Resources for the Washington DC area

Apple PowerBook G4 Notebook Computer

A lot of people are buying Apple computers now. Try getting into one of their stores like the one at Tysons Corner Center on a Saturday afternoon and it's packed. A lot of people of tired of the security risks on the internet using a Windows based computer. Apple also has made setting up a small network in your home very easy.

But suppose you really want to be able to run a Windows application once in a while? There is a way. Newer Mac computers can run a version of Windows using a package called Virtual PC 7. It's includes a special copy of Windows 2000, XP Home or XP professional It runs about $250.

But you need a lot of power to run it. You are in fact running two operating systems at the same time. Even then, a Windows program might run a little slower than your used to. But, all in all, this combination of all the benefits of a Mac and the ability to use Windows is very appealing.

The top of the line Mac notebook is the G4, with a 1.67 GHZ processor. You can get it with a 100 GB hard drive and the Superdrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW). If all those letters are gibbersih to you, you can watch and make DVDs, and you can use CD software and make CD's (that's everything!). 

The folks at the Apple stores are very courteous, and very well trained in product knowledge. You can buy Macs at other stores, but you are not likely to get the same expertise. But try to avoid going to one of their stores on a weekend; you're going to wait a long time because they're so busy.

If price is no object and you want the best, this is worth considering. The computer will run you about $2700, plus $250 for Virtual PC.

(And it looks cool.)