Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Restoring an old PowerBook G4 12" dents & scratches
- Thread starter sarthak
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Quick search on IKEA Canada website for "MALA" does not yield this specific tube of paint. They do however, have other paint colors available on their site.Guess it's more of a hunt to see if they have this in store as this is a few years old.
I'm not a paint expert but any semi-dry / paste like paint should work with the tissue technique. This comes out like paste and works like a filler to reduce the visibility of the scratch to where your eyes can no longer tell it's there.
Again, it doesn't seem to work on the top case of the PowerBook G4 (slightly discoloured scuffs). As for my Apple Cinema HD Display 30", I have to apply the paint a few more times. Just holding on for a few more days so I can apply another couple coats to fill in the deep scratches that occurred during shipping when I got this unit.
Side note: Updated thread title to better reflect the issue.
Did check it out. Great looking site. Will try to put it on there once everything is said and done.
I'm not a paint expert but any semi-dry / paste like paint should work with the tissue technique. This comes out like paste and works like a filler to reduce the visibility of the scratch to where your eyes can no longer tell it's there.
Again, it doesn't seem to work on the top case of the PowerBook G4 (slightly discoloured scuffs). As for my Apple Cinema HD Display 30", I have to apply the paint a few more times. Just holding on for a few more days so I can apply another couple coats to fill in the deep scratches that occurred during shipping when I got this unit.
Side note: Updated thread title to better reflect the issue.
Did check it out. Great looking site. Will try to put it on there once everything is said and done.
Last edited:
I went the whole store in one day. That place is just ginormous.
It definitely is...
I just calibrated the battery - drained fully and is now charging (was using it on power adapter since I got it). Very disappointed after the battery test.
Have to shell out another $30-$40 on a good battery, any suggestions?
Have to shell out another $30-$40 on a good battery, any suggestions?
Last edited:
I figured this is some sort of a strange knockoff 3rd party battery (with an Apple logo on the bottom) and including the indicator lights/button. It also shows up as having 5,864mAh over the standard 4,200mAh. So I assumed the seller was telling the "truth" when they stated it runs for 6 hrs 22 min when they checked.
Only after I drained it today, the system went into sleep mode after 2 hours 5 minutes. The CPU usage was relatively low when doing light browsing and near idle most of the time.
Any suggestions on a battery that doesn't cost more than the PowerBook itself?Guess I have to carry around multiple batteries and a coin which I don't mind that much. I plan to use it like this running Office '08, Notational Velocity, TenFourFox (light use during break) amongst other productivity apps with limited access to a plug.
- Day 1 - 3hrs
- Day 2 - 3hrs + 1hr break + 3hrs
- Day 3 - 3hrs + 1hr break + 3hrs
- Day 4 - 3hrs
Here's the records from the test I ran.
Last edited:
I doubt any of them will last longer than a couple years.. my PBG4 has an aftermarket battery from 2008 and it only lasts a minute or two if I'm lucky.
Aren't they just made of 18650 (like UltraFire) cells?
Source: http://lowendmac.com/bookrev/05/0617.html
The first thing I considered was picking up a dead battery for cheap on eBay and swapping the cells with higher capacity ones.
Edit: Someone else did rebuild a battery. http://www.ornery.net/2008-01-22/index.htm Guess it's not really worth it given 18650 high capacity cells are going to cost more than a new battery for me. There is also inherent risk with diy rebuilding - soldering and using generic 18650 cells.
I don't know if it's going to be the easiest thing to return in case something happens during the warranty period but hopefully things work out with the CHINA brand batteries. That is assuming the generic batteries have any warranty to begin with.
Last edited:
I might actually pick up one of those $13 batteries.. mine is already dead and it's only a couple bucks so what's to lose? If you'll buy one I'll wait and see how it is though.
So I just purchased the exact battery you linked to, and it came in today. The top isn't real metal, it is plastic, and it's a hard fit, honestly. I think I found out why though, the new battery has two little plastic tabs on two of the sides, that appear to help hold it in. The other battery I have doesn't have those, and it fits a lot better. I'm wondering if it isn't alright to just shave them off, I think it would fit better.
Attachments
That's unfortunate! Though I am unsure what the policies for Amazon to reimburse buyers are. For $16 or so with shipping in the US, it's not bad and still cheaper than eBay. But still a disappointment that they used plastics. Do they at least look like metal (silver paint) or are they white?
Perhaps if you dab a bit of superglue after removing the tabs, the casing of the battery shouldn't open up. But it's risky, is there any other area that the casing is sealed from (for support)?
How is the runtime on it? Coconut battery usually gives good mAh readings.
I was about to put in an order last night but given the costs came up to nearly $65 after gift cards for 2 batteries... Unfortunate that shipping is nearly $30 + I have to pay up for import duties and 13% taxes + usd/cad exchange rate.
Options seem to be very limited for international shipping orders from Amazon.
It's very hard to tell in the stock image given on the site:
Last edited:
The plastic is painted silver, it's not too far off from the PB. You can't really tell it's plastic until you feel it. It claims to be 5200 mAh but I somehow doubt it, I will check with coconut battery as soon as I am given the chance. I don't think the tabs secure the battery top on at all, they just help hold it into the PB is my guess.
Alright, thanks Intell! Will that help it stay in better? Coconut battery tells me the battery holds only 4200 mAh like the OEM battery, so I don't know why it says 5400 mAh on the battery itself.
So far I'm getting a reading of an estimated 3-3:30 hours of battery life outa this battery! Hope it stays that way for a few months at least..
After almost an hour of usage on battery with the screen turned down a couple notches and the CPU set to reduced power, it's at 77%.
EDIT: So cutting off the plastic tabs on the side of the battery didn't help much, it appears the battery is just very slightly taller than the original one.
After almost an hour of usage on battery with the screen turned down a couple notches and the CPU set to reduced power, it's at 77%.
EDIT: So cutting off the plastic tabs on the side of the battery didn't help much, it appears the battery is just very slightly taller than the original one.
Last edited:
Battery life seems quite good, based on that drain rate it should run around 4 hours.
Options to get batteries in Canada seem quite limited. Resellers seem to be asking $40-60 for the same $13 battery. I'm going to have to resort to eBay to get 2 batteries for around $55-60.
That's an unfortunate high price relative to the PowerBook G4 itself!
Be warned it won't fit properly. It looks like it should, but it slightly pushes up on the right palmrest, and it's hard to get in. I measured it and it seems to be a couple millimeters taller than the original battery. It does work though!