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iBook 700 - reactions

blakespot

blakespot

Administrator
Original poster
Jun 4, 2000
1,373
169
Alexandria, VA
I got my iBook 12.1" / 700 / Combo / 40GB yesterday. Thought I'd share some reactions.

This thing is fast. My main machine is a DP G4 800, and the iBook still feels VERY responsive under OS X. (I have not tried OS 9 on the unit, nor do I plan ever to do so.) I don't have solid benchmarks but I get a very responsive game of Quake 3 at 1024x768 with all options turned to max aside from texture quality (as you need 32MB VRAM to take that to the limit without massive performance hit). All windows are very snappy, all apps seem to load very swiftly. I am genuinely impressed.

As most are aware, un-AltiVec-enhanced code runs at pretty much the same speed on equally clocked G3's and G4's. OS X is AltiVec enhanced, so G3's suffer, generally. But the IBM G3 "Sahara" used in the new iBooks really goes a long way towards making up for that. Aside from 512K of CPU-speed L2 cache, certain internal data pathways were quadrupled in bandwidth. The 100MHz bus doesn't hurt either. I would say the new iBook 700 must be running OS X as fast or faster than a G4 550, based on responsiveness. And the Radeon Mobility is no slouch either.

And the freedom of AirPort -- insane. It's like the first time you throw two monitors on one machine. It's not until you try it that you realize how terrible it was not to have been doing it that way all along. The only negative here--AirPort sucks battery in a big way. And I get great range with the base station up on the 3rd floor computer room--no problem with speed using the iBook down on the 1st floor. Nothing like watching Divx's being pulled wirelessly from the G4 upstairs, elsewhere in the house. I an definitely see going for the S-video cable to enable the iBook to be hooked to my 27" VVEGA in my entertainment center to watch Divx's on the couch. Finally.

Don't want to ramble on though. I am just very impressed.



blakespot
 
Thanks Blakespot.
It is nice to see a good review of this thing. I was hoping that the speed increase would be very visable. I have the 12.1 G3 600 iBook, and I love it. I cannot wait for my first G4 though.

Thanks again.
 
Interesting~

Happy to hear that its useable for OSX.
I want to get one for my girlfriend but have been worried about wether its
useable inthe future with considerations of OSX.

But if your really saying that its snappy, you are saying that right? Really snappy? Then I may go for it.

So battery life is bad with airport uhh I think I noticed that on my Ti also.
I havent tried battery life with Airport off yet.
Not certain if turning it, turns off the base station or what exactly.

How is iTunes on the iBook?
You can get data from your other computers via the Airport.
Not familiar with that ability, could you spare some words on that subject.

Do you use photoshop?
I would be interested in its speed there.
My girl plans to use it mostly for photography and music.
 
I also just got one of the new iBook 700's and the thing is great. The speed is more than adequate for my needs as a software developer, and it saved me $1000 over the price of the TiBook I was considering. I'm very glad I waited to see what the new iBooks were like before buying.

I'll be picking up RTCW in the next few days, and that will be the REAL test of performance... I'll post on how it goes :D

Now if Apple would just implement virtual desktops in OS X everything would be perfect...
 
Originally posted by sgw
Now if Apple would just implement virtual desktops in OS X everything would be perfect...
Click to expand...
I haven't tried it yet, but a quick search revealed Space.app. I think it's what you're looking for. Must try it on my iBook. (Would probably not run it on my dual head desktop G4).


blakespot
 
Originally posted by buffsldr
What is RTCW? And what are virtual desktops?
Click to expand...

RTCW is Return to Castle Wolfenstein, the game.

Virtual Desktop is the term used to describe a popular way to organize the open windows in your desktop. Imagine you hooked up a number of monitors to your computer and had a separate desktop for each. Virtual desktops would give you the same result, with just the one monitor.
 
Thanks, Britboy. I recall when I used Linux, long ago, that it had virtual desktop. You have a little "palette" that you can use to jump to different desktops, right?
 
I pulled 128MB of RAM from my i-opener temporarily until I am able to order a 512MB SO-DIMM to max out the unit at 640MB. Definitely swapping less than it was at 128MB, but I think 256MB is still a little light for OS X.


blakespot
 
girlfriend loves iBook

What I dont like or understand it that the iBook doesnt come with an airport card and only 128 megs of ram, when your forced to put these babies into it there is a price increase that makes it a little harder to buy.

But I think I am going to have to break down and get it for her.

Unless I wait for the next version, not certain what that will be, the G3 may not have legs to go beyond the 700 unless the Ti gets an upgrade!
 
Re: girlfriend loves iBook

Originally posted by Grokgod
What I dont like or understand it that the iBook doesnt come with an airport card and only 128 megs of ram, when your forced to put these babies into it there is a price increase that makes it a little harder to buy.
Click to expand...
I don't think Apple would put Airport cards into their low-end Macs. It just adds to the cost for those that don't want/need it. It doesn't make sense right now. Perhaps, in the future, when wireless networks become as ubiqutous as something like modems, we'll see them as standard issue.

As for the RAM, if anything, they should be putting in 256MB as the base amount. And leaving the slot open so that you could cram 768MB total. My philosophy is that a base model should have all of it's open RAM slots free.
 
Batt Life?

Thanks Blakespot for the info, you said the Airport sucks battery life on this, what is ratio do you see(approx) and how long do you estimate the battery would last for use with airport turned off?

Thanks! Well maybe no, because I am really seriously thinking of spendning money now! :rolleyes:
 
thanks blakespot for the ibook review

i think we will replace our old rev. a ibook next year and by then ibook will go a couple of hundred mhz faster (to 900 mhz)...maybe

great review
 
MY BOOK ROCKS

I have the 12inch 700mhz ibook and I have to say that it rocks. To me this is the most impressive product in the Apple line, especially when you think of the price. I'm so happy with this machine that it's almost scarry.

-----------------------------------

Technology has made my life complicated
because now I have no excuses.
 
Happy to hear that!

Glad to hear that your do contented with your new iBook!

But I must contend with your statement that the iBook is the best in the lineup!

The new 800 Ti is the greatest of all of macs best.
This new Ti has worked out all the kinks and its a full fledged KING of laptops.
No more bad issues , its all good now.

While I am certain that the Ibook is great, I vote for the Ti as Apples greatest despite the uhh price < cough cough > sorry choking on my own words.

Is OSX really that snappy on the iBook>?
 
Re: Happy to hear that!

Originally posted by Grokgod


Is OSX really that snappy on the iBook>?
Click to expand...

define snappy? ;-)

but as blakespot mentions, some improvements like 512k full speed level two cache (double what it was) and other improved pathways

i can't wait to check out the new 600/700 ibooks with the new level two cache on the g3 mobile processor
 
So, I just convinced a friend to buy one of the 12" 700MHz iBook, my first mac conversion. He should love it, especially after reading what was said on this thread....
 
you should see my dad convert people
he has converted 4 people, 2 work friends and 2 people at a computer store
he said try the new imac it has a DVD burner ans a flat panel display and they asked were the closest store was and they bought one :)
he's really good at it
 
The Art of Conversion

I am really good at it!

Some of the few that I have converted among the many.

I converted my roomate to an iMac from a HP.
I converted my girlfriend from her AMD box to a iBook.
I converted another friend to a PowerMac.. on and on!

I give off Apple radiation!
Those within my reach are influenced immediately.

I would tell you my sales job but thats a whole other thread to start.

On the iBook snappy issue.
I would say that if the scrolling and window sizing was fast enough that I would consider that SNappy. I have yet to hear any information on how Photoshop runs on an iBook, of course this is all OSX related!

Something I always tell PC people.
"Whats a PC, i look at them in earnest, you have a what? whats that?"

Of course it helps that I have a showroom at home with all the newest macs. :)
 
Re: The Art of Conversion

Originally posted by Grokgod
I am really good at it!

Some of the few that I have converted among the many.

I converted my roomate to an iMac from a HP.
I converted my girlfriend from her AMD box to a iBook.
I converted another friend to a PowerMac.. on and on!
Click to expand...

i converted a non-user to mac when she almost bought a dell...she could have been an IT client, but now she uses the imac, she does not need me

if i converted all my IT clients, i would definitely be out of a job...the mac repair place where i live also has to fix pcs to stay in business...that is where the bread is buttered;)
 
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