Opinions Requested.... the iBook

[kybearfuzz]

I got my final itinerary for my trip to Ireland today. I leave in two weeks.

• June 24 to July 1st -- Limerick, Ireland
  
• July 1st to July 8th -- New Ross, Co Wexford, Ireland
  
• July 8th to July 15th -- Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
  

I am pondering buying an iBook for the trip with the built-in Airport connection for the wireless internet. I emailed all of my hotels to see if WIFI is available at their locations and am still waiting for a response.

Does anyone in LJ-land have an iBook? What's your opinion of it? I have a G4 tower at home, and I love my Mac stuff. I'm looking at the 12 inch iBook because I figure it would be easy to transport. I have a work laptop, but it has so much security I can't surf the web with it without dialing in to DC.

Comments

[jguy70.livejournal.com]

Why yes, I do have an iBook and a G4 tower at home too. :) This is a pretty fine combination. The iBook is used mostly for surfing and email. In fact, I have the 12 inch iBook G3 and it does a great job at that and is so easy to transport that I cary it AND my work laptop (a PowerBook) back and forth each day. :) Keeping the personal business on the personal laptop.

So, in conclusion, I say go for it. You might want to look on Apple's refurb site. You can find some fantastic deals if you don't want the latest and greatest AND with the recent Intel announcement you won't be taking a bath on it quite so much ;)

Good luck.

[vwcub.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. The g4 iBook is a really great laptop. Whenever I travel for work I use the 15" version. I think if all you are planning on doing is surfing the net with it, the 12" should be fine, but if you plan on doing any work stuff, then I would really consider the larger one.

[jkusters]

I have an iBook (2.5 years old at this point). I love it. It's a great "personal" computer, the one you have in the living room or the bed room when you just want to browse the web, do email, write in Word, and stuff like that. Battery life on mine could be better (I generally get about 3 hours on a charge), but the newer models might be much improved.

If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to take a crack at 'em.

JOhn.

[xkot.livejournal.com]

One great thing about Apple laptops is they retain their resale value very well. If you do get one and decide it isn't for you, it's easy to find another owner without taking much of a loss.

[cincy-dave.livejournal.com]

I have a 12 inch iBook and a Cube for my desktop. I love them both.

[artsycub.livejournal.com]

An iBook is great, especially since you'd be used to the OS. In my opinion, the iBooks aren't quite as snazzy (or portable, if I remember correctly) as the PowerBooks, but you don't really need a PowerBook unless you feel like shelling out a few hundred extra buckaroonies.

[boobooirl.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Wifi in Ireland? How good are the hotels you are staying in? Not surprisingly, I haven't stayed in many hotels in Ireland, but I don't think that it's going to be available in many places. You might be lucky though!
For a country that is a big producer of computers and electronics, internet facilities for everyday people still aren't the best. Broadband is only starting to take off now there.
You'll most likely find decent internet cafes in Limerick (it has a big student population), but it might not be so easy in New Ross. You might have to resort to dial up there.

[bookish-cub.livejournal.com]

I have an opinion...not about the computer, but about your icon:

I like it!!!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. I like yours too ;)

[bookish-cub.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[arktos62.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think I might be able to make it down to England to see you there. Keep me posted on your timetable.

[davemassive.livejournal.com]

Slow on the uptake, I know, but suffer me here a little bit.

For the iBook ... I generally find it hard to convince Apple users that they don't want an Apple for their next computer. :) An iBook would probably be fine for most of your "travelling needs" that aren't work-related -- just note that iBooks max out at 1.33GHz processor speed and 133MHz bus speed (where you could probably get an Intel-based laptop with 1.60GHz/533MHz for about the same price).

For the trips ... we're gonna miss you while you're in Ireland (I'll be in Oxfordshire through most of that), but I'll also be there July 11-15, so expect H and I to give you some company.

[cincycub.livejournal.com]

iBooks are hot. I had a first-generation "clamshell" model (aka Miss Kitty purse) and adored it.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

A "Miss Kitty" purse? LOL!

[cincycub.livejournal.com]

It's true! Check it! Here's a picture (mine was blue)