More power to you - Apple's PowerBook 540C notebook computer - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, Oct, 1994 by David Hallerman

Rating: *** 1/2

Macintosh PowerBook 540c

Estimated Price: $4,839 (minimum configuration)

Manufacturer: Apple Computer, (408) 996-1010, (800) 776-2333

MAC

Let's start at the top--the PowerBook 540c is easily the best Macintosh notebook computer Apple has ever made for reasons that are simple to enumerate. One is its sharp, active-matrix color LCD screen with either a full-page resolution of 640 by 480 pixels (256 colors) or a smaller 640 by 400 pixels (thousands of colors). Another is its CD-quality, 16-bit stereo sound with two internal speakers, which make the 540c a perfect choice for on-the-road presentations.

This PowerBook includes two nickel-metal-hydride batteries, each delivering up to three hours of power. Better than NiCads, these recharge in only two hours while the system is inactive or in four hours while you are using the computer. Unfortunately, the batteries' extra bulk may slow you down--the notebook weighs in at a hefty 7.3 pounds (one of the main reasons that the 540c didn't earn a full four stars).

Perhaps the most compelling improvement in the 540c--found in the entire 500 series of PowerBooks--is Apple's replacement for the trackball, the trackpad. Unlike a little gray ball, the trackpad gives you a flat, touch-sensitive surface. You run a finger across its surface to move the cursor and use your thumb to click the large, easily accessible button below the pad. Both for ergonomic comfort and precise control over the cursor, we found the trackpad to be a great advance over any trackball we've used.

Other notable new features include the dual-speed 33/66-MHz 68LC040 microprocessor (which runs at 66 MHz internally but is still limited to a 33-MHz bus to transfer data) and a keyboard with 12 small but very usable function keys, a two-level tilt adjustment, and a power-on key.

Among the standard interfaces are an ADB port for an external keyboard or mouse, a serial/LocalTalk port for printers or external modems, an Ethernet port for networking, a SCSI port for scanners or external hard-disk drives, and to complement the 540c's other audiovisual features, stereo sound input and output ports as well as a video-out port that supports up to a 16-inch monitor. There's also a processor direct slot (PDS) for connecting an optional PowerBook PCMCIA Adapter, which accepts two Type II or one Type III PCMCIA cards.

Our review unit came with 12MB of RAM, a 320MB hard-disk drive, and a Global Village PowerPort Mercury fax/modem (19.2K bps data/14.4K bps fax). A standard unit, however, has only 4MB of RAM. One problem we had with our notebook was the floppy drive's failure to eject disks all the way. Too often, we had to fumble to pull out partially ejected floppies.

Also in the 500 series are the 540, with an activematrix grayscale screen rather than color, and the 520 and 520c, which offer lesser displays and slower microprocessors. With the 540c, the line has reached its pinnacle. Now if Apple could just make it cheaper and lighter, we might have a perfect notebook.

About Our Ratings

The zero-to-four-star
ratings are based on       0      Poor
performance, features,     *      Fair
setup, ease of learning    **     Good
and use, availability,     ***    Very Good
warranty, support, docu-   ****   Excellent
mentation, and price.

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