Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2002.03.01
Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.
PowerBook G4 and G3 Upgrade Prices Reduced
Other World Computing lowered its price on the
PowerLogix BlueChip processor upgrades for G3 Series PowerBooks to
$499.99.
The processing power of the PowerPC 7410 G4 chip will give your
WallStreet PowerBook a real B-12 shot. 
The stock
processor card pops out and the BlueChip G4 goes in its place.
Note: You must have a working CPU module in your machine prior
to installation of the BlueChip. The ROM transfer must be completed
from a working CPU before the BlueChip can operate. BlueChip G4 and
BlueChip LS G4 are currently only compatible with OS 10.x. The
cards will work under "Classic." The cards will function under OS
9.x, but will not sleep properly. PowerLogix is working on a
software patch for the sleep issue.
The PowerLogix BlueChip WS G4/500 MHz is also offered bundled
with a Lucent WaveLAN Silver Airport Compatible Wireless PC Card
for $537.50
This same Lucent WaveLAN Silver PC card can be used worldwide
for the Enterprise, ISP, Public Access or Home/SOHO markets using
any of the Lucent WaveLAN Silver access point infrastructure
products. The card provides high-speed wireless networking at 11
Mbit/s, and secure Internet access for laptop and desktop
computers, as well as a wide range of mobile client computing
devices. The Lucent WaveLAN Silver suite of products builds on
Agere's industry-leading WaveLAN® wireless LAN technology.
There is also the PowerLogix BlueChip G3/500 MHz Upgrade for the
Wallstreet PowerBook G3 for $399.95, which will make a WallStreet
run up to four times as fast as before. A 500 MHz G3 processor is
combined with 1 MB of high-speed backside cache on a 250 MHz
cache bus - the fastest cache bus available. The stock processor
card pops out and the BlueChip G3 goes in its place.
Features:
- PowerPC 750 @ 500 MHz
- 1 MB backside cache
- No downtime or trade-in hassles
Compatible with the following computers:
See
Accelerate Your Mac! for additional configuration
information about the BlueChip upgrade.
PowerLogix BlueChip upgrades are also available for Lombard
PowerBooks
The PowerLogix BlueChip LS G4/500 MHz w/1024K 2:1 cache for
PowerBook G3 Lombard (1999) sells
for $465.97
Note: BlueChip LS G4 requires OS 10.x or later.
Features:
- PowerPC 7410 @ 500 MHz
- 1 MB backside cache
- No downtime or trade-in hassles
The PowerLogix BlueChip LS G3/500 MHz w/1024K 2:1 Cache For P
Lombard(1999) sells for $379.99.
Features:
- PowerPC 750 @ 500 MHz
- 1 MB of backside cache
- No downtime or trade-in hassles
BlueChip LS upgrades are compatible with the PowerBook G3
"Lombard" - Bronze Keyboard
BlueChip upgrades carry a 2 year Warranty.
Legacy Netscape Browsers Available
Over the past few years, I have frequently hears from users of
older, low-end Macs looking for a browser that can run decently
fast on '030 and '040 machines. Unfortunately, Netscape stopped
posting versions of the Netscape browser older than version 4.x on
their download site several years ago, and Netscape 2.x in
particular became very difficult to find.
Happily, Netscape has once again posted
an archive of their complete suite of legacy Communicator
and Navigator browser versions back to versions 2.0x for download.
including:
- Versions 6.2x
- Versions 6.1x
- Versions 4.7x
- Versions 4.6x
- Versions 4.5x
- Versions 4.0x
- Versions 3.0x
- Versions 2.0x
Netscape 2.0.2 is the fastest, but it doesn't support JavaScript
at all.
Netscape 4.0x has lots of features, but tends to be sluggish. (I
prefer 4.0.4 on 68k machines.)
Netscape 3.x is probably a good compromise for '030 machines,
and it is a solid browser.
Apple DVD Player Update PowerBook G4 1.0 for
550 MHz or 667 MHz Models
This Mac OS 9 DVD Player update is for PowerBook G4 systems that
feature either a 550 MHz or 667 MHz G4 processor. It fixes an issue
issue that occurs when using the DVD Player for extended periods or
while using it simultaneously with other applications that use the
graphics processor.
System requirements:
- Mac OS 9.2.1 or higher
- PowerBook G4 systems that feature either a 550 MHz or 667 MHz
G4 Processor
For more information, visit <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120105>
TT-35 3.5" FireWire Hard Disk Enclosures
The PowerBook Zone has purchased a quantity of TT-35
units, and offers them to PBZ readers at the price of $115 plus
shipping of $5 via UPS Ground.
The Triumph Technology TT-35 is an external case for a 3.5" IDE
hard drive. You purchase a drive on your own (120 GB drives are
around $200 right now) and the installation takes about five
minutes. The TT-35 enclosure allows you to connect what used to be
an internal 3.5" IDE drive to the external FireWire interface on
any FireWire-equipped Mac.
You'll receive a brand new product in the original factory box.
The box is well padded and includes the enclosure, a five foot
high-quality FireWire cable, all the screws needed for mounting the
drive and attaching the two halves, as well as a power cable. The
drive enclosure is highly portable, but it does require wall
power.
The enclosure is a silver color that complements the color of
any Mac. There is a status LED in the front right of the unit that
indicates if the drive is operational. The enclosure does not
include drivers because the Mac OS after 9.0 will mount the unit
automatically without any extra drivers. Prior to that version of
the Mac OS, we can provide drivers that will work - just put that
in the 'comments' part of the order form.
This enclosure has the super-fast Oxford 911 chip. It's the
fastest "bridge chip" out there - the chip that converts, in
effect, the FireWire bus to the IDE connector inside the
enclosure.
Screen Protectors for 14.1" iBook
JR Hill
& Co has released the latest versions of their leather and
vinyl screen protector keyboard covers for the 14.1" iBook.
- Leather Screen Protector for 14" iBook, 11" x 5.5", $12.49
- Vinyl Screen Protector for 14" iBook, 11" x 5.5", $6.99
Spire Icon Backpack for Titanium PowerBook and
iBook
The 2002
Icon is Spire's latest daypack. It includes a padded sleeve
(Boot) specially designed for the 
Apple G4
and iBook. And it's large enough to handle your computer, books,
accessories and more.
The Icon can hold your computer snug and secure and looks
incredibly cool doing it. Some features of this pack are:
- Includes removable, padded sleeve (Boot) that integrates
perfectly with the pack or can be used on its own. The sleeve is
held securely in its own compartment within the pack, so your
computer won't bounce around.
- For those with small computers, included is a 2" foam ShockPad
to ensure your computer doesn't bounce around inside the sleeve.
(The pad fits into the bottom of the Boot)
- Exterior is all ballistic nylon - a great, durable fabric that
will protect your gear from backcountry to boardroom.
- Double-padded bottom for extra protection where you need it the
most.
- Rubber carrying handle for comfort
- Easy-access front pocket for storing keys, airline tickets,
etc.
- Ergonomic, die cut shoulder straps - won't rip out or kill your
shoulders
- Cushy mesh back to wick away moisture.
- Waist belt to prevent the bag from swinging around while you
carry it.
- Interior pockets in the front compartment for carrying cell
phone, PDA, etc. There's also room for a book or two.
- 'Spaghetti Pocket' for stuffing gnarly cords and cables
away
The Icon is modern, lightweight and functional - without any
useless gimmicky features.
Price: $130
Tom Bihn Eclipse Laptop Cases
The
Eclipse is a compact, micro-briefcase designed to carry
your laptop along with a few essentials. Available in 3 different
sizes, you're bound to find one that's a great fit for your
laptop.
The Eclipse has the same great bombproof protection as the Lap
Dog. Cradled in soft foam padding, your laptop 
hangs suspended in a corrugated plastic insert
covered with 1000 Denier Cordura. The top zips shut with a #9 YKK
zipper, and under the buckled flap there is a substantial front
pouch for your power supply, cables and/or external drive, etc.
Inside the front pouch, an organizer has pockets for your PDA, cell
phone & pens, plus a snaphook for your keys. The entire front
of the pouch is a zippered pocket. On the back there is a simple,
open-top pocket for a file or a magazine. Padded handles and
optional shoulder strap.
- Size 3 has interior dimensions of approximately 13" x 10.75" x
2.5" / 330 x 275 x 65 mm, exterior dimensions of approximately
13.5" x 12.5" x 5.25" / 340 x 315 x 135mm
- Size 4 (formerly the G4 Eclipse) has interior dimensions of
approximately 13.5" x 10" x 1.25" / 330 x 255 x 30 mm, exterior
dimensions of approximately 14" x 11.5" x 4" / 355 x 290 x 100
mm
- Size 5 (formerly the iClipse) has interior dimensions of
approximately 11.5" x 9.5" x 1.5" / 290 x 240 x 40 mm, exterior
dimensions of approximately 11.75" x 11" x 4" / 300 x 280 x 100
mm
Eclipse by Tom Bihn sells for $85.
Bargain 'Books
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233
MHz, the cacheless MainStreet
version and the later Series II
with a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine from
the vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included
links within this paragraph to the two models.
- PowerBook G4/667, 512 MB/30 GB
with Airport Base Station, new with 1 year Apple Warranty,
$3,279
Also from Small Dog for DealMac
users:
- PowerBook G4/667, 512/30
GB/Combo with Airport Base Station 1.0, the Ogio Jack Pack Carrying
Case, and three-years of AppleCare, $3,299
- Blueberry iBook 300, 160/3
GB/CD/56k (worn case), $679
- PowerBook 5300c/100, 16/500
MB/FD, $359
- PowerBook 1400c w/G3/250 upgrade,
64/1 GB/FD, $549
- PowerBook 1400c w/G3/333 upgrade,
64/20 GB/CD, $599
- PowerBook 3400c/200, 16/2 GB/FD/
CD, $479
- PowerBook
3400C/240,16/3 GB/12x CD/modem, $650
- PowerBook 3400C/200,
16/2 GB/6x CD/modem, $525
- PowerBook 1400C/133,
16/1 GB/8x CD, $450
- PowerBook 1400CS/166,
16/1 GB/12x CD, $525
- PowerBook 5300CE/117,
32/1 GB, $425
