Apple iBook G4 unboxing, test & first impressions

This is my first "modern" Macintosh, although it is already six years old! This was Apple's last version of the 12-inch iBook from 2005, with a 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 768 MB of RAM (upgradable to 1.5 GB), a 40 GB hard drive, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo drive. The seller updated it to Mac OS X 10.5.8 (the last version that will run on a G4), and added the usual array of Apple applications as well as Microsoft Office 2008.

Mac OS X is grapically beautiful and seems quite intuitive, although many things work differently than Windows and I'll need some time to figure it out. I was able to get iMovie HD '06 working fine, though -- editing this video was a breeze, with a precise timeline view and very responsive cutting and joining of the video clips. The downside of the old G4 processor is that encoding the 13-minute video to QuickTime H.264 format took 2 hours and 42 minutes! But the quality came out surprisingly good despite being a very low bitrate (the file is only 118 MB).

If nothing else, this iBook will be a good introduction to Mac software, to help me get used to it and decide for myself if/when I want to save up and upgrade to a new(er), much faster Mac. It also gives a good testament to Apple's durability, because despite signs of heavy use (scratches all over, worn touch pad, loose LCD bezel), it still works perfectly, and what I presume is the original battery is still holding a good charge.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• yt:stretch=16:9
• apple
• ibook
• mac
• macintosh
• laptop
• notebook
• macbook
• powerpc
• g4
• processor
• 12-inch
• white
• 2005
• model
• osx
• 10.5.8
• leopard
• imovie
• hd
• 06
• unboxing
• first
• test
• demo
• review
• impressions

[WACstudios187]

hey, i need this to help me upload call of duty vids with a easy cap is it capable of atleast imovie '08 with out them scamming you? please answer and can i put aduio stigs in it please answer

[vwestlife]

@WACstudios187 I have no idea.

[Crazye1974]

Hey does it work well with vids? Also does it have a webcam?=)

[vwestlife]

@Crazye1974 No, and no. In retrospect, getting a G4 was a mistake. I should've saved my money for something newer!

[Mammothboy110]

what a sitey computer

[vwestlife]

@Mammothboy110 "Sitey"?

[The2006macbook]

@WACstudios187 ask adrid22 he knows everything there is to know about these computers

[justwolfslife]

orange means its charging the battery

[Samthebam4044]

@WACstudios187 What you on about, your not awfy clear as to what exactly you need. I take it your loooking to upload CoD videos with this iBook G4. The answer is it should be OK if your filming with a Standard-def camcorer at 640x480 and with sound, but for anything higher resolution it might struggle abit

[Samthebam4044]

@Crazye1974 I'll pitch in here for you mate, try one of the entry level Dell XPS or HP Pavilion models, also ASUS makes some very good entry level models. Really you could also buy a brilliant 2dn hand year old Macbook Pro for a few hundred bucks, bargain honestly you should try stretch to 1000 you'll be thankful you did.

Cheers

[Samthebam4044]

@Crazye1974 Isight camera'll fix the 2nd problem, as for the first, vWestlife's right, youtube and video editing probably are too complicated for this aging machines ability, shame really as there isn't much reason as to why, aside from HD Video of course. Lovly machine I think I borrowed a G3 iBook, one of the cleanest and tidiest laptops I ever had.

[hussainpilot05]

You should probably purchase the 2011 Mac Book Air i5.

[Crazye1974]

@vwestlife

Wow!! Ya I want a laptop 4 my 14th bday but I don't want to spend like 1000 dollars on it! Do you have a laptop that you recommend for starters?=)