I decided against the Enterprise because it would require too much work. So I'm doing a scout instead.
Here is my latest renderings from my 3400c...
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Does anyone here use pre-G3 laptops regularly?
- Thread starter princealfie
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Here is my latest renderings from my 3400c...
Dude, PISMO vs Pismo? I can sympathize with obsessive compulsiveness, but please do not harass me about something like that, it is rude and quite smug. That aside I agree that my PISMO is new compared to a preG3 laptop, but never the less I am still amazed that a 7 year old machine can successfully serve as my primary compter. That was more the point I was going for. I do have a plethera of old system 7/8 machines as well...It is amazing what schools/people throw away.
Sounds like a sweet machine man, glad to hear there are other proud PISMO users out there, keep it up!
Sorry, it is a compulsive reaction of mine to people who turn words into acronyms. It's not meant as a harassment. You shouldn't be so reactionary towards corrections. Saying PISMO, even after a polite correction, is far more smug, and doesn't really insult the corrector as intended.
Your narcissism precedes you my friend, as my choice of PISMO vs Pismo has nothing to do with you. I find the caps version more aesthetically pleasing, and as an owner of a PowerBook (FireWire) otherwise codenamed as P8, and 102 by apple, my choice to name mine PISMO vs. Pismo is a personal one.
All that junk aside, back to the issue. Does anyone else have an old mac they use on a daily basis? I for one would love to hear about it, as well as any upgrades you might have performed to keep it in service.
Yes, let's keep this thread friendly. I'm interested in upgrades for old Apple lappys.
These are the PowerBooks I currently have on hand (and a little about each)...princealfie said:
PowerBook 180 This is a client's system that I'm fixing up for one of their kids to use. It'll mainly be used for typing reports, and the lack of internet in this case is considered a plus.
PowerBook Duo 280 I've had this PowerBook since 1997. Currently it is not operational (needs a new hard drive).
PowerBook Duo 2300c This system has been a light weight backup for the 3400c. I recently got a MiniDock, Floppy dock and SCSI MicroDock for it (I already had a regular dock). The nice thing about the MiniDock is that I can still use the Duo's display while docked and connected to a monitor... giving a multiple display setup. I'm using an old Apple 14" display with the MiniDock.
PowerBook 3400c While both my 8600 running Rhapsody and 8600 running 8.6 are much faster at running classic applications, I tend to use the 3400c for these task more because it is mobile. The only upgrade I've done to it was actually done before I owned it. I added a 10 GB hard drive to this system back in either late 2001 or early 2002. The only other change I would consider for it at this point would be upgrading the memory from 80 MB to 144 MB. For the stuff I do on it, the 200 MHz processor isn't all that bad, so I haven't felt the need to do anything more drastic (like replacing the logic board with a 240 MHz version or one from the first PowerBook G3s).
PowerBook G3 Wallstreet This is still my main system for everything. I have faster/better systems, but this is the one I'm most comfortable doing most tasks on. It has been upgraded with a G4 at 500 MHz, has 512 MB of memory, a CDRW drive, 40 GB internal hard drive and 20 GB expansion bay hard drive, and a USB 2.0 card.
PowerBook G3 Lombard Bought this last summer, this is my main school system. I haven't actually done much in the way of modifying it. It has a G3 at 400 MHz, 512 MB of memory, an 11 GB hard drive, and wireless card. I have a spare 20 Gb drive from a PowerBook G4 that I've considered putting in it, but haven't had the need for that space as yet.
PowerBook G3 Pismo This is my wife's main system. Again, not modified really. Since buying it the only change has been adding memory (it has 640 MB). Otherwise it is pretty much stock (G3 at 400 MHz).
PowerBook G4 Titanium Cadaver system (non-functioning), traded work for it so I would have a system to practice assembling and disassembling.
The one thing I have noticed in comparing all these systems is that the durability of their designs started decreasing after the Wallstreets. PowerBook Duo 280 I've had this PowerBook since 1997. Currently it is not operational (needs a new hard drive).
PowerBook Duo 2300c This system has been a light weight backup for the 3400c. I recently got a MiniDock, Floppy dock and SCSI MicroDock for it (I already had a regular dock). The nice thing about the MiniDock is that I can still use the Duo's display while docked and connected to a monitor... giving a multiple display setup. I'm using an old Apple 14" display with the MiniDock.
PowerBook 3400c While both my 8600 running Rhapsody and 8600 running 8.6 are much faster at running classic applications, I tend to use the 3400c for these task more because it is mobile. The only upgrade I've done to it was actually done before I owned it. I added a 10 GB hard drive to this system back in either late 2001 or early 2002. The only other change I would consider for it at this point would be upgrading the memory from 80 MB to 144 MB. For the stuff I do on it, the 200 MHz processor isn't all that bad, so I haven't felt the need to do anything more drastic (like replacing the logic board with a 240 MHz version or one from the first PowerBook G3s).
PowerBook G3 Wallstreet This is still my main system for everything. I have faster/better systems, but this is the one I'm most comfortable doing most tasks on. It has been upgraded with a G4 at 500 MHz, has 512 MB of memory, a CDRW drive, 40 GB internal hard drive and 20 GB expansion bay hard drive, and a USB 2.0 card.
PowerBook G3 Lombard Bought this last summer, this is my main school system. I haven't actually done much in the way of modifying it. It has a G3 at 400 MHz, 512 MB of memory, an 11 GB hard drive, and wireless card. I have a spare 20 Gb drive from a PowerBook G4 that I've considered putting in it, but haven't had the need for that space as yet.
PowerBook G3 Pismo This is my wife's main system. Again, not modified really. Since buying it the only change has been adding memory (it has 640 MB). Otherwise it is pretty much stock (G3 at 400 MHz).
PowerBook G4 Titanium Cadaver system (non-functioning), traded work for it so I would have a system to practice assembling and disassembling.
The 180 is a brick and very durable, same with the 3400c. The Duos were actually quite sturdy for their relative size and weight. The Wallstreet seems to be the best combination of durability, and expandability.
Starting with the Lombard/Pismo design, expandability and sturdiness gave way to streamline size. The PowerBook G4 gave up expandability altogether and is quite fragile compared to previous PowerBooks.
As far as esthetics, I still love the look of all of the PowerBook G3 models. Their just nice looking systems that are also easy to work on for extended periods of time.
I use a Powerbook 2400c regularly. It's probably my favorite Pre-G3 notebook as it still currently holds the record for lightest Apple notebook yet it still sports a full set of IO vs the Duo. Basically it's a 3400c in a smaller format. All optical drives such as floppy and CD are external, which isn't a problem for me at all as what I work on is normally already on the HD. The screen is awesome at 10.1" 800x600 (the perfect screen size for that resolution IMO).
I admire what you've done in Strata RacerX. What version of Mac OS are you running on your 3400c?
Pierre Films
I admire what you've done in Strata RacerX. What version of Mac OS are you running on your 3400c?
Pierre Films
Mac OS 8.6. Its the best balance for my needs on this system (lets me run Carbon apps but isn't as resource intensive as 9.x).Pierre Films said:
I had been meaning to play around with Strata ever since I first got it (it was free with a MacAddict back in 1999 as I recall), but hadn't actually spent any time using it until a couple weeks ago. The most I had done before this was play around with Adobe Dimensions a bit doing some basic stuff (mainly with fonts). I know I'll never get anywhere near the results that people are able to achieve these days, but at least I'll have some idea as to what it takes to do stuff like this now.
The 2400c is a great system. I haven't had the opportunity to use one yet, but I always imagined it as a cross between my 2300c and 3400c. The weight of the 3400c hasn't been enough of an issue to justify looking for a 2400c yet... so for now it is on my wish list.
Awesome, my pre-G3 Macs are running 8.6 as well. I've been playing around with Ray Dream Studio 5 on my 2400c and more recently Cinema 4D XL 7 which actually runs on Mac OS 7.6.1. I'd like to see how much I can do on these older systems.
Unfortunately, I need to get a new HD for the 2400c as the current one is making ugly clicking noises.
Pierre Films
Best advice ever when dealing with older systems.Keeping systems like these useful really isn't that hard... specially if you had used them back when they were the top of the line.
It sounds like the same thing that happened to my 280 before the drive in it died. I still need to find a replacement SCSI drive for it.Pierre Films said:
I had a little more time in the past couple days to play on my 3400c, and this is how far I've gotten.
I'm gaining a lot of respect for the people who have been doing the CG versions of the Enterprise, Defiant & Exeter.
Actually it is Strata Vision 3D 4.0... I think it predates Strata Studio Pro.Pierre Films said:
I've attached the about dialog window. The documentation that came with it says it was from 1994, but the copyright on the application itself says 1995. Either way, it is about 12 years old now.
After I finish with this little project I'm going to try out Strata 3Dbase 3.5 and PiXELS 3D Studio 3.7 (both of which are also installed on my 3400c). I can already see the limitations of what I'm using right now (objects don't seem to cast shadows, even on themselves), but it is still fun.
Attachments
Well... yeah. Go back and look at anything professional made in the mid 1990s, odds are it was made on a system like this one.princealfie said:
People mistakenly think that the only way to do professional quality work is on the newest machines. But people have been doing professional quality work for decades, which means that the tools to do pro work must have existed before the most current versions of hardware and software. One of my clients puts out a sports magazine on a Beige G3 running Mac OS 9.1. The quality of the magazine rivals that of Sports Illustrated (of course some of the photographers for the magazine also work for SI) and they are still using QuarkXPress 4.11, Photoshop 5.5, Illustrator 8.0 and Acrobat 5.0 for their work.
The worse thing I see in the computer industry is forced (or implied) obsolescence. If tools work, use them. Upgrade when you actually need to, not because some company tells you it is time to give them more money.
One of the funniest trends I see in the computer industry is people who stop using a software title because a company stops making it. They don't wait for when they need something better, they drop it right then and there... even if it was doing everything that they needed.
Professional software doesn't stop working when the next version is released. Hardware doesn't slow down if you continue to work with the same software.
The problem is buying upgrades to software you don't really need which requires hardware you'll end up having to purchase to run that software at speed similar to what you were working at before. It is a vicious cycle.
Of course I'm not complaining... this process has given me a ton of professional class systems with even more professional class software for a fraction of what people are paying for new stuff.
Hopefully no one will read any of my post on this topic so I can continue to benefit.
it certainly depends on the type of professional work. for print media, there's probably no need to use anything newer. however, these older computers really are obsolete for what's expected on tv, movie special effects, etc.
Hopefully no one will read any of my post on this topic so I can continue to benefit.
i do the same thing. it's quite impressive how far computer prices fall within several years. i picked up a compaq m700 laptop this past weekend for less than 5% of what it originally sold for back in 2000.
That ain't true for Quickbooks... after one (or was it two) years,theres something in the software that tells you you have to upgrade, because your version is outdated, and will cease operation in 30 days.They FORCE you to upgrade.
Anyway, I'd love a PB, but I don't have the money for one. Have to settle with windows 3.1...
I know you weren't selling one.
I never find these kinds of deals. I always get the WORST crap on the internet! Did a search for a PB today, lowest price for one that worked, $69.00.
I'd just like to say that the things you do with old computers (in this thread and in the past) impress the hell out of me. Good for you for not getting sucked in to the "gotta have the newest" mentality that grips 98% of this board (myself included)!
How do you get your old machines? Do you just know people that are getting rid of theirs, or do you frequent school dumpsters?
I'm interested in picking up older Apple laptops (read: more durable) for traveling and such.