iBook

The iBook was a basic laptop the company Apple. It was available from 1999 to 2006 and in contrast to the former PowerBook series tailored more to the consumer market. With the introduction of the iBooks MacBooks were hired.

IBook G3 ( Clamshell )

July 21, 1999 Steve Jobs introduced the iBook before during the keynote presentation at the show Macworld Conference & Expo in New York. The iBook was designed as a low-priced basic notebook for students and home users. With the coloring in Orange / White ( Tangerine ) and Turquoise Blue / White ( Blueberry ) and the curvy design is based on the iBook commercially successful consumer desktop model iMac that Apple brought out of the red into the black. With the slogan " iMac to go" you followed up on this success.

The iBook was launched in the U.S. for $ 1599 ( in Germany 3880 DM) by Apple on the market and was around $ 900 cheaper than the Apple PowerBook for professional users, but took as reduced equipment on its performance. Has been omitted for reasons of cost stereo speakers, PC card slot, infrared port, built-in microphone, SCSI and audio - in port. In the first iBook model series in comparison to the PowerBook also still lacked FireWire port and video out, which were integrated only at the published in 2000 Second edition models. Was a standard DVD drive was only the 466MHz - top model of this last series.

The iBook has worked as the iMac PowerPC G3 chip on the left side were in the standard USB, Ethernet and modem ports and a speaker terminal on the opposite side of a CD -ROM drive, was on a floppy disk drive omitted. With the iBook Apple introduced a number of technical innovations: Through the Unified Motherboard Architecture specification motherboard components were standardized and costs. The iBook had a new 2x AGP graphics chip company ATI and was the first laptop in the the same time introduced new AirPort wireless technology could be integrated option for wireless networks. An antenna was installed on the display.

IBook designer Jonathan Ive designed the sweeping polycarbonate housing with an integrated handle, which was made ​​by a colored rubber grip. The iBook could be dynamically opened and closed via a stable mechanism. Even the power supply was a failed round yo-yo design with integrated cable reel. A sophisticated energy management - the iBook was automatically when closing in sleep mode - should allow battery life of up to six hours.

The iBook was compared to the market competitors IBM and Compaq cheaper, had better graphics and instead of the usual in the consumer notebook segment passive-matrix screen with a higher resolution TFT display with 800x600 pixels with less weight.

The candy-colored color and the unusual iBook design sparked a heated debate from critics and proponents. The clamshell iBook was unflattering nickname ( toilet seat, Barbie handbag, powder box ). The first iBook generation equipment has been continuously improved in different model revisions. It is through the robust technology and durable components to the most reliable notebook manufacturer Apple. The clamshell iBook is in the collections of the London Design Museum and the Yale University Art Gallery.

Models

  • IBook (21 June 1999) - First iBook model in the colors of tangerine and blueberry 12.1 - inch active matrix TFT display (resolution max. 800x600 pixels)
  • PowerPC G3 300 MHz (PPC 750L )
  • 66 MHz bus
  • 32 MB RAM ( soldered on the mainboard)
  • Expandable to 544 MB ( 288 MB after Apple specifications)
  • 4 MB ATI Rage Mobility AGP 2x
  • 3.2 GB hard drive (ATA -33 controller)
  • CD-ROM
  • USB, Ethernet
  • Airport ( 802.11b, optional)
  • Mac OS 8.6
  • IBook Revision B (February 16, 2000) in shades of tangerine and blueberry PowerPC G3 300 MHz (PPC 750L )
  • 64 MB RAM ( soldered on the mainboard)
  • Expandable to 576 MB ( 320 MB after Apple specifications)
  • 6 GB hard drive (ATA -33 controller)
  • Mac OS 9.0.2
  • ( other specifications as the previous model )
  • IBook SE (16 February 2000) - Special Edition model with 366 MHz CPU clock and new Colour Graphite PowerPC G3 366 MHz (PPC 750L )
  • ( other performance as Revision B )
  • IBook FireWire / SE (13 September 2000) - extended model Second Edition with 366 or 466 MHz CPU clock in colors Graphite, Indigo, Key Lime 12.1 - inch active matrix TFT display (resolution max. 800x600 pixels)
  • PowerPC G3 366/466 MHz (PPC 750CX )
  • 64 MB RAM ( soldered on the mainboard)
  • 8 MB ATI Rage Mobility 128 AGP 2x
  • 10 GB Hard Disk ( ATA -66 controller)
  • CD-ROM ( 366 MHz model ) / 4x DVD-ROM ( 466 MHz model )
  • USB, FireWire, video out, Ethernet
  • Airport ( 802.11b, optional)
  • Mac OS 9.0.4
  • ( other specifications as the previous model )

Production of the first generation iBook was set in May 2001 in favor of the new dual USB iBooks.

Extensibility

The only provided by Apple expansion options are the enlargement of the working memory by a lying underneath the keyboard slot for 144 -pin SODIMM modules and the installation of an Airport card according to the 802.11b standard. Devices from other vendors supplemented via the USB port missing features like a microphone and sound input. A hard disk change requires the complete disassembly of iBooks, the controller hardware allows the installation of ATA hard drives up to 120GB. All clamshell iBook models can be used with appropriate working memory capacity, the operating system Mac OS X v10.3 (Panther). On the FireWire models can also install Mac OS X v10.4 (Tiger).

IBook Dual USB

The second generation, however, is published in plain white and is about the size of an A4 sheet ( size approx 28 x 23 cm at 12 ", 32.5 x 26 cm at 14"). The first version of 2001 was characterized by housing shells made ​​of colorless polycarbonate, which were painted white inside and propagating incident light to the shell edges. This was the design theme of " translucency ", which was introduced in the iMac G3 and iBook G3 " Clamshell " reinterpreted. The following versions possessed by then uniformly white colored casing shells. The 12 " - or 14 " screen has a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The G3 CPU decreed the introduction of a clock frequency of 500 MHz; their last, until September 2003 current version was clocked at 900 MHz.

IBook G4

In October 2003, Apple brought out a new series of iBooks, iBook G4 were called. The biggest difference to the previous model consisted in the change of the processor. G4 processors were henceforth used in place of the outdated G3 processors. In addition, Apple also introduced in the iBooks slot-in drives. Optional was now also available integrated Bluetooth. Except for the keyboard like nothing has changed in the design as well.

The iBooks were to continue in two different screen sizes: 12 inches and 14 inches. The 12 " model was built to start a 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor from Motorola, as well as 30 GB hard drive, 256 MB RAM and a Combo Drive. A AirPort Extreme card was optional and could also be retrofitted itself. There was two 14 "models: once with 933 MHz G4, 40 GB HD and Combo Drive and with 1 GHz G4, 60 GB HD, Combo Drive and Extreme with built-in AirPort card.

Apple released in February 2004 out an overhauled version of iBooks. Furthermore, in three models, the small 14 " model and the 12" model had a 1 GHz G4 processor; the big 14 " model had a 1.2GHz processor and a built-in AirPort Extreme card Everything else remained the same, except for two little things inside that changed Apple:. was raised the bus speed from 100 to 133 MHz and built now a soldered 256 MB RAM module one, which one was free. Previously was getting a 128 MB soldered and a 128 MB plugged in, so you had to throw a block in increasing the RAM memory. Moreover, could such now 1024 MB RAM A maximum installed.

As of October 2004, the iBook from Apple came in three versions: the 12 " model was available with a 1.2 - GHz processor, a DVD / CD -RW drive and a 30 GB hard drive, the more expensive 14. " iBook equipped with a 1.33 GHz processor and had a 60 GB hard disk. The 14 " top model also had a 1.33 - GHz processor, but possessed, in contrast to the other iBooks on a SuperDrive that can describe and DVDs. IBooks All were equipped with 256 MB RAM that up to 1, 25 gigabytes could be retrofitted, an AirPort Extreme card is now fitted as standard on all models.

In June 2005, the iBook was delivered in an outdated version. The G4 processor is now at 1.33 GHz ( 12 ") and 1.42 GHz ( 14") clocked. The built-in memory has been doubled to 512 MB ​​and delivered in the minimum configuration, a 40 GB hard drive. In addition, the innovations from the PowerBook, such as the Sudden Motion Sensor, the new touchpad, improved sound and graphics card were installed. It is the last version, which is equipped with a PowerPC processor.

With the introduction of the MacBook iBook series was discontinued. The MacBooks have in contrast to the iBook G4 Intel Core Duo processors and are available only with 13 " TFT display, both in white and in black.

Graphics hardware

A special feature of the graphics hardware ( from 700 MHz clock ) must be observed in the younger iBooks: Although the graphics processors used allow for a two-screen operation, was this feature from Apple, probably for marketing technical distinction from the PowerBook or MacBook Pro series, reduced to a reflection of the image output. Since November 2002, a simple patch exists ( on the readout when starting NVRAM), which makes it possible to display resolutions up to 1920 × 1440 px on an external monitor. With appropriate swabs from the processor performance, the iBook can be used for professional graphics applications.

Last model

The last series of iBooks was taken on July 26, 2005 at the Apple Online Store. She has been streamlined to two models.

  • The 12 "model has a 1.33 GHz G4 processor, a combo drive, a 40 GB hard drive and Airport Extreme.
  • The 14 "model has a 1.42 GHz G4 processor, a SuperDrive, a 60 GB hard drive and Airport Extreme.

In addition, the iBooks feature now standard with 512 MB ​​RAM, Bluetooth 2.0, a scrolling trackpad and used in the PowerBooks since 31 January 2005 patented Sudden Motion Sensor to protect the hard disk. The graphics card has also been updated, instead of the ATI Radeon 9200 a ATI Radeon 9550 is now set up to assist, despite the low memory ( 32 MB DDR) Apple's Core Image. All iBook models provides a mini - VGA.

Quality problems

Already end of November 2003 reported iBook users from one screen problem on her notebook. At some point, some even thought to bring a class action suit against Apple. In response to the problem Apple initiated in January 2004, the iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program, which covers the cost of repair of affected iBooks for three years, essentially an extended warranty for the products concerned. According to user reports and Apple have especially those specimens faulty motherboard ( logic boards ), which manufactured between April and May 2003. An exchange program such as the iBook has since been applied to other, similar Apple hardware problems, especially when the battery iBook, PowerBook and MacBook series.

Even in August 2006, users have been affected by faulty motherboards. Some of them report that the serial number of your iBook is not within the range specified by Apple. Others are no longer covered by the exchange program because the time period has expired. Some users have had their motherboards ( logic boards ) multiple exchange without the error could be corrected permanently. An English petition is growing daily by new cases. Support comes from Scandinavia: The Danish state consumer protection agency has demonstrated in May 2007 when G4 iBooks a product design flaw that makes many notebooks after some time useless and expects Apple that compensation payments are made to affected customers. This was accepted by Apple on September 18, 2007.

IEEE 1394 ATI Technologies Optical disc drive#Loading mechanisms Non-volatile random-access memory Mini-VGA
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