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New PowerBook G4 owner! Now, I have a few questions...

Question for a math genius. I use Mactracker to catalog my Apple products. I wanted to catalog the information on the PowerBook's warranty. I phoned AppleCare, and they didn't have a specific date. All they could tell me is that the warranty expired 2861 days ago.

I know that would be sometime in 2005, but I don't know when. Can a math genius do the math, and figure out what specific day that would've been? Either that, or give me some super-website that can do it for me. Typing "what day was it 2861 days ago" into Google does nothing.
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
Question for a math genius. I use Mactracker to catalog my Apple products. I wanted to catalog the information on the PowerBook's warranty. I phoned AppleCare, and they didn't have a specific date. All they could tell me is that the warranty expired 2861 days ago.

I know that would be sometime in 2005, but I don't know when. Can a math genius do the math, and figure out what specific day that would've been? Either that, or give me some super-website that can do it for me. Typing "what day was it 2861 days ago" into Google does nothing.
Click to expand...

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 according to this site. I asked google for "2861 days before today"
 
Here's a tip on replacing the HD:

print out the directions from ifixit.com

as you take the screws out, scotch tape them to the printout.

it's very simple to replace the screws! just be sure to check each sheet of the printout to make sure you haven't overlooked a screw or two...

----------

for production info on your model, go to:

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

put in your serial number
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
But that doesn't make sense. Apple said the warranty expired in 2005. Maybe that's the date of when they bought the PowerBook, not when the warranty expired?
Click to expand...

It would have to be the date of purchase. According to Everymac, that model was available from April 19, 2004 to January 31, 2005.

BTW, isn't wanting to know the expiry date of the warranty on a computer that old a little OCD? ;)
 
mike457 said:
It would have to be the date of purchase. According to Everymac, that model was available from April 19, 2004 to January 31, 2005.

BTW, isn't wanting to know the expiry date of the warranty on a computer that old a little OCD? ;)
Click to expand...

I'll admit I have a SLIGHT case of OCD.
 
Just kidding. I was cataloging the PowerBook in Mactracker, and having that one empty slot was annoying. If they bought it September 14th, 2004, would the warranty expire September 14th, 2005?
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
Just kidding. I was cataloging the PowerBook in Mactracker, and having that one empty slot was annoying. If they bought it September 14th, 2004, would the warranty expire September 14th, 2005?
Click to expand...
That should be what would happen, unless the original owner bought Applecare. I think they had Applecare back in those ancient days!
 
mike457 said:
That should be what would happen, unless the original owner bought Applecare. I think they had Applecare back in those ancient days!
Click to expand...

Yes, they did have AppleCare back then.

And it looks like they didn't buy it, either! :eek:


PBG4.png



Seriously, who in their right mind wouldn't purchase AppleCare with a new Mac?


Also, I'm assuming the OBS,PowerBook means Obsolete. Right?

----------

Also, does anybody have an estimate on how much a new battery from Apple would be? I just phoned the closest Apple Store, 95 miles away in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They told me that I had to schedule an appointment with the Genius Bar if I wanted to buy a battery. Why do I have to have the Genius Bar look at it? I'm assuming because they want to get all the model numbers, etc. from the battery and the PowerBook itself.
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
Yes, they did have AppleCare back then.

And it looks like they didn't buy it, either! :eek:


Image


Seriously, who in their right mind wouldn't purchase AppleCare with a new Mac?


Also, I'm assuming the OBS,PowerBook means Obsolete. Right?

----------

Also, does anybody have an estimate on how much a new battery from Apple would be? I just phoned the closest Apple Store, 95 miles away in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They told me that I had to schedule an appointment with the Genius Bar if I wanted to buy a battery. Why do I have to have the Genius Bar look at it? I'm assuming because they want to get all the model numbers, etc. from the battery and the PowerBook itself.
Click to expand...

Good question about purchasing Applecare. Although I generally think extended warranties are a rip-off, I've always bought Applecare. I've needed it a few times, and it's more than saved my bacon. Especially on a laptop!

For the battery, I'd go with OWC. They offer batteries at around $100, though occasionally they have open-box models available. They do have batteries that have extra-life compared with Apple's original issue. There are a number of sellers of after-market batteries on auction sites at around $50. OWC, I would think, is as-good-as if not better than the originals.
 
mike457 said:
Good question about purchasing Applecare. Although I generally think extended warranties are a rip-off, I've always bought Applecare. I've needed it a few times, and it's more than saved my bacon. Especially on a laptop!

For the battery, I'd go with OWC. They offer batteries at around $100, though occasionally they have open-box models available. They do have batteries that have extra-life compared with Apple's original issue. There are a number of sellers of after-market batteries on auction sites at around $50. OWC, I would think, is as-good-as if not better than the originals.
Click to expand...

How is the battery life with an OWC battery? I was hoping for 5-7 hours, but 7 hours is MacBook Pro territory. I seriously doubt I can get 7 hours. I was still hoping for close to 5 hours, though.
 
OWC Batteries

Here with my PB 1.5 I get around 4 hours with light web browsing and word processing, around 2.5 to 3 with video playback and what not. I do not game on this machine, so I can't give you any figures there (this is my portable college computer). All and all well worth the purchase. I am actually purchasing a battery for my wife's white macbook as we speak.
 
DrakkenWar said:
Here with my PB 1.5 I get around 4 hours with light web browsing and word processing, around 2.5 to 3 with video playback and what not. I do not game on this machine, so I can't give you any figures there (this is my portable college computer). All and all well worth the purchase. I am actually purchasing a battery for my wife's white macbook as we speak.
Click to expand...

I do not plan to game on this PowerBook. I'm not in college, but I'm doing the exact same tasks you are. I just wanted a Mac to take with me to the shops, or tether to my iPhone and work in the car, etc. Web browsing and word processing. That's all I'm doing. If I have more intense stuff, I'll use OS X's built-in Screen Sharing application to connect to my iMac, and do intense work that way. 4 hours is okay. I'm fine with that. I'm not going to replace it until We see what Coconut Battery says when FedEx delivers it in the morning. I'm assuming it won't be great, since the battery is going to be 8 years old in September.
 
I have that Powerbook G4 and occasionally I will hook it up to my Cinema Display. It looks really great. I like that I can go back to OS9. And that in Tiger you can SMS text from Address Book. Oh and I have Address book set up as a caller id. If someone calls my phone I can see the number pop up on my screen. Some other features I wish Apple will bring back but I digress. ((sigh)).


Congrats. :cool:
 
mofunk said:
I have that Powerbook G4 and occasionally I will hook it up to my Cinema Display. It looks really great. I like that I can go back to OS9. And that in Tiger you can SMS text from Address Book. Oh and I have Address book set up as a caller id. If someone calls my phone I can see the number pop up on my screen. Some other features I wish Apple will bring back but I digress. ((sigh)).


Congrats. :cool:
Click to expand...

How do you setup those features? Are they compatible with the iPhone 4?
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
So, Leopard doesn't support an internal 802.11N card? Darn. Any recommendations for a USB card?
Click to expand...

Even if you used a usb card you would not get N speeds from it . But congrats on your mac laptop . I hope to get a macbook pro 17 inch someday most likely used because apple does not make them anymore .
 
I'm posting this from the PowerBook. I just installed Leopard. When I rebooted after Leopard install, I was presented with this horrible thing called a Kernel Panic.
IMG_2239.jpg



Here's the info OS X is reporting about the KP.

Wed Jul 18 12:36:41 2012


Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x300 - Data access DAR=0x0000000000000004 PC=0x0000000000509990
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x35622280)
PC=0x00509990; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x00000004; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x00509570; R1=0x35667A50; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x005093DC 0x00509E1C 0x0050BFB0 0x0050B698 0x00351284 0x00351340
0x003427A4 0x00344D18 0x00343E38 0x000AFE54
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x35622280)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x3560a280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Unknown

Mac OS version:
Not yet set

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0: Tue Oct 9 21:37:58 PDT 2007; root:xnu-1228~1/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0003): 0x300 - Data access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x0009AD18 0x0009B6BC 0x00029DC4 0x000AEA90 0x000B22F8
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x35622280)
PC=0x00509990; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x00000004; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x00509570; R1=0x35667A50; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x005093DC 0x00509E1C 0x0050BFB0 0x0050B698 0x00351284 0x00351340
0x003427A4 0x00344D18 0x00343E38 0x000AFE54
Exception state (sv=0x3560a280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Unknown



Here's what's on the System Configuration tab of the reporter.


Model: PowerBook5,4, BootROM 4.8.6f0, 1 processor, PowerPC G4 (1.1), 1.5 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: kHW_ATIrv360M11Item, ATY,RV360M11, spdisplays_agp_device, 64 MB
Memory Module: SODIMM0/J25LOWER, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC2700U-25330
Memory Module: SODIMM1/J25UPPER, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC2700U-25330
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x4E), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.170.25.10)
Modem: Jump, V.92, Version 1.0
Bluetooth: Version 2.0.0f20, 2 service, 1 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
PCI Card: TXN,PCIXXXX-00, cardbus, PC Card
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-825, 7.5 GB
Parallel ATA Device: FUJITSU MHT2080AT, 74.53 GB
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, Apple, Inc., full_speed, 500 mA



Why did this happen?
 
mike457 said:
To judge from your background picture, the kernel panics must have been caused by a shortage of wind. :D
Click to expand...

Quite possibly! However, I hadn't even seen the intro video. It said it was done installing, and wanted me to reboot. I click on the button, and it crashes. But maybe it was the wind. Because now they're spinning at full speed. :d
 
Hi SPJ Fan. I noticed you reported a kernel panic. This tends to occur more frequently and more rapidly over time. I haven't seen it noted here yet, but G4 iBooks are notorious for KPs related to AirPort. (Google "G4 KP" to see what I mean.) The only successful fix I've tried is to disable AP and use a Wifi dongle. You may also need to trash AP extensions. Good luck!
 
Kernel Panics and G4 PowerBooks

To be honest the only time I have had a kernel panic on this 1.5 was bad memory. I had a 1 gig chip that decided to buy the farm on me and had nothing but issues tell it was pulled. So back to 1gig until I can scrap up the cash for the extra gig, and yes! I am missing that second gig, but still an amazingly useful computer.
 
In the absence of other hardware/software issues, G4 iBooks often report kernel panics due to AirPort, particularly the 1.33 models. There is virtually no way to fix this outside of disabling AP and using a Wifii dongle in its place.
 
skateny said:
In the absence of other hardware/software issues, G4 iBooks often report kernel panics due to AirPort, particularly the 1.33 models. There is virtually no way to fix this outside of disabling AP and using a Wifii dongle in its place.
Click to expand...

You will notice that Steve P.JobsFan's computer is not an iBook but rather a Powerbook.
 
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