MacPowerBook.com, New TiBook Cases, iBook Audio Update, G3/466 WallStreet Upgrade, and More

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - June 1, 2001

Except as noted, prices are in U.S. dollars, bold links are to outside sites, and regular links lead to 'Book profiles on Low End Mac.

• Two New Titanium PowerBook Bags from Willow Design
• Interesting PowerBook Website
• New, Lightweight TiBook Cases from Tom Bihn
• New iBook Hard Drive Replacement Tutorial Apple's
• iBook Audio Update 1.3.6 Fixes Audio Problems on New iBooks
• About the iBook (Dual USB) RGB Port
• Available Resolutions From iBook RGB and Composite Video Ports
• Blue Chip G3 466 MHz WallStreet PowerBook Upgrade at Small Dog
• Bargain 'Books

Two New Titanium PowerBook Bags from Willow Design

Willow Design has followed up on its successful Titanium carry case with the first of its backpacks specifically designed for the Titanium and a second Titanium carry case slimmed down for those traveling lighter.

The Jacques pack (PK-10) was designed from scratch for the Titanium. It features extra padded internal dividers to isolate the Titanium on all sides within the computer compartment, a new accessory pouch to maximize space utilization in the paperwork compartment and many new extra mesh zippered pockets for easier organization on the road.

Other new features of the Jacque Pack include a cellphone pocket attached to the shoulder strap for quick access and reflective strips (which can be removed) for enhanced night time visibility and safety.

The new Titanium Brief carry case (NL-12) was a response to requests from those who wanted the heavy duty protection of the first Titanium case (NL-11) but wanted it to be a thinner and lighter case. Willow Design set the Titanium in a double foam padded, corrugated plastic and hardboard reinforced central compartment which is just over the size of the Titanium but extremely protective.

The case features a organizer pocket on the outside to fit the power supply, cord and ethernet cable as well as business cards, pens, pencils and cell phone. The unpadded pocket on the back of the case lies flat but expands to three inches for the extra gear when needed.

As with all other Willow backpacks, laptop and tower carry cases, the new Titanium G4 backpack and carry case is covered by Willow's 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and craftsmanship.

Interesting PowerBook Website

If you, like me, enjoy Remy Davison's PowerBook musings on Insanely-Great Mac, you might also want to check out Remy's own PowerBook site, MacPowerBook.com.

There you will find information on various PowerBook and iBook models as well as tutorial articles on PowerBookSCSI, PowerBook software, Crash Management, PowerBook statistics, and much more.

New, Lightweight TiBook Cases From Tom Bihn

TomBihn.com has announced the imminent release of two new PowerBook cases for the G4 TiBook

Available in late June, the G4 Monolith is a simple, highly protective case for the PowerBook G4. Its vertical format is great for slipping inside a backpack. No pockets, no shoulder strap, and simple webbing handles.

Available in early July, the G4 Mitre is an affordable, lightly padded case for the PowerBook G4. Slip it inside your briefcase or backpack: no handles, straps or pockets. Cool titanium color, and it makes a great hat (hence the name).

New iBook Hard Drive Replacement Tutorial

Don't try this at home, kids, unless you want to risk voiding your warranty, but if you're curious (as I was) about how difficult it is to replace the hard drive in the new iBook, check out this page by CyberGreg.

It looks significantly more complex and challenging than switching the drive in my WallStreet (a 20 minute job), but doable if you are determined.

Tools required include:

• Jeweler's flat head and Phillips screwdriver.
• Small flat head and Phillips screwdriver.
• Small needle nose pliers.
• Small Torx screwdriver

Apple's iBook Audio Update 1.3.6 Fixes Audio Problems on New iBooks

The iBook Audio Update improves the quality of sound output on Apple's iBook (Dual USB) computers introduced in May 2001.

Apple Tech Info Library (TIL) article #12255 provides the details.

About the iBook (Dual USB) RGB Port

Another Apple Tech Info Library (TIL) article #60855 contains compatibility information for the RGB port on the iBook (Dual USB) computer.

The iBook (Dual USB) computer has an RGB (standard red/green/blue video) output port that allows you to connect an RGB video monitor to the computer. The computer detects when a monitor is plugged in and sets up the monitor accordingly.

You use the RGB Display Adapter included with your iBook computer to connect an external monitor to the computer's RGB port.

The iBook (Dual USB) computer's RGB port can work with monitors that are compatible with these video resolutions:

• 640 x 480 pixels at 60 Hz
• 800 x 600 pixels at 75 Hz
• 1024 x 768 pixels at 75 Hz

The RGB port and Apple RGB Display Adapter are compatible with most monitors that have a VGA-style connector. Many monitors have this connector. If you use an earlier Apple monitor that has a DB-15 connector, you may need to connect a Mac-to-VGA adapter, which you can purchase from an Apple reseller.

The iBook (Dual USB) computer's RGB port works with RGB monitors that use the DDC (display data channel) standard for identification. Earlier monitors that do not use the DDC standard are not compatible, including the following Apple monitors:

• Multiple Scan 17
• Multiple Scan 20
• AudioVision 14
• Apple Hi-Res RGB
• Apple 16-inch Color
• Apple Hi-Res Monochrome
• Macintosh 12-inch RGB

Available Resolutions From iBook RGB and Composite Video Ports

Apple Tech Info Library (TIL) article #88139, posted this week, lists the available resolutions from the RGB and composite audio/video ports of the iBook (Dual USB) computer.

The following resolutions are available from the iBook computer's RGB port. (These are the same as the computer's built-in display):

• 640 x 480 pixels at 60 Hz
• 800 x 600 pixels at 75 Hz
• 1024 x 768 pixels at 75 Hz

You would use the RGB port to connect the computer to an external display or projector. An RGB adapter cable is included with the computer for this purpose.

The following resolutions are available from the iBook computer's composite audio/video port:

• 640 x 480 pixels at 60 Hz (NTSC)
• 800 x 600 pixels at 60 Hz (NTSC)
• 1024 x 768 pixels at 60 Hz (NTSC)
• 640 x 480 pixels at 50 Hz (PAL)
• 800 x 600 pixels at 50 Hz (PAL)
• 1024 x 768 pixels at 50 Hz (PAL)

You would use the composite audio/video port to connect the computer to a television. This connection requires the optional Apple AV Cable, which is available from The Apple Store at http://www.apple.com/store/, or from an Apple reseller.

Blue Chip G3 466 MHz WallStreet PowerBook Upgrade At Small Dog

Small Dog offers the PowerLogix processor upgrade WallStreet PowerBooks for $449.

Features

• PowerPC 750 @ 466 MHz
• 1 MB backside cache
• No downtime or trade-in hassles
• Easy to Install

Compatible with the following computers (Apple family number M4753):

• PowerBook G3 Series 233 (no cache)
• PowerBook G3 Series 233 (233/117/512K)
• PowerBook G3 Series 250 (250/125/1 MB)
• PowerBook G3 Series 266 (266/133/1 MB)
• PowerBook G3 Series 292 (292/146/1 MB)
• PowerBook G3 Series 300 (300/150/1 MB)

---

This Week's PowerBook Deals

Small Dog Electronics

• iBook Indigo G3/366 64/10 GB/CD/56k/FireWire with additional 128 MB installed, $1,199. This iBook is factory refurbished with a 1 year Apple Warranty.

MacWorks

• Pismo PowerBook G3/500 256/12 GB/DVD/56k/14.1" for $1,999.99. This machine is refurbished, with a MacWorks 90 day Warranty

Note that MacWorks experienced problems with their web server over the Memorial Day weekend and have extended their Weekend free shipping offer until 5 p.m. Central, Friday, June 1, 2001.

The PowerBook Guy

• PowerBook G3/233 WallStreet 32/2 GB/CD/ethernet/13.3 Active/ for $949.95

Globaldeals.com

• PowerBook G3/233 32/2 GB/CD/14.1/56K for $975
• PowerBook G3/233 32/2 GB/CD/12.1 for $750

Recent 'Book Reviews

• MagSafe Out of Warranty Replacement, nVidia Flaw Affecting Macs, MacBook Air Revision Soon, and More, 08.22. Also 160 GB microdrive from Intel, MacBooks on grocer's shelves, Intel future CPU plans, a checkpoint friendly notebook case, bargain 'Books from $220 to $2,699, and more.
• 'All nVidia GeForce 8600 Chips Bad', Subcompact MacBook in 2009?, Instant On Notebooks, and More, 08.15. MacBooks in high demand in education, first quad-core ThinkPad, Dell notebook claims 19 hour battery life, new Logitech mouse clips to your notebook, bargain 'Books from $200 to $3,069, more.
• US Customs Can Seize Any Laptop, Aluminum and Ultraportable MacBook Rumors, and More, 08.08. Also thoughts on the next generation of MacBooks, "I want to marry the Apple MacBook Pro", do it yourself MacBook Pro hard drive replacement, bargain 'Books from $490 to $3,069, and more.
• Next Gen MacBook Rumors and Speculation, Laptop Laidback 3 Released, Privacy Screen, and More, 08.01. Also Apple warns of MacBook drought, mobile chip overkill?, Apple rumored abandoning Intel chipsets, MacBook Air requires SuperDrive to install Windows, bargain 'Books from $325 to $3,069, and
• More in the .

Links for the Day

• Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
• List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
  
• August 28 in LEM history: 95: PowerBook Duo 2300 - 00: Gaming on older Power Macs - 01: AppleShare on Linux - From Beebs and Acorns to Macs - 02: Sleep of Death, - Think smarter? - It's the software, stupid - 06: PowerBook 5300 reminiscence - You might be a Mac fanatic if... - Hiding complexity behind elegant simplicity

Recent Content on Low End Mac

• 10 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.28. A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
• Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28. Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
• Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 1.83 GHz, $799; 2.0 black, $875; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 22, $1,094; 2.4, $1,219 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
• Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
• Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
• CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
• MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
• Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
• Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
• Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
• Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. 500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
• Does Running OS X System Maintenance Routines Really Do Any Good?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
• Purposeful Reincarnation for Old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 08.26. The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
• Best Power Mac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 1.6 GHz single SuperDrive, C$499; 1.8, $569; dual, $675, 2.0, $800; 2.3, C$899; 2.5, C$1,199; 2.7, $1,225; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
• Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 C2D, $1,689; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $2,099; 2.5, $2,558 after rebate; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,399 a/r; more.
• Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Refurb 3G 1 GB, $39; new 3G, $45; refurb 2 GB, $59; new, $68.
• More links in our archive.

Go to the 'Book Review index.