Mac Laptops: G4 PowerBooks

By Jonathan Berohn

Even before Apple threw the Mac world into upheaval by announcing its switch to Intel chips, the question of whether the G4 PowerBook was worth the cost was far from settled.

Topping out at well over $2000, the PowerBook is certainly not a bargain laptop by anyone's description.  Nonetheless, its combination of features and performance still make the G4 PowerBooks attractive options to anyone-especially anyone who already uses a Mac-who wants a high-end laptop.

Features

G4 PowerBooks are stuffed full of top-of-the-line features.  The processor is excellent.  The graphics are great.  It's got plenty of memory and storage.  You can choose a model with DVD burner.  Its wireless functionality is first rate.  In short you can get just about anything you want on a PowerBook.  There are plenty of cheaper machines out there to be had, but for the features the Mac offers, it's actually fairly competitive with high end Windows lap tops on price.

The Downside

As you might expect, this discussion begins with price.  Not everyone wants to spend $1,500 to $2,000 on a laptop.  This is increasingly true when you factor Apple's impending switch to Intel technology.  No one wants to spend that kind of money if they run the risk of seeing their computer become obsolete in short order.

The Right Fit

The question then is obviously, who should consider the G4 PowerBooks?  Well, one thing to think about if you are a Mac user is how much would it cost you to switch to a cheaper Windows laptop?  If you use a lot of different software, this figure adds up quickly.  Even if you just use MS Office, tack $250 on to the price of your Windows laptop right there.  When you start to add in anti-virus and utility software (and games, of course), the transition costs keep mounting.

Even for Mac users, though, the PowerBook still isn't for everyone.  if your main computer is your desktop, then you might want to consider the lower-priced iBook series for your laptop needs.  If, on the other hand, you want to replace your desktop with a laptop, the PowerBook is still the way to go.  It has the power and functionality to serve as your main computer, and it does it at a price that rivals similarly configured Windows laptops.