iBook Special Edition

iBook G3/466 (FireWire)

iBook SE, 2nd Edition

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Overview

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The second-generation iBook Specil Edition adds key lime (below) as an alternative to graphite (above). It replaces the 366 MHz G3 processor with the new G3e running at 466 MHz. The G3e includes an on-chip L2 cache that runs at full CPU speed for improved processor efficiency (the larger backside cache in first generation iBooks ran at half of CPU speed).

Other big changes include a DVD-ROM drive, FireWire, and video output. Like the original iBook, it has full AirPort support and a battery rated at six hours.

The iBook Special Edition is the least expensive DVD laptop in Apple's line, and it offers nearly the same speed as the PowerBook G3/500.

Other than the new colors, the most visible difference between the second-generation iBooks and the first is the colored button by the trackpad on the newer models.

If you have a hard drive larger than 8 GB, you should partition is so that the first partition is under 8 GB in size (for simplicity, we suggest 7 GB). Failure to do this could eventually result in an unbootable computer, as all System files must be within the first 8 GB of drive space. These Macs can work successfully with larger drives for some time, but once a System files goes outside of the first 8 GB of space, you'll have nothing but problems.

Mac OS X

If you have a hard drive over 8 GB in size, you must partition it or you will not be able to install Mac OS X. If you are creating the partition within OS X, it must be smaller than 7.45 as reported by Disk Utility (because sometimes a GB is billion bytes and sometimes it's 1,073,741,824 bytes); we suggest simply setting it at 7 GB to avoid having to redo the whole installation if the partition ends up bigger than specified (it happens). Mac OS X must be completely within the first 8 GB of space on your hard drive or you will not be able to run OS X.

Details

introduced 2000.09.13 at US$1,799; replaced by dual USB iBook 2001.05.01
requires System 9.0.4 through OS X 10.4.x
CPU: 466 MHz PPC 750CX (a.k.a. G3e)
bus: 66 MHz
performance:

Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 222

Speedometer 4.02: 36.7 CPU, 1300 FPU (Quadra 605 = 1.0)

ROM: 4 MB, NewWorld ROM in RAM architecture
RAM: 64 MB of SDRAM, expandable to 576 MB via one 1.25" 3.3V PC66 compliant SO-DIMM
Level 2 cache: 256 KB on-chip cache
Video: ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 2x AGP
VRAM: 8 MB
display: 12.1" 24-bit SVGA (800 x 600) color active matrix, resolution scaling supports 640 x 480
video out: composite video
hard drive: 1- GB IDE
DVD-ROM: 6x
floppy drive: external USB only
expansions bays: none
USB: 1 USB 1.1 port
FireWire: 1 FW400 port
ethernet: 10/100Base-T
modem: v.90 56k
WiFi: 802.11b AirPort optional
PC Card slots: none
size: 11.6 x 13.5 x 2.1" (29.4 x 34.4 x 5.2 cm)
weight: 6.6 pounds (3.0 kg) with battery
family number: M2453

Online Resources

Best used iBook G3 deals, updated monthly.
iBook Talk List
Guide to iBooks. A quick comparison of G3 iBook models.
In praise of the refreshingly different Clamshell iBook, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 2008.04.29. After seven years of faithful duty, the rugged notebook with a handle remains a favorite field computer.
Picking the right 'Book, clamshell iBook memories, and alternatives to SCSI-to-USB, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.23. Choosing a good used 'Book for Classic, remembering the clamshell iBooks, and alternate options to avoid spending $99 on a SCSI-to-USB adapter.
EmpowerBook, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 2008.04.22. The goal: distraction-free writing on the go. But which PowerBook or iBook is best for the job?
Clamshell iBooks reconsidered, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.02.28. Back in 2000, it was about time to replace the WallStreet PowerBook. Would a clamshell iBook be a better value than a newer PowerBook G3?
Graphite Clamshell iBook still a real eye catcher and useful tool, Carl Nygren, My Turn, 2008.04.15. This one stood out from a batch of indigo iBooks for its color, extra processing power, and DVD-ROM drive.
Power your recycled laptop with a rebuilt battery, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.02.20. Old notebook computers usually mean old batteries that may be dead or on their last legs. You can buy a replacement battery, or you can have your old battery rebuilt.
G3 and G4 Power Macs and Clamshell iBooks still useful, Ben Zalutsky, No Windows for Me, 2008.01.29. Intel CPUs may be blazingly fast, but the old G3 and G4 Macs have plenty of usable life left in them.
Cracking open the iBook G3, Mark Kaelin, CNET News, 2008.01.24. Taking apart the 1999 clamshell iBook.
Unpartitioned FireWire iBook, Mac IIfx SIMMs, Compact Flash in a PowerBook 1400, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.04. Also another unsupported Leopard field reports and details on the iPhone Terms of Service with AT&T.
512 MB in tray-loading iMacs, partitioning iBook (FireWire) hard drive, value of Kanga, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.03. Also a source for Mac IIfx SCSI terminators, ongoing problems with a Rev. B iMac, and need to match screen size to printed output.
Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2007.12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
8 GB partition issue impacts OS 9, RAM for G3 iMacs, success with Open Firmware hack, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.12.10. Partitions over 8 GB can cause problems in the classic Mac OS, more unsupported Leopard reports, another vote against the iPhone, and millions vs. thousands of colors.
iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2007.12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
An indigo iBook: My first modern notebook Mac, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.12.04. The clamshell iBook majors in ruggedness, has a handle to increase portability, and can even run OS X (slowly) with just 128 MB of RAM.
Beyond Google, 10 years on the G3, the Cube is not a Road Apple, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.13. Also the 64-bit advantage of Core2, OS 9 on a USB flash drive, sound problems since switching to Leopard, and 7200 rpm in an eMac.
Reasons for sticking with the Classic Mac OS, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.10.30. Whether it's the simplicity, elegance, speed, or desire not to replace lots of expensive hardware, there are lots of good reasons for sticking with Mac OS 9.
CF in a clamshell iBook, Leopard on a 400 MHz AGP Power Mac, VGA ports on Macs, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.30. Also graphics card options for AGP Power Macs, KompoZer and Claris Home Page, installing Mac OS 8.6, and Zune price drop.
Road Apple nominations, OS X 10.5 on MDD Power Macs, UMPCs and Apple, and a broken power button, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.12. Whether some additional Macs merit the 'Road Apple' label, Leopard on Mirror Drive Door Power Macs, the usefulness of ultrasmall computers, and dealing with an iMac with a broken power button.
The future of G3 iBooks in the Age of Leopard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.09.14. All of the G3 iBooks can run Mac OS X, but which ones run it well? And which version should you use?
Compact Flash faster than a hard drive, CF in a clamshell iBook, eSATA for PowerBooks, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.06.12. Faster boot times with a flash drive, replacing the hard drive in an iBook with Compact Flash, eBay feedback tips, eSATA CardBus options for PowerBooks, and the importance of G3 support in Mac OS X 10.5.
Silence is golden: Running your existing notebook using flash memory, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Reviews, 2007.05.23. With a new adapter from Addonics, you can replace your laptop's IDE hard drive inexpensively and boot silently from a Compact Flash card.
Most durable 'Book, prepping a blue & white G3 for OS X, 7200 rpm drive too hot for Pismo?, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.05.21. Also how the need to run "Tiger" is a problem, an iBook G4 with serious shutdown issues, and burning CDs at a lower speed may make them easier to read in older Macs.
Apple on mini CDs, 74 minute CD-Rs more compatible, iBook G4 reliability, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.05.14. Also installing OS X using Target Disk Mode, partitioning your hard drive, Google's tool to simplify web pages, Canada and copyright law, and more.
Why Apple must continue G3 support in Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.05.08. "We're worried about what happens if Apple unchecks that box in Xcode to include the instructions necessary to run OS X on G3 processors at all."
Format any drive for older Macs with patched Apple tools, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2007.04.25. Apple HD SC Setup and Drive Setup only work with Apple branded hard drives - until you apply the patches linked to this article.
First Blu-ray drive for Apple's 'Books, replace notebook hard drive with Compact Flash, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.04.13. Also 160 GB 7200 rpm hard drives, upgrading from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook, Waterfield's flexible new Sling bag, bargain 'Books from $170 to $1,699, and more.
Clamshell iBook upgrades, choppy iTunes video, Netscape 7 for Mac OS 9, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.04.09. Also fixing flash drive problems with Disk Utility, problems booting a secondhand iMac, PowerBook ramblings, and more.
The state of Mac OS 9 compatibility, upgrades, resources, and hacks in 2007, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.04.02. Discontinued five years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but its software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support it, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
How much PowerBook or iBook do you need to run Mac OS X?, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2007.01.15. You don't need the latest and greatest Mac to be productive in OS X. Here are six iBook and PowerBook suggestions built between 2000 and 2003.
Clamshell iBook viability, problem reading CD-R, OS X unstable with video compression, iCab 3.0.3, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.08.21. Also possible solution for booting into OS 9, WallStreet upgrade value, Power Mac no longer jinxed, MacTV value, AIM for ancient Macs, and more.
Getting the most out of the clamshell iBook, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.08.14. "'Unique' is an overworked adjective, but in the case of the clamshell iBook, it's justified. There's never been anything quite like it before or since."
Clamshell iBook still a fun and practical notebook, Charles Webb, PowerBook Beat, 2006.08.11. "Granted, this iBook isn't a speed demon in any way, but its amazing what a 7-year-old Apple notebook can do."
Is the G3 still a practical choice?, Matthew Jay, Macs to the Max, 2006.08.10. Although the G3 is several generations old, it has enough horsepower for most of the things we do on our computers.
Customizing Mac OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling with themes, picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work just the way you want it to.
Apple's secret battery reset utility for WallStreet and Clamshell iBooks, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2006.07.05. If your old 'Books battery isn't taking a charge like it used to, Battery Reset 2.0 could help recover its useful life.
Making the move from Jaguar (OS X 10.2) to Panther (10.3), Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.04.11. One advantage of Apple's "no upgrades" policy for OS X - someone can give you their old copy after upgrading without worrying about violating their license.
Many G3 Macs now considered vintage, Mac News Review, 2006.03.31.
Dvorak adoption notice, tips for Apple's Yo-yo power supply, old iMac a good value?, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.02.27. Also a 'Pismo up in smoke' update, Lombard up in smoke, iBook G3 logic board problems, Wangwriter appreciation, and more.
Web browser tips for the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
It was the best of 'Books; the worst of 'Books, Charles W. Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.08.10. "In my estimation, the iBook became a legitimate front-line Road Warrior with the September, 2000, speed bumps to 366 MHz and 466 MHz...."
Hotrodding the clamshell iBook?, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2002.10.22. Add up to 512 MB RAM, drop in a big fast hard drive, but still limited to 800 x 600 screen.
iBook Backlight Replacement Journal, Friesen, 2002.02.23. How to replace the backlight on a clamshell iBook for $12.
Internal CD-RW Drive For 1st Generation iBooks, The 'Book Review, 2001.11.02. Replace the CD-ROM with a 4x burner for $145 plus shipping.
Shot in the foot again: Firmware update disables RAM, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.03.25. "...we should not be at risk of losing some or all of the memory in our Macs because of a firmware update."
SCSI and FireWire Disk Modes, Paulo Rodrigues, Tangerine Fusion, 2000.11.29. How to use SCSI Disk Mode and FireWire Target Disk Mode for ultrafast file transfers.
Hands on the FireWire iBook, Dan Knight, The 'Book Page, 2000.10.09. My wife needed to replace her dead PowerBook. I wanted to benchmark the PowerPC 750CX.
The truth about the new G3, Dan Knight, Online Tech Journal, 2000.10.09. "I have to admit to feeling a bit cheated after running MacBench 5 on my wife's new indigo iBook."
Tangerine Fusion's Fun Facts: FireWire iBooks, Paulo Rodrigues, Tangerine Fusion, 9/25. Interesting tidbits on the new iBooks.
Japanese site shows PPC 750CX at heart of new iBook, something we noted the day Apple announced the next generation iBook.
The new iBook: Just right or too little, too late?, Oliver Dueck, Mac Observer, 9/15. "All in all, the latest iBook is a big improvement over the old model, without a premium price."
Accelerate Your Mac! has downloadable color profiles for the iBook and recent PowerBooks that really improve on-screen color.
Recovering a stolen PowerBook, The 'Book Page. One user's experience.
iBook Price Tracker, PowerBook Central
PowerBooks email list
Apple Specs for iBook (FireWire)

Cautions

Apple's iLife '05 software requires a 1024 x 768 or higher screen resolution and cannot be installed on clamshell iBooks.
There is an incompatibility between the Kensington Startup ADB extension and the Trackpad control on the iBook with Mac OS 9.0.4. Symptom: trackpad responds during boot, but not later. Solution: disable Kensington Startup ADB extension. This may also apply to other USB portables and versions of the Mac OS.
Portable Computers: Models Which Do Not Have a Backup Battery notes the iBook has no backup battery to retain time and other settings when the main battery is removed. A small capacitor holds enough energy to maintain PRAM contents for 20 seconds, so switch batteries quickly.

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