Powerbook G4

[mac2geezer]

Just picked up an Aluminum G4 Powerbook, 1.5GHz, 1GB Ram, 80GB HD, with Apple charger and a new battery (5 cycles). My first laptop (I know, WAAY behind the times) so I'm kind of excited by it.

[gobabushka]

Congrats! You will love it!

[TheIanMan85]

Sweet!

One of these days I'd like to get myself a 1.5 or 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 as an example of the last and fastest of the PPC PowerBooks. Not in the budget now though.

What screen size did you get? I'm not sure which I want, I kind of think a 17" since I think it's too big for a daily carry-around 'Book, but I still want one. Keep in mind my current machine is a 13" MBP, and the last was a 12" PB G4... Kind of want the next MBP to be a 15".

Nice that it has a new battery so you can actually use it without being tethered to the wall too!

My only recommendation based on my 12" 867 Mhz PowerBook G4 is to be careful with the computer end of the power adapter. I always ended up buying at least one per year due to the ring separating. I swear I was trying t be gentle not yanking on them and unplugging it during travel as I do with all laptops... I'd get the MacAlly ones since they were half or less than the Apple ones after killing a few of those first. They didn't have the sweet charging light though. I'm so grateful for my MagSafe charger now!

[mac2geezer]

Should have said in the original post; it's the 15 inch model.

Thanks for the tips about the power adapter.

[Gorgonops]

Also re: the power adapter: I know it's redundant to say it, but be really careful not to trip over the cord when it's plugged into the laptop. The power socket is a notorious weak spot. (Like it is on most laptops.)

[TheIanMan85]

That is true Gorgonops, I should have mentioned that as well. I've certainly seen these machines with this issue. My own fortunately did not. (Yet, I still have it and would like to replace the hard drive and find a use for it one of these days...) Luckily Apple is usually pretty good at identifying weak spots like this and fixing them. Again, I think the MagSafe power adapter is great. There have been quite a few times I've accidentally caught my foot on my current power cord and it's just unplugged without breaking anything or dragging the computer off the coffee table with it. I'm trying to be more careful, I swear.

Back on the topic of the PowerBook G4, I also managed to break off the little screen latch somehow. Not sure if that's as common of an issue as the power adapters, but I'm throwing it out there. Not too big of a deal, after that I'd just turn it off to travel with it instead of putting it to sleep. Another design change for the better in my MBP, actually.

All minor things that can be avoided with care. Or in the case of the power adapter, replaced with a cheap aftermarket or used one. I stand by my comments that I'd like to bring my 12" 867 back to life and score myself a larger 1.5 or 1.67 in nice shape one of these days. I agree with gobabushka that you'll love it.

Reading your signature I don't see a laptop in there, so if it's your primary portable I think you made a good choice. The 17" is too big for my personal tastes to carry regularly, and while I loved my 12" for being small the 15" widescreen is nice for the extra screen real estate while not getting too big. That's all personal opinion so I respect anyone's argument against it.