Customer Reviews
Underwhelmed 
2005-07-02
When I received my iBook 12", I was extremely excited to bust out the iLife applications. I had heard a lot about them, and played around with them at Apple Retail Stores.
I was quite disappointed. It seems that in order to be "user friendly", Apple stripped some of the most important features. I am not a professional by any means, but some of the things that Apple removed were simply ridiculous.
iLife is composed of five main applications - iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, and GarageBand (new in iLife 04), which I will review separately below.
iTunes - an audio jukebox which is by far the best and most complete application in the entire suite. iTunes is probably the best solution for ripping and organising your digital music, with an excellent interface, a beautiful visualiser, and Apple's famed drag-and-drop simplicity. But that's no reason to buy iLife, because iTunes is available for free on Apple's website. (***** of five stars)
iMovie - allows you to "edit" movies, which basically (in iMovie terms) means splicing clips together. I did manage to put together a complete video on this thing, but the labour was difficult and I found myself frustrated by how dumbed-down it felt. The lack of effects and filters was notable, and many times I felt like I could have done the job in half the time on Sony/SonicFoundry Movie Studio. (*** of five stars)
iDVD - a tool for authoring and burning DVDs. Because the iBook doesn't have a SuperDrive, I was unable to actually burn a disc with this program. I did drag-and-drop a few clips, but I didn't actually play around with it enough to give it a solid rating. (no rating)
iPhoto - basically iTunes for pictures, iPhoto allows you to organise and catalogue your photographs with snap and simplicity. It is extremely easy to use, automatically importing photographs and adding them to your library. The photos can then be added to "albums", which can be printed or even sent to Apple for a book. While iPhoto is quite short on photo editing tools, that's really what Photoshop is for. (**** of five stars)
GarageBand - lets you drop loops and compose music. Out of all the iLife apps, this is the one which disappointed me the most. I expected a comprehensive but easy-to-use audio editing application, but GarageBand was the worst I have ever used. Its interface is indeed simple enough, but it is extremely lacking in both "software instrument" synthesizers and "real instrument" filters. Many of the features it lacks baffle me as well - you can't reverse, pitchshift, or resample an AIFF track. (* of five stars)
Garageband NOT unique to Apple. 2005-06-23
Just to counter what one person said about "nothing comes close" on the PC. Garageband is simply Apple's version of Sonic Foundry's ACID, now owned by Sony, and you can download [...]
Garageband will even import Acidloops I'm told.
Don't get me wrong, I think the iLife Suite is great and I use both PC's and Mac's in equal measure but I get frustrated when Mac owners talk about how great Garageband and Final Cut are and how it's too bad there's nothing on the PC like it. Well, Final Cut is constantly playing catchup to Vegas Video and Acid has been around for years.
That all said, there still isn't a worthy competitor to iMovie on the PC and my iBook is my constant companion for quick and dirty video editing on the road.
J\
Not perfect but better than anything else 
2004-12-10
I have been a Mac User for almost 20 years and I have to say that this package is one of Apple's greatest achievements. To take so many different components (the one thing in common is the digital footprint of all the media involved) and make them work together so well.
I reviewed iLife 03 and was astonished by the melding of video, sound, and pictures. I was less than thrilled with iMovie's performance, but that speaks mostly about my older (QS 933 G4 and G3 PB at the time) equipment than it does about this software. Like that package, iLife 04 is more about the sum of it's components rather than the individual pieces. But I'll talk about them anyway.
iMovie 04: This is a much improved version of the big changes made in the 03 version. I've yet to crash it no matter how many effects and transitions I throw it. They added improved sound effects as well. If you want more than what Apple gives you, check out Gee Three for more iMovie effects and transitions packages.
iPhoto 04: Yawn. I'm sure it's much better than before..I just don't see that much difference. It is still a great photo archiver and it works with any Digital camera I thrown at it so far. Plug it in and it works. Just like it should.
iDVD 04: MUCH improved over the 03 version. New effects and the ability to add pre-video before your menus is very well done. Many new themes as well. Minor ding to Apple for not allowing external DVD burners. Guess you gotta sell those SuperDrives SOMEWAY.
iTunes 04: No real interface changes other than Smart Playlists. Very tight integration with the Apple Music Store for purchasing music online and of course if you own an iPod, there is nothing better to use than iTunes with it.
GarageBand 04: Some of the reviews here have slammed GB for not being the be-all to end-all of digital music creation. Somewhere they have forgotten a few things. Like how not everyone wants to create music from scratch for video clips or just for putting together some fun songs. I challenge them to find a program as easy to use for 50 bones anywhere else that is more fully featured. Guess what? They can't. I'm not a musician, but I can throw together some loops and effects and make something that at least I find listenable (Check out the GB tunes I made at macidol.com under artist name Guy Serle). Is it really art? Nope, and I don't claim it is. But it is fun. GB is the easiest software of this type to make music. Apple gives you everything you need to get started including 1000 loops. Many companies are now creating packages of loops in Apple's format that are drag and drop easy to install. Search for "Apple Loops" in the search engine of your choice and you'll find lots to choose from.
I took one star away for some minor issues I have that aren't really worth going into. If you have at least a G4/G5 (or even a high end G3) Mac, this is worth getting for the ridiculously low price that Apple charges. It is the best software bargain out there bar none.
Sorry excuse for anyone who IS a musician. 
2004-12-08
Sure. You've read the other glowing reviews. You've seen the 4 and 5 star ratings. Okay boys and girls, now do you REALLY want the truth? As a consultant to software manufacturers who wanted to actually help folks, not hype folks, I know of what I speak ( I also hold multiple earned doctorates). One caveat: If you do NOT know where "Middle C' is located on the piano keyboard --or don't care to know--- In THAT case, this software WILL be a good investment for you. It is merely a "cut and paste" to add songs to videos, photos, whatever. But we're speaking about a company--Apple--- who STILL doesn't have a built in MIDI utility for OSX. (It is promised for the 2005 edition---but I've heard that before). If you wish to actually write chords, or play a keyboard and MIDI it into a MAC, forget it! Summary: I liked what one reviewer stated, " this is a Casio type program" . It really is. If you are non-creative type or don't have time to be creative and want a quick fix like most droitistic Americans-- purchase this program, it will help you become just like everyone else.
Incredible software--reason alone to buy a Mac. 
2004-09-07
iLife is a suite of applications that turns a Macintosh into an amazing hub for managing and creating movies, music, CDs, DVDs, and photographs. And, like everything from Apple, it's truly "plug and play." Have a digital camera with some pictures on it? Plug it into your Mac through the USB port. That's it. iPhoto launches and the rest is so easy an eight year old could do it. It's fast, smoothy, easy on the eye, and flawless. With almost no effort, you can publish your pictures on the net, send them to your printer or to Kodak for printing, even create a hard cover book that will impress friends and family--a lasting keepsake. Edit your digital home movies on iMovie--a tool that is so easy and simple that you'll soon forget how powerful it is. When you're done, make a professional looking DVD with iDVD, complete with animated menus, music, and sound effects.
One warning, however, is in order. GarageBand is a full-fledged music studio that not only comes with a sizeable library of loops (from which you can construct songs), but also records real and digital instruments--along with amazing and flexible effects. However, you'll need a very powerful processor to keep up with this software. On a weaker machine, you'll run out of tracks if you try to make something complex. You also need a DVD-playing drive to install it. I'd recommend, at a minimum, a G4 Mac with a processor running at no less than 1 gHz. I wouldn't recommend it for a PowerBook or iBook.
These wonderful programs--except for iTunes, which you can download for free anyway--do not run on PCs--Macs only. And nothing for the PC even comes close.
Make your personal computer be a personal compter! 2004-06-26
ILIFE 04 RETAIL
...what you've all been waiting for... 2004-06-13
Face it. Most of those interested really want Garageband above all. That being the main program I use from iLife, I'll review it.
Garageband is the Final Cut Pro of Music. It's excellent for musically talented and musically challenged.
No need to worry about beats or anythin', because Garageband makes any and all set loops go together with ease.
Disregard the review by a fellow who claims it is a program for kids and idiots who want to show everyone else their noise. It IS a very sophisticated music editor while remaining simplistic and fun to use. I spent hours mixing and matching endlessly. The possibilities are infinite.
The "drag and drop" style of operating masks movie-editor Final Cut Pro, also available here at Amazon. It's an easy to learn, easy to use tool that most people will love.
I recommend, that, if you planned on buying iLife '04 solely for Garageband, then by all means, do so. I really think that if you love music and you love making it, regardless of playing an instrument, that you will adore this product.
Another Apple hit... well worth the price. 2004-06-02
The iLife suite has been completely revised for the new iLife '04 release. In this review, I'll list some of the improved features.
iDVD received a nice update with some new themes and other small features. I wasn't incredibly impressed by this particular update, but that's because I rarely use the application. Not a major interface overhaul, but some nice updates.
iMovie has been significantly sped up along with an improved interface and new transitions, effects, and more. You'll quickly notice all the new features in this update if you use iMovie frequently.
iTunes has been updated, but you can simply download the update... you don't need to buy the suite to get the newest version of iTunes.
iPhoto previously suffered from extreme performance issues before this revision... if you had a large amount of images in the database there would be a large slowdown, but this revision fixes that issue. It allows you to rate photos 1-5 stars, which is handy but not a necessary feature. Another nice new feature is the ability to create "smart albums" like "smart playlists" on iTunes... you can make albums that only contain, say, five-star pictures containing the phrases "Katie" and "1st Birthday" with little effort.
And, finally, the application that almost everyone is buying this for... GarageBand. GarageBand is Apple's new music editing program. It's a music mixing application that allows you to record songs on your Mac.
GarageBand has a nice variety of realistic-sounding musical instruments which can be played using a MIDI keyboard or guitar plugged into your Macintosh. You can then add effects, use amplifiers, and so much more.
If you don't know how to play any instruments, GarageBand also includes a wide variety of amazing-sounding loops for use in your songs. Not only are they nice for people who can't play any instruments, but they're nice if you're in a band and you want to hear how a song sounds but your drummer isn't there to play a drum track.
GarageBand lacks a few features that would make it a professional music creation title... the ability to change the tempo throughout the song instead of using just one for the whole song would be nice; but one could even run a small professional band on this program if they had to.
I can count the number of times I've completely crashed my Mac on one hand, but it did crash (not a kernel panic, just a crash) during the install. After a restart, all worked well again.
Another thing to note with this software title is that while it does work on *most* Macs, GarageBand and iDVD require a G4 or better, at *least* 256MB of RAM, and a DVD player to use the install DVD. Actually, you can install GarageBand on a 600MHz (or higher) Mac with a DVD drive, but you can't use software instruments then.
All in all, a nice package, and worth the price.
Garageband should be called "i-casiotones" 2004-05-04
This is a review of the garageband application in ilife. It is a big disappointment. Modern music is suffering from a surplus of hooks, loops, and grooves and a dearth of melodies. Here comes Apple with a software program that allows any tone deaf and musical illiterate to pile samples and loops one on top of another and put a beat to the mess. Change chords? Nope. Melody? Nope. Modulate? Nope. Hey! This is music that requires no instrumental playing ability. Think of it as an audio collage tool. The result is mind numbing. Now anyone can be Philip Glass and have endlessly repetitive cells of notes. There is an onscreen keyboard (laughingly called "grand piano") that will let you hunt and peck whole notes (if you can see the keyboard - the keys are so small you will need great fine motor control to hit the right key).
Remember those annoying keyboards that allow you to add endless rhythmn and background arpeggios to whatever you are playing? Here is one for your computer.
DO NOT buy this thinking you are getting a sophisticated mixer and tracker. You aren't. This is for kids only or idiots who want to inflict their noise on everyone around them. Next to this, cleaning spam our of your inbox seems like a worthy use of one's time.
A Great Suite of Applications for a Great Price 2004-04-17
iLife '04 is a great suite of applications. These applications are all very intuitive, and fun to use. For me, the greatest update in this package was iPhoto 4. The previous version of iPhoto was a great program, but it lacked speed. The new iPhoto, iPhoto 4, has a lot more horsepower, and I can easily sift through my library of photos now.
I recently used iDVD for the first time, and I must say, it was very easy to use. The themes that are included with it look very nice. The DVD that I created now looks very impressive, though it was very easy to create.
iLife '04 also includes iMovie, which I have not really used yet, but I'm sure I will use it someday. It also includes the newest application, Garageband, which is a great program for musicians and fun for beginners to use also. I was impressed at how many loops were included in Garageband.
iLife '04 is a set of easy to use, and very practical applications. With all that is included in it, the price could not be better. It's a must have for any mac user who has or wants to edit digital content, such as music, movies, or photos.
![Software: Apple iLife '04 [Old Version]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G7P0JXRJL.jpg)
