CNET Editor's rating: 6.9 out of 10
Reviewed by
CNET staff
Review date: 12/12/05
Release date: 10/19/05
The good: Brilliant display has superfine native resolution; less expensive than prior version; DVD burner; improved battery life; includes Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor and ambient-light sensor.
The bad: Expensive; lacks a TV tuner card; has only two USB ports.
The bottom line: The 17-inch PowerBook G4 delivers a competitive set of features, a great software package, good battery life, and style in spades, but you can find plenty of less expensive options out there.
Apple's desktop-replacement model, the $2,499 PowerBook G4, has a gorgeous 17-inch display, and at 6.9 pounds, it's among the lightest laptops of its size on the market. It's also one of the most expensive. Like its 15-inch sibling, the 17-inch PowerBook offers a 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 512MB of RAM, and 128MB of dedicated VRAM, as well as a raft of multimedia-friendly features that make it particularly well suited for graphics work. The $500 difference between the two PowerBook models can best be chalked up to the 17-inch model's larger standard hard drive and its gorgeous 1,680x1,050 display. While we appreciate the beauty of the 17-inch PowerBook and love working on a screen that size, we're unconvinced that it's worth the inflated price. Again, we'd prefer to buy the more portable 12-inch model and use the money left over to buy an LCD monitor to use at home or at work.
Build-to-order options are scarce, but we'd recommend getting your 17-inch PowerBook G4 more RAM, since a professional-level machine should have more than the base 512MB. Get 1GB for $100 or 2GB for an extra $500. Aside from that, there isn't much to choose, unless you want to save $50 by replacing the slot-loading DVD burner with a combo drive, which doesn't burn DVDs. Since all PowerBooks come with 802.11g wireless and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR built in, they're already fairly complete. Now, if only they had TV tuner cards.
Intro:
This configuration of the Apple PowerBook G4 is a 6.8-pound, general-purpose notebook computer.Compared to other general-purpose notebooks on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $920.Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.Runs on the PowerPC G4 chip.Features ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 128MB of video RAM.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 17-inch screen size, which is larger than some similarly priced notebooks.In fact, the average cost of a product with this large a screen size is $1,615.Also, this notebook has 1680 x 1050 native screen resolution, which is somewhat higher than some similarly priced notebooks.In fact, the typical cost of a product with this high a native screen resolution is $1,685.
Weaker Features:
Only has a PowerPC G4 processor, which is considerably less efficient than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the HP Pavilion dv9525us, a 7.7-pound notebook at around $1, 000, has a Core 2 Duo processor.Also, this notebook has only 512 MB RAM, which is considerably less than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Acer Aspire 6920-6610, a 7.7-pound notebook at around $975, has 4 GB RAM.
Suitability:
A consumer level notebook, suited for general mobile computing.Preserve embarassing home movie memories for future generations by saving them onto DVD with this computer's DVD writer.Includes office-grade word processing software -- fine for most serious business or academic writers.With 128MB of dedicated video RAM, this machine will do very well compared to most other notebooks, when it comes to multimedia applications and games.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Web from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.
Value:
Given its relatively inexpensive price, this notebook has good features for the money.Generally, while it won't impress at LAN-parties, this item may be just the ticket for a buyer on a tight budget.
Suggestions:
(1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Internet more conveniently from any room.(2) To get the most out of this computer's Bluetooth capability, you could have a Bluetooth-enabled headset, handheld or other device, and be able to link it wirelessly to your computer within a range of 20-or-so feet inside the same room.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular The best Apple has made to date!
Cnet rates things in ways that make no sense. First they give it praise for all it's new features ...
Cnet rates things in ways that make no sense. First they give it praise for all it's new features and say it's less expensive then they give it a 6.9 rating. This is a superior pro machine. Funny thought, had this been a Dell with less features and higher cost it would have gotten at least an 8.0 rating. Cnet is Dell biased, I think they have a deal with Dell to rate their products high regardless of the quality.
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by dparkerjr (see profile) -
December 13, 2005
9 out of 10 - Spectacular CNET's review is worthless--This computer is blazing fast and super stylish
CNET's reviews are worthless. They gave this steller laptop a 6 because it has "only" 2 USB ports and ...
CNET's reviews are worthless. They gave this steller laptop a 6 because it has "only" 2 USB ports and no TV tuner? Let's see... what percentage of laptops out there have a TV tuner? Less than 1%? How many people even need to buy a laptop because it comes with a TV tuner? Am I going to watch TV during class or at a business meeting when I'm using my laptop?
And who cares about 2 USB ports? The Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P has 2 USB ports, and that didn't stop CNET from completely neglecting this fact and rating it an 8. Am I going to carry a mouse, printer, and external keyboard along with my laptop when I leave my home?
CNET needs to quit listing pathetic excuses to bias certain devices, such as this PowerBook. This is one of the BEST laptops anyone could ever own. While it is portable, it's much more of a hassle than carrying around smaller notebooks--you can't just slip this into a bookbag and walk out the door. I consider it more of a desktop replacement than anything due to it's size. On that note, this notebook is easily faster than nearly all of the desktops being sold online at Gateway, Dell, HP, etc. Can this even be compared to Dell's $299 desktop? That's like comparing a BMW to a used skateboard. Even a typical $1,000 "powerhouse" desktop system won't stand a chance in performance to this Apple Powerbook.
The display on this notebook is amazing. Pictures are incredibly crisp, and the resolution can be set higher than the max res. on my 19 in. monitor! This PowerBook runs superfast with hardly any noise--you'll only hear the fan if you actually try to, and that might be a challenge. The biggest downside (or upside?) of the PowerBooks is their very high cost, but you must remember: you get what you pay for. If you buy Dell's $299 notebook, you WILL get a $299 dollar notebook, and if you buy a $2,000 Apple PowerBook, you WILL get a $2,000 notebook!
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by tlp (see profile) -
December 14, 2005
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Awesome laptop! Best out there!
This is a great computer! I've had it for a year and it just keeps on impressing me. The ...
This is a great computer! I've had it for a year and it just keeps on impressing me. The fact that it only has two USB ports is not a drawback as I have a hub and my 23" cinema display has USB ports on it as well. Of all of the laptops that I looked at, this has the best display and an amazing OS. Internal storage capacity could be bigger now that saving music on your computer is the norm. Speed wise I have'nt been wanting either (and I work in CAD and 3D rendering programs). If this was a little less expensive, I would have bought it sooner. If you're a Mac user than you are less concerned with cost anyway (because you have no choice!).
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by velocity90 (see profile) -
December 29, 2005
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular U have to be joking right?
I cannot believe Cnet and its review. Please tell me that they were over tired when they wrote this one. ...
I cannot believe Cnet and its review. Please tell me that they were over tired when they wrote this one. Not sure and maybe i am behind the times, But I don't recall any laptop computers coming with a TV tuner. Maybe a desktop but not a laptop. If there are Laptop PC's with Windows OS that have TV tuners that are a standard, please by all means tell me. A keypad say like the one on the HP widescreen models of the same size would be the ideal draw back. I mean come on. They actually say lacks a tv tuner? As for the price of a Macintosh. Yup they are a bit expensive but when you work with one you know you have a solid computer that is gonna last a long while. Unlike the cheap sub $600. Laptops you might find at say Dell?
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by CrewInAZ (see profile) -
December 14, 2005
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Rock solid video editing performance. Great hardware for great software.
5yrs with Apple. FCP/iLife 05 I use this for remote site standard definition video work and it has been ...
5yrs with Apple. FCP/iLife 05 I use this for remote site standard definition video work and it has been very reliable and powerful. I thought the screen might be unwieldy to transport when I first purchased it, but I find I have gotten so used to the real estate - and compliments - I'm glad I didn't go smaller.
Honestly, Apple's software and harware are so well integrated with each other and so consistantly cutting edge it's worth getting their best hardware.
I have consistantly used my apple computers for 3 or 4 years after purchase. They are like buying a mercedes - expensive, but you get what you pay for.
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by Mike Charbonneau (see profile) -
December 14, 2005
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Review misses the point
People use Apple because they don't mind to pay for the best and that's what you get with ...
People use Apple because they don't mind to pay for the best and that's what you get with Apple products. I got tired of paying for Virus protection and Spyware protection and rebooting XP every day or two. I switched and left those days behind. Now I can't believe I every used a PC.
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by keaggy220 (see profile) -
December 14, 2005
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Excellent high-quality laptop.
The Apple PowerBooks are hands-down, in my opinion, the best laptops you can buy for personal use.
This one in ...
The Apple PowerBooks are hands-down, in my opinion, the best laptops you can buy for personal use.
This one in particular is fast, responsive, and I haven't experienced one single crash or "blue-screen" in the months that I have owned it. The many Microsoft-based computers that I have owned always had some kind of problem on a daily basis that required a reboot. The Macintosh OS-X operating system is rock-solid and the laptop includes great software such as Apple iLife. Switching to Mac from Windows was easy and OS-X is much easier to learn and use than Windows. Everything just makes sense - the user experience is hands-down 500% better than the Windows user experience.
On the hardware side, the graphics rendering engine (and its seamless compatibility with the OS-X operating system) is far superior to any Microsoft-Dell-Intel equivalent. This is a top quality laptop that includes a drop-resistant hard-drive and a beautiful illuminated keyboard. Get 1-GIG of RAM with it and you are typing on a machine others will be envious of.
I cannot praise this laptop enough. Brilliant screen, rock-solid O/S, and fast performance. What more could you want?
However, I would not purchase a Mac for business use simply because of the compatibility problems you may experience when trying to communicate and share files with the old, stoic, buggy Windows world. For personal use, though, this is definitely the way to go. The 12" and 15" powerbooks rock too.
I just wish Apple would reduce its prices by about 20%. That is the premium you pay for owning an Apple.
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by tanderson-cnet (see profile) -
December 14, 2005
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 out of 10 - Perfect Best Mac EVER
After using this computer for over a year for many hours a day, I really couldn't be happier. Apple ...
After using this computer for over a year for many hours a day, I really couldn't be happier. Apple really worked the bugs out before making this one. Worth every penny for excellent design all the way around. The software isn't too bad either.
10 out of 10 - Perfect Couldn't be happier
so happy i switched! now i hook my powerbook to the 23in screen and turn on my BT keyboard and ...
so happy i switched! now i hook my powerbook to the 23in screen and turn on my BT keyboard and mouse and blaze away. i'm doing my work instead of nursing a sick computer or digging deep into installation menus. when i'm finished with my legacy files in msword it's bye bye microsoft forever. clear bright screen. peripherals work and communicate by BT. tiger even goes out and finds the software. the wireless network works. all these applications. wow. 20 years of microsoft. b-bye. i love apple. this is such a sleek machine.
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by 1940 (see profile) -
May 25, 2006
10 out of 10 - Perfect The marriage of elegance and design
Overall, this laptop is simply the best design Apple has come up with since the PowerBook 100. It's performance ...
Overall, this laptop is simply the best design Apple has come up with since the PowerBook 100. It's performance is nothing to smirk at, even considering the MacBook Pro has started shipping. The screen is crystal clear and very responsive for LCD. Several of my Windows friends have taken one look at this laptop, were amazed with Mac OS X and purchased either a PowerBook G4 15.2 or iMac G5/Core Duo. For the long haul, a MacBook Pro might suit a customer better as this is the curtain call for the PowerBook line. Look for prices to drop within the next few months, then make the purchase
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by mustangwll (see profile) -
March 10, 2006
Wireless LAN antenna,
Bluetooth antenna,
Stereo speakers
Width
15.4 in
Depth
10.2 in
Height
1 in
Weight
6.8 lbs
Notebook type
Mid-size laptops (6-7.5 lbs.)
Screen type
Wide-screen
Wireless capabilities
802.11g,
802.11b,
Bluetooth
Processor
Processor
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz
Data bus speed
167 MHz
Cache Memory
Type
L2 cache
Cache size
512 KB
RAM
Installed Size
512 MB / 2 GB (max)
Technology
DDR II SDRAM - 333 MHz
Memory specification compliance
PC2-4200
Environmental Parameters
Environmental & energy standards compliance
EPA Energy Star
Min Operating Temperature
50 ?F
Max Operating Temperature
95 ?F
Humidity Range Operating
0 - 90%
Storage Controller
Storage controller type
IDE
Storage
Floppy Drive
None
Hard Drive
120 GB - 5400 rpm
Storage Removable
None
Hard drive type
Portable
Optical Storage
Type
DVD?RW (+R DL) - Integrated
CD / DVD read speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
CD / DVD write speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD?R) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL)
CD / DVD rewrite speed
16x (CD) / 4x (DVD?RW)
Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type
None
Display
Display Type
17 in TFT active matrix
Max Resolution
1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ )
Widescreen Display
Yes
Features
Ambient light sensor
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 AGP 4x
Video Memory
DDR SDRAM - 128 MB
Audio
Audio output type
Sound card
Audio Input
Microphone
Input Device(s)
Input device type
Trackpad,
Keyboard
Telecom
Modem
Fax / modem
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications
ITU V.92
Networking
Networking
Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported
Yes
Data link protocol
Gigabit Ethernet,
Ethernet,
Fast Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
Bluetooth
Networking standards
IEEE 802.11b,
Bluetooth 2.0,
IEEE 802.11g
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Bays
None
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
1 ( 1 ) x PC Card - Type I/II,
2 ( 1 ) x Memory
Interfaces
1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11,
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire),
2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A,
1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Display / video - S-video output,
1 x Display / video - DVI-Analog/Digital - 29 pin combined DVI,
1 x IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800),
1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
Zinio Reader,
GraphicConverter,
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive,
Apple Spotlight,
Apple DVD Player,
OmniOutliner,
Apple Mac OS X Mail,
Apple Hardware Test,
Apple Address Book,
Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Art Directors Toolkit,
Apple Safari,
Apple Dashboard,
Apple XCode Developer Tools,
QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition,
Drivers & Utilities,
OmniGraffle,
FileMaker Pro (Trial),
Apple iChat AV,
Apple iLife ?05
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008)
Manufacturer: Apple Specs: Motorola PowerPC G4 (1 GHz), 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X (Preinstalled), EPA Energy Star
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