PowerBook Deathmatch
Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how
to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full
Tilt Poker Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.
Eric Schwarz - 2001.10.18
Over the past few days I have been borrowing a PowerBook 5300cs from a friend to see how the replacement to my PowerPC-upgraded 540c stacked up - and to learn more about other Macs. Both PowerBooks were about the same" 100 MHz PowerPC 603e, 16 MB RAM, 10Base-T ethernet, etc. The only difference was System 7.5.3 on the 5300cs and Mac OS 8.1 on my PPC-540c. Also, the screens are different: 10.4" dual-scan on the 5300cs and 9.5" active matrix on the 540c.
Will I decide to keep my 540c or opt to get a 5300c to replace it after some use?
PowerBook Deathmatch
Upon turning on the 5300cs, it seems that it is much like the
PowerPC-upgraded 540c (pictured at right) I own. The 540c,
however, seems to sound much, much
better - it has two nice speakers, as opposed to the cheesy single
one on the 5300cs (pictured below). Speedwise, they were about the
same loading their OSes. The 5300cs loaded 7.5.3 a little faster,
but if they both had 8.1, I assume they'd be the same.
Using both Macs, they operated much the same. They have the same keyboard, it's just mounted differently. The trackpad clicker on the 5300cs seemed to be a little more like the PC laptops I sometimes use (but don't own). The hard drive on the 540c seems higher pitched than the IDE drive of the 5300cs, but that's just because they're different mechanisms.
Anyway, getting into hardware, the 5300's latch seems to be
sturdier (it's metal, after all). The case itself 
seems flimsier, and there are lots more little taps,
buttons, and doors to be broken off. I do like the module that
allows storage of PC cards in the floppy bay. If I had a 5300, I'd
carry a stash of storage cards in there - they're much more useful
than floppies.
Ports seemed about the same, but the 5300 has no built-in ethernet or modem. Those are on PC cards. The infrared port seems to be a useful idea, but I haven't seen much implementation of it.
Batteries and AC adapters seem about the same, except the 5300cs does get slightly better battery life. The 5300cs also has "dumb" batteries, as opposed to the 540c's "intelligent" batteries. This avoids the errors and EMM problems that the 540c's battery sometimes has. The 5300's battery does have to be reconditioned, though.
In closing, both 'Books are about the same in physical size, and shape. The 540c's flip-down feet are a lot more durable than the 5300's push-button feet. One thing that I wish Apple would do is to have dual latches (like the IBM ThinkPads used to and might still have), one on each side of the screen. This makes the computers more durable when closed, rather than relying on one small central latch. On both, the trackpad clickers are somewhat exposed.
The 5300 is not as nearly a bad machine as the press made it out to be, although it does need some improvements in the reliability and design departments.
PowerBook 540c (PPC) vs. 5300c - Top 10 Noticeable Differences
This compares the differences between a PowerPC upgraded 540c and a 5300c.
- 10: Gray case on 540c, black case on 5300c.
- 9: Flip-down feet on the 540c, push-button feet on the 5300c.
- 8: The 540c has to be hacked to run OS 8.5+; the 5300c runs it naturally.
- 7: 5300c has to be sent to Apple Repair Program. ;-)
- 6: Onboard ethernet and modem on 540c (albeit slow).
- 5: Infrared on 5300c.
- 4: 9.5" screen on 540c, 10.4" screen on 5300c.
- 3: 2 speakers on 540c, 1 speaker on the 5300c.
- 2: SCSI on 540c, IDE on 5300c (internal hard drives)
- 1: Drive bay and PCMCIA slots on the 5300c.
These were hard to rank since both machines are about the same in terms of power (since the 540c has a PPC card). Most of these were my opinions, so that's how my rankings were for these. Yours may differ.
Both computers are equally good; it really depends on what you prefer. You can probably find a 540c cheap, but a PPC card would require a little more dough, than, say, a 5300c. But you never know when you may find a deal....
Eric Schwarz has been using Macs and other computers for a few years. His personal website - dealing with Macs (of course) - is at <http://schwarztech.macweekly.com/>. You can learn more about his current computer setup in Eric Schwarz's iBook.
Recent Power of Mac
- TextEdit, a hidden powerhouse that comes free with OS X, 03.26. Although easily overlooked, TextEdit could be all the word processing software a lot of Mac users ever need.
- Whether you call it AirPort, WiFi, or 802.11 wireless networking, your portable should have it, 03.19. With more wireless hot spots popping up, there are more reasons to have an AirPort card in your 'Book every day.
- Are older Macs lower than low end?, 03.14. Are low-end Mac users finding happiness with newer low-end Mac?
- Back to school software, 2002 edition, 08.01. Practical software for students (and others) using Mac OS X.
- More in the Power of Mac index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 17" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Apr. 2006 - The top-end MacBook Pro includes a 1680 x 1050, 2.16 GHz Core Duo CPU, and supports Apple 30" Cinema Display.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Pismo WiFi Networking Issue Finally Solved?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.24. It turns out the problems wasn't the Pismo, the Buffalo WiFi card, or Mac OS X 10.4. It was the Wireless G router - Linksys to the rescue!
- Mini VGA to S-video Adapter a No Go for eMacs, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 11.24. You might think that Apple's Mini VGA S-video adapter is a cheap way to connect your eMac or G4 iMac to your TV. You would be wrong.
- Google Calendar with iPhone or iTouch Is Great for Scheduling, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.24. Web-based Google Calendar allows access and updates from any computing platform, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone OS.
- Why Spaces is My Favorite Leopard (and Snow Leopard) Feature, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.23. Spaces, a feature introduced with OS X 10.5, is like having several monitors on your Mac without the cost and space of using multiple displays.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.25. Refurb 8 GB 4G nano, $99; new, $126; refurb 16 GB, $129; new, $150; new 5G/8 GB, $134.60; 16 GB, $161.12. Shipping included.
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals, 11.25. System 6.0.8 floppies, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5, $20; 7.6 $13; 8.1, $11; 8.5, $20; 8.6, $90; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $30.
- Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.25. Used 1 GHz Combo, $400; 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $449; 1.67 GHz hi-res, $600.
- Best G4 iMac Deals, 11.24. Used 15" 700 MHz CD-RW, $150; 800 MHz Combo, $229; 1 GHz, $289; 17" 1.25 GHz, $200; 20" 1.25 GHz, $509.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.24. Used from $899; refurb from $1,099; new 1.6 GHz/120 HD, $1,150 after rebate; 1.8/64 SSD, $1,150 a/r; 1.86/128 SSD, $1,350 a/r; 2.13/128 SSD, $1,694 a/r.
- Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 11.24. Used 233 MHz WallStreet, $75; 266 MHz, $160; 400 MHz Lombard, $199; 400 MHz Pismo, $289; 500 MHz, $350.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.23. Used 867 MHz SuperDrive, $348; 1 GHz Combo, $379; SD, $519; 1.33 GHz, $529; 1.5 GHz Combo, $549; SuperDrive, $609.
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.23. Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 4-core. $1,919; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.93 8-core, $4,999; new 2.26 8-core, $2,290.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.23. Used 802.11g AirPort Extreme, $49; 500 GB Time Capsule, $150; new, $190; 1 TB dual-band, $280; 2 TB, $469; 802.11n AirPort Extreme, $170.
- More deals in our archive.
Channels
Power Macs
iMac Channel
iBook/PowerBook
MacInSchool
Computer Profiles
iMac
Power Mac
PowerBook/iBook
Performas
Mac Clones
Older Macs
Lisa • NeXT
Editorial Archive
Mac Daniel's Advice
Email Lists
LEMchat (uses
AIM)
Online Tech Journal
Consumer
advice, reviews
guides, deals
Software
Apple History
Best of the Web
Best of the Mac Web
surveys
Miscellaneous Links
Used Mac Dealers
Video Cards
Mac OS X
Mac Linux
Macspeak
RAM Upgrades
About Low End Mac
Site Contacts
Support LEM
Affiliates
The Apple Store
.mac
iTunes Store
Club Mac
MacMall
iResQ
ExperCom
eBay
Amazon.com
PayPal
PCMall
PC
Zone
Crucial
Memory
Our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For detailed price quotes and advertising information, please contactat BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.