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MARINEOSX · Jan 21, 2005, 06:02 PM

If you could change one thing about your iBook what would it be? pleas limit this to one thing...the most irritating.

The speakers. that is about it. but the speakers are not at all loud enough.

discotronic · Jan 21, 2005, 06:09 PM

I'm getting tired of the current design. Don't get me wrong I still like it but it is time for a change.

Hi I'm Ben · Jan 21, 2005, 07:12 PM

put the fing power plug on the same side as everything else plugged in like it is on the power book. I HATE IT SO MUCH.

ghporter · Jan 21, 2005, 09:50 PM

There's not much to dislike about the classic styling, clean lines, and great ergonomics of the current version of the iBook. And unlike Ben, I like the fact that the power plug is not on the side with all the peripheral plugs; I don't have to unplug anything else if I need to get at the power plug. Marine, I agree that the speakers aren't anywhere near ideal, but what do you want out of a laptop? I think most people will go with their own "ideal" headphones, anyway-I have.

My biggest gripe is that there is no "docking station" for the iBook. If I use it on my desk, I have to put it down, plug in power, plug in everything else, and then I can work. With a docking station, I could have everything stay plugged in on the desk, and just slide the iBook into place. Or slide it out and go on my merry way. It wouldn't even have to be a "hot" docking station, really.

Yes, you can get "port extenders," that plug into the peripheral ports-that's all they really do!-but that's not a real solution. I want to have a NIC in a nice ergonomic base, with the power supply and everything plugged into the base, so I just have the iBook to mess with, not a bunch of cables.

T. Diddy · Jan 21, 2005, 09:55 PM

i really wouldn't change anything, other moving the power plug to the left. i wish it still had the 'ice' look, but at least i have the ice keys.

jamil5454 · Jan 21, 2005, 10:03 PM

I wish you could hook up an external monitor and use that as your primary monitor. The internal LCD would be disabled and you would have all 32mb of VRAM to support much higher resolutions than 1024x768.

cc_foo · Jan 21, 2005, 10:10 PM

I'd like an built in easier way to scroll through documents. Either specific page up/down buttons. Or a trackpad that supports scrolling.

Yes, I do know about the fn key+arrows feature, and SideTrack software.

far200 · Jan 21, 2005, 10:12 PM

I would change the video chip. It would be nice to have the 9700 in the ibook.

barang · Jan 21, 2005, 11:30 PM

I don't think that it needs a much better graphics chip, but I do agree with the rest on the need for a scroll kind of system.

discotronic · Jan 21, 2005, 11:43 PM

Another thing I would change is access to the hard drive. Make it easy for the user to upgrade. There is no reason this can't be done. An entire computer can be compressed down to the size of the mini. Easy hard drive access should not be a problem.

gcvt · Jan 22, 2005, 12:30 AM

I'd like another "fn" key on the right side of the keyboard.

MARINEOSX · Jan 22, 2005, 01:37 AM

The reason I say louder speakers is because of small presentations that I do in the field or in my shop and also when I am deployed we like to watch movies. I of course have the best looking screen brightest and usually biggest so when we want to watch a movie I have to go buy or lug a batery powered external pair that just soound like ass. So louder speakers would be helpfull to me I agree with the plug being on the right side. I wouldn't be able to handle having another thing cluttering that side of the ibook. I can't imagie the 12" iBook.

cold aspiration · Jan 22, 2005, 02:57 AM

more solid build. mine creaks like alot. i got my ibook back once after my combo drive got replaced. they took it apart and reassembled it. when i got it back the ibook was MUCH sturdier than it was before. I guess they did a better job the second time when screwing everything together.

cold aspiration · Jan 22, 2005, 02:57 AM

oh! quieter trackpad button click. its minor.. but still..

scottiB · Jan 23, 2005, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by MARINEOSX:
The reason I say louder speakers is because of small presentations that I do in the field or in my shop and also when I am deployed we like to watch movies. I of course have the best looking screen brightest and usually biggest so when we want to watch a movie I have to go buy or lug a batery powered external pair that just soound like ass. So louder speakers would be helpfull to me I agree with the plug being on the right side. I wouldn't be able to handle having another thing cluttering that side of the ibook. I can't imagie the 12" iBook.

I agree regarding the speakers. My SO has to perform Keynote presentations to small groups of students, occasionally, and we had to buy battery powered portable speakers for her iBook/700.

When she uses another faculty member's 12" PBook, she can skip the externals.

Frags10 · Jan 23, 2005, 04:59 PM

I also agree on the speakers. The Powerbook speakers aren't that great, but they still blow the iBook speakers out of the water. They should just put the Powerbook speakers in the iBooks.

Superchicken · Jan 23, 2005, 08:13 PM

I think perhaps an external reasonably priced Firewire or USB bus powered speaker set from Apple would solve the problem.

that said, what I'd change about the iBook, is the lack off anything comprable to the eMac or Mac mini, though don't think you'd want to call anything the Book mini so I sadly don't think Apple's planning on changing the branding of the current lines... but whatever...

swichd · Jan 23, 2005, 10:01 PM

Speakers also sound like a tin can. Where's the bass? My Zire 31 sounds better that my iBook. I'd also put the iBook in other colors (silver, gold, and graphite would be cool) and maybe have it lose weight too ~4 lbs.

jaimzedup · Jan 24, 2005, 01:54 AM

The screen quality. It sucks compared to other laptops (even low end PC ones).

brettcamp · Jan 24, 2005, 05:00 AM

I wish apple would add DVI out for use with digital external monitors. And I wish they'd replace the iBook keyboard with the 12" Powerbook's keyboard, which would also admittedly necessitate other changes in the design. And the hard disk definitely needs to be larger -- 60 GB minimum.

how about adding iWork to the software bundle?

I agree with all the other suggestions, too, but we should also remember that Apple needs to keep the price of the iBook low in order to attract students and other low income users, so I hope they resist too much feature creep if it raises the price.

LukeGX · Jan 24, 2005, 06:36 AM

I would change the G4 to a "mobile G5"

MARINEOSX · Jan 24, 2005, 03:24 PM

I think everyone would like that LukeGX.

Garage81 · Jan 24, 2005, 04:01 PM

i would like the option for a higher resolution screen in the 12" model.

1024 is starting to push it

macaddict0001 · Jan 24, 2005, 04:19 PM

I would say just lower the price.

B Gallagher · Jan 24, 2005, 04:38 PM

and a higher res on the 14" as well.

swichd · Jan 24, 2005, 07:42 PM

The LCD looks bad at first, but there is a professionally calibrated ColorSync Profile one can download. It makes the screen look so much better IMO. I agree that the 14" should have higher resolution (1280x1024 sounds nice, but 1600x1200 would rock! but it's not going to happen, even though PC laptops have this in a 14" screen). Widescreen would be cool as well, but now I'm beating a dead horse.

macaddict0001 · Jan 25, 2005, 12:16 AM

Link for colorsync profile.

scottiB · Jan 25, 2005, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
Link for colorsync profile.

Yes, please.

MARINEOSX · Jan 27, 2005, 01:52 AM

Yes I agree have to post a link.

spacefreak · Jan 28, 2005, 01:14 AM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
Link for colorsync profile.

I'd like the link as well.

shreddog · Jan 28, 2005, 03:48 PM

Is this it? http://www.bergdesign.com/supercal/

If not, has anyone tried it? Any reviews?

swichd · Jan 30, 2005, 02:19 PM

I cannot find the original link, but if someone has a webserver, I'll email the profile to them. It's called IceBook Greta 2-3-03. So PM me if you're willing to host it.