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Apple Shines after a Poorly Timed iBook Order

Dirk Pilat - 2003.11.06

Bonjour, mes amis!

You will all remember my usual incoherent rambling about me trying to buy a new portable Apple computer from my last article. Well, after a bout of unsuccessful stints onto the highstreets (the machines I wanted to have were never in stock or only available as demo-models with faults), I fell into a deep gloom and even stood in front of one of these nice and shiny Vaio's with my fingers twitching - but fortunately my significant other was able to drag me away from them, whispering that I would never forgive myself if I bought a PC, which is actually true.

And I wouldn't be able to write for Low End Mac anymore. I am sure Dan Knight would not be happy with that (yeah, right).

Aaaanyway, I decided to try out the Apple Store, and after a couple of glasses of 2001 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, some research, checking the rumour sites to avoid falling in the "buying something one day before a new, better, and cheaper machine is released trap," I ordered a nice 12" iBook with a Combo drive, 640 MB RAM, an AirPort card, and a 40 GB hard disk on October 20 and congratulated myself on my prudence: There was really no need for me to have a G4, because the only applications I need are Safari, Office and iTunes.

So I sat back and waited for my machine to arrive, from time to time checking the Apple Store to see whether my new travel partner was already being assembled. Two days after my order, the new iBook G4 was released, and you can understand my frustration - they were not only faster and had AirPort Extreme, the bloody things were also cheaper!

After tearing out the rest of my sparse hair, kicking several doorframes, and getting terribly on the nerves of my significant other, I tried to find my inner peace and convince myself that I didn't want a G4 anyway (yeah, right), and when MacSlash reported that the G4s inside the iBooks weren't even real G4s (fortunately a unfounded rumour), I found my equilibrium again.

Then, last weekend, when I was in Laruns to try to get my old body back into the routine of regular mountain walking, a little email from Apple arrived on my cellphone, telling me that they would scrap my G3 order and instead send me a 14" G4 with bells and whistles. Just like that. And it costs the same. Unbelievable!

So, with other words, I am one happy bunny. Apple's tracking site tells me that my baby (name is not yet decided on, proposals eagerly invited) has been picked up in Taiwan three days ago, so I'm expecting it any day now. I'll give you my exclusive review as soon as it arrives.

Recent Down But Not Out Columns

Thoughts and advice on replacing a two-year-old iBook G4, 02.01. This iBook G4 has taken a beating. Does it make more sense to buy a new iBook G4, wait for the Intel models, or look at the used market?
iBook on last legs, Mac mini saves marriage, and Macintel meanderings, 01.23. With the iBook G4 "falling apart at the seams", does it make more sense to buy a new G4 iBook or wait for the Intellified next gen iBook?
First impressions of the 14" iBook G4, 11.13. "Apple has managed to produce a machine that combines everything I want from a portable computer with appropriate processor performance for a competitive price."
Apple shines after a poorly timed iBook order, 11.06. The frustration of ordering a G3 iBook just two days before it was replaced by a G4 model.
More in the Down But Not Out index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: iMac Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based iMacs ran at 1.83-2.0 GHz, came with 17" and 20" displays.
Group of the Day: Mac Pro List is for those using a Mac Pro.
November 23 in LEM history: 99: Should I buy a USB card? - 01: Can a low-end Mac be an only Mac? - Palm Desktop without a PDA - CyberDog saves the day - 05: How Consumer Reports could compare Macs fairly - Speakers for your Mac - Living with the hi-res 15" PowerBook - Birth of the PowerBook - Daystar 1.9 GHz iMac G4 upgrade - 1.92 GHz PowerBook upgrade

Recent Deals

Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
More deals in our archive.

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