Laptops were clumsy, purely functional pieces of technology until Apple Computer came along. No one, not even the Japanese, makes laptops like Apple, and the 17-inch G4 PowerBook is the latest in a long line of very desirable machines.
However, few besides Apple enthusiasts would be willing to pay HK$26,500 to buy one, especially when Apple has made, arguably, a couple of dubious technology choices.
It has bet on a technology that is not yet an industry standard - the 802.11g. And despite being among the first computer makers to adopt universal serial bus (USB) technology, Apple has chosen to equip its latest PowerBook with the older USB 1.1 when most Windows notebooks ship with the much faster USB 2.0.
That said, after setting eyes on the beautiful, oh-so-sleek titanium model with its large, crystal-clear display, I was almost persuaded to slap it on my credit card and take it home.
Large displays matter for portable systems that are aimed at replacing desktop personal computers. Market research firms such as International Data Corp predict that, with prices coming down, multimedia laptops will replace desktops in many homes. The new PowerBook is aimed at replacing desktop PCs rather than at road warriors who prefer a smaller, lighter system.
It features integrated Bluetooth, 802.11g wireless networking and second-generation FireWire. The 802.11g runs at speeds of up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps) - fast enough to transfer video over the air - compared with 11Mbps provided by 802.11b wireless. The new FireWire doubles the transfer rate from 400Mbps to 800Mbps.
Apple is not the only company shipping big-screen notebooks. Hewlett-Packard, Sony and Toshiba all offer at least 16-inch models, which cost much less than the 3.13kg, 17-inch PowerBook. But Apple has the edge in terms of size, weight and looks.