How has the new iBook changed from the old one

Asks alicevida
A. The new Apple iBook is fundamentally similar to the old iBook (available in tangerine and blueberry versions), but it has been completely revamped and gone all sophisticated. In appearance if you recall, the old iBook was rounded, sturdy and very bright. The new one is white, slimmer and lighter (weighs 2.2kg) and makes the older model seem a bit bulky and juvenile. And, because it is lighter and smaller (roughly the size of an A4 magazine,� measuring 284x213x34mm) it is easier to carry around, its case is also white so discreet, but a potential dirt magnet too.

The outer casing of the new iBook is made out of the same material as the G3 and G4 desktop machines, polycarbonate, so is hardwearing and hard to the touch, where the old iBook had a softer, spongier feel to it.

The new iBook has a 12inch screen (which offers 1.024x768 resolution) and a 500MHz G3 processor (the old one was a 300MHz power PC), with an additional 128-bit ATI graphics card. It also has 10GB of memory, 128MB of RAM, a 56K V.90 modem, and a 10 /Base-T Ethernet port.

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All come with a DVD drive as standard with the option of a CD-RW or DVD-Rom/CD-RW drives(which are obviously more expensive). So, that you're completely compatible with all future generations of Macintosh computer, the new iBook incorporates Apple's new operating system, called OS X- as well as its current OS 9.1 system, it's the first time there has been a major software change (apart from obvious upgrades) on the Mac since 1984. It also has two USB ports (the older model had one) and a Firewire port for connecting portable MP3 players and digital and DV cameras.

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The iBook also comes with bundled software inbuilt� -my original iBook certainly didn't (it only had word processing and spreadsheet facilities) have all this. It has iTunes that helps you convert CD tracks into MP3 files and it lets you burn your own CDs; iMovie, which is basically an edit facility for video, and Appleworks 6, which provides word processing and
spreadsheet software for more traditional computer use.

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In addition, it also has three computer games, Nanosaur, Bugdom and Cro-Mag Rally and Palm Desktop, Quicktime and FaxSTF software. The iBook incorporates Apple's unique AirPort technology, which allows you to use the laptop wirelessly if you have an Airport base station and card (which together cost an additional �300). It has five hours of battery life too.

It is a very impressive computer which is likely to attract diehard Mac fans, while at the same time pulling in a more grown-up, sophisticated and
stylish clientele who were never cool enough to lug a bright orange laptop around and pull it off. I'll stick to the old school model for now, but its something to think of for when I grow up.

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Q. How much does it cost
A. Standard models start at �1,299. More information on the new iBook is available online from www.apple.com/uk

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By Karen Anderson