[Podolsky]

And it is flawless. I got it with the 5400 drive, 1.33 GHz, and added 512 memory for a total of 1.24. The battery lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes - more than the TiBook 667 it replaced. I am overall pleased! I got the 17 so that it would feel more like an upgrade from the TiBook and it does BIG TIME and thats the issue. The 17 is A LOT bigger. I am not at the point where I am sorry about that but I may get there. I had seen one but I hadn't lugged one around. I will be very nervous on planes because, quite frankly, I felt the TiBook was too big for coach.......

What I like about the 17 is:

It is FAST almost very snappy
Keyboard work is very comfortable - I like the ergonmics
It is quiet - it has been on 24/7 and crunching and no fan (once actually)
It is cool - I live in Maine and actually liked the heat from the TiBook. With the 17 I will have to seek warmth elsewhere....
The screen is GORGEOUS. All the blah, blah, blah about more res is just that - blah. I love this screen it is perfect for me.
The Apple bluetooth mouse is wonderful - works from 60 feet away - can't even see it....

What I don't like about the 17:

The back lighting on the f keys is not bright enough.
The book is big, ungainly, heavy and just feels ungainly compared to the TiBook

Don't know if this is of interest but there you have it. I am 95% very happy. I will keep this one 2 years or until a powerbook is released that is 2X of this one. My old TiBook Xbenched at 50, the 17 Xbenches 111.

[cszar2001]

Congrats on your new machine! I have a PB17 Rev. A with 1GB RAM and was thinking about upgrading to a Rev. B.
But I´m gonna keep it till the G5 PB comes along.

Couldn`t agree more on your comment concerning the screen: it`s perfect.

[nagromme]

Can't see the screen at 60 feet? Turn on Zooming in Preferences > Universal Access

[neutrino23]

I've noticed the same thing on my 15" Al PB (we need better names for these). What I've found is that if I put my fingers behind the f-keys to shield them from the LCD the illumination from the keys is enough to make them readable.

[jpmunson]

I also have the 17-inch rev A model. It is big, heavy, and if I had my way, I would have gotten the 15-inch Al Book.

However, it is supremely cool. I was messing with the Display setting and change the color settings to sRGB. My oh my, how bright that blue is! Anyways, make everyone else drool at the 17-inch display you have, as well as the 2-hour battery.

My recommendation, based on harsh experience, is to ensure you travel with a Brenthaven or other suitably cushioned bag when traveling on the airplane.

Do not use the leather slimline cases when traveling!!! They have no cushion in the event you drop or bump the case.

Heed this warning, or face a $300 repair bill.

Jason

[Podolsky]

Originally posted by jpmunson:
I also have the 17-inch rev A model. It is big, heavy, and if I had my way, I would have gotten the 15-inch Al Book.

However, it is supremely cool. I was messing with the Display setting and change the color settings to sRGB. My oh my, how bright that blue is! Anyways, make everyone else drool at the 17-inch display you have, as well as the 2-hour battery.

My recommendation, based on harsh experience, is to ensure you travel with a Brenthaven or other suitably cushioned bag when traveling on the airplane.

Do not use the leather slimline cases when traveling!!! They have no cushion in the event you drop or bump the case.

Heed this warning, or face a $300 repair bill.

Jason

Yes, I feel the same way - the 15 was probably sufficient but the 17 is luxury. I use it alot for a wide range of tasks and the screen and size are wonderful. I don't relish moving it around though but It mostly gets driven around. I fly some but not a lot and don't always like to compute while flying anyway. I have a bomb-proof bag and backpack for the 17 but thanks for the warning!

Best

[Daniel Bayer]

I have had my 17 B for nearly a month now and it is quite the computer I have been looking for.

I had two 15's before and they were great but this is perfect. The additional pound and a half is hardly a handicapp.

No fan issues at all, have to really max the CPU out to get it to go on.

...and the 7200 rpm drive...wowzer!

BUT! The lack of even lighting on the keyboard, hence the F-key row, is kind of lame. They are the ones closest to the screen and need to be lit the most.

[DUDE 007]

Just got my new PB17 rev B 3 weeks ago and I am also blown away.
Considering this is my first Mac I could not have made a better choice.
I have nothing to complain about, rather I praise everything from the build quality...speeeed and most of all the transition from PC to Mac has never been easier.
My only gripe and mind you its minor is the fact that the internet connect window constantly pops up after I awake my PB from its sleep.
Does anybody know how to fix this?

[danbrew]

I'm grooving to my new 17" (rev a) and have taken a few cross country trips with it - no problem using it in 1st class, although I do try to book a bulkhead seat so there is no problem with the seat in front of me.

I carry mine in a tumi leather sliim line case and, while the case is padded, am not confident that it will survive a drop - so I try not to drop it...! One note that I learned the hard way on my Ti500 is to not let anyone put something on top of it in the overhead compartment on an airplane. I either now keep my 17" with me or make sure that nothing goes on top of it.

:->

[Podolsky]

Originally posted by DUDE 007:
Just got my new PB17 rev B 3 weeks ago and I am also blown away.
Considering this is my first Mac I could not have made a better choice.
I have nothing to complain about, rather I praise everything from the build quality...speeeed and most of all the transition from PC to Mac has never been easier.
My only gripe and mind you its minor is the fact that the internet connect window constantly pops up after I awake my PB from its sleep.
Does anybody know how to fix this?

Nice to hear your positive experience. Not sure what you mean by "internet connect window" but it sounds like you might have something in your login items preference panel that is auto-launching. Check your login items and see if that sheds light.

[moodymonster]

Originally posted by DUDE 007:
Just got my new PB17 rev B 3 weeks ago and I am also blown away.
Considering this is my first Mac I could not have made a better choice.
I have nothing to complain about, rather I praise everything from the build quality...speeeed and most of all the transition from PC to Mac has never been easier.
My only gripe and mind you its minor is the fact that the internet connect window constantly pops up after I awake my PB from its sleep.
Does anybody know how to fix this?

I had a similar prob with AOL's sign on screen popping up every time an app wanted to connect to the internet (inc finder). The system tries automatically to connect up.

I kinda solved it by having a location set to have no connections. If you go to the apple menu>location>network preferences - this will open the system prefs at the the network pane. From here you can create locations and under the show>network port configurations, turn the ports on and off. If you create a location whereby they are all off you can use this when you aren't on the net and don't want the computer to try and connect. When you do want to go online change locations. You can change locations quickly from the apple menu>locations menu.

Hope this helps

[beachmark]

I do not think the 17 inch BigAl is heavy. Consider the things you add to your case and thenthe weight difference with a 15inch is next to nothing.

I havethis Incase slimtravel thingie for it and have to agree that they are not that strong. I once bumped into someone and you can see it now that there is a slight uneveness in the lid.

No, to anybody who wants a good slim travelling thing i would recommend the Tom Bihn slim thing. I had that one with my previous 15inch and altough I had some collisions with people nothing happened to the powerbook. That bag is one of the best and in my humble opinion THE best for travelling as it has some hard shells. Even in coach you can put your Powerbook away in the overhead bulk without having to fear for it.

[nagromme]

You can stop the 'Book from trying to connect on its own:

Apple menu > System Preferences > Network
Show: Internal Modem > PPP > PPP Options
Un-check "Connect automatically when needed"

Also, in the Modem tab, check "Show modem status in menu bar" and you can connect easily from there at any time.