I have always used a Windows/Linux based system. So when my husband (then fiance) who was in the UK at that time said he was going to buy an iBook G4 I was a little apprhensive. That was way back in Oct 2004 and I asked around in B’lore and Chennai about service and support here in India. Finally he went ahead and bought the machine.
He loved the thing so much he used to wax poetic about it over the phone to me. I got to see it in July 2005 and it was love at first sight for me too (Though I didnt tell him THAT. I enjoy our arguements about windoze and mac)
The feel of the keys when you type, the clarity of the screen, the slim, sleek, clean look. Its so lovely. And it performs. Boy, does it ever!! We’ve had more than 15 programs running at the same time and it handled itself perfectly.
The software that came with it is more than sufficient and we bought some extra stuff as well. Oh, we also got the mighty mouse and an apple keyboard (We got a new sony monitor and its easier to put the iBook to sleep and use the external hardware) I adore iPhoto for its ease of use. And the smart folders in almost all apps. Safari is a great browser. Has RSS inbuilt in it so I dont have to use anything else. I have all my fav bookmarks lined up within reach of a click. And Pages, the mac version of Word, is totally compatible with windows in that I can export its files as .doc or .pdf or .rtf so I’ve never had a problem. And the widgets. If you have used Konfabulator in windows... this is the better version of that. And expose. With the touch of a function key, I can see minitaure versions of the programs that am running. There are so many more advantages that you will discover by yourself when you start using it.
The drawbacks I would say are that since the world is so much windows oriented, applications that one is used to in windows isnt good here. I specifically mean Y! messenger. I like the version in windows better. Though I use iChat which supports GoogleTalk these days, I do like my Y! messenger. But the mac version doesnt have all the featres :-(
And games. I dont play that many games. Mostly online from Y! games or Arcadetown and the downloadable games are limited since there isnt many which have a mac version. I do play Diablo LOD and some Myst but though the video quality is good, I like playing in windows better.
Extras we have...
Apple mouse
Apple mighty mouse
Apple keyboard
Sony SDM E76D monitor
I gave service and support just a 3 because its not that great in India. We ordered and paid for the keyboard on Saturday and it was promised to us on Monday. It finally arrived on Wednesday night after a slew of phone calls.
Havent had any problems so far. This is one laptop you wont have any trouble with. But its slowly being phased out, giving way to Mac books. So we are looking forward to getting our mac mini :-)