Help Me Own: Every Apple Laptop Ever Made

[shu82]

Ok, here is the backstory of what I am trying to do. Over the past year I have been zealously buying Macintosh laptops. I say they are all for friends and family; only half get given away (But 4 have). I find myself hoarding them and now they are mostly sitting in a line on a chest of drawers in the dining room. I just get such a kick booting them all one by one when I get home from work and playing around(I use a Dell all day long:( ) My girlfriend thinks im crazy. I have now successfully collected every make (body style) of macintosh laptop made in the last 10 years. When you think about it its not alot. (its only 5 laptops) Here is what I have so far:

17" Powerbook G4 Aluminum 1.67ghz (My main machine, thank you RichP!)
15" Powerbook G4 Titanium 1 ghz (OS9 screamer, cant wait to dual boot w/leopard)
-(I need a Ibook G4 to compete my scheme, but that will wait! Too expensive right now!)
12" Ibook g3 800 mhz (probably the oldest machine to run Leopard)
12" Ibook g3 466 mhz Graphite clamshell (I still need a optical drive cover)
14" Powerbook G3 233 mhz (OS 8 baby!)

I thought I was done. My girlfriend thinks im mad! Then I went to my grandmother's house and dug up my old Quadra 650 for some OS 8 stuff for the Wallstreet, and I came across some OS 7 floppys with some old games I used to run. So I thought: "I need an OS 7 Machine!" I was lucky enough to find a Powerbook 185c on ebay for 20 shipped. I thought it would be intolerantly slow. Much to my surprise, it worked like a dream! So add that to my list of laptops in my house:

7" Powerbook 180c

Ok, now this last one erked my girlfriend, (she lives with me). She muttered, "Don't you have every laptop Apple has ever made!" I thought to myself, "Well, no I don't, but now I think about it, I want too!" I might as well get it over with, and get it out of my system.

I have most of them already, why not have every style of :apple: laptop ever made! I want to build a shelf in my den about chest high and have a whole wall of apple laptops in order from oldest to newest for others to demo! Since I have this decade pretty much covered I am looking for the help of my fellow Macrumors Members to help me complete this collection with their old laptops from the 90's! The laptops need to be functional. I don't mind dead batteries, no original packaging, software, printers, or accessories. But if you have them, I would love it! I do need power cords of course. I don't think the mods will care you stating what version of system 7 or whatever it has, because its all free downloads from apple now. I have a few copys of 7, 8, and 9 myself, so if you want to wipe it thats ok.

Now here is the list of the Powerbooks I need:

Powerbook 2400c
Powerbook 3400c
Powerbook 5300c - Done - Thank you Livingfortoday - 5300 parts machines still accepted
Powerbook 1400c
Powerbook any 500 series
Powerbook Duo

I know this is a long shot with the money I have, but these models wouldn't even have to work! I would still take them.

Powerbook 100
Macintosh Portable


6 to 8 more macs wouldnt kill me. (My girlfriend might) But, I would compromise move them all onto a shelf in the den. I prefer the color versions, but I would be willing to take a B/W. I don't need museum quality, and I have only a couple hundred dollars to do this with. I dont demand perfection, well loved works. I just want to put a youtube video out one day of me booting a line of every mac laptop ever made. Dong, Dong, Dong, Dong, etc. Doesn't that give you a fuzzy feeling:D .

Cheap is great, shipping only is even better. If you want to give your old laptop the retirement it deserves in a well loved environment, where she will be booted often and played with; please let me take the old friend.

Thanks in advance to everyone who reads this, I believe I am the first person to want to do this with :apple: laptops!:D :D :D :D :D :D

[MacBoobsPro]

Ok, here is the backstory of what I am trying to do. Over the past year I have been zealously buying Macintosh laptops. I say they are all for friends and family; only half get given away (But 4 have). I find myself hoarding them and now they are mostly sitting in a line on a chest of drawers in the dining room. I just get such a kick booting them all one by one when I get home from work and playing around(I use a Dell all day long:( ) My girlfriend thinks im crazy.

~snip~

I cant imagine why :confused:

[shu82]

I cant imagine why :confused:

Yea I should include a poll about whether I am crazy, brilliant, or deranged. I guess it all comes down to opinion. I do think this is an original idea. The other collections are all desktops.

[gkarris]

Are you going for EVERY SINGLE LAPTOP?

You'll need the 100 series (140, 145, 150, 170, etc.)

You'll need the Duo series (210, 230, etc.).

What are you going for?

[shu82]

Just every body style for now. Not every revision or every single model. Not yet at least:D. I do want a Duo 200 series. I already have a powerbook 100 series (185c). Thats why I was so general by saying any 500 series powerbook.

Thanks for asking. But, that would send me to the nuthouse and the poorhouse to try to do all that right now.

I would like to have a model for every major case design change.

[MacBoobsPro]

Yea I should include a poll about whether I am crazy, brilliant, or deranged. I guess it all comes down to opinion. I do think this is an original idea. The other collections are all desktops.

I didnt mean it in a nasty way. :) I dont get the idea of collecting stuff. Its kind of like whats the point?

Being a designer I hate clutter and useless stuff so I guess thats why i dont 'understand' (so to speak) the idea of collecting. I think most designers are the same and thats one reason why they fall into design.

Anyhoo im digressing. Good luck in your quest. Maybe you could write a blog and keep track of how yo are getting along. A collection that large would no doubt attract some attention. :)

[shecky]

most designers i know are rabid collectors, often of some kind of printed ephemera. famously illustrated by Martin Venezky's (http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Then-Gone-Martin-Venezky/dp/1568984561/ref=sr_1_1/002-9747589-0350463?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173802184&sr=1-1) Wall:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1568984561.01.IN01._SS400_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

its the obsession about something (anything, really) that helps make them great designers.

[shu82]

I didnt mean it in a nasty way. :) I dont get the idea of collecting stuff. Its kind of like whats the point?

Being a designer I hate clutter and useless stuff so I guess thats why i dont 'understand' (so to speak) the idea of collecting. I think most designers are the same and thats one reason why they fall into design.

Anyhoo im digressing. Good luck in your quest. Maybe you could write a blog and keep track of how yo are getting along. A collection that large would no doubt attract some attention. :)

Appreciation of design is one of the major reasons to collect older things. I also appreciate function, including placement of physical and grapical objects as they change over time: The evolution of how people interact with their machines. But that is enough philosophy for now. I really hope this works, all these laptops are considered obsolete. I just want to present them in a way for them to be seen as a timeline of ever increasing usefullness and beauty.

[szsiddiq]

Haha, this sounds like a setup for the quirky trait of a disturbed serial killer in next summers blockbuster :-p

just teasing :)

[MacBoobsPro]

Appreciation of design is one of the major reasons to collect older things.

Touché.

I dont fall into that category then. :p

Im a minimalist so if it doesnt have a function then it goes. :)

[shu82]

No worries, you have a valid point. I just prefer to live in an environment you could never bring a child with ADD into. I was raised in my families antique store, and took alot of that with me.

But, back to the original point. If you have something from the list, I would give you a little bit of cash to pull it out of the closet, check to see if it boots and mail it to me. I understand the duos may be harder to find working since they are so old (I'm sure it wont be that hard), but there are a billion 1400's fully funcional out there.

Thanks

[shu82]

For those who don't believe me. I really want to fill out this collection. The indigo ibook was the one that used to be in my sig. I got a graphite and I am going to give the indigo to my girlfriends nephew who is 10, has never had a computer and lives with his grandparents. Please help me out with the missing pieces to my collection. I will post the top photo when I get back tonight. I cant seem to get it small enough.

[SuperCompu2]

14" Powerbook G3 233 mhz (OS 8 baby!)

It's actually the 12" model you own, I have one running 9.2 myself with WiFi myself.

[winchest]

I feel bad, but I trashed a couple of duos and older powerbooks just a few months ago after holding on to them for all these years.

Good luck with your quest.

[MattyMac]

I'm the same way with iPods and my gf thinks I'm crazy too! I wouldn't think about doing it with laptops though.

I have 8 ipods total now. I'm only missing a 2G and a 2G nano.

Anyone have a decent 2G. My 1G and 3G are in immaculate condition:apple: :D

[MovieCutter]

Does anybody else find this incredibly disturbing?

[shu82]

It's actually the 12" model you own, I have one running 9.2 myself with WiFi myself.

You are correct it is the 12" model, whoops. I do have a 14" but it wont boot at the moment (thank god my girlfriend only does myspace, don't tell).

BTW: I don't believe there is anything strange or disturbing about wanting to have as a personal tribute to all the good design people at apple have done over the years. What is disturbing to one man is art to another.

I am about to register with flicker or something to get the rest of the pics up.

[Phobophobia]

Haha, this sounds like a setup for the quirky trait of a disturbed serial killer in next summers blockbuster

He leaves a laptop at every crime scene, the harddrive replaced with the victim's liver...

[Mechcozmo]

He leaves a laptop at every crime scene, the harddrive replaced with the victim's liver...

Liver too big. Try kidney or appendix. Especially with a laptop harddrive... you're going to need a small organ. 63.5mm (2.5") by 9mm isn't that big, even if you squish.

[fairnymph]

Huh, I wonder if I have my old Powerbook 165c lying around at my mom's house. If so it's yours for cost of shipping. I think collections of this type are great!

[shu82]

Thanks to livingfortoday, I got a 5300! One down, many to go. The 165c would make a great little brother to my 185c! I didn't put it on the list, but it is a good one that I would love to have.

[Jonnyfive]

Wow that sounds a little crazy, but I have the desire to collect macs myself, I have a imac g4, powermac g4, G4 mac mini, and a macbook and I still want an emac and even a g3 imac... but I don't know why? I have no real use for them all.

[macg4]

ive got the following powerbooks if interested:
duo 230, duo 270c,duo 280c, duo 2300c, 160,150,1400c,5300c,kanga

[szsiddiq]

Liver too big. Try kidney or appendix. Especially with a laptop harddrive... you're going to need a small organ. 63.5mm (2.5") by 9mm isn't that big, even if you squish.
Hmm, sounds like you've thought of this before:eek:

My girlfriend thinks im mad!


Lol, my through the years i've driven my gf to think im mad with my gadget loving. And the modding i'm doing now only drives her even crazier (especially when I ask her for help on it :).


Ok, now this last one erked my girlfriend, (she lives with me). She muttered, "Don't you have every laptop Apple has ever made!" I thought to myself, "Well, no I don't, but now I think about it, I want too!" I might as well get it over with, and get it out of my system.


It's great when your gf inadvertently inspires you to do something she hates :)

[shu82]

ive got the following powerbooks if interested:
duo 230, duo 270c,duo 280c, duo 2300c, 160,150,1400c,5300c,kanga

I have seen your collection, and it is amazing! Please post another link for everyone to see here. I have been thinking about PMing you about this. I at least would like one of your duos, the kanga, and the 1400. Also do you have any docks? I probably want the lot if it were financially possible. Let me collect myself and eat lunch, I will get back to you shortly.

BTW: Thank you, thank you thank you thank you thank you!

[IJ Reilly]

I have a 5300c in mint condition with many extras. I also have a PowerBook 140, which last I used it, had a glitch in the display which I believe can be fixed. Any interest?

[shu82]

Are you going for EVERY SINGLE LAPTOP?

You'll need the 100 series (140, 145, 150, 170, etc.)

You'll need the Duo series (210, 230, etc.).

What are you going for?

We might be going there after all, hold on tight!

[macg4]

I have seen your collection, and it is amazing! Please post another link for everyone to see here. I have been thinking about PMing you about this. I at least would like one of your duos, the kanga, and the 1400. Also do you have any docks? I probably want the lot if it were financially possible. Let me collect myself and eat lunch, I will get back to you shortly.

BTW: Thank you, thank you thank you thank you thank you! thanks your for the nice words about my collection. im trying to reduce some of collection. to bad you dont need any desktop macs i have plenty of those as well. let me know what u want and pm me. for everyone else my collection is here :http://macg4.biz.ly

[®îçhå®?]

If anyone has them in the UK, i am planning on doing the same

[shu82]

Thanks everyone for the offers so far. I want every one of them, but I know I cant have them all. Keep 'em comming! I still haven't had any offers at all for a 3400 or a 2400. Once again thanks to everyone and keep 'em comming! They are going to keep me at work until probably 7:mad: , so I will check on this as much as possible. The collection as a whole is something I have patience with. I just got tired of constantly refreshing ebay for $20 shipped antiques. Thanks again!

[macg4]

Thanks everyone for the offers so far. I want every one of them, but I know I cant have them all. Keep 'em comming! I still haven't had any offers at all for a 3400 or a 2400. Once again thanks to everyone and keep 'em comming! They are going to keep me at work until probably 7:mad: , so I will check on this as much as possible. The collection as a whole is something I have patience with. I just got tired of trolling ebay for $20 shipped antiques. Thanks again!
i dont blame u :)

[GeeYouEye]

How long do they have to remain working? I've got a 540c I boot up every couple of years, but the hard drive sounds like like a clucking chicken whenever it spins up. Also, the power cord doesn't seem to stay seated in the plug very well, and none of the batteries work anymore.

[macg4]

How long do they have to remain working? I've got a 540c I boot up every couple of years, but the hard drive sounds like like a clucking chicken whenever it spins up. Also, the power cord doesn't seem to stay seated in the plug very well, and none of the batteries work anymore.
sounds like a lovely machine :)

[FelixDerKater]

I have a PowerBook 1400cs available.

[ChrisA]

.... I have now successfully collected every make (body style) of macintosh laptop made in the last 10 years. When you think about it its not alot. (its only 5 laptops) Here is what I have so far:

17" Powerbook G4 Aluminum 1.67ghz (My main machine, thank you RichP!)
15" Powerbook G4 Titanium 1 ghz (OS9 screamer, cant wait to dual boot w/leopard)
-(I need a Ibook G4 to compete my scheme, but that will wait! Too expensive right now!)
12" Ibook g3 800 mhz (probably the oldest machine to run Leopard)
12" Ibook g3 466 mhz Graphite clamshell (I still need a optical drive cover)
14" Powerbook G3 233 mhz (OS 8 baby!)

Every one? I don't see any Intel powered notebooks in your collection. So you are missing three.

I guess some people collect stamps. Nothing wrong with collecting as long as it does not prevent you from doing other things you need to do, then it becomes a problem and people are right to say "nuts" It could be worse. There is a group of people who collect old DEC VAX equipment. It could fill a garage. I actually owned a VAX once, briefly.

[shu82]

Every one? I don't see any Intel powered notebooks in your collection. So you are missing three.

I guess some people collect stamps. Nothing wrong with collecting as long as it does not prevent you from doing other things you need to do, then it becomes a problem and people are right to say "nuts" It could be worse. There is a group of people who collect old DEC VAX equipment. It could fill a garage. I actually owned a VAX once, briefly.

I dont have enough to spare to get an ibook g4 right now. I am just trying to catch up. The new stuff can come in time. If one bought every one of these new they would really have spent alot of money.

[shu82]

I finally got around to getting the 14" wallstreet up and going again. Instead of transferring the displays, I just found out the hard drive was bad in the 14. The 14 was also missing a keyboard. So I just transfered the hard drive and the keyboard.

So I want to trade the 12" for something from my list. It is a 233 stock with just the battery(bad). No optical drive, hard drive, power cord or keyboard. The picture of it is in a previous post booted and running. I just want to trade for shipping: You ship to me; I ship to you. If anyone is interested just, tell me what you have.

I am still looking all things on my list, except maybe the 5300. That isn't settled yet but it should be here soon!

Thanks

[MartyMoe]

He leaves a laptop at every crime scene, the harddrive replaced with the victim's liver...

Don't forget the fava beans and a nice Chianti. <slurp><slurp><slurp> </slurp>


I might have a couple of 1400s around, have to shake the dust off and see if they start up. Haven't worked on them in a long time, they were one of the first laptops I took apart... <snif>

[jessica.]

Does anybody else find this incredibly disturbing?

Disturbing wasn't the word I was thinking, but it's his cash so whatever. I'm shocked there was a "girlfriend" in the mix.

[livingfortoday]

Disturbing wasn't the word I was thinking, but it's his cash so whatever. I'm shocked there was a "girlfriend" in the mix.

Well, different SO's are more or less tolerant. I was actually going to try something similar, but when the girlthing started seeing "new" old laptops popping up around my apartment... well, there's a reason I just sold him my 5300c! :p

[Mechcozmo]

Hmm, sounds like you've thought of this before:eek:

Careful what you wish for. You might end up getting it. :) :rolleyes:

[shu82]

Well, different SO's are more or less tolerant. I was actually going to try something similar, but when the girlthing started seeing "new" old laptops popping up around my apartment... well, there's a reason I just sold him my 5300c! :p

I feel you completely. My girlfriend is a photographer. It is not like there is much work here for the creative types. So she travels around with Olan Mills taking pictures of families for church directories mostly in black primative baptist churches. She really does prefer it compared to Catholics or even Presbyterians like myself. Its good work, and great people, but she stays in hotels 5 nights a week. She really loves the interaction. I really do miss her in the off times like now. She cares about me cluttering the place up. That is why I must display things properly. Even beer cans and cig pacs are tolerable to her if they are arranged properly.

I do love this girl, she has hired one of her friends for me during the week to make sure my shirts are ironed and I don't live in filth while she is gone. I don't want to brag but I am happy to live within her constraints. It just makes me feel like a better person than I believe I truly am. But I can still have my fun, I still horde an obscene amount of computers, it is hope for us all. If any of you fellas are near me you would be surprised to find the scene we have in the area. Nerds are sexy here.

[shu82]

Here is the Flickr account I just started:

Just picutres of me and my girlfriend and my laptops

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7337853@N05/

[shu82]

How long do they have to remain working? I've got a 540c I boot up every couple of years, but the hard drive sounds like like a clucking chicken whenever it spins up. Also, the power cord doesn't seem to stay seated in the plug very well, and none of the batteries work anymore.

Dying hard drive, loose dc in board. Really not that big of a deal. I had to re-solder the 180c dc in board to get it to work. Those models will still boot off of a floppy. Its ok I love a project. I have taken many old lappys and made them whole again.

The USPS has a box that is a flat rate no matter what you put in it. It is just enough to put any laptop in it, and completely big enough to wrap it in many combinations of bubble wrap, etc., all for under $10 anywhere in the US. I would gladly reimburse you for that. I have been craving a 500 series.

As with all the laptops given to me, I can compensate you and give you full recognition in the collection. I would like your name and some backstory on your laptop. The same goes for everyone else, especially you livingfortoday, since you were the first!

[shu82]

Don't forget the fava beans and a nice Chianti. <slurp><slurp><slurp> </slurp>


I might have a couple of 1400s around, have to shake the dust off and see if they start up. Haven't worked on them in a long time, they were one of the first laptops I took apart... <snif>

If you have a couple 1400's, and they can make one complete 1400, I would gladly take them. That is how I got my wallstreet, I just bought a couple incomplete ones for like $20 each and made one complete one.

[szsiddiq]

he's got a few...not sure if u have them:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=279143&page=2

[shu82]

Are both of those color models?

[shu82]

Thanks to Livingfortoday I now have a functional 5300c. You weren't kidding how thick it was. Now I am looking for another model; perhaps a 500 series or a 3400. But, anything off the list is great. I just want to do this one at a time since I am not superman. But the best offers get first pics! The 5300c is now off the list unless someone has a broken one to ship for spare parts.

Thank you everyone!

[ljlpdx]

I've got a working PowerBook 2400c/180 that has hardly been used. Interested?

[shu82]

Thanks, but I have reached my goal. I am in a new house right now. I'll post pics in the Collectors section when I build the shelves!