PowerBooks &iBooks

iBook G3/300

code name: P1

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iBook Apple's first consumer portable since the PowerBook 150 was discontinued at underUS$1,000 in late 1995, the $1,599 iBook was available in blueberry andtangerine.

Apple is also billing it as the world's second fastest portablecomputer - only the PowerBook outperforms it.

With an active matrix screen and six-hour LithIon battery, the iBookmakes an excellent field computer. Wireless networking is availableusing Lucent's AirPort technology, which has a range of 150 feet. At$299 for an AirPort base station and $99 per client, this 11 Mbpstechnology (theoretically a little faster than 10Base-T ethernet,although this is not proving to be the case in the real world) is verypromising.

Unique feature: unlike any PowerBook, the iBook has a handle, but nolatch. The iBook puts itself to sleep when you close it - and canautomatically wake up when you open it.

Unexpectedly, the iBook is a bit larger and heavier than thePowerBook G3 (Lombard).

The iBook SpecialEdition was introduced on February 16, 2000, the same day the iBookwas boosted to 64 MB of memory and a 6 GB hard drive. (The improvediBook is generally refered to as Revision B.) The 300 MHz iBook wasreplaced with a 366 MHzversion in September 2000.

Details

introduced 1999.07.21; available 1999.09 at US$1,599; discontinued2000.09.13
updated to 64 MB memory, 6 GB hard drive Feb. 16, 2000 at US$1,599(Revision B)
requires System 8.6 or later, 10.3.x officially supported, 10.4.xcan generally be installed using XpostFacto 4
CPU: 300 MHz PPC 750 (a.k.a. G3)
bus: 66 MHz
CPU performance: 893, MacBench 5.0 (beige G3/300 scores 1000)
FPU performance: 973, MacBench 5.0 (beige G3/300 scores 1000)
ROM: 4 MB, NewWorld ROM in RAM architecture
RAM: 64 MB of SDRAM (32 MB before 2000.02.16), expandable to 576 MB(544 on 32 MB iBook) via one 1.25" 3.3V PC66 compliant SO-DIMM
Level 2 cache: 512 KB backside cache running at 150 MHz
Video: ATI Rage Mobility with 2x AGP
VRAM: 4 MB
display: 12.1" 24-bit 800 x 600 SVGA 83 ppi color active matrix,resolution scaling supports 640 x 480
video out: no
hard drive: 6 GB 9.5mm UltraATA-33 (was 3.2 GB on original 32 MBiBook)
CD-ROM: 24x
floppy drive: external USB only
expansions bays: none
USB: 1 USB 1.1 port
ethernet: 10/100Base-T
modem: v.90 56k
WiFi: 802.11b AirPort optional
PC Card slots: none
size: 11.6 x 13.5 x 2.1" (29.4 x 34.4 x 5.2 cm)
weight: 6.6 pounds (3.0 kg) with battery
machine ID: PowerBook2,1
family number: M2453

Online Resources

Low End Mac'sCompleat Guide to Clamshell iBooks, Charles Moore, 'Book Value,2008.04.17. Back in 2000, it was about time to replace the WallStreetPowerBook. Would a clamshell iBook be a better value than a newerPowerBook G3?
Best iBook G3 deals.
iBook TalkList
Guide to iBooks. A quick comparisonof G3 iBook models.
WiFi cardsfor PowerBooks with PC Card slots, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum,2008.08.12. Includes instructions for hacking an Orinoco Silver cardto work in a G3 iBook.
Non-Intel Mac rumors, G5 iMacpower supply failure, Leopard on a 700 MHz eMac, and more, DanKnight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.07.31. Also no 8 GB partition problemfor clamshell iBooks, presentations in ClarisWorks, and watching DVDson an upgraded Power Mac 7600.
Low End Mac'sCompleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic softwarehasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buyit, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
What's thebest Mac OS for your iBook, PowerBook, or MacBook?, Charles Moore,'Book Value, 2008.08.19. Tips on choosing the best OS for yourPowerBook 500 Series or newer Mac notebook.
Replacing thehard drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing,2009.11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks todisassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will notdo.
Blue clamshelliBook ready for action, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing,2009.09.03. Introduced nine years ago, the first iBook with FireWire issturdy, a decent performer, and looks like no other laptop.
Optimized software buildsbring out the best in your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac's OnlineTech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac's CPU canload more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universaluse.
Mac 'Book powermanagement adventures, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.05.19. Ifyour 'Book won't power up, shuts down while your working, or has otherpower issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear thingsup.
Hacking a WiFi PC Cardto work in Apple's AirPort Card slot, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum,2009.04.21. Apple's AirPort Card has become expensive since it wasdiscontinued. Here's how you may be able to adapt an 802.11b PC Card toreplace it.
How about an802.11g card for the original AirPort Card slot?, Dan Knight, MacMusings, 2009.04.16. There are a lot of old Macs with 802.11b AirPortCards still in use and with poor security. Someone should make aplug-and-play 802.11g replacement card to provide better security,higher throughput, and improved range.
Is it worth maxingthe RAM in old G3 and G4 Macs?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum,2009.04.15. Increasing memory can make your old Mac faster and make youmore productive, but it probably won't improve resale value by theamount you spend.
The 25 mostimportant Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.02.17. The 25 mostsignificant Macs in the first 25 years of the platform, continued.
2 compactportable USB 2.0 hubs, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.01.12.Compact hubs from Targus and Proporta make a great complement to yournotebook computer. Each accepts a third-party AC adapter to provide buspower.
4 GB RAM problem persists afterfirmware update, TriBook concept MacBook, DIY Mac netbook, andmore, The 'Book Review, 2008.12.19. Also using third-party monitorswith 'Late 2008' MacBooks, MacMagSaver protects MagSafe cord, $25802.11g USB adapter, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
Why youshould partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings,2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a secondpartition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you haveproblems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency'partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
Let the Mac's25th anniversary begin!, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.12.09.The Mac doesn't officially turn 25 until January 24, 2009, but the 25thanniversary issue of Macworld is already out there.
Every workingcomputer is useful to someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac,2008.11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, itcould be all the computer someone needs.
$19,800 Bentley Egolaptop remarkably similar to 1999 clamshell iBook, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.06. Granted, Apple's iBook didn't havewhite gold trim, a padded leather exterior, or come in colors to matchyour Bentley automobile.
Getting themost from your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.03. MostG3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quitenicely. Here's how.
Tiger great on old G3 'Books,maximum RAM for 867 MHz PowerBook G4, and more, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.01. Also why 4 GB of RAM in a 32-bitVista PC wastes most of the last gigabyte and system profile softwarefor Windows PCs.
Apple innovationincludes exploiting existing technologies others ignore, AlanZisman, Zis Mac, 2008.09.30. Among other things, Apple's 'thinkdifferent' innovation means taking advantage of technologies that thePC industry has ignored.
Are G3 Macs stillviable work machines?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.09.08. Forbasic tasks - writing, email, and using the Web - a G3 Mac with Mac OSX 10.4 and sufficient memory provides plenty of power.
Overclocking a Macmini got me hooked on souping up Macs, Adam Geller, My First Mac,2008.09.04. Stories of hot rodding iBooks, G3 iMacs, and PCI Power Macson the cheap.
TruePower ACadapter for iBooks and PowerBooks is rugged, reliable, andaffordable, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.14. Apple's trackrecord with AC adapters is spotty, but the TruePower adapter is toughenough to survive being run over by a truck.
Environmentallyresponsible retirement for old Macs, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in MacDevelopment, 2008.06.13. After you've scavenged what useful parts youcan from your old Mac, what's the most environmentally friendly way todispose of the rest?
Bumps in theroad for G3 Macs, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.07.28.MobileMe wouldn't sync with the Pismo, and Skype's software refused toinstall, but both problems were solved.
The compressed airkeyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings,2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did,blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
Can Linuxreplace OS X on older Macs?, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the IntelAge, 2008.06.30. Looking at Ubuntu 8.04 on a 1 GHz PowerBook andKubuntu 5.04 on a clamshell iBook.
Mac OS X 10.2'Jaguar' can unleash the power of G3 iBooks, Carl Nygren, ClassicMacs in the Intel Age, 2008.06.17. After pulling a bad stick of RAM,the Dual USB iBook didn't have enough memory for Tiger or Linux. Buteven with just 128 MB of RAM, Jaguar did the job.
In praise of therefreshingly different Clamshell iBook, Tamara Keel, DigitalFossils, 2008.04.29. After seven years of faithful duty, the ruggednotebook with a handle remains a favorite field computer.
Picking the right 'Book, clamshelliBook memories, and alternatives to SCSI-to-USB, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.23. Choosing a good used 'Book forClassic, remembering the clamshell iBooks, and alternate options toavoid spending $99 on a SCSI-to-USB adapter.
EmpowerBook, TamaraKeel, Digital Fossils, 2008.04.22. The goal: distraction-free writingon the go. But which PowerBook or iBook is best for the job?
Mother of theMacBook Air, Ruffin Bailey, My Turn, 2008.04.03. The originalclamshell iBook was a runaway success despite a single USB port, noSCSI or FireWire, no PC Cards, no video out, and no DVD support.
Poweryour recycled laptop with a rebuilt battery, John Hatchett,Recycled Computing, 2008.02.20. Old notebook computers usually mean oldbatteries that may be dead or on their last legs. You can buy areplacement battery, or you can have your old battery rebuilt.
G3 and G4Power Macs and Clamshell iBooks still useful, Ben Zalutsky, NoWindows for Me, 2008.01.29. Intel CPUs may be blazingly fast, but theold G3 and G4 Macs have plenty of usable life left in them.
Cracking open the iBookG3, Mark Kaelin, CNET News, 2008.01.24. Taking apart the 1999clamshell iBook.
Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2007.12.07. Tipson hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
8 GB partition issue impacts OS 9,RAM for G3 iMacs, success with Open Firmware hack, and more, DanKnight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.12.10. Partitions over 8 GB can causeproblems in the classic Mac OS, more unsupported Leopard reports,another vote against the iPhone, and millions vs. thousands ofcolors.
iPods, notebooks, and othermodern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, Adam RobertGuha, Apple Archive, 2007.12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failureor a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replacea broken electronics device than repair it.
An indigo iBook: My first modernnotebook Mac, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.12.04. Theclamshell iBook majors in ruggedness, has a handle to increaseportability, and can even run OS X (slowly) with just 128 MB ofRAM.
Beyond Google, 10 years on the G3,the Cube is not a Road Apple, and more, Dan Knight, Low End MacMailbag, 2007.11.13. Also the 64-bit advantage of Core 2, OS 9 on a USBflash drive, sound problems since switching to Leopard, and 7200 rpm inan eMac.
Reasons for sticking with theClassic Mac OS, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.10.30.Whether it's the simplicity, elegance, speed, or desire not to replacelots of expensive hardware, there are lots of good reasons for stickingwith Mac OS 9.
CF in a clamshell iBook, Leopard ona 400 MHz AGP Power Mac, VGA ports on Macs, and more, Dan Knight,Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.30. Also graphics card options for AGPPower Macs, KompoZer and Claris Home Page, installing Mac OS 8.6, andZune price drop.
Road Apple nominations, OS X 10.5 onMDD Power Macs, UMPCs and Apple, and a broken power button, DanKnight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.12. Whether some additional Macsmerit the 'Road Apple' label, Leopard on Mirror Drive Door Power Macs,the usefulness of ultrasmall computers, and dealing with an iMac with abroken power button.
The future of G3 iBooks in theAge of Leopard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.09.14. All of the G3iBooks can run Mac OS X, but which ones run it well? And which versionshould you use?
iMac To Go, James &John, RetroMacCast, 2007.06.24. The Retro Mac of the Week is the iBook.eBay finds include a Cray supercomputer, a collection of older Macs,and a one-of-kind quilt.
Compact Flash faster than a harddrive, CF in a clamshell iBook, eSATA for PowerBooks, and more, DanKnight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.06.12. Faster boot times with a flashdrive, replacing the hard drive in an iBook with Compact Flash, eBayfeedback tips, eSATA CardBus options for PowerBooks, and the importanceof G3 support in Mac OS X 10.5.
Silence is golden: Running yourexisting notebook using flash memory, Dan Knight, Low End MacReviews, 2007.05.23. With a new adapter from Addonics, you can replaceyour laptop's IDE hard drive inexpensively and boot silently from aCompact Flash card.
Most durable 'Book, prepping a blue& white G3 for OS X, 7200 rpm drive too hot for Pismo?, andmore, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.05.21. Also howthe need to run "Tiger" is a problem, an iBook G4 with serious shutdownissues, and burning CDs at a lower speed may make them easier to readin older Macs.
Apple on mini CDs, 74 minute CD-Rsmore compatible, iBook G4 reliability, and more, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.05.14. Also installing OS X using TargetDisk Mode, partitioning your hard drive, Google's tool to simplify webpages, Canada and copyright law, and more.
Why Apple must continue G3 supportin Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.05.08."We're worried about what happens if Apple unchecks that box in Xcodeto include the instructions necessary to run OS X on G3 processorsat all."
Format any drive forolder Macs with patched Apple tools, Tyler Sable, ClassicRestorations, 2007.04.25. Apple HD SC Setup and Drive Setup only workwith Apple branded hard drives - until you apply the patches linked tothis article.
First Blu-ray drive for Apple's'Books, replace notebook hard drive with Compact Flash, and more,The 'Book Review, 2007.04.13. Also 160 GB 7200 rpm hard drives,upgrading from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook, Waterfield's flexible newSling bag, bargain 'Books from $170 to $1,699, and more.
Clamshell iBook upgrades, choppyiTunes video, Netscape 7 for Mac OS 9, and more, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.04.09. Also fixing flash drive problemswith Disk Utility, problems booting a secondhand iMac, PowerBookramblings, and more.
Using FireWire Target Disk Mode toinstall OS X on Macs without DVD drives, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.09.14. Two methods for using FireWireTarget Disk mode to install OS X on a Mac that can't read DVDs.
Inside your notebook's battery:Ordinary AA Li-Ion cells, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.09.08. Thatexpensive battery in your notebook computer probably holds less than$30 worth of off-the-shelf AA Li-Ion batteries.
Clamshell iBook viability, problemreading CD-R, OS X unstable with video compression, iCab 3.0.3, andmore, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.08.21. Alsopossible solution for booting into OS 9, WallStreet upgrade value,Power Mac no longer jinxed, MacTV value, AIM for ancient Macs, andmore.
Getting the most out of the clamshelliBook, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.08.14."'Unique' is an overworked adjective, but in the case of the clamshelliBook, it's justified. There's never been anything quite like it beforeor since."
Clamshell iBook still a fun andpractical notebook, Charles Webb, PowerBook Beat, 2006.08.11."Granted, this iBook isn't a speed demon in any way, but its amazingwhat a 7-year-old Apple notebook can do."
Is the G3 still a practicalchoice?, Matthew Jay, Macs to the Max, 2006.08.10. Although the G3is several generations old, it has enough horsepower for most of thethings we do on our computers.
Customizing Mac OS 9, NathanThompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling with themes,picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work just the way youwant it to.
7 tools for keeping your laptop (uh,notebook) cool, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.24.A quick look at the Podium CoolPad, ChillMat, ChillHubs, Laptop Desk,Xpad, iLap, and iBreeze - seven stands designed to keep you 'Booksrunning cooler.
Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' onDVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.10. Mac OS X ships on a single installDVD, which Apple will exchange for CDs at $10. But if you have accessto a DVD-equipped Mac and a FireWire cable, you're good to go.
Apple's secretbattery reset utility for WallStreet and Clamshell iBooks, JoeRivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2006.07.05. If your old 'Books batteryisn't taking a charge like it used to, Battery Reset 2.0 could helprecover its useful life.
Making the move from Jaguar (OS X10.2) to Panther (10.3), Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living,2006.04.11. One advantage of Apple's "no upgrades" policy for OS X -someone can give you their old copy after upgrading without worryingabout violating their license.
Many G3 Macs now consideredvintage, Mac News Review, 2006.03.31.
Dvorak adoption notice, tips forApple's Yo-yo power supply, old iMac a good value?, and more,Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.02.27. Also a 'Pismo up insmoke' update, Lombard up in smoke, iBook G3 logic board problems,Wangwriter appreciation, and more.
Web browser tips for the classicMac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tipson getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab,Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
The best browsers for PowerPC Macsand the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence,2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern andremains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to olderMacs.
Itwas the best of 'Books; the worst of 'Books, Charles W. Moore, RoadWarrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.08.10. "In my estimation, the iBook became alegitimate front-line Road Warrior with the September, 2000, speedbumps to 366 MHz and 466 MHz...."
Hotroddingthe clamshell iBook?, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion,2002.10.22. Add up to 512 MB RAM, drop in a big fast hard drive, butstill limited to 800 x 600 screen.
iBook BacklightReplacement Journal, Friesen, 2002.02.23. How to replace thebacklight on a clamshell iBook for $12.
Rage at being left behind, DanKnight, Mac Musings, 2001.12.24. It's official - Apple doesn't plan tosupport graphics acceleration for any Mac with ATI Rage video.
Internal CD-RW Drive For 1stGeneration iBooks, The 'Book Review, 2001.11.02. Replace the CD-ROMwith a 4x burner for $145 plus shipping.
Shot in the foot again: Firmwareupdate disables RAM, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.03.25. "...weshould not be at risk of losing some or all of the memory in our Macsbecause of a firmware update."
Keeper of theiBook: Does size matter?, Mark Newhouse, 2000.05.15. "I use theiBook every day, and have found it to be the perfect companion on mycommute."
Accelerate Your Mac! hasdownloadable color profiles for the iBook and recent PowerBooks thatreally improve on-screen color.
Recovering a stolen PowerBook,The 'Book Page. One user's experience.
Hands On: The iBook, Dan Knight,The iBook Page, 1999.10.21
iBook memory pricing,ramseeker
Enter the iBook, Evan Kleiman, MacHappens, 1999.07.22
PowerBooks email list
iBook TechnicalSpecifications, Apple

Cautions

Apple's iLife '05 software requires a 1024 x 768 or higher screenresolution and cannot beinstalled on clamshell iBooks.
There is an incompatibility between the Kensington StartupADB extension and the Trackpad control on the iBook with Mac OS9.0.4. Symptom: trackpad responds during boot, but not later. Solution:disable Kensington Startup ADB extension. This may also apply to otherUSB portables and versions of the Mac OS.
PortableComputers: Models Which Do Not Have a Backup Battery notes theiBook has no backup battery to retain time and other settings when themain battery is removed. A small capacitor holds enough energy tomaintain PRAM contents for 20 seconds, so switch batteriesquickly.

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