Mac Daniel's Advice

The Best Used PowerBook,
PowerBook Upgrade Options

Dan Knight - 1998.12.30

Upgrade or Replace My PowerBook 520c?

CW writes: I have a PowerBook 520c that won't start up. Should I bother having it fixed? Is there anything I can do to fix it, I suspect it's a PRAM battery problem. Once it starts up what should I do about the 12 MB of RAM, 160 MB HD, and lack of OS 8? Should I try to get a 603 processor for it?

Mac Daniel responds: Your 520c is worth around $500 in working condition (maybe more - those PowerBooks really hold value). At least get an estimate on the repair. Better to fix and sell it than take a complete loss on it.

At this point, I'd recommend against a 603 upgrade, especially with the limited RAM and hard drive. Total cost of making it a workhorse is prohibitive.

I'd look into selling the 520c and then getting a close-out PB 1400/133. With a 133 MHz 603 processor, 128 KB cache, 800 x 600 color screen, and large hard drive, it's a lot more computer than you'd get by upgrading your 520c. With the 1400/133 selling in the $1,100 range (when you can find them), it looks like a much better long term solution than upgrading your older PowerBook.

Upgrade my PB 190, Performa 6200, or ...?

AR writes: I have a PowerBook 190 8/500 with the 68040 chip and a Performa 6200 CD. They are both slow and out date. I am considering upgrading one of them.

I really don't need to get a G3 because I am a college student. I found out that I can bump up my Performa from 66 MHz to 180 MHz for around $300-$400. I know that my PowerBook, which I got for a mere $600 new, can be upgraded to a 120 MHz PPC and color screen. It should feel and run like 5300c. I need the computer to do some net surfing, word processing, PowerPoint, and to run Mathematica. For the long run should I instead go for a used Power Mac of some sort?

I am trying to spend over $700. Another option would be to get rid of them both, which after a few tears I could do.

Mac Daniel responds: I'd lean toward a PowerPC laptop, such as the PowerBook 1400. I really like the idea of portability. Something you can use for notes in the classroom, research in the library, and anywhere else is very attractive.

I haven't followed the used and close-out PowerBook market closely, but have heard there are deals on the PB 1400 at around $1,000-1,300. Avoid the 117 MHz model, since it has no cache. Both the 133 MHz and 166 MHz are very competent performers - and each 1400 can be upgraded with a G3 processor.

The 800 x 600 screen is a real improvement over the 640 x 480 on your PB 190. Best of all, the 1400/133 or 1400/166 would offer over twice the performance of your 6200.

Used PowerBooks hold their value quite well. You could probably sell your 190 for at least $500, keeping any PC Cards you may have for use in the 1400. If you sold both your PowerBook and your Performa, you should easily cover most of the cost of the new PowerBook.

What's the Best Used PowerBook?

JJ writes: Along the same lines as the current discussion about the best desktop Mac to have, what is the best used PowerBook when it comes to upgradability? I'm just finishing college and would love a brand new G3 but I'm still on a budget.

Mac Daniel responds: Now that's a question I've been waiting for. The best PowerBook ever is the PowerBook G3 Series with that amazing 1024 x 768 14.1" screen - and I can hardly wait to see what Apple does for an encore.

I have heard a lot of good things about the PowerBook 3400, but have no experience with it. With a 603e processor running at 180-240 MHz, it was plenty fast. It had large hard drives, an 800 x 600 active matrix screen, and plenty of expansion options.

The only discontinued PowerPC PowerBook I've worked with is the 1400, which I immediately fell for. I'd pass on the 117 MHz version, since it lacks a level 2 cache. Both the 133 MHz and 166 MHz models are excellent all around computers. Best of all, they're currently selling in the $1,000-1,500 range, just a bit more than we paid for my wife's PowerBook 150 4/120 some years back.

Below that price range, I'd look at a PowerBook 540c (33 MHz 68LC040) or Duo 280c (also 33 MHz 68LC040).

But if I had $2,500, there's no question that I'd go for the PowerBook G3 Series. To see that screen is to love it.

Reader Feedback

VB writes: The best used PowerBooks? Let's not forget the PowerBook 2400c. If you want the portability it's a really fast machine at 180 megahertz 603e. And it only weighs 4.4 lbs., yet is has all the peripheral ports in the back, including support for virtually any external monitor.

Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.

Recent Mac Daniel columns

Links for the Day

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
  Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
  LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
  Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
  PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Share

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Quantcast

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Quantcast

Quantcast

Quantcast

Poker Mac Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Quantcast

Quantcast

Quantcast

Quantcast

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac Museum
DealMac
Deal Brothers
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay

Low End Mac's Amazon.com store

Advertise

All of our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For price quotes and advertising information, please contact at BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.

Open Link