Apple 15-inch PowerBook G4

In Brief

If you're looking for a new Mac laptop, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 hits the sweet spot in trading off features for size and weight. It's a true desktop replacement machine with every possible expansion port that weighs less than six pounds. Wi-Fi (802.11g), Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet and a 56K modem are all built-in, making networking a snap. And the CD-RW/DVD-R SuperDrive, 80GB hard drive, and 1.5GHz processor add up to one powerful machine. We also love the many video output options, and the bright, widescreen LCD that makes DVD viewing a pleasure on long plane trips. Just be sure to bring an extra battery, since this machine is a power eater.

In Depth

We've come to expect eye-popping industrial design from Apple, and the sleek new PowerBook line, with its alluring aluminum casing, as usual manages to make the competition look downright dowdy. But also as usual, there's substance under that burnished facade, especially for wireless road warriors.

All PowerBooks, from the 12-inch super-portable right up to the 17-inch widescreen object of desire, now include AirPort Extreme 802.11g cards as standard equipment. All also sport Bluetooth, 56K modems and built-in Ethernet, so there is absolutely no excuse for not being able to get online, wherever you are. The 1.5GHz 15-inch model, reviewed here, also boasts Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), for top networking performance, plus USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 ports, for maximum expandability.

Likewise, the 1.5GHz CPU, souped up video processor and 80GB hard disk are made for heavy-duty computing. Unless you are doing extremely processor- or disk-intensive tasks, you won't notice a big difference in performance from a desktop Mac. Wi-Fi performance is also very good, with a range vastly improved over the earlier Titanium PowerBook G4.

The other major laptop design issues are screen, keyboard, and pointing system. Here again, the 15-inch PowerBook stands out from the pack. The bright, widescreen LCD won't leave you wishing for a separate monitor, although it is slightly higher resolution than the Titanium PowerBook, making it harder to read for some people. I'm happy for the extra screen real estate, however. The full-size keyboard is responsive and crisp, with more positive feedback than the Titanium keyboard. It even has backlighting that comes on automatically in low-light conditions. While the lighting level is adjustable with function keys, we wish there was a way to turn it on manually, since it doesn't always come on when needed, or may flicker on and off as ambient lighting varies. And the trackpad's mouse button is too stiff for my liking, requiring more force to press than in earlier models, but the click-and-drag option helps alleviate thumbstrain. However, I would also like to see a scroll feature, as in most Windows notebooks (more on both of these in the Cool Tips section. Users of the Titanium PowerBook will also appreciate that the keyboard in the new PowerBook transfers little if any finger oils to the screen, thanks to a tiny gap between the top and bottom of the case.

The new 15-inch PowerBook reviewed here is an update to the original aluminum models released last fall, with a faster CPU, faster video card, faster SuperDrive and AirPort Extreme standard across the board. Apple has also resolved some production issues that marred the introduction of the original models: latches that wouldn't latch, and white spots on the screens. We had no problems on either front, and user reports seem positive. Another improvement seems to be that the new models run much cooler than the originals. Our review unit ran lukewarm to the touch on the bottom of the case, while our original aluminum model runs downright hot on the bottom and very warm on the top. Other users' experiences seem to confirm this.

Road warriors will be disappointed however, in the battery life, which is reduced from the 3 hours we got with the Titanium models to a little over 2 hours in real-world terms, although Apple claims 4.5 hours. To maximize battery life, be sure to turn on the various energy saver settings, and set the processor performance mode to "automatic." This will both lessen power drain and reduce heat output. Also turn off the AirPort and Bluetooth radios when not in use.

On the other hand, desktop presenters could not ask for more in a laptop, with umpteen video output options (DVI, VGA, S-video and composite), and both video mirroring and dual display modes. Bring along a Wi-Fi portable projector, and you'll be all set to present in any environment.