12" Powerbook G4 (1.25 ghz) reliability

K

KurtangleTN

macrumors 6502a
So as you see in my sig my iBooks logic board is dead, and I just can't shell another $100 for repair on something I paid $280 for, just today I found a great deal on a used Powerbook G4 1.25ghz 12".. which is perfect but with my past experience with the iBook, I'm fairly worried about reliability issues and have read Apple won't cover these while they cover other G4 Powerbooks..

Thanks in advanced
 
KurtangleTN said:
So as you see in my sig my iBooks logic board is dead, and I just can't shell another $100 for repair on something I paid $280 for, just today I found a great deal on a used Powerbook G4 1.25ghz 12".. which is perfect but with my past experience with the iBook, I'm fairly worried about reliability issues and have read Apple won't cover these while they cover other G4 Powerbooks..

Thanks in advanced
Click to expand...

My friend's lasted him 2-3 years until the DC-In board got fried, which I just fixed (but broke the power connector off the logic board in the process, and now i need to find my soldering kit) and aside from that, would still be going strong.
 
Did they make a 12" PBook at 1.25ghz? I thought it was 1.0,1.33 and 1.5ghz.

Anyway, I've owned two 1.5ghz's -- sold the combo drive for the superdrive model. I have Applecare on it until August 2009.

I think there is some issue with the video card on the 12" PB. The way you can tell is on start up, I believe. My combo drive was doing this (tho under applecare) -- flickering on start up in a weird way. My guess is the heat generated in these little miracles. However, no flicker on the superdrive model 1.5ghz. Look for it. Get this model, too. It's got 2.0 bluetooth, motion sensor for the hard drive scrolling trackpad, etc. Also upgrade the hard drive to a bigger faster one. I love my PB.
 
TheStu said:
My friend's lasted him 2-3 years until the DC-In board got fried, which I just fixed (but broke the power connector off the logic board in the process, and now i need to find my soldering kit) and aside from that, would still be going strong.
Click to expand...

Difficult... isn't it?! I had to take mine off twice and it's probably the hardest thing I have ever done with a computer. All's fine and well.

To the OP: I recommend the PB over the iBook. It'll feel like a premium upgrade!
 
koobcamuk said:
Difficult... isn't it?! I had to take mine off twice and it's probably the hardest thing I have ever done with a computer. All's fine and well.
Click to expand...

My word yes! I tore apart a busted iBook and although they were hard to remove as well, it wasn't a huge chore... this one though... i was careful as I could be, and the connector just popped right off!

You know, why couldn't it have been the Mic connector that is right next to it? I don't need a mic, especially without a cam, and so... that I could live without... but noooo.... had to be the one thing I cannot replicate otherwise, the power button!
 
What's funny (or not in this case) is that the mic connector is a lot easier to get at. I use 'easier' in the broadest sense possible. What we've done is not easy - and the iBook is veeerrry different. Feels so spacey inside!

The plus side.... the PowerBook is an amazing computer. I am so glad I ditched the MacBook.
 
Whoops, yeah it's 1.5 ghz, I have no clue what I'm thinking! Unsure if it's super or combo-drive, waiting for a response.

I am most likely going to go for it, It's defiantly an upgrade over the old iBook (which when I have time I'll part some out and take the HD out I suppose, anything cool to do with the cases?) and be a massive upgrade (even bigger then my iBook) over my current PC laptop that I'm just so tired of.
 
KurtangleTN said:
Whoops, yeah it's 1.5 ghz, I have no clue what I'm thinking! Unsure if it's super or combo-drive, waiting for a response.

I am most likely going to go for it, It's defiantly an upgrade over the old iBook (which when I have time I'll part some out and take the HD out I suppose, anything cool to do with the cases?) and be a massive upgrade (even bigger then my iBook) over my current PC laptop that I'm just so tired of.
Click to expand...

Just so you know... removing the iBook's hard drive requires you to
Remove the keyboard
Remove the Battery
Remove the RAM
Remove the AirPort
Remove the lower shell of the case
Remove the upper shell of the case
Remove the upper EM shield
Remove the Lower EM Shield

Have with that buddy! (I have done it twice)

But, it is nowhere near the scary level of replacing the DC In board on the PowerBook
Remove the battery
Remove the Airport
Remove the RAM
Remove the Keyboard
Remove the top case (don't remove the power connector off the logic board :))
Remove the heat sink
Remove the logic board!!!!
There is the DC IN Board

However, on a bright note, the iBook G4's DC in Board is compatible with the PowerBook's so if I can find a way to cram it into it, it should work just fine. Then I will just need a new battery and this sucker will be good as new. Next job will be replacing the screen though. XGA (1024*768) is decent considering the screen size, but imagine SXGA+ (1440*1050) on that sucker... drool!
 
doctor pangloss said:
My 12" PB 1.33 has been the model of durability for 4 years now. Very good quality IME.
Click to expand...

You are quite lucky then. My understanding is that the PowerBooks and iBooks were quite prone to DC in and Logic Board failure. I would reckon though that if it hasn't failed yet, then you are probably safe.
 
My 15" 1.0 ghz powerbook G4 (from the same laptop family as the 12" PB G4) is still chugging along perfectly after, what, 4 years? The only problem it had was when it fell from chair seat height, which didn't damage the laptop besides giving it a tiny dent in the casing, but it messed up the power cord connector so it made an intermittent connection. I just replaced the power cord and all was fine.

I've been pretty rough on the old guy, but he's a trooper and just keeps rolling along.
 
TheStu said:
You are quite lucky then. My understanding is that the PowerBooks and iBooks were quite prone to DC in and Logic Board failure. I would reckon though that if it hasn't failed yet, then you are probably safe.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain it was just the iBooks that suffered the logic board problem. Remember, the iBook and Powerbook have always used completely different boards.
 
i had a 1ghz 12" powerbook for a couple of years. it was great. No problems at all. I wouldn't have sold it.. but i couldn't resist the 24 months no interest on a macbook pro.
 
My 12" 1 ghz has been been a real trooper and still works great(minus the DVD due to being thrown into a wall).The wireless connection just works, no missing letters when typing.A great purchase that surpasses my new MBP in satisfaction.
 
koobcamuk said:
The plus side.... the PowerBook is an amazing computer. I am so glad I ditched the MacBook.
Click to expand...
You've still got to admit that the MB is technologically superior. I love my wife's ('cept for the keyboard. There isn't enough bounce to suit me).

I think the only thing I don't like about my 12" 1.5GHz PB is the washed out screen. It really sucks. It's so washed out that sometimes I can see the blue lines in Finder's list view but most of the time I can't see them at all. This is with multiple calibrations etc. It's just a case of a washed out screen.

I'd love to try a high res screen mod for it though.
 
QuarterSwede said:
You've still got to admit that the MB is technologically superior. I love my wife's ('cept for the keyboard. There isn't enough bounce to suit me).

I think the only thing I don't like about my 12" 1.5GHz PB is the washed out screen. It really sucks. It's so washed out that sometimes I can see the blue lines in Finder's list view but most of the time I can't see them at all. This is with multiple calibrations etc. It's just a case of a washed out screen.

I'd love to try a high res screen mod for it though.
Click to expand...

If I can get it working on mine, i'll post all the stuff on here. I have high hopes though, the one guy on here put a WUXGA panel into his PowerBook and didn't need to alter a thing (ok he needed a MacBook Pro screen bezel) file wise. So hopefully, it really will be as easy as just dropping the new panel in.
 
koobcamuk said:
Any idea how this can be done? I've seen the 15" thread but I would like to try getting a hi-res mod. That would make this totally sweet.

The MacBook is faster, but I just don't like it.
Click to expand...

You'd have to find a 12" panel on ebay that is compatible with the PowerBook (no idea where to start for that) Based on the other guy's experience, then it should just be able to drop in (well, screw in... you get the idea) and then OS X apparently was able to just auto-detect the panel's res and set itself up. However, the newer intel macs are much harder to drop the panel into. Also, no idea how easy/hard it will be since the 12" PB has an nVidia card and the 15+17" PBs used ATi graphics cards. So, like I said, so no idea how easy it will actually be. Also, SXGA+ 12" screens are around $150-200 on ebay, so not as cheap as the WUXGA mod either.
 
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