G3 'Clamshell' iBooks

[CooperBox]

I've just added a few comments about the G3 'Clamshell' on another thread in this forum, so thought I would follow up with a few new recent photos - especially as my trusty Lumix DMC-T25 camera appears to be on it's last legs and has been playing up, so wanted to get the most out of it before it finally expires.

As Macs go, running a close 2nd to my most preferred iMac G4's, it's taken me several years to put together this collection of iBooks.
As mentioned in THIS link, these Clamshells are still a joy to use today (internet use apart). Both of the KeyLime shown are the very rare SE Firewire 466MHz model, which - even with AZERTY keyboards took me ages to locate. Although it's been well recorded that Clamshell iBooks are fairly difficult to work on, the keyboards are easily interchangeable, and I've retained a spare QWERTY keyboard just in case I ever may want to dispose of either 366 or 466MHz models.
Both the KeyLime have maxed-out RAM, but apart from that I decided to keep these original - unlike another 466MHz Indigo (not shown) in which I installed an mSata SSD. That performs rather well too for a 'golden-oldie'.

 

[galgot]

Congrat for your collection. Two KeyLimes
It took some time to have one of each too...
My KeyLime is a 366 :/ had to exchange the original dead modo.
Hardest to find for was a original Graphite, still have to replace the cd reader though.

 

[B S Magnet]

I've just added a few comments about the G3 'Clamshell' on another thread in this forum, so thought I would follow up with a few new recent photos - especially as my trusty Lumix DMC-T25 camera appears to be on it's last legs and has been playing up, so wanted to get the most out of it before it finally expires.

View attachment 828992 View attachment 828990

View attachment 828991

As Macs go, running a close 2nd to my most preferred iMac G4's, it's taken me several years to put together this collection of iBooks.
As mentioned in THIS link, these Clamshells are still a joy to use today (internet use apart). Both of the KeyLime shown are the very rare SE Firewire 466MHz model, which - even with AZERTY keyboards took me ages to locate. Although it's been well recorded that Clamshell iBooks are fairly difficult to work on, the keyboards are easily interchangeable, and I've retained a spare QWERTY keyboard just in case I ever may want to dispose of either 366 or 466MHz models.
Both the KeyLime have maxed-out RAM, but apart from that I decided to keep these original - unlike another 466MHz Indigo (not shown) in which I installed an mSata SSD. That performs rather well too for a 'golden-oldie'.

I'm of course over here fanning myself over the pair of key limes you have.

 

[ScreenSavers]

I have a key lime as well as a blueberry and three graphites (the later one.) I’m selling the key lime on eBay though. It’s a really neat color. I wish Apple would make a modern copy of one of these things... no dvd drive, Retina display, maybe a fun mod project someday?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/323755374548

 

[CooperBox]

My after-lunch coffee break reproduced here - just in case Eyoungren looks in and to provide him with his much loved virtual caffeine boost......



And as it's April 1st in just a few days time, from the next shot, you can see that one Clamshell is running Mojave.
What else!

Whilst these were booted, I took the opportunity to update the OS X machine on the left with the latest TFF FPR13.1, and on completion logged onto this forum and another favourite link just to prove that these iBooks are not complete internet Dodos.



These perform internet searches and site rendering in a very leisurely fashion, so for those with plenty of patience it's still doable. Fun? Yes. Satisfying? Well, sort of.
Having said that I wouldn't readily do the same on a 366MHz machine, as one needs all the horsepower you can muster with these G3's.

 

[B S Magnet]

I have a key lime as well as a blueberry and three graphites (the later one.) I’m selling the key lime on eBay though. It’s a really neat color. I wish Apple would make a modern copy of one of these things... no dvd drive, Retina display, maybe a fun mod project someday?

Someone sort of has:

 

[ScreenSavers]

Someone sort of has:

'


Not bad

 

[B S Magnet]

Not bad

I don't know what they did, but for all the comparatively minor modifications I've been doing with my clamshell, I am but a little baby and they are a serious electrical engineer.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Here’s a couple of mine...

 

[ScreenSavers]

.

 

[B S Magnet]

Here’s a couple of mine...

I have my clamshell running 1024x768 with anti-glare removed and with an LED backlight having replaced the CCFL.

I hope to replicate this on additional machines as I'm able.

 

[ScreenSavers]

You mean you replaced the panel or used an app to force higher resolution?

 

[z970]

@CooperBox I'd recommend taking out BluHell Firewall, as the use of uMatrix, essentially an all-in-one, renders it completely redundant. BluHell isn't doing much for you being there.

When you have these old machines, you not only need all the horsepower you can get, but also the most lightweight you can get, and having several addons doesn't do that regard much favor.

Just saying...

 

[galgot]

I have my clamshell running 1024x768 with anti-glare removed and with an LED backlight having replaced the CCFL.

I hope to replicate this on additional machines as I'm able.

Would love to know how it's done ! the CCFL thing in particular.
Here are mines :

And the two gen Graphites :

 

[CooperBox]

@CooperBox I'd recommend taking out BluHell Firewall, as the use of uMatrix, essentially an all-in-one, renders it completely redundant. BluHell isn't doing much for you being there.

When you have these old machines, you not only need all the horsepower you can get, but also the most lightweight you can get, and having several addons doesn't do that regard much favor.

Just saying...

Ok thanks for the advise, which I'll heed and remove BlueHell.

 

[CooperBox]

I have a key lime as well as a blueberry and three graphites (the later one.) I’m selling the key lime on eBay though. It’s a really neat color. I wish Apple would make a modern copy of one of these things... no dvd drive, Retina display, maybe a fun mod project someday?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/323755374548

Everyone to his own, but it would have been nice to see this posted as an ad on MR Marketplace/Collectables, where I'm sure it would have attracted a great deal of attention.
I appreciate that many folks like to maximize on their assets when selling, but rather than going to a keen Mac fan on MR who will cherish and take good care of it, I fear that where you have it listed will attract the attention of someone who will transform it into a polka-dot monstrosity, or pink Barbie toilet-seat and eventually resell it for double or triple what you may receive. Mais c'est la vie.
Just my 2 cents, but as these Clamshells have such a unique heritage imho it's worth ensuring that it remains as original as possible and unbotched - especially for a KeyLime.

 

[timidpimpin]

These would be soooo much better if they had used a 1024x768 display over that ungodly low 800x600. I was always confused as to why they kept the later models at 800x600. I assume it was to help put more of a gap between the iBooks and PowerBooks at the time, but it sucks for the end user.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Everyone to his own, but it would have been nice to see this posted as an ad on MR Marketplace/Collectables, where I'm sure it would have attracted a great deal of attention.
I appreciate that many folks like to maximize on their assets when selling, but rather than going to a keen Mac fan on MR who will cherish and take good care of it, I fear that where you have it listed will attract the attention of someone who will transform it into a polka-dot monstrosity, or pink Barbie toilet-seat and eventually resell it for double or triple what you may receive. Mais c'est la vie.
Just my 2 cents, but as these Clamshells have such a unique heritage imho it's worth ensuring that it remains as original as possible and unbotched - especially for a KeyLime.

I was not even aware such a place existed. I don't use these forums that much. If the ebay auction doesn't work out (too late, already started it...) then thats the next place I'll go. Thanks for the tip.
[doublepost=1553867138][/doublepost]I don't have 250 posts yet... even though I've been a member for years. So no classifieds for me (yet...) Can't wait to get there though.

 

[CooperBox]

I was not even aware such a place existed. I don't use these forums that much. If the ebay auction doesn't work out (too late, already started it...) then thats the next place I'll go. Thanks for the tip.
[doublepost=1553867138][/doublepost]I don't have 250 posts yet... even though I've been a member for years. So no classifieds for me (yet...) Can't wait to get there though.

Ah, I've now understood. Hope you find a serious buyer on thebay.

 

[B S Magnet]

You mean you replaced the panel or used an app to force higher resolution?

I replaced the LCD, used a method to remove the anti-glare sheet, wrote to nvram so that the iBook recognizes it is running an XGA display, and replaced the CCFL backlight with an LED.

 

[Hrududu]

As long as we're here admiring clamshell iBooks, I want to show off mine too! lol

 

[galgot]

I replaced the LCD, used a method to remove the anti-glare sheet, wrote to nvram so that the iBook recognizes it is running an XGA display, and replaced the CCFL backlight with an LED.

Thanks !

As long as we're here admiring clamshell iBooks, I want to show off mine too! lol

Beautiful ! And nicely photographed too ! Think we can ask CooperBox if this thread can be renamed "The Great Colorful Clamshell Show off Thread"

 

[bobesch]

Here my favorite Clamshell pictures/moments ...
- Graphite & Soundsticks for a streaming music-box.
- KeyLime and my first steps in os9 ... 8-classilla-web-client-jpg.623017
- Bondi/Graphite iMacG3 and Graphite Clamshell os9-networking.
- iPod 2nd-gen revival
- AFP-FileSharing with Blueberry Clamshell and 12" PowerBook G4 d64b73f5-cb10-485c-9174-78a0eee09e9c-jpeg.818898

 

[ScreenSavers]

As long as we're here admiring clamshell iBooks, I want to show off mine too! lol

Sweet! Wow.

 

[B S Magnet]

OK re-up of my key lime, prior to the CCFL → LED transplant (sorry, I don't have a half-dozen clamshells as that's not the kind of money I have lying around!):