All right. I did it. I decided to move from Windows to Mac. I'm not a computer genius and I couldn't tell you how they work, so you've been forwarned. I'm extremely naive so bear with me, please.
I've been brought up on Windows, but after recieving an iPod last Christmas decided it was time to give something else a try. I don't really need much when it comes to a computer: something to surf with and something to write with (as that is my main passtime) and I'm all set. So I figured I'd get a laptop. And what's more, I didn't need a particularily new or fast model. In fact, I could settle with something simple and cheap.
... So I bought an iBook G3 (clamshell) off eBay. Maybe an impulse buy but one look at those sloping curves in my favorite color (orange) and I was hooked. I have yet to recieve said iBook, but am anxious to learn anything and everything I can about them.
Again, I'll say it: I have no idea what I'm doing so I may very well have picked the crappiest laptop out there. If I have, break it to me gently, please?
So what I'm here to ask is this: does anyone know any good sites or manuals on G3 clamshells? What can I do to upgrade this baby? How can I install an internal or where can I find an external DVD player? How fast should I strive for this thing to go? Like I said: I haven't recieved it yet so I'd like to know what to expect. Can I install any of the newer mac programs (Tiger) if I upgrade the RAM? Anyone care to help me out a tad? It would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-lyon
I'm a Mac newbie myself (I became interested when I found an old FD/HD at the local thrift shop), but maybe I can help. Looking at Apple's web page, the only Clamshell iBooks compatible with Tiger are the models equipped with FireWire ports. FireWire ports are pentagonal and wider than USB ports if you didn't know.
Apple also has manuals in PDF format. Check out the support section.
Your iBook won't run OS 10.4 Tiger, but it will run 10.3 Panther quite well. Panther is still a 100% modern operating system, pick up a copy if you can.
As for DVDs, you could probably use the internal DVD-ROM from a FireWire 366/466 iBook, but yours cannot play DVD movies; only read data DVDs.
It will run 10.3 is if has at least 256MB of ram, as a minimum. And since the screen is only 800x600, you dont have much screen realstate. I personally would have gone for an IceBook (while iBook). As everything is better about them. The clamshells are tuff, but thats about it.
I have a blueberry version of yours and it has served me well. I dropeed in a 256MB stick (that is the most you can do - it already has 32MB on the mother board). I did add the Airport card as well. My only problem is that battery reached the end of its useful life and my attempt to build/re-cell the pack has failed (so far).
I am wanting to drop my OS back to 9.2.2 becaus X is such a drive space pig that I need to upgrade my 3.2G HD and I am too cheap - dropping back to Classic would free up at least a G of space for me and my needs.
I have been very happy with this machine, and you will be too.
Much thanks to all those who replied. So that answers my question about an internal DVD player. Will an external DVD player work if I have the software to play it with? And if so, anyone know a good program to play DVD's on that won't slow my computer down?
Problem number 1: I doubt it will play DVD's at a decent speed. VLC will be the best player to try (available at versiontracker.com ), as its the most efficient one out there, and doesnt care what hardware you have. It will try to play it, but I wouldent hope for it to run real smooth. Any Mac that had DVD player ability during that time period had a hardware DVD decoder. The towers and such can play DVD's without one these days, but they have a faster video card which handles a fair amount of the work, as well as a 1MB L2 cache in most cases. Of course, this brings us to problem number 2. USB doesnt have the bandwidth for an external DVD dive to play DVD's at a sustained speed. You can put an internal DVD rom inside, thats not a problem. But then you have issue number one as stated above.
I guess it should be pointed out that the Clamshells have only USB 1.1, not USB 2.0 as many people think of. USB 1.1 is only about 12Mbps, and USB 2.0 is 480Mbps. USB 1.1 is a slug for doing anything more than a thumb drive or media cards. I've only used 1.1 for an external HDD on my iMac when it was impossible to do anything else at the time. It was about as slow or slower than booting from a CD-ROM of OS X.
So can I upgrade to a USB 2.0 or is this impossible?
you can upgrade your USB port, but it requires you to upgrade the motherboard, the case, and everything else (smartass answer aside
- you need toget a newer iBook to get 2.0).
And of course if you get a newer iBook, you get a far faster processor, video card, and built in DVD playing
I have used VLC to play cds on my clamshell (the mk.1 (300Mhz Tangeriene) one, with a replaced HD (40GB) and 160MB RAM). It is dog slow, but it could have just been USB 1.1 slowing it up but i dunno. If it was then an internal drive might make it better, they are avaliable, but I can't remember where from… Video CDs work fine though