Sweet PowerBook 150!!

[katie ta achoo]

I'm guessing this is the right forum, but I got two FREE PowerBook 150-s (bringing my total number of free Powerbooks up to.. tHREE!!)

but I have NO IDEA of what do do with them!

One of them runs (I played the scuba diver, learn how to use your mouse! game) and the other has "sad mac" when you start it up.

What can I do with them?

overclock them to 50 MHz? Take them apart and see if I can successfully put them back together? Take them to the Apple store and ask for help, just to bother the clerks? (I can see that Genius Bar request: "hey.. I have a PowerBook 150. Can I put an 80 gig HD in it? What about AirPort? Please help!!")

Any ideas will be utilized! Thanks. :) :)

[ITASOR]

Get a TON of old mac classic games like pacman, etc. and make a cool wooden arcade type thing with a mount for the powerbook. Then cut like a screen hole and stuff. That would be awesome! Just think, you have 2 tried. Sad mac just means no OS. I have a Powerbook 150 that I tried to make an arcade with, but once I took the cord out of the screen, it would never work again (just stayed ON with no signal of the Mac OS coming in). Stinks!

[dmw007]

I like your idea about taking it to the Genius Bar and asking if you could swap in a 80GB HD. While you are there check to see if you can add an internal 16X Dual-layer DVD burner. They will probably just stare at you with a blank lifeless look on their faces while thinking, "Oh God, this person is an idiot." ;)
Now you just need to work on getting someone to give you a free 1.67GHz PowerBook G4. :)

[dmw007]

Get a TON of old mac classic games like pacman, etc. and make a cool wooden arcade type thing with a mount for the powerbook. Then cut like a screen hole and stuff. That would be awesome! Just think, you have 2 tried. Sad mac just means no OS. I have a Powerbook 150 that I tried to make an arcade with, but once I took the cord out of the screen, it would never work again (just stayed ON with no signal of the Mac OS coming in). Stinks!

Or you could just go and do this.

Nice suggestion ITASOR.

[rainman::|:|]

I used to have a couple of old powerbooks like this, a 150 and 165c i think, they're great for taking quick notes in a hurry, and when i left one in a basement when i was wiring an office, i didn't worry about it. i lost my good ethernet crimper in the bag, and i was more bothered by that, but still didn't care enough to drive over.

[dmw007]

I used to have a couple of old powerbooks like this, a 150 and 165c i think, they're great for taking quick notes in a hurry, and when i left one in a basement when i was wiring an office, i didn't worry about it. i lost my good ethernet crimper in the bag, and i was more bothered by that, but still didn't care enough to drive over.

I also had a PowerBook 165c (used to work - I think the logic board got fried :( ). Now it just sits under my desk collecting dust.

[katie ta achoo]

I like your idea about taking it to the Genius Bar and asking if you could swap in a 80GB HD. While you are there check to see if you can add an internal 16X Dual-layer DVD burner. They will probably just stare at you with a blank lifeless look on their faces while thinking, "Oh God, this person is an idiot." ;)
Now you just need to work on getting someone to give you a free 1.67GHz PowerBook G4. :)

No, the clerks at the Apple store know who I am (all too well) and know my stupid questions (all too well... hehe). They'd just say " :rolleyes: It must be thursday again!!"

Hmm.. I already got a free 1.5 GHz PowerBook G4, but I'll take another one!!
(I have a semi-secret goal of going to the next few OS release parties, and getting a new computer or something from each one.. My saying: "Three OS's, three free PowerBooks." May be put into jeopardy when I get a job at the Apple Store.)

Get a TON of old mac classic games like pacman, etc. and make a cool wooden arcade type thing with a mount for the powerbook. Then cut like a screen hole and stuff. That would be awesome! Just think, you have 2 tried. Sad mac just means no OS. I have a Powerbook 150 that I tried to make an arcade with, but once I took the cord out of the screen, it would never work again (just stayed ON with no signal of the Mac OS coming in). Stinks!
I LOVE THIS!! I think I will! ROCK!!
But how can I get the Games to the PB? It has no CD drive... I'm thinking dial-up on this thing may be deadly slow. (2400 baud modem, anyone?)
I'd USB it over, but.. NO USB!
Only the 3.5" disk drive. (advertised as 1.44 MB SUPERDRIVE! I looooooove old ads!!!)

Hehe, I opened it up and I was soo confused as to why I couldn't connect to my AirPort Express! :p

[dmw007]

Free 1.5GHz PowerBook G4...wow :eek:

Sorry to hear that the clerks already recognize your face ;)
Guess that I will have to go in there and ask those questions for you.

[katie ta achoo]

Free 1.5GHz PowerBook G4...wow :eek:

Sorry to hear that the clerks already recognize your face ;)
Guess that I will have to go in there and ask those questions for you.

No, it's cool. I have no shame when it comes to stupid Apple questions. (well.. there are no stupid questions, just stupid people. :p :p )
When I had my iBook G3, I was always asking "can I solder a G4 in there?" "what about slot loading? this tray is stupid!" "can I put a DVD burner in there?" "Why can't I run fifteen bazillion applications at once?" "what about 802.11g in this 'book? It'll work, right?"

the PB was from Tiger night. the clerks still make fun of me because I cried. :o :p (punks!!)

MAN, I love the Apple store and how much they put up with me.

[dmw007]

the PB was from Tiger night. the clerks still make fun of me because I cried. :o :p (punks!!)

MAN, I love the Apple store and how much they put up with me.

Well, I would have probably cried to if I had won that awesome laptop (or at least passed out from such overwhelming shock). The Apple Stores and their employees are great, understanding, and slow to anger.

[MacTruck]

How about using it for a grocery list. I am sure textedit still loads. That way you can put it in the card and mark off you food as you get it. If the battery is dead then go to home depot and get a 300ft extension cord and find an outlet at the grocery store to plug into. You should be able to make it all the way around the store with that. Make sure nobody trips over it though. You might need to get some cable covers for the floor to keep the cord down. :D

[dornoforpyros]

well I'd definatly crack into the sad mac one just to see what makes it tick.

[ITASOR]

I LOVE THIS!! I think I will! ROCK!!
But how can I get the Games to the PB? It has no CD drive... I'm thinking dial-up on this thing may be deadly slow. (2400 baud modem, anyone?)
I'd USB it over, but.. NO USB!
Only the 3.5" disk drive. (advertised as 1.44 MB SUPERDRIVE! I looooooove old ads!!!)

Hehe, I opened it up and I was soo confused as to why I couldn't connect to my AirPort Express! :p

Use disks then! They'll hold all those little apps. Use your powerbook G4 (the free one, the one you won, from the Tiger night, on which you cried over it) and get a USB drive in walmart for like $35 or one from anywhere like ebay. And then get the games onto a disk, plop it in the pb150 and yay!

[katie ta achoo]

Well, I would have probably cried to if I had won that awesome laptop (or at least passed out from such overwhelming shock). The Apple Stores and their employees are great, understanding, and slow to anger.

The employees are awesome. If they weren't who they are, I'd TOTALLY not be there every week. There's this one guy who was in the Tiger night line (before he worked for Apple) who gets faux-mad at me, saying I stole his PowerBook (but I don't care because he has the most beautiful blue eyes... ) :o
another one gives me guff about being there so often
Well, they all do.
And I have my most favorite clerk ever recording my senior recital for me for FREE. (I'm paying him in food at the reception)
I love you, Apple Store!!


How about using it for a grocery list. I am sure textedit still loads. That way you can put it in the card and mark off you food as you get it. If the battery is dead then go to home depot and get a 300ft extension cord and find an outlet at the grocery store to plug into. You should be able to make it all the way around the store with that. Make sure nobody trips over it though. You might need to get some cable covers for the floor to keep the cord down.
Hmm.. While I do LOVE causing accidents in grocery stores, it has NO battery. And shopping lists are what iPods/Post-its/slips of paper/my memory/the back of my hand are for. :)

OOooo, and it's not TextEdit, it's SIMPLE TEXT! Oh, nostalgia for something I've never used... How I love thee. :)

well I'd definatly crack into the sad mac one just to see what makes it tick.
I'm way ahead of ya, buddy. :) *evil "I'm taking apart Macs laughter"*

Use disks then! They'll hold all those little apps. Use your powerbook G4 (the free one, the one you won, from the Tiger night, on which you cried over it) and get a USB drive in walmart for like $35 or one from anywhere like ebay. And then get the games onto a disk, plop it in the pb150 and yay!
HHHHmmmMMmmm...
If I do it on a windows machine, will it write it in a format le PowerBook understands?
I don't like to spend money.
I haven't bought anything that cost full price for 4+ years. (ohh yeaaaa!)
I'd totally be on windoez for 10 minutes to get hours of monochrome pack-man* fun!

*notice the spelling? It's not copyright-Protected "Pac-Man"; It's PACK-MAN! Everyone's favorite Pac-Man rip off! Hoooraaayy!!

Maybe I can bum a drive off the Genius bar for 10 minutes.. muahahhaha.
But I'll have to buy disks...

Quick! To my time machine, to 1992! *zooms away*
:p :p ;)

[aussie_geek]

To get that one that has a sad Mac working, download some system software from . System 6 or 7 should do nicely. here (http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/syslist.html).

Good luck!!

aussie_geek

[katie ta achoo]

To get that one that has a sad Mac working, download some system software from . System 6 or 7 should do nicely. here (http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/syslist.html).

Good luck!!

aussie_geek


Oooh, Groovy !
I'll post pics when I'm all done! :) :) :D

[dsharits]

If I do it on a windows machine, will it write it in a format le PowerBook understands?
No, on that one. I *think* it has to be formatted in HFS, but I'm not sure. All I know is that Windows will not read Mac drives without third-party software.

[katie ta achoo]

No, on that one. I *think* it has to be formatted in HFS, but I'm not sure. All I know is that Windows will not read Mac drives without third-party software.


Grr!! Off to the Apple Store, then! :) :) :)

KT: Hey.. I need to .. borrow a disk drive for a while
Genius bar: you can't have more free stuff..
KT: oh, come on! please? I'll give you a cookie!
Genius bar: *while chewing* here ya go.

[dmw007]

Grr!! Off to the Apple Store, then! :) :) :)


They are going to start charging you when you walk through the front door katie ta achoo. ;)

[katie ta achoo]

They are going to start charging you when you walk through the front door katie ta achoo. ;)


I think they like me enough that they don't charge me for air.. hehehe

:p :p

[dmw007]

I think they like me enough that they don't charge me for air.. hehehe
:p :p

Well thats good.

BTW what is the going rate for good ol' oxygen?

[iMeowbot]

BTW what is the going rate for good ol' oxygen?
Legal, or on the street? Around here, oxygen is a controlled substance. Seriously. (http://www.mass.gov/dph/dcp/pol2004_notice_oxygen.htm)

[katie ta achoo]

BTW what is the going rate for good ol' oxygen?

I sell it for $3/oz.


Pay up!! :) :) :p :D

[jiv3turkey748]

One of them runs (I played the scuba diver, learn how to use your mouse! game)

oh dude i remember like 10 years ago whenmy school had macs we had that scuba game i think it was called mouse practice i loved that game

[katie ta achoo]

oh dude i remember like 10 years ago whenmy school had macs we had that scuba game i think it was called mouse practice i loved that game
Someone should write that for os x.

I need to learn to use my trackpad! hahaha

"point to all the animals with your flashlight!"
*points to whale, starfish, squid, and crab*
"now, help me 'drag' this treasure to the chest"
*click, drag, click drag, done in 3 seconds*
"very good! do you want to go again?"

*hovers over scuba diver*

I was SO surprised when it was TALKING to me!! I thought computers that old could only beep noises.
When I got a voice, I was like "omgqtfbbq! PowerBook 150 can talk?!"

then, I got on my PB G4 and turned on "read my IMs for me"
the surprise and awe quickly wore off, hahaha.

:) :)

[rockandrule]

You know, what's really sad? I work at Office Depot and I've had about three people come in with Pentium Laptops (original Pentium chips) running at about 75MHz and asking what they could do with it. Just another reason why customer service is extremely funny.

[dmw007]

I sell it for $3/oz.


Pay up!! :) :) :p :D

Checks in the mail ;)

[dmw007]

You know, what's really sad? I work at Office Depot and I've had about three people come in with Pentium Laptops (original Pentium chips) running at about 75MHz and asking what they could do with it. Just another reason why customer service is extremely funny.

Lets see...75MHz Pentium....how about Word '97!

[katie ta achoo]

You know, what's really sad? I work at Office Depot and I've had about three people come in with Pentium Laptops (original Pentium chips) running at about 75MHz and asking what they could do with it. Just another reason why customer service is extremely funny.


Hmmm.. could play a game of solitaire that goes on for 3 hours because of the sweet, sweet 75MHz!

If they have the card animations on, it'll take 9 hours, just to render them. :p

[mkrishnan]

Lets see...75MHz Pentium....how about Word '97!

Okay, I never had a Pentium 75, but Office 97 actually ran really well on a Pentium 150 with 48, I think? MB of ram? With Win95. And let's be honest. At least until Office '04, it wasn't like there were a ton of useful features added to most of the programs, Access, perhaps, aside.

Ahhh, sigh, my Compaq notebook with it's 10.4" TFT and trackball.... I loved that thing. Stupid power-on-password crap made me get rid of it. I miss the lil guy though. Put DSL or somesuch on it, it wouldn't have been half bad. :o

[VanMac]

Someone should write that for os x.


I was SO surprised when it was TALKING to me!! I thought computers that old could only beep noises.

:) :)
My first (and really only )experience with that was about 14 years ago. I was doing "C" programming on some PC stuff, and the mac head there let me use a little classic machine to do my wedding invitations on. Super cool. I had it "BELCH" really loud when you ejected the floppy. LMAO

[katie ta achoo]

My first (and really only )experience with that was about 14 years ago. I was doing "C" programming on some PC stuff, and the mac head there let me use a little classic machine to do my wedding invitations on. Super cool. I had it "BELCH" really loud when you ejected the floppy. LMAO

I like that!
Can I do that for my PowerBook's CD thingy?

I can see it now...
*ejects burned CD for friend*
Powerbook: "BURP!!"
Friend: WTF was that?!
KT *giggling madly*

[dmw007]

Hmmm.. could play a game of solitaire that goes on for 3 hours because of the sweet, sweet 75MHz!

If they have the card animations on, it'll take 9 hours, just to render them. :p

Ah, good ol' solitaire - a great program to benchmark your computers performance. ;)

[dmw007]

Ahhh, sigh, my Compaq notebook with it's 10.4" TFT and trackball.... I loved that thing.

Ahhh, the good ol' trackball style mouse, had one of those bad boys on my vintage PowerBook 165c with its blazing fast 33MHz processor.

[cubist]

IIRC, the 150 has an AAUI connector. So if you can find an AAUI transceiver (gotta love proprietary connectors :-P) you can connect it to another mac and transfer the files.

N.B. if the other mac is running Tiger you may have to use numeric IPs to connect. Tiger has introduced a little flakiness in AFS.

The other way would be to use a SCSI CD-ROM connected with (you guessed it) another proprietary connector...

[wide]

What can I do with them?

overclock them to 50 MHz? Take them apart and see if I can successfully put them back together? Take them to the Apple store and ask for help, just to bother the clerks? (I can see that Genius Bar request: "hey.. I have a PowerBook 150. Can I put an 80 gig HD in it? What about AirPort? Please help!!")

Any ideas will be utilized! Thanks. :) :)

DEFINATELY GO to the Apple STore and mess with them 'geniuses' ...i have had so many terrible experiences with "geniuses" who know absolutely nothing about my ipod. i know more about it than them from this forum and google, and from simply usage and a history of three ipods. they are ridiculously obnoxious and for your five minutes of service you have to wait at least an hour, even when you signed up in advance. i made a reservation for 1:15 online, then i went to the store and signed in with the bar at 1 o clock...i didn't get help till past 2:00. before that i asked some guy just a question about my ipod, and he told me to wait in this line he invented a few minutes earlier that gave basic ipod help. so i wait in the line, and then someone comes up the stairs, this good looking woman, and this horny apple rep comes up to her and asks her if she needs help. she has an old, out of warranty 2G ipod that won't hold charge. it's a simple question for the rep to answer: you don't have support for this so you will have to pay; i can't do anything; make an appointment at the genius bar and pay $60 and they will install a new battery. well, apparently that was too hard for him to tell her.

eh, sorry for the rant.

yeah, about those powerbooks. i would either sell them on ebay, unless you want them, or disassemble it. you could try to find out what's wrong with the one with the sad face (if it's a hardware problem). a good project might be to take them apart and then put them back together but in a different chassis...say, a tupperware container...

[dmw007]

yeah, about those powerbooks. i would either sell them on ebay, unless you want them, or disassemble it. you could try to find out what's wrong with the one with the sad face (if it's a hardware problem). a good project might be to take them apart and then put them back together but in a different chassis...say, a tupperware container...

Tupperware container...an interesting choice for a chassis.

[mkrishnan]

...i have had so many terrible experiences with "geniuses" who know absolutely nothing about my ipod. i know more about it than them from this forum and google, and from simply usage and a history of three ipods.

Okay, this is really dumb :rolleyes: , but while we're on the topic of pranking the genius bar, how funny would it be to install Linux on your iPod, skin it so that it has Windows logos everywhere, and then take it in, and complain that ever since you plugged in to your iTunes for Windows, your iPod doesn't seem to be right, and how you get it to work with your Mac again. :D

[biohazard6969]

put tiger on it of course :cool:

[Mechcozmo]

OOooo, and it's not TextEdit, it's SIMPLE TEXT! Oh, nostalgia for something I've never used... How I love thee. :)

Meh, you younguns' dun remember TeachText? Now there was a real text editor.

~sigh~ :rolleyes:

[ITASOR]

Meh, you younguns' dun remember TeachText? Now there was a real text editor.

~sigh~ :rolleyes:

I remember it! I remember my mom helping my type little dinner menus for my little kitchen/restaurant play set. :D

[wide]

Okay, this is really dumb :rolleyes: , but while we're on the topic of pranking the genius bar, how funny would it be to install Linux on your iPod, skin it so that it has Windows logos everywhere, and then take it in, and complain that ever since you plugged in to your iTunes for Windows, your iPod doesn't seem to be right, and how you get it to work with your Mac again. :D

haha, if i knew how, believe me i would. just to annoy 'ol Gerald

[dmw007]

Okay, this is really dumb :rolleyes: , but while we're on the topic of pranking the genius bar, how funny would it be to install Linux on your iPod, skin it so that it has Windows logos everywhere, and then take it in, and complain that ever since you plugged in to your iTunes for Windows, your iPod doesn't seem to be right, and how you get it to work with your Mac again. :D

I like it. Great plan mkrishnan.

[katie ta achoo]

Okay, this is really dumb :rolleyes: , but while we're on the topic of pranking the genius bar, how funny would it be to install Linux on your iPod, skin it so that it has Windows logos everywhere, and then take it in, and complain that ever since you plugged in to your iTunes for Windows, your iPod doesn't seem to be right, and how you get it to work with your Mac again. :D


Oooo, hoo hoo! but... the people who work at the genius bar know me too well. They'd know that I'm just full of crap. :)

DEFINATELY GO to the Apple STore and mess with them 'geniuses' ...i have had so many terrible experiences with "geniuses"
*snip*
eh, sorry for the rant.

yeah, about those powerbooks. i would either sell them on ebay, unless you want them, or disassemble it. you could try to find out what's wrong with the one with the sad face (if it's a hardware problem). a good project might be to take them apart and then put them back together but in a different chassis...say, a tupperware container...

what apple store are you going to? I've had nothing but AWESOME experiences with the geniuses. I love them and .. they don't kick me out of the store, haha!

The PowerBooks are worth $10. I checked. hahaha. I'd be paying more in shipping.