This week Apple dropped their last desktop model based on the G3
processor. The 600 MHz G3 CRT
iMac was not only the last G3 desktop, but also the last
Macintosh to share the original iMac's basic design. This iMac,
which had basic features such as a CD-ROM instead of CD-RW, DVD, or
DVD-R drive, most likely had poor sales, with most people opting
for the new LCD iMac.
The G3 processor was first introduced in 1997 with the Power Macintosh G3 computers. The "beige G3"
was initially available running at 233 MHz or at 266 MHz and in
either a desktop or tower configuration. This model was later
boosted to 300 MHz and beyond.
The G3 processor was code compatible with the PowerPC 603e, so
it was able to run older Macintosh applications easily, and it
ended up being even faster than the then top of the line 350 MHz
Power Mac 9600 at some tasks.
What type of news is the discontinuation of the classic iMac for
the G3 processor? Most likely, it is going to be discontinued very
soon. The iBooks are the last Macs to use a G3 processor, and since
they have not been updated to work with AirPort Extreme as of yet,
it is possible that their G3 processors will get replaced with G4s
with the next update.
However, replacing the G3s in the iBook probably won't happen
too soon. Doing so would take away sales of the new 12" PowerBook
G4 which is essentially a silver iBook with an option DVD-R
drive.
The major difference between the G3 and the G4 is AltiVec, which
accelerates tasks that are optimized for it, such as Photoshop
filters and Mac OS X. Those who are using Mac OS 9 will
not notice much of a difference between a G3 and a G4 running at
the same speed. Since many users are sticking with OS 9 for
the time being but may wish to try OS X later on, older G3s
remain in high demand.
The Beige G3
Beige G3s typically sell for between $150 and $300 these days.
The basic 266 MHz tower version was available with 32 MB of RAM, a
6 GB hard drive, Zip drive, and personality card with RCA
jacks for sound and video input and output, as well as S-video
jacks. A 233 MHz desktop typically came with 32 MB of RAM, a
4 GB hard drive, and a standard sound card, lacking the
special jacks.
For those trying to buy one, unless you get an exceptional deal,
try to find a machine with a Rev. B or C ROM chip, as Rev. A ones
don't support more than one hard drive and has a slower graphics
chip built in.
There are three PCI slots, so you can always use another video
card. USB and FireWire are other things you may want to add - since
these machines are still built on the "old world" architecture (not
the more modern NewWorld ROM, where the ROM is stored on the hard
drive and not built into the computer), they lack the non-legacy
ports that only started showing up on Macs with the iMac in
1998.
The G3 processor can also be replaced with a faster G3 - or even
a G4 (ones made for Apple's "Yikes" G4
will not work). These computers definitely have life left in them:
Even with a RAM upgrade alone, a 233-300 MHz G3 processor can
perform quite satisfactorily.
WallStreet PowerBooks
As Dan Knight talked about in his recent column about Lombard PowerBooks, the WallStreet was the last PowerBook to use
the old architecture, just as the beige G3s were the last desktops
to 
do so. This also means that they contain the full
compliment of legacy Macintosh ports (ADB, SCSI, Apple serial),
none of which you can buy devices for these days (at least no
devices I know of). The only solution for upgrading this PowerBook
is to use the CardBus compatible PCMCIA slots to install a FireWire
and USB card.
Also, as Dan mentioned, these PowerBooks have very limited video
RAM, 2 MB or 4 MB for those with larger screens.
Unfortunately, this can't be upgraded, and it makes running Mac
OS X very slow. RAM also cannot officially be upgraded past
192 MB, which is not enough for OS X to run well. Thankfully,
more recent memory chips allow it to be upgraded to 512 MB.
However, these machines are great if all you want to use is
OS 9 and you don't want to spend a lot of money. While a
Lombard will cost you $600, I've seen WallStreet PowerBooks for as
little as $400. For that price, you really can't go wrong. The
WallStreet is a solid laptop, and although it is heavy, it can
stand up to quite a large number of abuses.
Even with Apple discontinuing its current G3 line, it doesn't
mean that Macs with G3 processors are obsolete. Far from it. Many
companies still use beige and blue and
white G3s, and a large number of WallStreet G3 PowerBooks are
still in use today, and many of them will most likely still be in
use at this time next year.
