'That's Not a Computer'

- 2008.07.30

My Turn is Low End Mac's column for reader-submitted articles. It's your turn to share your thoughts on all things Mac (or iPhone, iPod, etc.) and write for the Mac web. Email your submission to Dan Knight .

My first new computer was an IBM PS/1 given to me by my grandmother on Christmas of 1992. In the next 12 years I would own a number of secondhand desktops and laptops, all PCs. Then, in 2005, my second new computer, the venerable 12" PowerBook, was given to me by my parents as a gift for finishing an Associates Degree program.

It was my first Mac, and I decided on it because I was tired of rebooting from Linux into Windows to do video editing. Mac OS X "Tiger" would provide me a fine Unix system and robust video editing.

But this story is about hardware.

Damaged Goods

A couple months into owning my PowerBook, I tripped over the power cord, and it fell from the kitchen table. Landing flat on the floor broke its SuperDrive and damaged the hard drive. Replacing the SuperDrive was quite the endeavor, I found out as I blindly followed the iFixit.com take-apart guide without reading through it first.

Video RAM errors sequestered me to an external display until I replaced the logic board. Hasty disassembly at some point led me to breaking a capacitor (or something) off the DC-to-DC board that interfaces with the battery, so that was replaced as well. A gigabyte of RAM and a 100 GB 7200 RPM hard drive was installed.

My PowerBook Spawns a Second Computer

gutted PowerBook I attached the old DC-to-DC board to the old logic board and connected it to an external monitor. I scavenged a power switch button and a DC-in board from my girlfriend's dead 800 MHz iBook. Google told me the DC-in board was compatible, and it plugged into the logic board after some force. I had an extra 256 MB RAM stick from upgrading to 1.25 GB in my main PowerBook. I stuck in small PC heat sink I had atop the processor. I installed OS X on an external hard drive and booted the amalgamation of components.

Aside from the DC-in board, to run from an AC adapter instead of battery, this cobbled together machine possesses the minimum amount of 12" PowerBook hardware needed to run. A battery is not essential, but the system won't boot without the DC-in board the battery plugs into. Incidentally, I have two batteries to use with this Frankenstein, one belonging to the iBook and one that was replaced by the battery recall. (Was I supposed to be billed if I didn't send that back?)

gutted PowerBook I don't have a USB keyboard, but I have a mouse, so I used it to turn on Screen Sharing. I connected an ethernet cable and used my main PowerBook to control the system over the network with Screen Sharing. I paired my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with my main PowerBook and became the owner of a second Macintosh. From the idea's conception to first boot, I never left the house; it was cool to watch my cardboard box full of junk boot Mac OS X.

Present Day

I plan to buy a Bluetooth 'board ($10 including shipping on eBay) to forego the Screen Sharing rigmarole and connect the keyboard and mouse directly, and I may splurge on an AirPort Extreme card.

I am also going give it it's own power adapter. It's currently sharing one with my main PowerBook, alternating battery charging sessions. I don't see this as an unnecessary expense, because this adapter has long needed replacing.

I've offered this thing to my girlfriend several times to replace her Windows computer, seeing as she's been waiting forever for a Mac mini revision. She only responds, "That's not a computer." I'd like to make it one by putting it in a case of some sort, if anyone has ideas for one email me cthildreth(at)gmail(dot)com. (She won't accept an NES for a case - I asked.)

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Recent My Turn articles

Back to Mac OS 9 Because It's All I Need, 2011.01.26. Sebastian Patting sold his Intel Macs and went back to PowerPC Macs and Mac OS 9. Here's why.
Using Low End Macs for Internet Radio, 2008.08.18. When the local public radio station moved classical music to HD radio, it was time to find another way to listen. An old iMac with iTunes solved the problem.
Upgrading a Digital Audio G4 to work better in Leopard, 2008.06.02. In its original configuration, the dual 533 MHz Power Mac G4 was slow with Mac OS X 10.5, but add the right upgrades, and it runs Leopard quite nicely.
More in the My Turn index.

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