Picking an older PowerBookDec 31 '04 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line There are many excellent values in used Mac laptops, but some machines are very overpriced.
A few years ago I wrote one of these buyer’s guides for Toshiba Portege laptops, detailing the various models offered up to that point and their value on the used market. I updated the value portion a year later and should probably do so again. What does a buyer’s guid for older Toshiba Portege laptops have to do with picking from Apple’s PowerBook and iBook G3 computers? On the surface not much, but looking deeper it shows just how useful older computers, particularly laptops, remain today, and how they are often a far better value than the shiny new models at the Apple Store. So you’ve decided to buy a used Apple laptop and want to do so to save some money compared to the new ones. The first thing you must ask yourself is if $999 is beyond your price point. $999 isn’t magic because it is under a thousand, it is magical because that is the price of a brand-spanking-new iBook G4. That iBook is faster and in most ways more capable than anything else at the same price point or even a little higher, including used. For example, a used 1GHz Titanium G4 will still cost more than that new iBook, and except for the big 15” screen with its higher pixel count, is slower than the current entry-level iBook. So we have ruled out spending $1000 for a used machine and want to look far lower in the price spectrum, something there are many reasons to do. Perhaps this laptop is for a child who really doesn’t need more than basic educational-related functionality (educational games, email, web browser and word processing), or perhaps it is a just to be a mobile extension of your desktop computer, suitable for browsing the web and exchanging email while sitting at your local Starbucks. Maybe you want a little more from your laptop, like the ability to watch DVD movies while you fly on the less-friendly skies, but want or need to put your money elsewhere. Maybe, like me, you already have a more modern and capable laptop, but want a second portable with different, complementing attributes, like a larger screen for when you write or a smaller and lighter case for when you travel. Whatever your reason, buying a used Apple portable can make a lot of sense. To make things easier, I will try and group the various Apple laptops by user type, and then describe each in detail. For each user type I will then give my recommendations at the high ($500) middle ($200), low ($100) and bottom-feeder ($50) range. Those three numbers were not chosen at random, by the way, but rather are the three price points you will find on eBay as this is written (December 31, 2004) for various G3 powered Apple laptops. There are machines at less than $50 (yes, its true), but unless all you want to do is write and save to floppy, I wouldn’t recommend any. Likewise, you can spend much more than $500 on a used G3 or an early G4, but then we bump into the $999 new iBook problem, which in my opinion should win hands down against any used machine even near its price. First, the users. The ROAD WARRIOR is someone who may not be flying across the country or around the world, but feels like they are. This person is always lugging stuff from place to place, and their laptop goes in and out of its case many times per day. Most students will fit this profile if they bring their laptop to class, as trucking your laptop across campus isn’t much different than carrying it across the airport. For these users, light weight is key, with small dimensions also nice, though perhaps not as important unless you spend a lot of time working in coach-class airplane seats. At the high end ($500) I recommend the 500MHz Dual USB (white) iBook. With its 12” screen and available DVD or even combo drive, these are essentially the same as the current $999 iBook, only slower, older, and half the price. The screen is identical, it will run the same current Panther OS, only slower, and while the hard drives and memory will be smaller, they’ll still do the job (upgrade to at least 384MB for Panther, 512MB is better). At the mid range ($200), look for a PowerBook 2400c. This will not run OSX, but it weighs only 4lbs and is a delightful computer. With OS 8.6 or 9.1 and at least 80MB of ram you will enjoy terrific performance on the go, with a stylish machine that still has the cool factor. The low end ($100) is limited to pretty much the 5300c, which is a bit heavy at 6lbs, but still nice and small. Limitations are very real, with a slow 100MHz processor and no cache memory, but if you really want just the basics of email, word processing and light web surfing, the 5300c (the ce model is best with its 800X600 screen) can do the job at a very low price. You can even make these wireless with a cheap PC card, but be wary of the plain 5300 with its grayscale screen or of the ‘cs’ models, which have murky passive matrix displays. OS 8.1 or 8.6 is the way to go, don’t even think about OS9. For the bottom feeders ($50), I’d say to get yourself an old PowerBook Duo. Which one really makes no difference, so long as it has a good keyboard and comes with the floppy adapter or some sort of minidock, which will be the only way of getting your files off it other than by email over a dialup connection (most Duos have an internal 14.4 modem). These weigh only 4lbs and are very small, but the screens and keyboards are cramped and they are slow. I’d go ultra-low-end here and look for a grayscale Duo 210 (25MHz) or 230 (33MHz), which should cost less than the shipping. System 7.1 is best on these, though 7.6.1 is best if you plan on dialing into the internet. The nest user is the REGLAR PERSON. Regular people want a regular laptop, with a balance of portability and function. Unlike road warriors, regular people aren’t willing to sacrifice a large screen to shave a pound or two of weight. Regular people like a comfortable keyboard too, and value convenience like interchangeable drives. At the high end, go right out and buy yourself a “Pismo” PowerBook, which was the last of the G3-powered pro-models Apple offered. These came in 400MHz and 500MHz versions, can take an Airport card and all had DVD drives. OSX Panther runs very well on a Pismo, including high-quality DVD movie playback. At roughly 6lbs they aren’t light, though aren’t really heavy either, and their 14.1” screen is still a delight to behold. Many people consider the Pismo as the best laptop Apple (or anyone else) ever made, and at today’s prices they are an excellent value. If you really want a Pismo but can’t quite afford on, a Lombard (USB, no FireWire) will set you back about $50 to $100 less, though it is less capable under OSX (will run Panther, but no DVD support) and must use a PC card for wireless networking. At the mid range, try to find yourself an original PowerBook G3 (Kanga) for about $175, or if you cannot, then a PowerBook 3400c for about $150. Neither will run OSX without some minor hacking (XPostFacto), but in OS9.1 both are wickedly fast. They are a bit heavy at around 8lbs and while their 12” screens are the same size as the current iBook, the resolution is lower at 800X600. At the low end the PowerBook 1400c is a god option, but avoid the passive screen cs models or any with a 117MHz processor, as those lacked cache memory are are very slow. 1400s are all rather sluggish, but they have excellent keyboards and with a cheap PC card can get onto wireless networks. You should also look for a lower-spec 3400c in this range, with a smaller hard drive, low ram and the slower 180MHz processor. If you find one, it is a far better laptop than the 1400. The 5300c or ce is a slightly lower-priced alternative that will also get the job done. Bottom feeders should check out the 1xx PowerBooks, with the 145 being a favorite of mine for its almost-free price and the fact that a 145b was my first Apple computer. Finally we get to DESKTOP REPLACEMENT user.. These people just plug in their laptops and pretty much leave it on the desk, using it as an overpriced, underpowered desktop computer that takes up less space and (hopefully) runs a little quieter than a tower system would. This is easy, look at the laptop choices for the regular person, and buy the exact same thing. These guys today are buying the 17” USS Kitty Hawk PowerBook, but at the price points discussed here, they have the same choices as the regular laptop users. You will notice that only a few models are recommended above, and with the exception of the small Dual USB iBook and the Pismo, very no Airport-ready models at the lower price points. This is not by design, but simply a reflection of other Airport-ready laptops being overpriced on the used market. The only other machines that take an Airport card are the original “Clamshell” iBooks, which while good computers, are all overpriced today. The entry-level models at 300MHz can run Panther rather well, but their tiny 3GB hard drives and paltry 32MB of ram need to be replaced, making them a dubious value for a computer that when ready to run Panther, will cost more than the Lombard PowerBook, which is superior in every way except Airport-compatibility. Ditto the Wallstreet PowerBook, one of the most popular models in Apple’s history. They are too expensive for an OS9 machine, and too poorly supported for OSX use. That leaves the following models as recommended (by me, everyone has an opinion or a favorite model). Pismo (year 2000) PowerBook This should set you back around $500 for a clean 400MHz model, and thus barely makes the cut. Look carefully on eBay and you can find one well equipped at this price. I just bought one for myself (as a less portable but more comfortable complement to my 12” aluminum PowerBook) for $500 with 512MB of ram and a 10Gb hard drive. Lombard (year 1999) PowerBook This should set you back around $375 for a clean 333Mhz model or $450 for the 400MHz. I bought one for my wife (333MHz) with 512MB ram and a 20GB hard drive for $350, though its not particularly clean. Kanga (year 1997) PowerBook This will cost between $150 and $200 for a clean example, depending on memory and hard drive. I bought one at $150 for my daughter with the minimum 32MB and the stock 5GB hard drive. Absolutely terrific performance with OS 8.6 (low memory) or 9.1 (high memory). PowerBook 3400c (1997) A very fast machine in OS 8.6 (low memory) or 9.1 (high memory). No, it isn’t a G3, but other than less processor muscle, it is identical to the Kanga at about $50 less. PowerBook 1400c (1996) Get the ‘c’ (TFT screen) model with either the 133 or 166MHz processor for acceptable performance and a nice 800X600 display. OS 8.1 is the best choice in this first ever Apple laptop with internal CD ROM option. They have excellent keyboards, but are a bit heavy. Pay about $100 to $125, but a low-spec 3400c can be had for the same price and is a better computer. PowerBook 2400c (1997) Basically a 3400c without the drive bay or fancy (though mediocre) speakers. The 2400c has a small 10.4” TFT, but it is at 800X600 resolution so its not bad even today. These are fast with OS 8.6 (low memory) or 9.1 (high memory) and at only 4.4lbs, are a delight to travel with. These have held their value relatively well, and still fetch about $250. PowerBook 5300c (1995) Get the ‘c’ (640X480 TFT) or ‘ce’ (800X600 TFT) model and enjoy a smallish laptop that only weighs about 6lbs. These are all slow, but with OS 8.1 aren’t too bad. Only buy one with at least 32MB of physical ram, and be sure to get a copy of SpeedDoubler 8, which is the only way to acceptable speed out of a PowerBook 5300. $50 or less. PowerBook Duo (1993-1995) I like the Duos, but keep in mind that except for hard-to-find docks, they don’t accept many modern connectivity options. Make sure yours comes with the 14.4 internal modem, and hopefully with either a floppy and floppy connector, or better yet the Apple Minidock, which will let you connect SCSI devices. There used to be a tiny clip-on Ethernet dock which would let you connect to a DSL or other high speed network. $10-$20. PowerBook 1xx (1992-1995) This is your basic writing machine, though if yours has a 14.4 modem built-in you can also do email. $10-$20. There you have it. Most of these machines except for the real bottom feeders will do most of what people do on computers today, and in many cases, do it as well as (though slightly slower than) the latest and greatest aluminum PowerBooks. Good luck and happy shopping.  |
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