Pre-OSX PowerPC laptops

[InAWhiteRoom]

Hi all,

I’d like to tinker with a pre-OSX laptop, but aside from the original iBook I have little experience with them.

I’d like to find one that has an easily removable HDD so I can pop in a SSD, so I’m less keen to use an iBook.

Any ideas of what would work as a reliable, fun machine?

 

[Amethyst1]

Any ideas of what would work as a reliable, fun machine?

The PowerBook G3 “Pismo” would be my favourite. Up to 1 GB RAM, easily removable hard drive (and battery and optical drive), FireWire, ATI Rage Mobility 128 with the ability to run an external monitor at up to 1920×1200 in addition to the internal LCD.

What OSes are you planning to run on it? The Pismo will run Mac OS 9 and X 10.0…10.4 officially; unofficially, Mac OS 8.6 is also possible. I’m not sure about Mac OS X Public Beta. Older betas and Rhapsody are out.

 

[micahgartman]

A first-gen titanium PowerBook G4 is a viable candidate, too.

 

[Amethyst1]

A first-gen titanium PowerBook G4 is a viable candidate, too.

Indeed, and it is pre-OS X, albeit just by a few weeks. I got Mac OS 8.6 to boot on mine.

 

[ww2_1943]

Can't go wrong with a Pismo. I own two. One has a 550mhz G4. I have a spare G4 card that I am opening to selling.

 

[InAWhiteRoom]

FireWire

That’s very impressive! I am always amazed by how ahead of its time FireWire was. I’ll certainly consider a pismo, thanks!

Re: the TiBooks - I did own one very briefly. It was mostly rust and had one of those strange blooming patterns on the screen, so although I enjoyed my time with it, I sold it on.

 

[Amethyst1]

I am always amazed by how ahead of its time FireWire was.

The first consumer device to have FireWire was the Sony DCR-VX1000 MiniDV camcorder, released in… 1995.

 

[MysticCow]

The PowerBook G3 “Pismo” would be my favourite.

You can even upgrade the processor in the Pismo. Said upgrade is expensive nowadays, but it will run like those initial PowerBook G4 models if you can find one.

Soooo, seconding the Pismo.

 

[Amethyst1]

You can even upgrade the processor in the Pismo.

There were also G4 upgrades for the Wallstreet and Lombard.

Said upgrade is expensive nowadays […]

Unless you replace the CPU yourself.

 

[ww2_1943]

You can even upgrade the processor in the Pismo. Said upgrade is expensive nowadays, but it will run like those initial PowerBook G4 models if you can find one.

Soooo, seconding the Pismo.

I’d let mine go for 150 including shipping in the USA. I think that’s a fair price.

 

[tviolation]

I’d also say the Pismo is a great machine. Reliable, easy to work on, and runs OS 9 very speedily. I’ve had mine for about 20 years now, and it’s been a tank of a machine… hands down my favorite Mac that I’ve owned.

I’d let mine go for 150 including shipping in the USA. I think that’s a fair price.

Sent you a PM about this. I’ve been casually looking for one of these for mine for a while, although I will say if you’re mostly looking to run pre-OS X, the G3 handles it quite well.

 

[AphoticD]

If you want the full effect, go for a pre-G3...

Just for fun, I was tinkering with my PowerBook 1400cs, running Mac OS 8.6 booted off a 2GB CF card adapter via the PCMCIA slot. The trackpad clicker stopped working so I had an ADB Mouse attached too.

My 9yo son walked in and was watching me. He made a few key observations...
1. “How do you get that cool motion blur effect?”
Nothing screams 90s more than a passive matrix LCD panel.

2. “What’s that ball on the bottom of the mouse do?”
That is a tracking ball son. You need to pull it out every few weeks and clean out the dirt

3. “The keyboard travel sounds deep, but it probably doesn’t use Blue switches. It’s a diaphragm, right?”
Yes. I think so... my kids know all about mechanical keyboards because its a gaming trend. Apparently “Blue Switches” are the best and I bought them the inferior “Red switches” gaming keyboard without knowing...