Enjoy Computing on the Go with an Apple iBook
The Mac Apple iBook is a line of entry-level consumer and education laptop computers released between 1999 and 2006. The iBook is designed for multimedia apps, web browsing, word processing, and office-related functions away from the desk so you can take work home with you at the end of the day. The 2004 version runs on the Mac OS X 10.3 operating system.
What is a Mac iBook?The 2004 design of the Apple iBook is known as the iBook G4, also nicknamed Snow. The iBook G4 is based on a few central features. The 32-bit PowerPC G4 chip replaces the PowerPC G3 processor of the previously released models, and a slot-loading optical disc drive replaces the previously released disc tray. The iBook 4 also features an opaque white casing and a plastic hinge connecting the display.
What versions of iBooks were released in 2004?There are two different versions of the 2004 iBook G4. One G4 was released in April of 2004. The other was released in October of 2004. The two versions are almost identical, except the late 2004 version features a slightly faster processor, integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and the choice of a 30GB, 60GB, or 80GB hard drive. The early 2004 version features optional Wi-Fi and the choice of a 30GB, 40GB, or 60GB hard drive. Both versions are equipped with either a 12-inch or a 14-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. Besides these differences, the 2004 iBook G4 computers share a common set of features, including:
- 256MB of DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB
- An ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card with 32MB of graphics memory
- A DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive or an optional DVD-RW SuperDrive
- Optional Bluetooth 1.1 connectivity
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- FireWire 400
- An audio out mini-jack
Mac OS X 10.3, nicknamed Panther, may include some of the following programs and features:
- Safari 1: A web browser that replaces the Apple version of Internet Explorer
- QuickTime: A multimedia player
- Preview: An image and PDF viewer
- FileVault: A disk encryption program
- TextEdit: An open-source word processor and text editor that is compatible with Microsoft Word .doc files
- Finder: The basic file manager and user interface of the operating system, featuring built-in Zip support, file labels, a search engine, and a customizable sidebar
- Mail: An email client
If you want additional features, then you may consider updating the iBook G4 to run the OS X 10.5.8 Leopard operating system at the latest. According to Apple, there are more than 300 changes in Leopard, including the introduction of virtual desktops, the Safari 3 web browser, and a new icon grouping feature called Stacks. The operating system requires 512MB of system RAM and an 867 MHz processor.