Although the G4's keyboard felt slightly spongier than previous PowerBook keyboards, we found it comfortable to type on. We did have to get used to the G4's larger trackpad, however. We kept brushing our fingers across it, causing the cursor to jump around like a peripatetic flea.
During tests, the bottom of the G4 grew quite warm after about an hour of constant use, but the heat was confined to the central area. To help dissipate the heat build-up, the G4 includes a fan that we think should have come on more often.
Although the PowerBook G4 draws more battery power than the previous G3-based PowerBook, we found running time with the G4 on a battery averaged about 3.5 hours, equivalent to the PowerBook G3. Unlike the Power Book G3, the PowerBook G4's slim design doesn't allow a second bay for another battery.
To help make up for the lack of a second bay, Apple has included its Power Step technology with these latest PowerBooks, which let us step down the processor speed to extend battery running time. With the Reduce Processor Speed option checked in the Energy Saver Control Panel, we were able to run the PowerBook G4 an average of 4 hours.
Plenty of room to expand
As with previous models, two ram slots are provided under the easily removed keyboard for memory expansion. The G4 uses SO-DIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) RAM and can support up to 1GB of RAM through the use of two low- profile 512MB SO-DIMMs.
Adding an 802.11b wireless Airport card is another story, though. Users must remove the eight screws that secure the bottom titanium cover and pry off the bottom to reach the internal Airport card slot. Although we installed the card with not too much trouble, getting the bottom back on without bending the flexible titanium cover was a bit dicey. We recommend leaving Airport card installation to a dealer.
The PowerBook G4's all-in-one design includes all of the expansion ports of its predecessor. In addition to an IEEE 1394 FireWire port, the G4 includes a 10/100BaseT Ethernet port, two Universal Serial Bus ports, a VGA connector, an S-video port, a PC Card slot and a 56K-bps internal modem.
Although there's also a port for an external headphone, we missed having an external microphone port. Its absence kept us from using a speech-recognition headset with the PowerBook G4.
Apple ships the G4 with the same circular power supply as previous models, but the power connection socket is smaller to accommodate the G4's slim design and, hence, not interchangeable with earlier PowerBooks.
Apple PowerBook G4
Buy online:Apple Computers Australia
Company:Apple Store
Price:
•400MHz configuration AU$5,495
•500MHz configuration AU$7,495
Contact:13 36 22
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