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We're not entirely sure if a notebook can be sexy, but Apple's new Titanium PowerBook is as close as one can get. The shell is made of pure titanium and the whole thing is less than 1in thick. It looks fantastic and happily, Apple has made it look that good without compromising on the specification.
Inside are a very fast 500Mhz G4 processor, 256Mb of memory and a 20Gb hard disk. Apple's G4 processors use less power and generate less heat than their PC equivalents, which lets the notebook operate without an internal fan. This makes it very quiet, although the underside can get a little hot after a while. It will last for up to five hours on a single battery charge.
Apple computers use Apple's own operating system, called OS X. It is just as easy to use as Windows but looks and works differently, so if you're used to Microsoft's beast, it will take some getting used to.
The widescreen TFT display looks a bit odd if you are used to more traditional notebooks and PCs, but that extra width means you can fit more on to the screen at one time.
The inclusion of a slot-loading DVD drive at the front is truly astonishing. We just can't work out how Apple has managed to fit it in to such a small design.
The PowerBook is packed with ports. Modem and network ports are integrated and there's infrared for talking to mobile phones and PDAs.
Apple is a pioneer of digital video editing, so the presence of a FireWire port is no surprise. This can be used to transfer footage shot with digital camcorders.
Once the data is on the PowerBook, you can use the iMovie 2 software supplied to edit the footage into a film, complete with scene transitions.
The downside is the cost. At £2499, this is a serious piece of hardware if you have money to burn. We couldn't help loving it nevertheless. Contact
Apple Computer: 0800 039 1010 www.apple.com/uk
ALSO CONSIDER:
Apple iBook Special Edition
Like Marmite, taste dictates whether you love or hate the iBook design.
See Computeractive, Issue 75
Price: £1499 - Worth it.
See also:
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This well built ultra-portable from Toshiba has all the bells and whistles you would expect, and a few more. Compared to Sony's excellent notebooks, however, the Portege 3440CT is only playing catch-up. 31 May 2000
Dell has departed from its usual grey notebooks with this sporty-looking blue model whose specification and speed will not disappoint. 01 Jan 2000All Notebooks & Tablets PCs
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