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Cyber3 TiBook Tote and Tilt Review: Add a Handle to your PBG4!

by Paul Cesarini

SRP / SP:	$39.95 / NA	Additional Images Tote and Tilt (detail, back) Tote and Tilt (detail, side) Tote and Tilt (detail, in case)
Requirements:	PowerBook G4
What's Hot:	Easy to install; indirectly extends battery life
What's Not:	Slightly increases dimensions of PowerBook G4

Titanium. Lighter than aluminum. Stronger than steel. Able to leap tall CEOs in a single bound. By all accounts, Apple's new PowerBook G4 has been a huge hit. The sleek surface, wafer-thin form factor, big-ass screen, and G4 muscle make for a killer laptop. That sleek aluminum surface, though, is maybe a little too sleek, if not slick. I have nearly dropped my PowerBook G4 three times since I first got it. Each time it happens, my beard gets a little grayer. My last "near miss" convinced me I had to do something. I bought some gray Grip-it Strips, which have always proved a worthy ally against gravity and carelessness. Even better, perhaps, is a new product from Cyber3 called the TiBook Tote and Tilt. This add-on aluminum handle is convenient, inexpensive, and well-suited for the PowerBook G4.

Installation took all of three minutes. Cyber3 includes both a small screwdriver and and L-shaped Torx 8. The Torx 8 is for removing the original four, stubby screws from the rear panel. The regular screwdriver is for the four replacement screws, which are slightly longer to accommodate the handle brackets.

The handle is remarkably sturdy, being made from aluminum. The finish is a matte grey. I found I could easily pick up my PowerBook and swing it around -- yes, that's right: swing it around. (No juggling, though.) Flipping the handle down elevates the keyboard and lower section of the PowerBook for regular desktop use. This is a feature that I've sorely missed from the days of my old 540c.

Cyber3 states the Tote and Tilt provides increased air circulation under your PowerBook. This increases circulation, in turn, means the PowerBook isn't likely to get as hot which, in turn, means the fan is less likely to activate. If the fan is less likely to activate, and the fan bleeds through battery power, the Tote and Tilt indirectly does help increase battery life. This makes sense, I suppose.

Running the system off battery power while watching a really crappy DVD (Battlefield Earth), the fan did, indeed, activate far less frequently than normally. I have no idea how much this translates into real-world battery gains. The only thing I can say for certain is that Battlefield Earth was a terrible flick. Who was the genius that thought of naming the central command of an alien armada the "Home Office", anyway? When I think "Home Office", I think of my spare bedroom, not technologically advanced giants wearing KISS boots.

Back to the Tote and Tilt, this new product, combined with the release of the equally new handleless iBooks, of course begs the question of whether an iBook version will be available. Peter Lock, of Cyber3, said they are currently exploring such an option. He cautioned, however, that since the iBooks are so new, it would take some time to seriously look into the feasibility of such a product. Since the new iBooks screen actually lowers as it flips back, that could well block the area a handle might go. Still, Lock stated Cyber3 is currently exploring several options in that regard.

So what's not to like about the TiBook Tote and Tilt? Not much. It's fairly inexpensive. It's easy to install. It feels sturdy. It stylistically matches the PowerBook G4. And, yes, it does appear to reduce "fan time", potentially increasing battery life.

About the only complaint I have is that it slightly increases the physical dimensions of the PowerBook. In most cases this won't be an issue. However, if you are using a sleeve case that just barely accommodates your PowerBook G4 now, installing a TiBook Tote and Tilt will likely make it an even tighter fit. This is real nit-picky, though. Mine still fits in my case just fine. Assuming you do have a large enough case, I definitely recommend the TiBook Tote and Tilt. It's a no-brainer accessory for the PowerBook G4.