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iBook as Your First Mac

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Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.

OWC: Burn DVDs, DVD-DL, CDs, DVD-Ram - FAST! Superdrive upgrades from OWC starting from $31.99 with options for nearly every Mac. Models with Lightscribe, Blu-Ray too!

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

MacBook/MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO DDR2 667Mhz 4GB Kit $84, 3GB Kit $60, 2GB Kit $40 1GB $20. Click to Maximize your Macs...

July 30, 1999 - Dan Knight

One-third of iMac owners bought the iMac as their first computer.

For those of us who have been computing nearly forever (I got started in 1979), it's weird to think that some people don't even have their first computer yet. But it's true - a lot of people have yet to take the personal computing plunge.

Back in the 1970s, Kodak discovered that a lot of people didn't carry their cameras because they were too bulky, so they invented the Pocket Instamatic. Those 110 cartridges remain with us today, and a generation has grown up with compact, easily transported cameras.

The same market exists in computing, a market Palm practically owns. But the Palm is a supplementary computer. If you don't already have a computer, you probably wouldn't be interested in buying a Palm.

For those who don't yet own computers and demand portability, the iBook is very price- and feature-competitive with value-priced Windows laptops (see The Price Is Right).

Better yet, the iBook is more rugged than other budget laptops, is friendlier (it even smiles when you turn it on), and offers the Pentium-toasting G3 processor.

You can even pick your color scheme, something unavailable (as far as I know) with any other portable computer.

For the first-time buyer, the iBook offers all the features of the iMac, but in a portable package. The extra $400 buys 6 hours of battery life in a computer that readily travels between home, workplace, school, library, and hotel room.

If you don't already own a computer, the iBook definitely merits consideration. It's fast, rugged, easy to use, and likely to stay with you for years. (Really. Ask most Mac owners how many years they keep using their older Macs. Then ask Windows users the same thing. You'll probably find Mac users keep their computers about twice as long before replacing them, which makes the cost of ownership per year lower than for Windows computers.)

But don't take my word for it. When your local Apple dealer, Sears, and CompUSA have the iBook in September, stop by and look it over. I think you'll find the balance of features make it a wonderful first computer - and a good value, as well. LEM

Recent Content on Low End Mac

  • Mac malware count reaches 3, desktop PCs making a comeback, Mac mini in the living room, and more, Mac News Review, 07.25. Also the 'second coming of Apple' threatens Microsoft, McCain and Obama are Mac users, standing up for Steve Jobs, Apple and Acer tied for #3 in US market, and more.
  • Best Power Mac G4 deals, 07.25. Used 450 MHz AGP, $79; 533 DA, $100; 733 DA, $199; 1.25 GHz MDD, $375; 450 MHz dual, $200; 867 dual, $300; 1 GHz dual, $395; 1.42 dual, $500.
  • Best iBook G3 deals, 07.25. Used 366 MHz clamshell, $150; 500 MHz CD, $169; 600, $200; 800, $250; 600 CD-RW, $240; 900 Combo, $299; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
  • Best Apple TV deals, 07.25. Refurb 40 GB Apple TV, $199; new, $224; refurb 160 GB, $279; new, $322.
  • Mac of the Day: 'Mirror Drive Door' Power Mac G4, Aug. 2002 - Dual CPUs from 867 MHz to 1.25 GHz on the most powerful Mac to boot OS 9.
  • List of the Day: PowerBooks covers pre-G3 PowerBook users.
  • July 25 in LEM history: 97: Dream Machines - 01: I'm not paying $20 for my OS X upgrade - Recording music on your Mac - The curse of being Apple - Guide to rare and collectible Macs - 02: Macs not just for designers - The iTools bait and switch - 03: The many failings of BuyMusic.com - Biking with a 'Book - 06: 2 weeks for repair is excessive - 23 reasons Zune is doomed - 07: iPhone: Apple's $3 billion cash cow - External video for a G3 iMac
  • Could a minitower Mac be Apple's 'transitional product'?, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.24. The Mac mini has been on the market for 3-1/2 years, and some owners are ready to move on to something more flexible and powerful.
  • The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
  • Best MacBook deals, 07.24. Used 1.83 GHz SD, $825; 2.0, $845; refurb 2.1 GHz Combo, $949; 2.4 SD, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1 Combo, $1,019 after rebate; 2.4 SD, $1,212 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
  • Best iMac G5 deals, 07.24. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $450; 1.8, $500; SuperDrive, $530; 1.9 iSight, $630; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
  • Best iPod touch deals, 07.24. Close-out 16 GB (2007), $350; refurb 8 GB, $199; new, $289; refurb 16 GB, $299; new, $370; refurb 32 GB, $429; new, $475.
  • More links in our archive.

Go to the 'Book Page.

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.

OWC: OWC Mercury On-The-Go FW400/800/USB2/eSATA Portables High Performance A/V Rated, **Bus Powered** **Up to 500GB in the Palm of your Hand** Macworld Editor's Choice, CNET 'Very Good' - from $75.99!

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

New MacPro Memory 800Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $104 / 4GB $172 / 8GB $338. Click to Maximize your Macs...


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