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15-inch PowerBook G4/1.67GHz (SuperDrive)

By Macworld Staff
Macworld FEB 22, 2005 4:00 pm PST
At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

  • Advanced port options
  • Plenty of power
  • Reduced price
  • Wide screen
  • Improved SuperDrive, trackpad, backlighting, and Bluetooth

Cons

  • Price is high relative to Combo drive model

Our Verdict

The updated 15-inch PowerBook sports a faster processor (with speeds of either 1.5GHz or 1.67GHz depending on configuration) and Bluetooth 2.0 support. The installed 512MB of RAM now occupies a single slot, simplifying memory upgrades. All 15-inch models also feature backlit keyboards; this model features an 8X SuperDrive.

Individually, none of the changes in the latest round of PowerBook updates will knock your socks off. But collectively, they make the PowerBook lineup both more appealing and more affordable. If you want a big screen and/or the latest connectivity technologies, the 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks–though still a little pricey–offer elegance and power no other laptop can match.