Apple has done an outstanding job putting together this notebook. Talk about features and ease of use. On the desktop using Expose I can open multiple windows (Word, Excel, Power Point, Entourage, IE, AOL) and press one button to put all applications into a single view on the desktop “live” that means everything works in the background applications. I’ve never seen anything like this on a Windows machine, though it may be possible, the Mac works that way right out of the box.

Ever run out of things to do on your computer? My iBook works so well I finish my tasks quickly and efficiently and I find myself with more time than I had with my Windows Computer-because the Mac simply works. If you’ve ever done research on the Internet and wrote a paper at the same time, the Mac switches between Internet Applications, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD flawlessly. It’s hard to crash a Mac-though it can be done most users will never do this because it requires multiple requests through the bus and kernel. The Mac of course has a Unix based OS (what many Internet Servers run). This means the Mac can support many user profiles and their data (family members/friends). The iBook G4 has so many features it’s unparalleled; you must go Online and check it out for yourself.

My comments where not to down play Windows XP Pro because Windows XP Pro does work and is an outstanding operation system I paid some $399 odd dollars for it. Mac OS X is not only a good operating system it is a superior one and is underrated for some reason. Let me make it simple if you’re considering buying a new notebook. I enjoy using my Mac and I won’t need to buy another computer in two, three or even four years. If I choose to, I can upgrade and I’ll be just fine for years to come-great ROI (return on investment).

I own a dual-processor 1.25mHz G4 desktop and was expecting the iBook to feel sluggish by comparison. But it is surprisingly fast. Just be sure to have at least 512mb of RAM. 256mb is the bare minimum, in my experience. A second RAM chip is easy to add on your own.

As with Apple’s other products, the iBook’s build quality is top notch. There’s very fine attention to detail. The battery life of five hours is impressive. The LCD screen is bright and crisp. It’s a solid machine all around.

Then, there’s OS X, the UNIX-based operating system. That alone is worth the price of admission. It is such an elegant, powerful, intuitive and robust OS. If you’re currently using Microsoft Windows and have had problems with security and other issues … boy, are you in for a pleasant computing experience!

The bundled software is a good start for home users. AppleWorks has word processing, spreadsheet, database and drawing modules. This program will open and save Microsoft Word documents, too. Then, there’s iLife, a suite of great easy-to-use multimedia programs for editing video, making DVDs, creating music, and managing your digital photo library. (If your iBook comes with iLife ‘04 installed, you can send in a coupon to Apple to upgrade to the new iLife ‘05 package.)

The iBook has wireless capability (Airport Extreme) as a standard feature. I’ve been able to access the Internet with my iBook at coffee shops and the local mall. If you buy an Airport Extreme transceiver, too, you can have a wireless network within your home.

The iBook … right out of the carton, everything works just as you’d like!