Apple Clearing Out Old PowerBooks, Taking 5300 & 190 on Trade
Charles Moore - 9 April 1999 - Tip Jar
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: New 2008 iMac 2GB $42 / iMac Intel Core2 DUO & MacBook Pro 2GB $36 - 1GB $20. MacPro 8 Core Memory 8GB kit $286 / 4GB kit $143 / 2GB kit $93 -- Free shipping available. LIfetime warranty.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
OWC: NewerTech miniStack FireWire/USB 2.0 HD & Hub Up to 1.0TB of Performance Storage + FW/USB2 Powered Hubs - convenient & sleek 6.5" x 6.5" x 1.5" Featured: 500GB $169.99; 750GB $209.99; 1.0TB $339.99
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
NOTE: This Miscellaneous Ramblings column originally appeared on MacOpinion on April 9, 1999. It is republished here by permission of the author and MacOpinion.
This has been a singularly slow news week in the PowerBook
world, as we await the introduction of the new Lombard professional PowerBook. Nothing
significant to report there except that 
prices and deals continue to sweeten (see below) on
G3 Series II 'Books as Apple
hustles to clear out the distribution channels.
However, check out my companion Road Warrior column this week for the second installment of my "Compleat Buyer's and Users' Guide To PowerBooks," especially if you're considering a PowerBook purchase soon.
I'm still using the old 5300, and I continue to marvel at how good a job it does, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. A glance at the trusty HoverBar shows that I have 17 applications open as I type this - on a machine with 24 MB of real RAM (doubled) that has not been restarted for a couple of days.
However, I had my worst tussle with a software conflict in many a moon last Monday, after Nisus Writer, my workhorse (and normally rock-stable) word processor, started crashing on startup. All the usual medicine did nothing to help. It was a very long day, involving a clean system reinstall, several utility diagnostics, and about 50 restarts. I finally tracked it down to the fact that I had turned off QuickTime Power Plug in the Extensions Manager in an attempt to trim the RAM System heap. The usual situation is that a conflict happens with certain extensions turned on, but I can't remember encountering one because something totally irrelevant to the affected program was turned off.
QuickTime 3 has never been a happy camper on this 5300, and it also has caused anomalies in the Sleep function. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else who has experienced these glitches in a 5300. For the record, I'm running OS 8.1.
Anyway, I enabled QuickTime Power Plug again, and Nisus is back to its old self.
Upgrade Resource
PowerBook Central has published an excellent and comprehensive resource on PowerBook upgrades, from the 100s to the G3 Series. Well worth a look if you have an older PowerBook that needs a dose of upgrade tonic.
Trade in your 5300 or 190 on a new G3 and get a $1,000 allowance
O'Grady's PowerPage is reporting that Apple Customer Relations will shave up to US$1,000 off the purchase price of a new PowerBook G3 Series 266 or 300 as a trade-in allowance on PowerBook 5300s and 190s only.
Can we expect a lot of 5300s and 190s in the refurbished channels soon?
The eligible G3 PowerBooks are the following configurations:
- 266/1MB-L2/64RAM/4GB HD/20xCD/10BT/56k/14" TFT/ US$1899
- 300/1MB-L2/64RAM/8GB HD/20xCD/10BT/56k/14" TFT/US$2199
Being as the 5300/190 machines are getting a bit long in the tooth, and even the high-end 5300ce (the most expensive PowerBook ever built) is selling for less than $1,000, this deal would appear to be a no-brainer decision if you can come up with the difference.
O'Grady's says that to take advantage of this offer, proceed as follows:
- Call Apple Customer Relations at 800-767-2775
- Mention the "PowerBook 5300 Limited Time Offer Upgrade"
- Apple will issue a case number
- Apple will send you a call tag to return your PowerBook 5300 or 190
- Give Apple a credit card number (it won't be charged until computer is shipped)
- Limited one per customer
- Apple is not responsible for any data or data transfer
Unfortunately, it appears that this deal is another instance where Canadians (and other non-US residents) are second-class Apple citizens. I tried the 800 number cited above and got the "you have dialed a number that cannot be reached from your area" (which is in Canada) recording.
Mac news from Singapore
My Singapore correspondent Tan Choon Hwa writes:
Dear Charles,
Things have certainly picked up in Singapore since we last 'heard' from each other.
Mac sales have increased quite a bit; judging by what my Mac dealer told me. All 300MHZ PBs have been sold out since the middle of March and many customers are on the waiting list. Even PC shops in my local IT mall have iMacs and PBs in them.
While Macs still serve a niche market, they are becoming more visible and common to the masses - which is good.
I hope I will have more encouraging news to tell you the next time I fill you in.
Looking forward to it Choon Hwa.
Cautionary note on external hard drives for PBs
Road Warrior reader Craig Spirko writes:
In your column on Fri. a Herb Schwartz was looking for a 2.5" drive case and I remembered I had purchased same but started using Zips at the time and never used it. I dug it out thinking I might send it along to someone who could use it but thought I'd try it first to see if it worked. Mistake. Immediately smoke started wafting from my Duo SCSI Dock and it no longer functions. Yes, it was the excuse I needed to buy a G3 PB (I don't suffer from chemical sensitivity syndrome, knock wood) currently being sold at fire sale prices, from which I am writing you now.
Upshot: I don't recommend using a 2.5" drive case, certainly not with a Duo Microdock.
Enjoy reading your column,
Craig
Thanks for the caveat, Craig.
Till next week.
Charles Moore has been a freelance journalist since 1987 and writing for Mac websites since May 1998. His The Road Warrior column is a regular feature on MacOpinion, and he is a news editor and columnist at Applelinks.com.
Recent Miscellaneous Ramblings
- $19,800 Bentley Ego Laptop Remarkably Similar to 1999 Clamshell iBook, 10.06. Granted, Apple's iBook didn't have white gold trim, a padded leather exterior, or come in colors to match your Bentley automobile.
- The Best Browsers for Older Macs Running Tiger, 10.02. A dial-up user's overview of browsers for Mac OS X 10.4 puts the emphasis on reliability, downloads, and speed.
- Tiger Great on Old G3 'Books, Maximum RAM for 867 MHz PowerBook G4, and More, 10.01. Also why 4 GB of RAM in a 32-bit Vista PC wastes most of the last gigabyte and system profile software for Windows PCs.
- What's So Great About a Mac? Plenty!, 09.25. Alex Gallegos doesn't understand why anyone would choose a virus-free, just-works Mac instead of the far geekier Windows.
- More in the Miscellaneous Ramblings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: DayStar Genesis, Oct. 1995 - The first 'Mac' with multiple processors, technology Daystar licensed to Apple.
- List of the Day: SuperMacs is for those using Umax SuperMac clones.
- October 6 in LEM history: 98: USB is a good thing - Can Apple save Emailer? - 99: Kihei iMacs - 00: Advice about PDS Power Macs - 03: A replacement PowerBook battery - 04: AirPort Express - 05: The Apple Lisa story - 06: Don't ignore battery recall - Use any networked computer as an additional Mac display
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Use Your FileMaker Pro Databases on Your iPhone, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 10.06. Although there's no version of FileMaker Pro for the iPhone, FMTouch will let you use your data and layouts on it.
- The Cost of Moving to Small Business Server vs. Moving to Leopard Server., Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.06. Upgrading the existing SBS 2003 Server would cost less, the the server will run up against hardware limitations long before a Mac Pro does.
- Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 700 MHz CD, $110; CD-RW, $130; Combo, $170; 800 CD, $170; 1 GHz Combo, $250; SuperDrive, $280; 1.25 Combo, $290; SD, $360; 1.42 Combo, $359.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 1.6 HD, $1,299; refurb, $1,499; new, $1,669 after rebate; 1.8, $1,919 a/r; 1.6 SSD, $2,294 a/r; used 1.8 SSD, $1,997; refurb, $2,299; new, $2,349 a/r.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Refurb 3G/1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 1 GB (3G or 4G), $47; 2 GB (3G or 4G), $67. Prices include ground shipping.
- Mac Netbook Coming?, $179 64 GB SSD, Apple Owns 20% of US Notebook Market, and More, The 'Book Review, 10.03. Also head of Norton AntiVirus team uses a Mac, Toshiba demos new battery technology, 1 TB notebook drives due in 2010, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Getting the Most from Your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.03. Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
- Apple Drops iPhone NDA, Defecting to Android, Auto Performance Apps for the iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 10.03. Also more research needed on cellphone cancer link, file sharing app for the iPhone, three new power accessories from Macally, several new iPhone apps, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 450 MHz, $75; 500, $99; 733, $150; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, C$349; 867 MHz dual, $225; 1 GHz, $349; 1.25, $499; 1.42, $600.
- OS X and Safari Shares Grow in September, Toxic Mac Pro?, Green Hard Drives, and More, Mac News Review, 10.03. Also Vista terrible as Mac market grows, CrossOver Mac Pro reviewed, SimpleTech Pro Drives, and a new toolkit for working on computers.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 500 CD, $149; 800, $190; 600 CD-RW, $240; 800 Combo, $300; 900, $399; 14" 600, $360; 900, $469.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $65; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Why I'm Switching from Windows Small Business Server to Leopard Server, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.02. Windows SBS 2003 has served very well, but with SBS 2008 just around the corner, it's time to reconsider that choice. Leopard Server has a lot to offer.
- The Unwritten Rule Behind Apple's App Store Rejections, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 10.02. "If you want to work with someone, don't attack or try to take over part of what they think of as theirs."
- Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02. Used 1.83 GHz, $649; 2.0 SD, $750; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 2.4, $1,204 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
- CodeWeavers Brings Google's Chrome Browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 10.02. Google's new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
- Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $450; 2.0 SuperDrive, $500; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $550; 2.0, $600; 2.1 iSight, $650.
- Best iPod touch Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02. Used 1G/8 GB, $160; refurb, $179; new, $198; used 16, $200; refurb, $219; new, $265; refurb 32, $319; new, $345; 2G/8 GB, $229; 16, $280; 32, $380.
- More links in our archive.
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.
Access our RSS news feed at http://lowendmac.com/feed.xml.
Email may be published at our discretion; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. If you prefer your message not be published, mark it "not for publication." 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.
Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iBook, iMac, eMac, iPod, iPhone, PowerBook, 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.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
