But those of you who weren't there don't care about posters. What about the iBook? Apple's new consumer portable will have you jumping for joy: 12.1 inch TFT screen with 800x600 resolution and millions of colors, 4 MB of video memory, 300 MHz G3 processor with 512K cache, 3.2 GB hard drive, built-in 56K modem, USB, 10/100 Ethernet, "full-sized" keyboard, 6-hour battery lfe, stylish round (!) charger with a retractable cable, "AirPort" wireless networking with the addition of a $99 AirPort card and a $299 base station, all for $1,599 not counting the wireless components, which are extra.

Ooops, we forgot the handle! Yes, it has a handle. The clamshell case has no latch. Soft color-matching rubber surrounds the perimeter. An Apple vice-president jumped about 15 feet onto the stage holding an iBook, presumably to demonstrate the machine's resistance to shock (the landing was made onto a stunt-man's air cusion, but it was still quite a jolt and a wild thing to see an executive do). The iBook will be available in blueberry or tangerine, and it is visually stunning. We'd have a picture of it for you, but at the moment Apple's servers are overloaded (gee, we wonder why :-). Try the Apple Store link yourself and see if you can catch a glimpse of it. Our overall impression is that they are going to sell millions of these things in a big hurry!

For $99 more, Apple will sell your the AirPort card which fits neatly underneath the keyboard. Using two antennae cleverly concealed inside the part of the case surrounding the screen, the iBook will receive and transmit fast wireless data up to 150 feet from the flying saucer-like base station ($299) which you simply plug into any modem (DSL and cable too). Just imagine this in your own home or school: wireless networking on the cheap, and with plenty of bandwidth. Teachers are going to go wild over this unit! And home users can sit outside in their hammocks and surf the Internet with no wires to worry about.

Did we mention that the device is visually stunning? It looks so good, you are going to want one even if you don't need one. This baby is so radically beautiful it will give Windows laptop manufacturers fits. And as Steve Jobs pointed out, it's the second fastest laptop in the entire world -- after the latest G3 PowerBooks, of course. With networking capabilities second to none and gorgeous looks, this laptop is going to make history. Your editor already wants one, and so will you. The only downside is having to wait until September, but you can place your orders now with the Apple Store or most resellers. Thank you, Apple!

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February 09, 2010