To me when Apple released the iBook it was more of a teaser than anything. It was sort of a prelude of what will be. Personally, I don't think I could buy iBook in it's current state. I need the more RAM and a roomier hard drive. Below are some things that I would like done with the iBook line.

* Hard drives no smaller than 4 gigs. That 3.2 gig drive in the current iBook was a slap in the face. Are not these machines heavily focused towards college student? A few games and MP3s later and your hard drive is full. The college LAN is a crowded place with lots of goodies. We need 6, 8, and 10 gig drives as options.

* Continuing on the path from a College student's perspective, the iBook must have better graphics. The new 128 bit Rage Mobility should be standard across the iBook line. College kids are big gamers--give them what they need. Also, as Mac users we need to help Apple harp on ATI for better drivers.

* Apple gives iBook users 32 megs of RAM then releases Mac OS 9 two months later. This system has a RAM footprint of 20-25 megs. Is this some kind of sick twisted joke Apple? More RAM please.

* A speed bumped G3--got to love those copper G3s from Big Blue.

* FireWire, it has be on the next shipping version of iBook. Apple must get as many Macs out there with FireWire. Intel is planning on USB 2.0 around mid 2000. Apple must make sure that they and their partners in the IEEE 1394 are light years ahead of Intel. Oh yes, iMovie for iBook would be very nice.

* DVD is needed on the ibook, enough said.

* Aesthetics are very important. We need a graphite iBook with a redesigned handle. Perhaps Apple should model it after a briefcase style handle--if anything it well end all the bad press over the current handle.

* Move iBook production out of Taiwan or at least spilt production with another plant in another part of the world. Apple hasn't had the greatest luck with their production plants, just look back to that iMac facility in Mexico that went up in flames. Reality check here, continued earthquakes in Taiwan are bad for Apple--actually bad for the entire tech industry, with much of it's production focused there. How about Canada eh? Nothing ever happens there, except for snow.

I think if Apple incorporated these features into the iBook then they could truly call it "iMac to go." As iBook stands right now it is more of an "iMac to go--lite edition." The consumer portable market is growing, major players like Dell, IBM, and Toshiba are coming up with more consumer and Internet centric portables. It is up to Apple make sure they stay competitive.

Have your own ideas for the next edition of the iBook? I would love to hear them and publish them.

Louis Z. Pierce III
Pierce@MacDiscussion.com