PowerBooks & iBooks

PowerBook (Pismo)

a.k.a. PowerBook (FireWire)

• Got a G3 PowerBook or iBook? Join LEM's G-Books Group.
• LEM's Mac OS 9 Group is for those using Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.
• LEM's Puma Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.1.
• LEM's Jaguar Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.2.
• LEM's Panther Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.3.
• LEM's Tiger Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.4.
• LEM's Leopard Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.5.

Overview

Details

• introduced 2000.02.16 at US$2,499 and 3,499
• requires System 9.0 or later; Mac OS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.3.9 recommended, 10.4.x can be installed. Can only run OS X 10.5 with a G4 upgrade, but DVD Player may not work (VLC works, but at a horribly low frame rate). You have to work around the Leopard installer to get 10.5 installed.
• CPU: 400 or 500 MHz PPC 750 (a.k.a. G3)
• bus: 100 MHz
• performance:
• • Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 212 (400 MHz), 3 277 (500 MHz)
• ROM: 4 MB, NewWorld ROM in RAM architecture
• RAM: 64 or 128 MB, expandable to 1 GB using two PC100 3.3 volt unbuffered low-power 144-pin 100 MHz SO-DIMMs
• Level 2 cache: 1 MB at 40% of CPU speed (160 MHz or 200 MHz)
• Video: ATI Rage Mobility 128 on an AGP 2x bus
• 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 and VGA output with support for 512 x 384, 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 832 x 624, and 1024 x 768 with 24-bit color (VGA also supports 640 x 870, 800 x 500, 856 x 480, 1024 x 640, 1152 x 864, 1152 x 870, 1280 x 960, 1280 x 1024, 1360 x 768, 1600 x 1000, and 1680 x 1050 with 24-bit color, dependent on the connected display; S-video also supports 720 x 480). 1920 x 1200 possible with 8-bit color.
• hard drive: 6, 12, or 18 GB UltraATA-66; revised to 10, 20, or 30 GB in Sept. 2000; maximum hard drive size is 128 GB without third-party support. See How big a hard drive can I put in my iMac, eMac, or Power Mac? for your options.
• expansion bay: same as Lombard
• DVD-ROM: 2x
• floppy drive: external USB only
• expansions bays: one
• USB: 2 USB 1.1 ports
• FireWire ports: two
• ethernet: 10/100Base-T
• modem: v.90 56k
• PC Card slots: 1
• infrared: 4 Mbps IrDA 1.1
• size: 10.4 x 12.7 x 1.7" (26.4 x 32.3 x 4.3 cm)
• weight: 6.1 lb (2.8 kg) with optical drive, 5.7 lb. (2.6 kg) with weight saving module replacing optical drive
• machine ID: PowerBook3,1
• family number: M7572

Accelerators & Upgrades

• PowerLogix offers 500 MHz G4 Pismo upgrade, Peter Cohen, MacCentral, 2002.06.14.
• 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

• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the Pismo PowerBook, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.05.20. The first PowerBook with FireWire and AirPort support, Pismo had a great keyboard and lots of connection and expansion options.
• 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.
• Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.5.
• Unsupported Leopard installation, Dan Knight, 2007.10.31. How to install Mac OS X 10.5 on unsupported hardware - plus field reports.
• Faking out the Leopard installer with Open Firmware, Dylan McDermond, Unsupported Leopard, 2007.12.06. You don't have to hack the installer to make the Mac OS X 10.5 installer run on sub-867 MHz G4 Macs by using this simple Open Firmware trick.
• WiFi cards for PowerBooks with PC Card slots, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.08.12. PC Card and CardBus 802.11b and 802.11g cards known to be compatible with Apple's PowerBooks.
• Taking apart a PowerBook G3 (Lombard or Pismo) battery, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.09.24. Step by step instructions for opening up a Lombard/Pismo battery to get to the lithium-ion cells inside.
• What's the best Mac OS for your iBook, PowerBook, or MacBook?, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.19. Tips on choosing the best OS for your PowerBook 500 Series or newer Mac notebook.
• 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.
• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6 years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• Replacing your Lombard or Pismo optical drive with a SuperDrive, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.08.15. It's not difficult to swap out the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive in a Lombard or Pismo PowerBook with a CD- and DVD-burning SuperDrive.
• Backing up your G3 PowerBook quickly and easily, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.10.27. Who needs Leopard and Time Machine? With an expansion bay hard drive and the right software, you can have a bootable clone ready for use.
• The 1 GHz Pismo, the fastest G3 notebook ever, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.12.15. Apple never shipped a G3 faster than 900 MHz, but the PowerLogix BlueChip upgrade could bring the Pismo PowerBook to 1 GHz.
• $40 802.11g CardBus WiFi card for OS X 10.3 and later, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.03.10. Whether it's the Buffalo or Belkin card, it has the same Broadcom chipset as Apple's AirPort Extreme and needs no special drivers.
• WiFi CardBus adapters compatible with PowerBooks, MetaPhyzx, Mac Daniel, 2009.03.11. CardBus hardware and drivers compatible with PowerBooks running Mac OS X.
• WiFi PC Cards compatible with PowerBooks running OS X, MetaPhyzx, Mac Daniel, 2009.03.11. PCMCIA/PC Card hardware and drivers compatible with PowerBooks running Mac OS X.
• WiFi PC Cards for PowerBooks running Mac OS 9, MetaPhyzx, Mac Daniel, 2009.03.10. PCMCIA cards and drivers reported to be compatible with the Classic Mac OS.
• 1 GB of RAM gives Pismo PowerBook another new lease on life, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.12.15. Moving from 640 MB of RAM to 1 GB has significantly upgraded performance, and adding an Apple AirPort Card gives it great WiFi range.
• Pismo a high point in Apple design, pros and cons of Leopard on Pismo, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.12.03. Also going the full 1 GB in Pismo, reviving 'dead' $50 Pismos found one eBay, and still loving the PowerBook 1400.
• Further upgrading my Pismo PowerBooks, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.12.01. Both Pismos already have larger, faster hard drives, higher capacity batteries, and 576 MB or 640 MB of RAM. Thoughts on upgrading to 1 GB and running Leopard.
• Handing off my 17" PowerBook G4, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.11.30. Over the weekend, Charles Moore swapped his 17" G4 PowerBook for a G4-upgraded Pismo - in many ways, a step forward.
• Pismo WiFi networking issue finally solved?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.11.24. It turns out the problems wasn't the Pismo, the Buffalo WiFi card, or Mac OS X 10.4. It was the Wireless G router - Linksys to the rescue!
• Upgrading a Pismo PowerBook with a slot-load drive salvaged from an iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2009.10.01. Starting with a spare DVD-ROM module and the SuperDrive from a G4 iBook, the author ended up with a SuperDrive in his Pismo PowerBook.
• 5 best sub-$1,000 Mac notebooks for gamers, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 2009.09.25. Good Mac 'Books for gaming start below $300 and cover the G3, G4, and Intel eras.
• Cheap USB 2 CardBus solution, OS 9 and Kanga, mobile Mac value, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.09.09. Also a look at several options for using an old LocalTalk printer with a Mac running Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'.
• The future of up-to-date browsers for PowerPC Macs, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.08.31. With Intel-only "Snow Leopard" shipping, software support for PPC Macs will continue its decline. Also, a look at SeaMonkey 2 and Camino 1.6.9.
• Tiger on Pismo, LC III just died, installing OS X 10.4 on a DVD free Mac, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.08.26. Also problems with Target Disk Mode on Pismo, Mac OS 9 app and extension recommendations, powering your 'Book on the road, and more.
• Problems getting 'Tiger' on a DVD-less Mac, more text editor suggestions, future of Smulton, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.08.19. Also Pismo doesn't require a PRAM battery, and WallStreet, MainStreet, and Pismo compared.
• Gaming on a Pismo PowerBook, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 2009.08.07. Apple's Pismo PowerBook G3 has plenty of processing power, but its deficient when it comes to graphics power and video memory.
• Pismo worth a G4 upgrade?, what to do with old Macs, and dangers from texting and talking drivers, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.08.05. More feedback from those who love the Pismo PowerBook, whether ancient Macs have much real value, and road risks from texting and talking on cell phones.
• The day the Pismo died, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.08.04. At eight years old, a short or power surge took out the Pismo PowerBook. But with the right parts, it's been brought back to life and remains in daily use.
• Enduring Pismo still king of the Mac laptop hill, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.07.28. Nearly a decade after its introduction, the Pismo PowerBook remains a great choice and great value.
• The enduring value of the Pismo PowerBook, Leo Titus LeBron V, Collection Spotlight, 2009.07.27. The most expandable G3 PowerBook ever is nealy 10 years old, yet it remains a great value for someone looking for an affordable field computer.
• Checking out Safari 4 on an old PowerBook, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.06.30. Safari 4 is the fastest it's ever been, but it's not without some frustrating drawbacks.
• Optimized software builds bring out the best in your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac's Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac's CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
• Death of a Pismo, end of G4 upgrades, 13" MacBook Pro assessment, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.06.17. Also ATA100 drives working reliably in Pismos and Eudora 6.2.4 functioning perfectly with Leopard and broadband.
• Tips for installing or reinstalling Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger', Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 2009.06.10. Mac OS X 10.4 uses less memory than Leopard, supports Classic Mode on PowerPC Macs, and, unlike Leopard, is supported on G3 Macs.
• Odd MacBook sleep behavior, Pismo resurrection and upgrades, end nigh for Classic Eudora? and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.05.27. Also the end of the road for Lombard and G4 iMac CPU upgrades.
• Mac 'Book power management adventures, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.05.19. If your 'Book won't power up, shuts down while your working, or has other power issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear things up.
• 500 MHz iBook keeps going, iBook video repair, a WiFi card that costs less than AirPort, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.05.13. Also Dell's alternative to the 12" PowerBook, WiFi hotspot insecurity, and feedback from a Eudora fan.
• Hacking a WiFi PC Card to work in Apple's AirPort Card slot, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2009.04.21. Apple's AirPort Card has become expensive since it was discontinued. Here's how you may be able to adapt an 802.11b PC Card to replace it.
• The importance of feel to the computing experience, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.04.21. Computing power is important, but a keyboard and mouse or trackpad with the right feel may have more impact on productivity.
• Is it worth maxing the RAM in old G3 and G4 Macs?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2009.04.15. Increasing memory can make your old Mac faster and make you more productive, but it probably won't improve resale value by the amount you spend.
• My Apple laptops: Past, present, and future, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.03.31. Looking back at the WallStreet, Pismo, and PowerBook G4 while moving ahead with a Unibody MacBook.
• Making the switch from a G4 PowerBook to a Unibody MacBook, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.03.17. The transition to an Intel-based Mac hasn't been without its problems - slow dialup performance, incompatibility with Eudora, and no real gain in speed with standby apps.
• Dialup Is outdated, Eudora on Macintel, improving Tiger on low-end Macs, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.02.25. Ongoing frustrations with Eudora and dialup, ways to tweak Tiger for better performance, and problems with a WD MyBook external hard drive.
• Using new tech with old tech, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2009.02.05. Yes, you can use a 2000 iMac, a Pismo, a G4 iBook, an iPod touch, and several new MacBooks together quite nicely.
• Used 'Book value, overheating 12" PowerBook, Target Disk Mode weirdness, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.02.04. Also Leopard breaks wireless printing for some printers supported by Tiger, and Unibody MacBook the right choice over polycarbonate MacBook.
• Golden Apples: The 25 best Macs to date, Michelle Klein-Häss, Geek Speak, 2009.01.27. The best Macs from 1984 through 2009, including a couple that aren't technically Macs.
• iPod touch and Pismo: Perfect Together, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2009.01.21. With a USB 2.0 card and Tiger, a 9-year-old Pismo PowerBook works beautifully with a new iPod touch.
• Is Camino now the best browser for older Macs?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.01.13. Camino 1.6.6 works very will with Mac OS X 10.3 through 10.5 and seems especially well suited for slower PowerPC Macs.
• 2 compact portable USB 2.0 hubs, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.01.12. Compact hubs from Targus and Proporta make a great complement to your notebook computer. Each accepts a third-party AC adapter to provide bus power.
• Notebooks and blackouts, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.12.23. When the power goes out, a notebook computer with long-lasting batteries lets you keep working for hours and hours.
• 4 GB RAM problem persists after firmware update, TriBook concept MacBook, DIY Mac netbook, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.12.19. Also using third-party monitors with 'Late 2008' MacBooks, MacMagSaver protects MagSafe cord, $25 802.11g USB adapter, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
• The 'better safe than sorry' guide to installing Mac OS X updates, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
• Why you should partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency' partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
• Every working computer is useful to someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 2008.11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
• Refurb MacBook Pro value, MacBook too big to replace 12" PowerBook, Pismo noise, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.11.12. Also installing OS X using FireWire Target Disk Mode, running Virtual PC under Leopard, and how to use filters in iCab.
• Best refurb MacBook Pro value, AirPort Card thermal issues, Opera vs. iCab, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.11.05. Also more thoughts on the lack of FireWire on the Unibody MacBook.
• No FireWire on MacBook a deal breaker, getting Pismo working with AirPort, and Pismo screen replacement, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.29. For those with FireWire peripherals, the Unibody MacBook falls short. Also fixing a Pismo that won't recognize AirPort and replacing its display.
• G3 and low end G4 Mac performance comparison, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.15. Factors that impact performance are the version of CPU, the size and speed of the Level 2 cache, and how much RAM is installed.
• 3 reasons to use a Mac, and Pismo troubleshooting, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.15. Why one Windows user is also a Mac user, a Pismo that can't see its AirPort card, and sources of kernel panics.
• TruePower battery can run WallStreet PowerBook past the 5 hour mark, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2008.10.10. If you have a rugged old PowerBook but its battery is losing capacity, TruePower can give you plenty of time in the field.
• Getting the most from your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.03. Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
• The best browsers for older Macs running Tiger, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.09.25. A dialup user's overview of browsers for Mac OS X 10.4 puts the emphasis on reliability, downloads, and speed.
• Tiger great on old G3 'Books, maximum RAM for 867 MHz PowerBook G4, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.01. Also why 4 GB of RAM in a 32-bit Vista PC wastes most of the last gigabyte and system profile software for Windows PCs.
• 9 browsers for G3 and older G4 Macs compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.09.26. The latest versions of Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Radon, Firefox, Demeter, Sunrise, and Camino that run on Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger".
• Environmentally responsible retirement for old Macs, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in Mac Development, 2008.06.13. After you've scavenged what useful parts you can from your old Mac, what's the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of the rest?
• Resurrecting a dead Pismo, Spotlight search tip, and EasyFind a good file finder, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
• Portable Mac as primary vs. secondary computer, looking at ThinkPad design, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.09.17. Also learning from the Mac Portable, upgrading a PowerBook 5300, another free app to assure maintenance routines are run, and more.
• In praise of rugged Mac notebooks of the past, POP3 vs. IMAP email, and buying glasses online, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.09.11. G3 PowerBooks were the high water mark for ruggedness, expandability, and reliability. Also the benefits of POP3 email for dialup users, and another article praising online eyewear.
• Bring back the Macintosh Portable, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.09.09. Not to fault today's MacBooks, but there's something to be said for a no compromise, very expandable, portable Macintosh as well.
• There's still a place for G3 Macs in the Age of Leopard, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.09.09. Whether it's a sage iMac or a Pismo PowerBook, G3 Macs can be very productive with Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger'.
• Are G3 Macs still viable work machines?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.09.08. For basic tasks - writing, email, and using the Web - a G3 Mac with Mac OS X 10.4 and sufficient memory provides plenty of power.
• Another free POP3 provider, recharging a dead PRAM battery, current Kanga value, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.09.03. GMX email now available in US, Panasonic UJ-841S drive won't burn discs, restoring a dead PRAM battery in a Pismo, and thoughts on Kanga value today.
• Pismo won't start, Spotlight finds too many files, and Panasonic SuperDrive in Pismo, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.20. Resetting a dead Pismo, an alternative to Spotlight gives better results, and success with the Panasonic UJ-850 drive in Pismo PowerBooks.
• Using Word 5.1 files with later versions of Word, keyboard marks on a MacBook screen, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.14. Also the value of Panasonic's UJ-850 for older PowerBooks and shipping concerns about the SteelPad mousepad.
• TruePower AC adapter for iBooks and PowerBooks is rugged, reliable, and affordable, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.14. Apple's track record with AC adapters is spotty, but the TruePower adapter is tough enough to survive being run over by a truck.
• Why choose OS 9 today?, OS 9 WiFi security, mousing with Parkinson's, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.06. Limitations of using OS 9 today, putting a Panasonic SuperDrive in a Pismo, and the best pointing device for those with Parkinson's.
• 8 hour runtime realisitic with TruePower batteries for Lombard and Pismo, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.05. Apple's original batteries could keep you going for up to 5 hours when they were new; these high capacity replacement batteries improve that by 60%.
• Tricking out your notebook for superior desktop duty, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.07.29. For desktop use, you don't need to be limited by the built-in trackpad, keyboard, and display or a notebook's compromised ergonomics.
• Bumps in the road for G3 Macs, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.07.28. MobileMe wouldn't synch with the Pismo, and Skype's software refused to install, but both problems were solved.
• The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
• Turn your old Mac into a web server with Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.07.09. Step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP on an older Mac.
• Pismo slow running OS X from Compact Flash, Leopard DVD Player on G4 Pismo, and more Linux tips, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.06.25. Pismo runs Mac OS 9 quickly from Compact Flash, but OS X is slow. Also how to hack Leopard so DVD Player works in a G4-upgraded Pismo, and more tips on using Linux on Macs.
• Praise for Opera, low cost iBook mobo replacement, IrDA and IRtalk, WaMCom recommended, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.06.18. Also the use of 'compleat', booting from CD, new Toshiba 1.8" drives too thick for MBA, and PowerPC support and Snow Leopard.
• Hard drive problems with Rev. 1 Blue & White, can't burn DVDs at 16x, .mac to MobileMe, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.06.18. Also 802.11g WiFi and G4 upgrades for slot-loading iMacs, printing to a QMS PC 410 from OS X, and scrolling with a Pismo trackpad.
• Xubuntu on Pismo: It works, but it's not as easy as the Mac OS, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.06.16. Linux runs well enough on this old PowerBook G3, but something as simple as switching to another WiFi network can trip you up.
• Getting Xubuntu Linux up and running on your aging Mac, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.06.04. It took some doing, but the author's Pismo can now boot into Mac OS 9, OS X, and Xubuntu Linux."
• Netscape 7 for OS 9, Compact Flash faster than hard drive in PB 1400, MacSpeech Dictate, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.28. Also using VNC over a network so two Macs can share one monitor and the VTBook graphics upgrade for Pismo.
• WiMax likely, Apple not green enough, next MacBook in Q3, Cool Feet for notebooks, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.05.23. Also LED backlighting in all MacBooks in 2009, cooling down hot laptops, OLPC plans second generation laptop, universal Apple notebook battery charger, slim external third-party SuperDrive, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
• Mac OS 9 still nice, anticipating Odysseus, PowerBook 1400 upgrades, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.14. Also rebuilding PowerBook batteries, FastMac vs. NuPower replacement batteries, and only one G4 upgrade left for WallStreet PowerBooks.
• Value of old Power Macs, old computers in school, Panther or Tiger on Pismo, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.12. Also new 20" Penry iMac vs. 24" Santa Rosa and great results with a low-cost external SuperDrive.
• Dinosaur desktops, lid closed mode, G4 upgrade advice, death of a WallStreet, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.07. The greening of Apple, benefits of WiFi cards that use AirPort drivers, deleting files from a Performa, drive enclosures, and Leopard on a 466 MHz Power Mac.
• Pismo battery and screen problems, Zip vs. hard drive for backup, and MacBook Air packaging, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.07. Diagnosing battery problems and a fuzzy screen on a Pismo, backup options for Power Macs, and the small size of the MacBook Air's packaging.
• Prosumer Mac suggestions, bring back the 12" 'Book, Pismo displays, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.06. Readers offer more thoughts on a midrange Mac, the need for a new 12" 'Book, using F-keys as F-keys in OS X, and lid closed video mode for Pismo.
• Macintosh peace of mind, PA Semi and the iPhone, $40 802.11g PCI card, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.01. Also Power Mac vs. Mac mini, more on DVD User Op Patch, 12" vs. 14" iBook, and VGA for a Power Mac 6100.
• 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.
• Atom CPU runs cooler and longer, MacBook Air a supermodel, 2008 MacBook migration tips, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.04.04. Also MacBooks for earthquake detection, 802.11g for G3 and G4 PowerBooks, upgrades for Pismo PowerBooks, CPU Speed Menu Switch software, bargain 'Books from $150 to $3,099, and more.
• 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.
• Designing a better laptop: Look to the past, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.02.27. Modern Apple notebooks have less expansion and upgrade options than G3 PowerBooks from a decade ago
• 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.
• Intel Mac mini value, best YouTube browser in Tiger, additional Pismo resolutions, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.03.19. Also more in iSub incompatibility with Leopard, PC Card compatibility with PowerBooks, and Leopard on 3 more unsupported Power Macs.
• 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.
• Jaguar or Panther on Pismo?, Mac 128K corrections, installing OS X from an iPod, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.29. Also an old iMac, an optical trackball for ADB Macs, internal or external hard drive for an eMac, and Leopard on a 500 MHz PowerBook G4.
• 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.
• Reinstall OS X on MacBook Air, going from MacBook to Eee PC, high capacity batteries, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.02.15. Also thoughts on the next MacBook Pro, more MacBook Air reviews, updates from Apple, Windows XP almost ready for OLPC, and bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,599.
• PowerBook 3400c and Pismo: Two of Apple's best notebooks ever, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.02.11. Two PowerBooks celebrate birthdays this week, and each was the fastest laptop on the plant when it was introduced.
• YouTube tips, Mac users who bash Windows, iSub broken in Leopard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.11. The importance of expandable computers, ways to improve YouTube viewing on older Macs, frustrating with losing iSub support in OS X 10.5, and Windows bashers.
• 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.
• Adding keyboard shortcuts in OS X, Pismo vs. MacBook Air, horrid Microsoft customer support, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.24. Also the MacBook Air is not for power users, MBA SuperDrive and the MacBook, unsupported Leopard on an 800 MHz iMac G4, and putting an ATX motherboard in a G4 case.
• MacBook Air: What do you do when there's no WiFi?, John Hatchett, My Turn, 2008.01.22. Every modern PowerBook had ethernet and a modem, but how do you connect the MacBook Air when there's no WiFi service?
• MacBook Air a Road Apple?, beautiful Macquarium, a Compact Flash to SCSI adapter, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.18. Also problems with a D-Link USB WiFi adapter, hi-def iTunes movie resolution, MacBook Air whiners, and another Pismo lover.
• Too few USB ports in too many Macs, developer Leopard ran on Yikes, Mac IIfx RAM heaven, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.16. Also Macworld Expo disappoints, Pismo a great field computer, using flash memory in vintage Macs, and Word vs. Pages for academic writing.
• Keeping G3 Macs from becoming ewaste, my other Mac is a Pismo, and thoughts on a midrange desktop Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.10. G3 iMacs are too useful to be stripped for recycling, Pismo still a great field computer, and thoughts on additional desktop Macs Apple could add to the line.
• This old Pismo, John Hatchett, My Turn, 2008.01.08. Tips on upgrading a used Pismo for better performance under Mac OS X.
• Menu bar opacity and translucency in Leopard, better Rage video in Leopard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.02. Also why GeForce 5200 may be a good choice, USB webcams work with iChat in 10.4.9 and later, and moving some files to a new Mac.
• Other great USB keyboards, cooler running laptops, the value of old G3 Macs, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.12.17. Other alternatives to Apple's aluminum keyboards, booting OS 9 from RAID, weak AirPort reception, and cool running notebooks.
• The Swiss Army knife of notebook Macs, John Hatchett, My Turn, 2007.12.06. The 2000 Pismo was the high point of PowerBook design and flexibility with a great keyboard, expandsion bays, two PC Card slots, and a wonderful curvaceous design.
• MacBook Pro 'the best', PC veteran falls for Pismo, solar power for laptops, folding keyboard, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.11.30. Also Leopard gobbling up battery power, first laptop orchestra, 802.11n for AirPort Extreme Macs, battery status widget, bargain 'Books from $149 to $2,699, and more.
• Classic still useful, a cooler running MacBook, Panther vs. Tiger for text editing, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.11.19. Classic is far from dead, Text Edit in Tiger slower than in Panther, the case for a quieter laptop, Buffalo WiFi in Pismo, and Word files on an 800K floppy.
• The G4 Power Mac that won't run Leopard, more OS X 10.5 success stories, and Pismo tips, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.08. A dual 533 MHz Digital Audio Power Mac that refuses to boot Leopard, other unsupported Macs that do run it, and suggestions for improving a Pismo running OS X 10.5.
• Leopard with 384 MB RAM, on a PowerBook G4/550, benchmarked, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.06. Leopard on Digital Audio, Quicksilver, and Sawtooth Power Macs. Questions on CPU load in OS X 10.5 and whether beige G3s and PCI Power Macs might run it.
• Leopard on Pismo, how Apple thinks different, a universal Leopard boot drive, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.05. More Mac OS X 10.5 field reports on unsupported and barely supported hardware, including problems with the 867 MHz 12" PowerBook G4.
• 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.
• Leopard 'Book compatability, gold plated MacBook Pro, Wegener's 550 MHz G4 Pismo upgrade, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.10.26. Also the value of 17in PowerBooks, the 'compleat' guide to antique and collectable Mac notebooks, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,688.
• 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.
• My PowerBook pilgrimage, 1996 to present, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.09.24. Starting with a grayscale PowerBook 5300 bought end-of-life in late 1996, the author has used six different 'Book models over the past 11 years
• Tiger on a G3 iMac and Pismo, running OS 9 from a flash drive, 7200 rpm drive heat, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.09.13. Also iMac upgrade advice, iBook G3 video chip resoldering, and how to get your website indexed by Google.
• 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?
• 12" PowerBook G4 reliability, iMac slowdown blues, PowerTools Mac clones, cooling a MacBook, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.09.05. Also Pismo as the king of PowerBooks, burning a CD for Macs with System 7, and thinking about a small Mac Beowulf cluster.
• PC war losers, Mac 'just works', $68 802.11n for older Macs, a free font manager, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.31. Also DVD region locking, the iMac's glossy screen, Mac mini powerful enough, Chromac iMac housings, SanDisk's 8 GB flash drive, and more.
• 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.
• A whisper quiet notebook drive, Pismo runs cool with 7200 RPM drive, upgrading from OS X 10.1, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.06.06. Also WallStreet wireless faiure, 12" PowerBook G4 reliability, and Pismo's fan rarely kicks in.
• Operation FlashBook: Running Tiger from flash on a PowerBook G4, John Muir, Mac Daniel, 2007.05.29. With the hard drive failing and Compact Flash prices falling, it was time to consider running the PowerBook G4 from flash. Looking back at 6 months, was it worth it?
• 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.
• 3 GB in a MacBook, CRT danger, need for 'Tiger' already a problem, a BeOS for Mac source, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.05.16. Also a display problem in Safari, MS Office for OS X 10.2, G4 upgrades for Pismo, an improved Extended Keyboard clone, the Backspace key, and how the Enter key puts the Finder in rename mode.
• 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.
• 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.
• Troubleshooting an iMac and possible Pismo overheating, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.19. Figuring out what's wrong with a G3 iMac that won't boot properly and possily spurious temperature readings from Gauge Pro.
• Pismo Spotlight woes solved with simple fix, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.16. After working for 8 months, Tiger's Spotlight indexing had simply stopped working. Here's why - and the easy solution to the problem.
• Pismo Spotlight and Find woes persist with latest version of Tiger, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.12. In early 2006, Spotlight and Find inexplicably stopped working on the G4-upgraded Pismo. A year and four OS X updates later, the situation hasn't changed.
• Why OS X 10.2 is best for Classic, switching to Opera, installing Tiger on a B&W G3, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.05. Also thoughts on Firefox, modem problems on a Pismo with OS X 10.4, and connecting an Apple Studio Display to a MacBook.
• 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.
• 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.
• Web leaving Mac OS 9 behind, Pismo and Tiger, USB for PowerBook 5300, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.12.11. Also a Pismo with no video, USB vs. USB and FireWire external drive enclosures, free WordPerfect download, and iListen in Canada.
• 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?
• 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.
• Using FireWire Target Disk Mode to install OS X on Macs without DVD drives, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.09.14. Two methods for using FireWire Target Disk mode to install OS X on a Mac that can't read DVDs.
• iMac startup problem solved, PowerBook 5300 and WallStreet memories, removing languages, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.09.11. Also Kanga "all I need", another WallStreet upgrade, dual USB iBook thoughts, and problems reading CD-R in older Macs.
• 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.
• More ways to add OS 9 features to OS X, modem problems with MacBook and USB modem, Opera problem, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.17. Also potential problems using Target Disk Mode to install the OS, using Classic on Intel Macs, value of Pismo G4 upgrades, "Tiger" on a G3 iMac, better laptop ergonomics, and more.
• Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.10. Mac OS X ships on a single install DVD, which Apple will exchange for CDs at $10. But if you have access to a DVD-equipped Mac and a FireWire cable, you're good to go.
• Mac Pro musings, no Pismo startup chime, changing a user's Short Name, MacBook drive upgrades, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.26. Also OS X installation questions, a cool hard drive gadget, thoughts on Mark Pilgrim switching from the Mac, and more on an upgraded Pismo vs. a PowerBook G4.
• Mac nostalgia: Why Apple should introduce a modern Pismo and SE/30, Matthew Wright, My Turn, 2006.06.14. The best PowerBook ever made and the iconic all-in-one compact Mac are just crying out to be reinvented for our nostalgic "everything old is new again" retro culture.
• Pismo downgrade a treat, IE for OS X, pimp my SE/30, education market reality, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2006.09.06. Also a church looking for five Macs for a cybercafé, another ADB mouse source, why not USB?, and LEM had the answer all along.
• 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.
• Upgraded Pismo vs. 12" PowerBook G4, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.05. Also how DiskWarrior can save the day even when it 'fails', thoughts on keyboards for those with neuropathy in their hands, Norton SystemWorks for Mac, and more on OS X browsers.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Tips for Pismos, 10.3.9, resetting a stuck modem, using widgets without Tiger, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.02.27. More advice on dealing with Pismo modem problems, OS X 10.3.9 as the best OS for Pismos, and two utilities Panther users should know about.
• 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.
• Back to the future: downgrading my Pismo to OS X 10.3.9, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.02.20. With Spotlight and Tiger's Find refusing to work on the Pismo, it was time to backtrack to OS X 10.3.9 - which actually seems faster and more stable on this PowerBook.
• Tiger 10.4.4 update cripples Pismo's internal modem, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.02.13. Pismo's internal modem works flawlessly under OS 9 and OS X 10.3, but it's grown less reliable under 10.4, becoming unusable with the most recent update.
• 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.
• The 'Pismo' PowerBook is a great value and handles Tiger nicely, Charles Webb, PowerBook Beat, 2005.12.09. If you're looking for an affordable PowerBook with FireWire that works comfortably in OS X, the 'Pismo' PowerBook might be just what you need.
• Pismo LCD lamp and display replacement, Charles W. Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.10.19. Options for replacing the whole screen or just the backlight on the Pismo PowerBook G3.
• FixIt Guide: PowerBook G3 Pismo, PB FixIt. All you need to know to take apart, upgrade, repair, and put your PowerBook back together again. Online and print versions available.
• Hotrodding the Pismo, phase 6 - FastMac 4x SuperDrive expansion bay module, Charles W. Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.06.15. "The FastMac 4x SuperDrive module for Pismo , which is the hands-on subject of this review, is based on the same Matsushita UJ-8255 mechanism used in the Aluminum PowerBooks."
• Hotrodding the PowerBook, phase 5 - Miglia Alchemy FW 800 PC Card, Charles W. Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.06.09. "Phase 5 of my ongoing Pismo PowerBook hot rod project is the addition of the subject of this review - the Miglia Alchemy FW 800 PC Card."
• What a long strange trip back to Pismo, Kevin Webb, The Mac Webb, 2004.03.29. The 15" and 12" G4 PowerBooks were nice, but the old Pismo is the PowerBook that seems just right.
• WallStreet and Pismo processor upgrades: Do they make economic sense?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2004.02.23. A faster clock speed always helps, but should you choose a G3 or a G4 processor?
• Daystar MACHSpeed G4 Pismo upgrade review, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2004.02.10. "While the economics of processor upgrading can be dubious in some cases, with the G3 Series PowerBooks it substantially less so."
• Dueling PowerBook G3 CPU upgrades: Which is better for you, a G4 or a fast G3?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2003.10.20. Which is the better WallStreet or Pismo upgrade, a faster G3 or a 500-550 MHz G4?
• Pismo PowerBook a good value, but better than Lombard?, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2003.03.21. The "Pismo" PowerBook is a real powerhouse, but does it offer more value than the "Lombard" model?
• PowerBook G3 Pismo 14.1" LCD replacement, Scadboy, 2003.02.08. The key is a $200 replacement LCD, the right tools, and these step-by-step instructions.
• 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.
• A year with Pismo, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2002.11.05. "...if it continues its solid, reliable, workhorse ways, I think it will displace my recently deceased WallStreet as my pick for the best computer I've ever owned."
• 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.
• 466 MHz FireWire iBook vs. 400 MHz Pismo PowerBook, Bare Feats, 2000.10.23. Real world tests with iMovie, Cinema 4D, and Bryce.
• Pismo revision blocks some memory modules, Go2Mac.com, 2000.09.19. Change in RAM slot configuration prevents some modules from fitting.
• Pismo four months later: A second look, PowerBook Zone, 2000.05.23. "...if this is the biggest issue we can come up with, obviously Apple's done a great job. "
• PowerBook 2000, Andrew Gore, Macworld. "With the release of the latest PowerBook G3, Apple has added a host of improvements to a product that just a year ago Macworld deemed without peer."
• Accelerate Your Mac! has downloadable color profiles for the iBook and recent PowerBooks that really improve on-screen color.
• Apple issues warning that Pismo PowerBook not compatible with Password Security control panel, Charles Moore, Applelinks, 2000.03.08
• 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 (FireWire)
• PowerBook G3 Computers: How to Identify Different Models, Apple TIL 24604

Cautions

• Do not under any circumstances use the Password Security control panel with any PowerBook running Mac OS 9 - see PowerBook (FireWire): Late Breaking News - it will render your PowerBook inoperable. The only fix is to put the drive in an older PowerBook, open Password Security, go to Setup, and click the Reset button, and then put the drive back in your Pismo.
• 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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