Editor's Note: We decided to take a look at the new 12" PowerBook because it seems like a tempting choice for developers "on the go" who want to upgrade from their iBooks. This notebook has some of the iBook's desirable features, such as compactness, good AirPort reception, and connections running along the left side instead of hidden in the back; and some of the benefits of a TiBook, most notably the G4 processor. Then, just for fun, there are the bonus features of an AirPort-Extreme-ready slot and integrated Bluetooth.
But a few PowerBookish things are missing too, such as a PC card slot, L3 cache, and Gigabit Ethernet, so I wasn't sure whether we could recommed this machine to developers or not. To help render a verdict, I asked Wei Meng Lee, who is a developer on many platforms and a writer for O'Reilly, to provide us with some insights from his "developer point of view" about Apple's newest addition to its current notebook lineup. Here's what he had to say.
Ever since Apple announced the availability of the two new G4 PowerBooks at MacWorld SF 2003 this last January, many folks have been eagerly waiting to try them out. Originally I was considering the 17" model for its large screen, powerful processor, and fast cache. But I got tired of waiting for actual shipment dates, and instead ordered the svelte 12" model, which cost me less and was more readily available.
Since this is my first Macintosh notebook, I was very anxious to put it through its paces to see how it performed. These are the features that jumped out at me.
The 12" model is powered by an 867MHz PowerPC G4 processor, with 256K of L2 cache memory. It comes with 256MB of PC2100 (266MHz) DDR SDRAM. The 12.1" screen supports a maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 and the NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go graphics card comes with 32MB of DDR SDRAM. The PowerBook was loaded with Mac OS X 10.2.3.
The 256MB of memory consists of a built-in 128MB chip and 128MB in the SO-DIMM slot. The problem here is that if I were to upgrade the memory, I'd have to remove the 128MB module from the SO-DIMM slot and replace it with a higher-capacity one (currently the Apple Store offers a maximum upgrade of 512MB, bringing the total to 640MB, but rumor has it that Apple will offer a memory chip that will boost RAM to 1GB). So if I do upgrade, what do I do with the extra 128MB? Beats me!
In terms of hard disk storage, I went with the 40GB 4200RPM Ultra ATA/100. The drive provided by Apple is not the top end. Since at the spindle speed tops out at 4200RPM, the hard drive will most likely be a bottleneck for performance. I'd prefer a better-performing 5400RPM drive, and would pay a little more if one were offered from Apple at time of purchase.
For external storage, I opted for the SuperDrive over the standard Combo Drive, which allows me to write DVDs at the speed of 2X. The slot-loading SuperDrive is great, and I don't miss the clumsy loading tray, which is still standard on most notebooks, one bit.
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For wireless networking, the 12" PowerBook is AirPort-Extreme-ready (meaning the card is extra) and is Bluetooth-enabled. AirPort Extreme uses the draft specification of the 802.11g (54Mbps) wireless standard. Unfortunately, the 12" model does not support existing AirPort cards, so if you want 802.11, you have to spend an extra 100 bucks US. But in all honestly, this is a price you need to pay, considering the proliferation of wireless hotspots these days. Besides Bluetooth, the 12" PowerBook also comes with the standard 56K v.92 modem and the 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connector (that's right, no Gigabit Ethernet as on the 15" and 17" models).
The various connectors are all on the left side of the PowerBook, providing both convenience and a very clean look.
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Figure 2 shows the layout of the various connectors:
One interesting thing to note: while most current PCs and Intel notebooks come with USB 2.0, it comes as a surprise that Apple is still sticking with USB 1.1. But as Derrick Story said in his weblog (see "Forget About USB 2.0 on the Mac"), one of Apple's reasons for not embracing USB 2.0 could be its threat to the IEEE 1394 FireWire standard.
Another notable missing feature is the lack of a PCMCIA card slot. This is not surprising, given the small footprint of the 12" PowerBook. Currently I'm not missing it too much, since most of the connections I need are already built-in or can be added via USB or FireWire. However, it sure would be nice to have a place for an IOGEAR USB 2.0 PC card to augment those two 1.1 connectors.
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Apple has made installing the AirPort Extreme card extremely easy (sorry for the pun). Simply remove the battery pack at the bottom of the PowerBook and open the cover to the AirPort Extreme card. Slide the AirPort Extreme card in, and that's it. There are no screws to remove, and it can be done in two minutes.
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You'll experience one of the real joys of PowerBook computing when you first use the keyboard.
The keys are the same size as those of a regular desktop keyboard, and they are a pleasure to type with. I'm usually very skeptical of notebook keyboards, but this one is a winner.
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However, there were a couple of tradeoffs to get those full-sized keys into such a small space, and a few keys were sacrificed. The arrow keys and the function keys are all much smaller than regular ones. If your development work makes extensive use of them, be prepared for some frustrations.
Quick Reminder: You Now Also Have a $2,000 External Hard Disk. Most Mac users know that you can use your Mac as a secondary hard disk for another Mac when in FireWire target mode. There are times when this trick is quite handy, especially when adding a new computer to your Mac family. Simply connect two computers via a FireWire cable, and when the PowerBook is booting up, hold down its "T" key. Your PowerBook will then appear as a hard drive icon on the other Mac.
The 12" PowerBook comes with two video output adapters:
Using the S-Video output adapter, you can connect the output of the PowerBook to a TV monitor, which is useful for multimedia presentations for medium-sized audiences.
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The VGA output adapter is useful for connecting the output of your PowerBook to another computer monitor. It supports video mirroring and dual display mode and allows you to extend the screen real estate of your Mac.
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Both the dual display and video mirroring modes simultaneously support resolutions of up to 1024 by 768 on the built-in display and up to 1600 by 1200 on an external display, both at millions of colors. To toggle between the two display modes, press F7.
One gripe I have with the built-in screen on the PowerBook is its resolution. At 1024 by 768, I would say this would be the minimum that I can accept for a portable computer. I usually run my desktop Mac at a much higher resolution, hoping to squeeze in as much screen real estate as possible. Of course, the answer would be to buy a larger 15" or 17" PowerBook (which both come with higher resolution), but that's not the point here.
What happens when you put a G4 processor in a small metal box and run it for hours? The term "I'm really cookin' now" takes on a whole new meaning. Maybe a key part of the PowerBook's design to augment heat dissipation is to use the attached human body as a heat sink. So be alerted that this machine gets toasty with use. I'd have to put this feature in the negative category except for laptop computing in Alaska, Sibera, and both of the poles.
Overall, I like the 12" PowerBook very much. With its anodized aluminum casing and the glowing Apple logo on the back of the screen, this machine is quick to turn heads. It also packs quite a bit of computing power into a small package, so I can lug it anywhere and instantly become productive. Thanks to Mac OS X, it plays nice with the other kids regardless of the computing environment I find myself working in. And let's face it, for a G4 notebook with a SuperDrive, the price is good.
The 12" PowerBook is faster than an iBook, but not as fast as a top-of-the-line TiBook or 17" PowerBook. It's a great computer for on the go, but probably not a desktop replacement, as many developers are using TiBooks. I'd like to see a faster hard drive, more RAM capability (which may be coming), L3 cache, and some way to incorporate USB 2.0. A little more screen resolution would be appreciated, too.
One final thought, do not rest this PowerBook on bare skin while working. You've heard the stories!
Wei-Meng Lee (weimenglee.blogspot.com) is a technologist and founder of Developer Learning Solutions, a technology company specializing in hands-on training of the latest Microsoft technologies.
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Copyright © 2007 O'Reilly Media, Inc.
