PowerBook G3/333 & G3/400

a.k.a. PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard)
code name: Lombard

• Got a PowerBook G3? Join the G-Books email list.
• Mac OS 9 List is for those using Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.
• Puma List is for those using Mac OS X 10.1.
• Jaguar List is for those using Mac OS X 10.2.
• Panther List is for those using Mac OS X 10.3.

Overview

Details

• introduced 1999.05.10 starting at US$2,499; discontinued 2000.02.16
• requires System 8.6 or later, 10.3.x officially supported, 10.4.x can generally be installed using XpostFacto 4
• CPU: 333 or 400 MHz PPC 750 (a.k.a. G3)
• bus: 66 MHz
• performance:
• Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 213 (400 MHz)
• MacBench 5: 958 (333 MHz), 1237 (400 MHz)
• BYTEmark: 11.1 (333 MHz), 13.3 (400 MHz)
• ROM: 4 MB, NewWorld ROM in RAM architecture
• RAM: 64 MB of 3.3V unbuffered low-power 144-pin 100 MHz 10ns SO-DIMM, expandable to 512 MB* using low profile, low density DIMMs (16 memory chips on the card) in both slots; high density DIMMs (8 RAM chips) will only be recognized at half their capacity.
  * Lombard officially supports only 384 MB of RAM, and some Mac OS installers will not work if you have 512 MB of RAM. The solution is to remove one 256 MB module.
• Level 2 cache: 512 KB on 333, 1 MB on 400
• Video: ATI Rage LT Pro
• VRAM: 8 MB
• display: 14.1" 24-bit 1024 x 768 color active matrix, resolution scaling to 640 x 480 and 800 x 600, also has S-video output via VGA connector
• hard drive: 4, 6, or 10 GB UltraATA-33
• CD-ROM: 24x (2x DVD-ROM available for 333, standard on 400; only the 400 comes with hardware to display DVD movies)
• floppy drive: external USB only
• expansions bays: one
• USB: 2 USB 1.1 ports
• SCSI: HDI30 connector on back of computer
• ethernet: 10/100Base-T
• modem: v.90 56k
• 4 Mbps IrDA
• PC Card slots: 1
• size: 10.4 x 12.7 x 1.7" (26.4 x 32.3 x 4.3 cm)
• weight: 5.7-6.1 pounds (2.6-2.8 kg) with battery
• family number: M5343

Accelerators & Upgrades

• Peek at first PowerBook G3 upgrades from Newer, Go2Mac.com, 2000.07.27. 466 MHz card will upgrade almost all WallStreet models, all Lombards.
• SuperDrive DVD-RW expansion bay module, MCE Technologies, $479. 2x1x8x DVD, 16x8x24x CD. 2x DVD-RAM. 2 MB buffer.
• Combo drive expansion bay module, MCE Technologies, $389. 8x DVD, 24x10x24x CD. 2 MB buffer.

Online Resources

• Best used PowerBook G3 deals, updated monthly.
• Best classic Mac OS deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x, Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
• Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3.
• Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.4.
• What's the best version of OS X for my Mac?, Ian R Campbell, The Sensible Mac, 2008.02.28. Which version of Mac OS X is best for your hardware depends on several factors.
• Mac value, the Hackintosh market, unsupported Leopard, and USB 2.0 for older PowerBooks, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.30. High-end Macs cost less than comparable HPs and Dells, the need for a Mac minitower, a Leopard installation tip, Leopard on an 800 MHz iBook, and which PC Cards work with Mac OS X drivers.
• A very Pismo Christmas in April, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.04.30. Everyone maintaining a vintage Mac should have a parts donor, and sometimes the parts machine may have upgrades for your old Mac.
• Overpriced Macs, 4-core Mac Pro value, USB for G3 PowerBooks, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.24. Also reader feedback on running a keyboard through the dishwasher, tips for using external DVD drives, and 8 GB partition issues with the Classic Mac OS on the beige G3.
• OS X for PCs, Mac mini with HDTV, 802.11n options, upgrading from Mac OS 9, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.22. Also reviving a dead PowerBook 5300, Lucida Grande, external FireWire SuperDrive advice, OS X and the DeskWriter, and royalties.
• Outliners for word processing, Mac compatible WiFi cards, iWork disappoints, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.03.27. Also running Leopard on a maxed out Digital Audio Power Mac, Clamshell iBook hacks, Lombard external display resolutions, and collective nouns.
• Fading magic at Apple, Major League Baseball's rebound, and an iMac that won't boot from a CD, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.02. Reflections on Apple's success as a business, CD-ROM problems in a G3 iMac, and Pismo processor problem solved with thermal paste.
• Stupid Pismo tricks, 2008 edition, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.02.20. Six uses for the weight saving device and how to use the Pismo as a DVD player.
• Wireless FAQ for Older Apple PowerBook Computers. Resources to help you to install and maintain 802.11b/g wireless PC Cards on older PowerBook computers.
• The Complete and Utter Guide to PC Cards and Expansion Bays on the PowerBook, Insanely Great. All about the PCMCIA, PC Card, or CardBus slots used in various PowerBooks.
• 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.
• 3 ways to better YouTube viewing on older Macs, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.06. Watching YouTube videos in your browser on G3 Macs can be painfully slow, but there are several ways to improve your YouTube viewing experience.
• Better YouTube viewing on older Macs, too many dead pixels, Safari problems in Panther, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.05. Also picking the right used G4 iBook, Quartz Extreme support for PCI video, problems with Mac OS 9.x on G4 Power Macs, open firmware problems with 667 MHz PowerBook, and more.
• MacBook Air upgradable enough?, Lombard cache problem, and more on the liberal-conservative debate, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.02.04. Another go around on whether Mac users are liberal or conservative. Also looking for an OS X driver for the Netgear WG511T.
• Dell's 802.11g card for PowerBooks, glad for the death of Classic, FireWire cams, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.11.05. Also silent computing with 'obsolete' Macs, Leopard and the 867 MHz limit, and Tiger performance on a 600 MHz G3 iBook.
• 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.
• iBook G3 quality, 802.11g for older PowerBooks, installing Tiger on a CD-ROM eMac, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.29. Also FireWire webcam options for the classic Mac OS and installing Leopard on an upgraded Power Mac G4.
• FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
• Replacing Home Page, Compact Flash in Lombard, Leopard hardware requirements, mini upgrades, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.04. Also the problems with using old computers in school, rebate problems, free imposition software, and a dead LC 520.
• WiFi options for Lombard, installing Tiger on a DVD-less eMac, 3D home design software, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.01. Two PC Card 802.11g options for the Lombard PowerBook, PowerPC version of OS X needed for eMac, three programs for home design, and a source for downloading old Mac software.
• The future of G3 PowerBooks in the Age of Leopard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.09.11. There's no G3 support in Leopard. What does that mean for Kanga, WallStreet, Lombard, and Pismo PowerBooks?
• Pismo the best PowerBook, capacitor problems in Macs, XPostFacto for Leopard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.06.28. Also more on tin whiskers and why you sometimes have to remove RAM to get OS X to install on older Macs.
• Even if Leopard leaves G3 behind, Tiger users will still be able to run up-to-date apps, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.06.18. While Apple may drop G3 support in OS X 10.5, there will continue to be plenty of options for 10.4 users who want to run up-to-date browsers, email clients, and instant messaging programs.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Drag and drop problems with flash drive, troubleshooting a Mac with Linux, G3 video problems, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.27. Also FireWire boot drives, bootable partitions, bootable external DVD drives, and maximum hard drive size on older Macs.
• OS X 10.3 or 10.4 on a G4/533?, Lombard to Pismo hard drive swap, 'Book repair, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.01.29. The best OS for a G4/533, migrating by swapping hard drives, WallStreet and iBook repair and replacement options, and upgrading RAM in Lombard.
• PC Card WiFi for OS X PowerBooks, installing Classic for OS X, Gmail problem with Shiira, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.01.15. A low-cost WiFi PC Card for PowerBooks running OS X, tips on installing Classic under Tiger, Gmail broken with Shiira 1.2.2 browser, and stimulating a flashd rive on pre-USB PowerBooks.
• Disabling deep sleep on MacBooks, 'Other Red' a scam?, mixed RAM can reduce performance, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.13. Also other disk utilities Mac owners should know about, Lombard cooling, Netscape 7 on OS 9, Final Vinyl for ripping LPs, and more.
• Best OS X for Pismo, mixing RAM speeds, LP to MP3, SpeedFan cools MacBook running Windows, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.10.30. Also Lombard still rocks, Powerlogix WallStreet upgrade tip, old Macs still perform admirably, a 64 GB flash drive, and RadTech's clever BT600 mouse design.
• Ubuntu on older Macs; Lombard, Pismo, and WallStreet upgrade questions; installing clamshell RAM; and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.10.09. Also more on why some older Macs can't read modern CR-R discs and Russell Beattie's 'underhanded' criticism of OS X.
• Better laptop performance: What's the best upgrade?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.10.09. Memory, CPU, bus speed, and hard drives all impact performance and battery life. Which upgrades will give you the most up time in the field?
• Lombard, the 'middle child' PowerBook G3: Good enough for OS X?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.10.02. The PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) was slimmer, lighter, and less expandable than the WallStreets it replaced. It added USB, gave up ADB, and retained SCSI.
• Is Ubuntu Linux a sensible alternative for Mac users?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.09.18. If your Mac can run OS X decently, is there any reason to try Ubuntu Linux? If it can't run OS X well, is Ubuntu a reasonable choice?
• MacBook shutdown solved, better batteries after recall, MacBook Pro better for Vista than Vaio, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.09.15. Also MacBook troubleshooting, the value of a used iBook, Apple to sell 1 million 'Books this quarter, replacing cells in an old PowerBook G3 battery, bargain 'Books from $299 to $1,299, and more.
• Inside your notebook's battery: Ordinary AA Li-Ion cells, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.09.08. That expensive battery in your notebook computer probably holds less than $30 worth of off-the-shelf AA Li-Ion batteries.
• 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.
• 7 tools for keeping your laptop (uh, notebook) cool, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.24. A quick look at the Podium CoolPad, ChillMat, ChillHubs, Laptop Desk, Xpad, iLap, and iBreeze - seven stands designed to keep you 'Books running cooler.
• Upgrade your Pismo with a dual-layer DVD burner, Jason Schrader, Maximize Your Mac, 2006.07.19. If you want to add a DVD burner to your PowerBook Pismo, FastMac's new dual-layer SuperDrive merits serious consideration.
• Power strategies for using your 'Book in the field: Batteries and AC adapters, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.06.05. One or two extra batteries and at least one spare AC adapter can be essential when you're traveling and need to get hours and hours of use from your 'Book.
• Pismo modem issues, best Mac keyboard, Pismo processor upgrade value, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.05.01. Also swapping screens between Lombard and Pismo, more on Frankenpismo, PRAM reset may resurrrect dead Lombard, and more on the dead Lombard.
• Modern computing: First impressions of a $10 PowerBook G3, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.04.26. The price was right, assuming it worked, but how beat up and underpowered would this $10 PowerBook be?
• Replacing Lombard with a TiBook: which one is enough?, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2006.04.19. Nice as the Lombard was, it has a new owner. The new 'Book should have FireWire, G4 power, and run Tiger nicely. How much TiBook is enough?
• 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.
• Pismo and Panther, Pismo on last legs, and Lombard vs. PowerBook G4, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.03.08. More on OS X 10.3.9 as the best for Pismo, Pismo plagued with kernel panics, and whether to upgrade a Lombard or replace it with a PowerBook G4.
• FastMac's $190 8x dual-layer SuperDrive for PowerBooks and dual USB iBooks, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.01.30. For US$190-250 you can replace the CD-ROM, CD-RW, Combo, or slow old SuperDrive in most PowerBooks, white iBooks, slot-loading iMacs, and Cubes with a faster, dual-layer drive.
• Replacing or upgrading the optical drive in your PowerBook G3 or 1400, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2006.01.24. If your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM has died or you want to upgrade to a CD or DVD burner, here's how to do it yourself.
• 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.
• Software that worked during my months in Iraq with my PowerBook, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2005.12.20. Two operating systems and over a dozen programs that made life better while deployed in Iraq.
• Configuring a PowerBook for months in Iraq without Internet access, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2005.12.13. "What do you need to keep yourself entertained and be able to work for months without Internet access? A Mac."
• Lombard: A great $400 field computer, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 2005.12.06. Rugged, reliable, and feature-laden, this G3 PowerBook also fully supports OS X and is available at decent prices.
• Configuring a PowerBook for months in Iraq without Internet access, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 12.13. "What do you need to keep yourself entertained and be able to work for months without Internet access? A Mac."
• FixIt Guide: PowerBook G3 Lombard, PB FixIt. All you need to know to take apart, upgrade, repair, and put your PowerBook back together again. Online and print versions available.
• Lombard renaissance, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.03.23. "Both Newer Technology and PowerLogix made G3 upgrades for the Lombard for a time, but they apparently didn't sell especially well...."
• The strong value of the Lombard PowerBook G3, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2003.03.19. Why the 333 MHz Lombard is a particularly good value in portable computing.
• Flash memory improves PowerBook, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2002.11.14. Using Compact Flash to boot, save files, run silently, extend battery life, and as virtual memory on a PowerBook.
• Is the Lombard a lemon?, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 10.15. "...one might deduce that either a design flaw or hardware defect is beginning to manifest widely in these machines as they age."
• Rage Pro Driver for Lombard, James Denton. Oops, OS X 10.1.5 missed acceleration support for Rage LT Pro in Lombard. This patch solves that oversight.
• Rage at being left behind, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.12.24. It's official - Apple doesn't plan to support graphics acceleration for any Mac with ATI Rage video.
• Recall: PowerBook G3 AC Adapter Exchange Program. Most WallStreet and Lombard AC adapters recalled. See Apple's page for details.
• OS X graphics speedup with early ATI video, Mac OS X: Optimizing for Earlier ATI Graphics Accelerators, 2001.03.09. ATI Rage II+, IIc, Pro, and LT Pro faster displaying thousands of colors, not millions.
• 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.
• 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.
• PowerBook G3 Series memory pricing, ramseeker
• Review: PowerBook G3s, Macworld, September 1999, p. 34
• Apple Specs Online for PowerBook (Bronze Keyboard) G3/333, G3/400
• PowerBook G3 Computers: How to Identify Different Models, Apple TIL 24604

Cautions

• Be sure to specify low-density DIMMs, which have 16 RAM chips on them. High-density DIMMs have only 8 RAM chips, and the computer will only use half of their capacity.
• From Apple Knoweldge Base Archive Article 58386: When the PowerBook G3 Series [Lombard/Bronze Keyboard] wakes from sleep, the Password Security control panel is activating before the PowerBook has a chance to enable the USB bus. This results in any external USB keyboard not working.
• 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.

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