What's white and blue with lots of power? My new Blueberry iBook.
Many features of the iBook make it an attractive choice for those in the market for a portable computer. The $1599 price tag was almost $1000 less than the least expensive PowerBook with a G3 processor. This was a major factor in my buying an iBook.
Once I get a few peripherals to make up for a few shortcomings, I think I'll be happy with my new machine. It may not be the most mature-looking piece of technology I own. But it will serve my purposes, while adding a bit of whimsy to my computing experience. In other words, it's FUNctional!
But is the iBook a good choice for other assistive technology users? I hope this overview of advantages and possible drawbacks will help you decide.
Advantages
- I believe the bright, translucent blueberry and tangerine colors make the iBook attractive to the younger crowd. Many students, especially self-conscious teens, worry that using AT will make them look like "geeks" or "nerds." Maybe the trendiness of the iBook design will help alleviate some of the stigma of using AT.
- The biggest surprise for me was the ease of use and reliability of the TrackPad, the iBook's pointing device. The TrackPad on my old PowerBook 520c was almost impossible for me to use. The pointer jumped around the screen and disappeared frequently. Part of the difficulty was that my feet were sweaty, and the slightest amount of moisture interfered with the TrackPad's performance. I had to purchase a numeric keypad and use MouseKeys to move, point, drag, and click. To my joy, the iBook's smooth metallic TrackPad is not nearly as sensitive, and I can use it accurately, even with a bare, sweaty toe!
- Unlike the older PowerBooks, the iBook keyboard has full-size keys, making typing much easier. Along the top row are 12 slightly smaller function keys. The first six of these keys perform useful functions: brightening and dimming the screen, adjusting the volume up and down, invoking num. lock, and muting the speaker. The other six keys can be programmed to invoke other frequently used commands, such as launching favorite applications. Other features of the keyboard include arrow keys in an inverted "T," just like on desktop keyboards, and the CAPS LOCK key's lighting up when activated.
Possible Drawbacks
- The only way to attach peripherals is through the USB port. There is no ADB or serial port. This may present a challenge to those using AT devices
