, and try one of their ibooks....

No good. I returned to the store where I purchased it. I was given a mouse, which was helpful. I was very annoyed, bec. the whole point of buying a laptop is not to use a mouse. Mind you, when I brought that point up to the person at the Apple Store, she said that Apple never promotes their powerbooks as laptops, only "portables," meant to be used on a desk, or table... (splitting hairs here?)

With mouse in hand, I began to use the keyboard. Apple promotes its "portables," as ergonomically designed. I don't know where the ergonomics come in with this machine. The keyboard, and trackpad are totally flat, there's no pitch to them, and the keys are squished up towards the screen. The trackpad button isn't split, but one long single piece. For right click options, you have to hold it down longer.

Instead of a cd/dvd tray, there's a slit in the bottom front of the machine, where you slide the disk in. A little scarey to watch your software cd be swallowed.

Using any of the ports is rather awkward. You have to reach around and open a metal slat that hangs open to use the usb, ethernet, and other ports. So, when I plug in the mouse, I have to use that, and I fear breaking it....

I don't know if my machine is defective, but I don't see where the screen is so beautifully clear. My text is rather fuzzy. I got better resolution on the IBM with a 16 mg video ram card, than this. The colors, and saturation, are beautiful, on the Apple.

The white apple on the top when you're using it glows a pale lavender, which is a lovely touch.

Finally, as for tech support, and the 3 year "Apple Care" warranty, I found the following (and, I'm repeating one thing):

1. Tech support is only available from 9am-9pm EST; 6am-6pm pacific. Don't they think people have problems at night?

2. Any machines sent to Apple take 7-10 days for returns. What happened to business and user friendly for that $349 warranty?

3. You don't always find the nicest people on tech support.

I called customer relations trying to have the keyboard somewhat modified, or for some assistance. They supposedly have universal access for people with disabilities.

Well, well....the message I got today from a representative is that if the trackpad button meets Apple standards then, they will do nothing to help me....get an external keyboard.

This is a shame. I was hoping I would get a desktop replacement in a laptop by buying this baby...

I sense that Mac these days is like a cult, in a class like Ikea and Saabs... quirky, and surprisingly, snotty.

Steve Jobs, you got the designs almost right, but don't you know that you need to support your users?

I should have gotten an IBM. Off to a bad start, I might have to lose the 15% restocking fee, to get a computer that works. Right now, I'm back on my repaired pc laptop. The keyboard is comfortable, and the buttons are springy and don't require a lot of work to use.

If you're interested in this machine, buy it from either MacMall or Macwarehouse.... One of them sells an extended warranty which includes accident protection for the screen, and 24/7 tech support, and other extras... for a little less than the AppleCare.

Sorry about my mixed review for you fans out there, I really did try...

Powerbook G4's DO have fans. I don't know what you're talking about. And the casing on almost all laptops heats up - especially high performance laptops. The purpose is to pull heat AWAY from the microprocessor. And people who say "You should sue if you get burned by a hot laptop" are the same people who say "You should sue if a television falls on you and breaks your foot - the television was obviously too heavy."

Secondly, yes, the keyboards can leave marks on the screen. But there are actually companies that manufacture pads that cover the keyboard when you close it, so it doesn't dent the screen. Oh no, 5 dollars!

And, additionally, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about because you don't "repair" a laptop monitor. I mean, it's just not done. You replace the entire thing (replacement titanium monitors start at - get this - 1300 dollars, so take good care of the one you have). This is why you have to be extra careful not to dent the one you have.

I hate things like this - people writing bad reviews about equipment and not knowing what they're talking about - or worse, making stuff up.

And I have no clue why this guy says that OSX is a bad operating system. It doesn't crash, doesn't freeze, doesn't do anything of the sort. Not just this, but Macs are much less succeptible to viruses than PC's, since no viruses are written in Mac/Unix format. So eat me, pal.

And yes, bus and mhz speeds are slower in macs. This is not unobvious. Macs have slower interfaces than PCs. People know this. But in PROCESSING applications, a mac g4 scales up about 2.4 times.

Right. Anyway, spurious reviews - either way - bother me.