Looking for a new portable Mac? If you are, you may be unsure of
which portable to get. There are two Mac portables available right
now: the PowerBook, and the iBook. The decision can be hard - unless
you buy both (not too many people can afford both, though).
The iBook is marketed to the student or teacher who wants
something to take notes on, type up papers, 
and access the Internet. The current iBook has a
FireWire port and a video out port, so you can give presentations
and make your own desktop movies.
The PowerBook G3 is for business users who want a powerful
machine that they can bring with them wherever they may need it. It
is also for those who want a bigger screen and more expandability
than the iBook has to offer.
Both machines are fast, Internet ready, and come with a long
lasting battery.
The iBook
At 366 MHz, the iBook works well for almost anything you might
want to do. The iBook has built in ethernet, so you can connect to
a network or transfer files between your Mac and someone else's.
The iBook still has a 56K modem and a USB port, but it now includes
a FireWire port and video out ports as well. FireWire allows you to
attach external devices such as CD-RW drives, video cameras, and
hard drives. The video out port allows you to connect your iBook to
a TV or projector to make presentations, which you couldn't do with
the original iBook. It also comes in
new colours - Indigo and Key Lime. The iBook special edition comes in Key Lime
or Graphite with a larger hard drive and a G3 processor running at
466 MHz instead of 366.
The iBook has Internet in it's name (the "i" stands for
Internet). When you first turn on your new iBook you see a screen
asking if you want to sign up for Internet Access. If you click
Yes, you will be asked to answer some questions. After that, the
setup program configures your computer to use your account. From
there you can log on and access the Internet.
The iBook comes with a 6 hour battery. Okay, it doesn't really
last quite 6 hours (it usually lasts about 4.5-5 hours), but it
certainly does better than the batteries in most other
portables.
The PowerBook
The PowerBook is available in 400 MHz or 500 MHz. Both models
include 2 FireWire and 2 USB ports, 
as well
as a 56K modem, a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port, a VGA video port,
and an S-video out port.
The PowerBook also features easy Internet Access with much the
same setup as the iBook.
The PowerBook comes with a 4 hour battery (it lasts about 3
hours) and a DVD-ROM drive. You can install two batteries and get
longer battery life than even the iBook!
Making the Choice
If you are planning to be doing general word processing,
Internet, and some occasional games, the iBook might be the best
way to go. Keep in mind that it has a 12.1" screen and can only
display the 800 x 600 resolution.
If you are planning to do photo editing and/or want to have more
expandability, the PowerBook, with it's 14.1" 1024 x 768 screen,
would be the way to go. Keep in mind, though, that a new PowerBook
model will almost certainly be introduced at Macworld Expo in
January. You may want to wait for that model to appear before
purchasing a new portable.
Whatever you choose, I recommend buying a good case for it, and,
if you carry it around a lot, using Apple's password protection. A
computer like this is an expensive investment, and you must take
all measures possible to keep it safe.
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