Help needed for my addiction, bought a 14" iBook G4 :D

[Lastic]

So after buying the 2nd G5 and upgrading the iBook to an mSATA SSD I told myself it's to start selling some of these since you can't use them all at once :

2 x Powerbook G4 12" , 1.5 , SSD/HDD, 1.25 RAM , the SSD one is used ,the other is a spare
Powerbook G4 12", 1.33, HDD, 1.25 RAM with the original box needs to go
iBook G4 12", 1.33 ,HDD, 1.25 RAM was going to sell it but upgraded it to an mSATA SSD
PowerMac G5, 2.0 Ghz Dual-core, 5 GB RAM needs to go since it was replaced with the one beneath
PowerMac G5,Dual 2.3 Ghz, 12GB RAM, hooked it up to a 30" Cinema Display
Xserve DP G4 + RAID have to set it up as a server

But then last evening I started looking into a > 12" non-Intel laptop to use in the couch when I'm watching videos on my rMBp on the Thunderbolt Display, Lemote Yeeloong, etc and guess on what I have done a starting bid of 50 EUR (excl shipping from neighbouring country) which was accepted by the seller , ...

An iBook G4 14" 1.42 Ghz 1,5 GB RAM

I have owned a PB 15" DLSD HR but sold it again since it was in a very nice state and I felt it would be a shame to have it scratched by using it on the road so yup just bought a 14" for the road and the couch so I can leave the PB 12" at home.

Pictures will be coming once it has arrived

On a side note , I had forgotten that I once bought a box of 5 iBooks for repair for 50 EUR once and there was a new looking iBook G4 14" 1.33 Ghz with the most intact parts so I assembled it but no screen, no chime (but sound could be turned off).

Is there any way to test the iBook G4 14" screen itself , @LightBulbFun ?

 

[LightBulbFun]

So after buying the 2nd G5 and upgrading the iBook to an mSATA SSD I told myself it's to start selling some of these since you can't use them all at once :

2 x Powerbook G4 12" , 1.5 , SSD/HDD, 1.25 RAM , the SSD one is used ,the other is a spare
Powerbook G4 12", 1.33, HDD, 1.25 RAM with the original box needs to go
iBook G4 12", 1.33 ,HDD, 1.25 RAM was going to sell it but upgraded it to an mSATA SSD
PowerMac G5, 2.0 Ghz Dual-core, 5 GB RAM needs to go since it was replaced with the one beneath
PowerMac G5,Dual 2.3 Ghz, 12GB RAM, hooked it up to a 30" Cinema Display
Xserve DP G4 + RAID have to set it up as a server

But then last evening I started looking into a > 12" non-Intel laptop to use in the couch when I'm watching videos on my rMBp on the Thunderbolt Display, Lemote Yeeloong, etc and guess on what I have done a starting bid of 50 EUR (excl shipping from neighbouring country) which was accepted by the seller , ...

An iBook G4 14" 1.42 Ghz 1,25 GB RAM

I have owned a PB 15" DLSD HR but sold it again since it was in a very nice state and I felt it would be a shame to have it scratched by using it on the road so yup just bought a 14" for the road and the couch so I can leave the PB 12" at home.

Pictures will be coming once it has arrived

On a side note , I had forgotten that I once bought a box of 5 iBooks for repair for 50 EUR once and there was a new looking iBook G4 14" 1.33 Ghz with the most intact parts so I assembled it but no screen, no chime (but sound could be turned off).

Is there any way to test the iBook G4 14" screen itself , @LightBulbFun ?

I should change my User name to The PowerPC Tech support Guy

Before I talk about the screen I noticed you say the iBook G4 has 1.25GB of RAM

now the 1.33/1.42Ghz last gen iBook G4s have 512MB of RAM built into the logic board and last I checked they dont make 768MB SODIMMs, so ether the guy is mistaken on the amount of RAM it has installed or the iBook G4 is not a 1.42Ghz one... So i highly recommend checking what your getting (esp as the 1.42Ghz is quite a big spec bump over other iBook G4s, it got a Proper Core image GPU for example)

in regards to testing the LCD it self, without another machine to test it with? not really im afraid, possibly you might be able to figure out exactly what LVDS cables it uses and plug it all into one of those LVDS to VGA adapters but thats getting quite complicated LOL BTW worth noting that the 12 inch and 14 inch iBooks both have the same screen res of 1024x768.

in regards to the iBook not posting, make sure to reset the PRAM (Which will also reset the volume if its turned down/off) and also you can check if its going anywhere by for example mashing the num lock or caps lock keys and seeing if they respond (ie light up and turn off etc) that should tell you somewhat about the state of the machine

hope this helps.

 

[Lastic]

I should change my User name to The PowerPC Tech support Guy

Before I talk about the screen I noticed you say the iBook G4 has 1.25GB of RAM

now the 1.33/1.42Ghz last gen iBook G4s have 512MB of RAM built into the logic board and last I checked they dont make 768MB SODIMMs, so ether the guy is mistaken on the amount of RAM it has installed or the iBook G4 is not a 1.42Ghz one... So i highly recommend checking what your getting (esp as the 1.42Ghz is quite a big spec bump over other iBook G4s, it got a Proper Core image GPU for example)

in regards to testing the LCD it self, without another machine to test it with? not really im afraid, possibly you might be able to figure out exactly what LVDS cables it uses and plug it all into one of those LVDS to VGA adapters but thats getting quite complicated LOL BTW worth noting that the 12 inch and 14 inch iBooks both have the same screen res of 1024x768.

in regards to the iBook not posting, make sure to reset the PRAM (Which will also reset the volume if its turned down/off) and also you can check if its going anywhere by for example mashing the num lock or caps lock keys and seeing if they respond (ie light up and turn off etc) that should tell you somewhat about the state of the machine

hope this helps.

I stand corrected, you are right, it has 1,5 GB RAM , the screenshot of the System Info of the seller also shows this .

I did already reset the PRAM, Numlock and Capslock worked.An LVDS to VGA adapter sounds like a good idea to test the other scraps iBook LCD screens also, might setup a working logic board so I have a test bank without having to disassemble an iBook every time.

Will try also with an external display using the mini-VGA adapter.

Thanks for the hints, Sir PPC TechSupport

 

[Nermal]

I should change my User name to The PowerPC Tech support Guy

I'm not sure that that'll fit the page correctly.

 

[laptech]

I'm not sure that that'll fit the page correctly.

How about 'Supreme PowerPC Nerdy Guy' ?

 

[LightBulbFun]

I stand corrected, you are right, it has 1,5 GB RAM , the screenshot of the System Info of the seller also shows this .

I did already reset the PRAM, Numlock and Capslock worked.An LVDS to VGA adapter sounds like a good idea to test the other scraps iBook LCD screens also, might setup a working logic board so I have a test bank without having to disassemble an iBook every time.

Will try also with an external display using the mini-VGA adapter.

Thanks for the hints, Sir PPC TechSupport

a working logic-board with needed ancillaries strapped to some sort of test bed is what id recommend (build your own acrylic Apple prototype )

trying an external VGA display is a good idea, but remember the iBook only supports out of the box video mirroring only and does not support Clamshell mode, so you might not get any picture on the screen until its reached an OS, and if theres no OS or a bad OS install then you might never get a picture on the ext display. (ill have to check this with one of my iBooks)

I'm not sure that that'll fit the page correctly.

I think ill stick with my current user name then

 

[Lastic]

And today the package arrived on my day off , yippie.

The seller was really so kind, I offered him 50 EUR for the iBook G4 14" 1.42Ghz and he responded that he would check the shipping expense (from a neighboring country) and hoped it wouldn't be too high for such an old machine.
Shipping was 19,99 EUR and because I didn't know wether it included tracking I asked him if he could provide me the tracking number if there was any and he responded that he would upgrade the shipping to include tracking on his own expense.

Thus the 70 EUR machine arrived in prestine condition, battery has a good 3 hour charge (290 cycles) ,original power adapter , only remarks is a crack in the left corner of the bottom case and the keyboard is yellow but heck it's an old machine.

I must say that I'm pleasantly suprised by the keyboard which I like more than the one on the PB G4 12".

Also having a higher screen (back issues) , more palmrest, bluetooth,scrolling,right-click tap , are pleasant bonusses. Too bad no mini-DVI so no Cinema Display unless I get a bulky expensive analog-digital convertor.

Without further ado, little sister meets big sister

Will play around with SwitchResX to see if we can bump that 1024x768

Might check how to get it white again or replace it

The only visual defect, all feet are present even the rubber ones at the corners of the screen, no scratches on the screen, no further cracks or serious scars.

As with all my machines , I tried to find a Newertech battery for it but these have been discontinued.
I found one in Germany at the "ApfelKlinik" but looks like the site closed shop in 2015-2016,sent the owner a mail but no response yet.

The one I found is in the US but the seller doesn't ship to Europe , nor has he responded to my request wether he would consider shipping if I pay the full cost.
Anybody here can buy it and ship it to me in Europe at my expense,pretty please ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Newer-Tech...615820&hash=item28061eb4ef:g:26YAAOSwd0BV1pf8

And now I'm going to use it for which I bought it, the couch

 

[CooperBox]

Nice one! If you ever have the need to open it for complete refurb, that crack in the base corner could be filled carefully with a grey epoxy. That would marginally improve the looks, and also improve strength at that corner. At the same time I'd repaste the processor, thoroughly clean and relube the fan (most well-used laptops really need this imho), and bring the keyboard back to life with a 'magic solution' and uv lamp.