Apple Computer Inc.’s iBook portables “maintain the Bauhaus good looks they’ve had since their introduction in 2001, but Apple’s value-added improvements make them even more attractive,” John P. Mello Jr. writes for The Boston Globe. “Apple has upgraded the processors in the new units. The model with the 12-inch display sells for $999 and has a PowerPC G4 chip running at 1.33 gigahertz. The 14-inch model, which sells for $1,299, has one running at 1.42 gigahertz …as part of Apple’s value-add strategy, it raised the floor for memory in its economy models to 512 megabytes. In addition to a larger complement of on-board memory, the new iBooks have a slot on the motherboard that allows you to supplement the notebook with an additional megabyte [sic: should read gigabyte] of RAM, for a maximum of 1.5MB [sic: should read 1.5GB].”
Mello Jr. writes, “Although some computer makers trim prices by integrating graphics components to share processing power and memory, the new iBooks graphics have their own power source: an upgraded ATI Radeon 9550 graphics card with 32 megabytes of RAM dedicated exclusively for handling video. Apple also boosted the hard drive capacities on the iBook’s base versions to 40 gigabytes for the 12-inch model and 60GB for the 14-inch unit… The new iBooks are robust wireless machines that include an AirPort Extreme card and Bluetooth 2.0 support. AirPort Extreme supports 802.11g wireless networks, which can move data at speeds up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps). By comparison, the average broadband connection supports 3Mbps. Bluetooth can be used for wireless connection of peripherals to the iBook. Computer shoppers looking for a high-grade notebook at a mid-grade price need look no further than Apple’s latest G4 iBooks.”
Full article here.
Advertisement: Apple iBook. Fast, light and full-featured. From $999. Free shipping.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
iPod Halo Effect strikes tech columnist, gets new Apple iBook after fifteen years of Windows – August 23, 2005
Apple unveils faster iBooks: 1.42GHz G4, 512MB RAM, Sudden Motion Sensor, scrolling TrackPad – July 26, 2005
Wow, an additional megabyte of RAM. That’s 513 in total then…
it reminds me of ten years ago when 1.5 megabytes of RAM was a big deal. Maybe it was more than ten years ago. 15 probably
I hear some of the newest apps require at least 513 MB.
Waiting for the Mactels…
Looks like that June 2006 date is going to slip some more….
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26433
Are there logic board problems with the g4 iBooks? I’ve just had mine replaced for the 2nd time, thankfully, under warranty. Especially disappointing as the replacement logic board failed within about a minute after turning on my iBook. i’ll be on my 3rd logic board in less than a year. =(
Also, does anyone know if the “reed switch” is on the logic board? Thanks. =)
me-
Who did you have do the service? Did you have a local apple authorized service center or did you call apple do the repair via mail?
Authorized service centers tend to not get it right all of the time. They’ll replace a part if they “think” it is the problem, and sometimes you have to bring in back 2 or 3 times while they try to guess the problematic component. I have seen the best repairwork come from apple directly. The shipping both ways is free, so it doesn’t cost any extra.
Sorry for any typos, i had to type this quickly.
ps I recommend applecare if you dont’ already have it. Any out-of-warranty ibook/powerbook repairs usually cost more than the computer is worth.
IIRC the reed switch is in the lid, not a very easy or fun home repair but it is doable… I have had to replace the hard drive twice by myself.. a far easier repair job.
me-
To answer your 2nd question, the reed switch is a small transistor-looking thing that comes with a multi-wire connector. It is separate from the motherboard and a replacement costs $20-30. It would cause display/sleep issues more than logic board problems.
i brought the computer to the Apple Store. They replaced my logic board and when i got it back, i booted it up and just after everything was finished loading, the screen went blank. The battery was almost full, it wasn’t sleeping but the screen suddenly went blank and no key tapping would bring it back.
i pressed the power key for a while and restarted it, reset the power management unit but the screen blanking happened a few more times. The Apple Store took it back, did diagnostics and said they were replacing the logic board, again.
i searched on the web and actually think it might be the reed switch… but i could be wrong.
Sorry, i didn’t mean to turn this into a troubleshooting session but i really appreciate your replies. =)
RE: Reed switch
The reed switch contains the sensor telling the iBook to go to sleep when you close it. Additionally, the Reed Switch cable contains the backlight power cable for the display. If you “light” goes out on your screen but you can kinda sorta see that there is stuff on the screen, but just isn’t lit, it is most likely a bad reed switch cable.
The iBook logic board issues are a slightly different problem. Many (ie: most) iBook G3 models have a problem where Apple did not put a little plastic retainer around the video processor chip. This chip can make contact with the faraday cage (the metal sheet on the bottom) and cause the chip to fail. Replacing the logic board with a working one and installing this insulator fixes the problem.
And to CampusComputerStoreGuy, I would be careful about classifying all independent apple dealers in the same category. I work for one that has very high standards, and has a nonexistant service return rate for problems. There are some dealers that aren’t as good. There are some techs at “Apple” that aren’t as good either.
Years ago, I worked on a computer with 4 ko or RAM. It was interesting!