Best PowerBook G3 Deals

2008.04.17

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $192 / 2GB kit $109. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 1GB $23--Free shipping available.

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Other World Computing: Power up your PowerMac G4! Make you trusty PowerMac G4 like new again with up to 2.0GHz Processor Power. G4/1.2GHz for $199, Dual 1.8GHz $498, & More Plug & Play for like new A-OK for OS 9 & OS X, etc.

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Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

Memory For New Intel Core2 DUO MacBooks, MacBook Pro, MacMini & iMacs" 4GB Kit $80, 3GB Kit $60, 2GB Kit $40, 1GB $20. Click to Maximize your Macs...

Got a G3 iBook or PowerBook? Join the G-Books email list.

The G3 PowerBooks were Apple's first PowerBooks to offer performance that rivaled their desktop siblings. Except for the rare original PowerBook G3 (a.k.a. Kanga, only on the market for six months), all G3 PowerBooks are supported under some version of OS X.

The WallStreet G3 is not officially supported under OS X 10.3 "Panther", but it is supported with 10.2.x and earlier. Panther can be installed using XPostFacto.

WallStreet and Lombard are not officially supported under OS X 10.4 "Tiger", which "requires" a built-in FireWire port, 256 MB of RAM, and 3 GB of available hard drive space. XPostFacto supports WallStreet and Lombard. Note that 10.4 normally ships on DVD-ROM, so you will need a DVD-capable drive, have to exchange your DVD for a CD install set, or use another Mac that can read DVDs and supports FireWire Target Disk Mode (see Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode for more on this option).

G3 Macs are not supported under Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard", although we have had two reports of Leopard running on a G4-upgraded Pismo. For more on that subject, we recommend reading The Future of G3 PowerBooks in the Age of Leopard. (It's theoretically possible that OS X 10.5 could run on a WallStreet or Lombard with a G4 upgrade, but we've received no such reports.)

To get the most out of OS X, Lombard and Pismo are superior to WallStreet.

WallStreet

Apple offered the PowerBook G3 Series with 12", 13", and 14" screens and 233, 250, and 292 MHz CPUs. Series 2 normally shipped with a 14" display, although there was a special edition with a 12" screen. Speeds were 233, 266, and 300 MHz. WallStreet The biggest difference between the 233 MHz models (Series 1 and 2) is the lack of a cache in the Series 1 version, sometimes called the MainStreet model; this earns it a Road Apple warning.

The WallStreet model has two expansion bays, two PC Card slots, plus ADB and SCSI ports. This was the last PowerBook with ADB. There are no FireWire or USB ports, although PC Cards can add that capability. Weight is just under 8 pounds.

Laptop batteries lose much of their capacity after 2-3 years. We've been very happy with Newer Tech batteries, available from Other World Computing.

NuPower 4500mAh/65 Watt-Hour battery, 25% more capacity than Apple's, $129.99

Lombard

PowerBook G3 Also known as the "Bronze Keyboard" model, Lombard is thinner and lighter than WallStreet. It has a single expansion bay and one PC Card slot. It was the first PowerBook with USB ports and the last with SCSI. DVD is available and requires a special decoder card (included on models that shipped with DVD). There have also been G4 upgrades available, including one from Wegener Media.

A 14" 1024 x 768 display is standard. There is no ADB port on Lombard, nor FireWire, although that can be added with a PC Card. Weight is about 6 pounds. G4 upgrades are available from Wegener Media and Daystar Technology.

Laptop batteries lose much of their capacity after 2-3 years. We've been very happy with Newer Tech batteries, available from Other World Computing. Both Lombard and Pismo can use two batteries for untold hours of field work.

NuPower 6300mAh/68 Watt-Hour battery, 12% more capacity than Apple's, $119.95
NuPower 7500mAh/81 Watt-Hour battery, 50% more capacity than Apple's, $149.95

Pismo

The same size and weight as Lombard, the 2000 Pismo is faster and was the first PowerBook with a FireWire port. It shipped with a DVD drive and has a slot for an AirPort card. There is no SCSI port.

This is one of the most upgradable PowerBooks ever, and the CPU can be upgraded to a G4, which makes it possible to run Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard". Best of all, Pismo is the only G3 PowerBook to officially support 1 GB of RAM, which really unleashes OS X.

G4 upgrades are available from Wegener Media and Daystar Technology. PowerLogix and NewerTech once made G4 upgrades for Pismo.

Laptop batteries lose much of their capacity after 2-3 years. Pismo takes the same batteries as Lombard (prices above).

The best prices are marked in bold type in the full listings below. Full listings note RAM/hard drive size/optical or Zip drive. Used Macs usually inclulde a 90 day warranty.

Best WallStreet Prices

VERY HOT 14" 266, $90, BetaMacs
14" 292, $240, PowerBook Guy
Recent RAM prices: 32 MB, $5; 64 MB, $9; 128 MB, $11.99; 256 MB, $28.99

Best Lombard Prices

VERY HOT 400 DVD, no battery, $200, Beta Macs
Recent RAM prices: 32 MB, $5; 64 MB, $9; 128 MB, $11.99; 256 MB, $28.99

Best Pismo Prices

HOT 400 DVD, $300, Wegener Media
HOT 500 DVD, $350, Wegener Media
Recent RAM prices: 64 MB, $9; 128 MB, $12.89; 256 MB, $20; 512 MB, $69

Mac OS X and OS X Server Prices

Best Classic Mac OS Deals (use 9.2.2 for Classic Mode)
Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals
Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' Deals
Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' Deals (requires G4 and AGP graphics, can run on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade)

Be sure to factor in shipping costs and possible sales tax. Your best value depends on whether you need/want extra RAM, a bigger hard drive, etc.

Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card purchases, and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.

Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Not responsible for typos. For current deals on older 'Books, see The 'Book Review.

Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits you.

14" WallStreet G3/266, 192/4/CD, battery in unknown condition, $89.99
Lombard G3/400, 128/6/DVD, battery in unknown condition, $199.99

14" WallStreet G3/266, 64/2/CD, $268
Lombard G3/333, 64/4/CD, $299
Lombard G3/400, 64/6/DVD, $399
Pismo G3/400, 64/6/DVD, $389
Pismo G3/500, 512/12/DVD, $589

14" WallStreet G3/300, 64/8/CD, $459.77
Lombard G3/333, 192/4/CD, $459.77

PowerBook Guy

As much as possible, PowerBook Guy returns systems to their factory specifications. This includes reinstalling the Mac OS as it shipped from the factory, replacing any failed parts, cleaning the computer, and performing various tests to ensure that it functions correctly.