<http://avebury.rackhenge.net/images/iBook-2400c/> I spent about an hour and a half with a new iBook today. I like it... I think I'll buy one. The above link will take you to some pictures I took, comparing the size to a PowerBook 2400c. The size is a great compromise between portability and the features shoehorned in (optical drive & screen particularly). Speaking of the screen, it is *very* nice. Also a great compromise between physical dimensions and resolution. As for the other things I liked: * Optical drive (still haven't decided on which one to get!) * Size of course. (just slightly larger than my 2400c. Little longer, little deeper, and about the same thickness.) * Weight. Easily held in one hand, just like the 2400c. It is just slightly heavier than the 2400c, but still fits and felt fine in my extra-small/slim MadsonLine leather briefcase that I've been using since I carried a Duo. * Ooooh that screen again! Nice. * The battery is very small, so carrying a spare will be easy. In fact in the space to carry one 2400c spare you could carry two iBook batts. The LED is a nice feature. Things that I'm neutral on: * The keyboard size. I actually got quite used to the 2400c's small keyboard. I'm a '2 finger guy' anyway, so keyboards are not that important to me. I'd have to spend more time with it to really form an opinion. * The color. I'll probably just paint it green anyway. =) Things I didn't like: * The case. It is slippery, shows fingerprints, and will likely get scratched and beat to hell real fast. * The clicker button is gigantic. Way out of scale with the rest of the device. * The latch seems very flimsy and will most likely get broken with some years' use. * The arrow keys are *miniscule* to the point of being useless. I much prefer the 2400c's compromise of allowing them to bulge 'downward'... this could have been done with some smart engineering, and even kept the 'popup' keyboard. * I *hate* the location of the 'control' key... it should be swapped with caps lock. My YU replacement keyboard for the 2400c has this, and as a long time 'unix weenie' it is IMHO, a far better layout. C'mon Apple. Fix this. * They've changed the AC power plug *again!* You would think the 5300 fiasco would have taught them... Oh well. The AC plug that has worked well for seven years (from the Duo series through the Pismo) has been abandoned for YA new design. My Lind car/air adapter will be history. * It took *forever* to boot and wake from sleep... at least running MacOS 9.1. I despise OS 9 anyway (I still run 8.6 on my 2400c) I'll but an iBook to run X anyway. What I didn't get a sense for is its usability, speed, etc. For me that would take several days of real-world use. Big thanks for Michael Koidahl of Westwind Computing <http://www.westwind.com> (the world's best Apple Dealer) for letting me get some time with his first demo unit. --chuck goolsbee geek wrangler, digital.forest inc, bothell, wa <http://www.forest.net> list mom, mac-mgrs mailing list... <http://www.mac-mgrs.org> ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> NineWire | If they are cool enough to host this list... Digital Solutions | ...you should check them out! http://www.NineWire.com/ Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
