Retro: Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3. Back to the past

    Actually, I got into the hands of a laptop from the notorious Apple company, born in 1999, and I could not resist, so as not to document this fact.
    So, I present to you the Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Powerbook g3

    (carefully a lot of photos)

    Just want to make a little more specific: it’s not just the Powerbook G3, it’s the Powerbook G3 bronze keyboard, bearing the name Lombard.

    Powerbook g3 bronze keyboard

    Some technical specifications:
    Processor: PowerPC 750 (G3) 333 MHz with 512k of "backside" level 2 cache
    Bus frequency: 66 MHz
    RAM type: PC100 SDRAM
    RAM: up to 384 MB
    Video card: ATI Rage Pro LT graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM
    Display: 14.1 "color TFT 1024x768 resolution
    Hard disk interface: EIDE / ATA-2 2.5"
    ... a
    detailed description can be found, for example, here

    We will pass from those boring ones. parameters for photos of appearance:

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    On the left we see: pcmcia-slot, air vent and battery

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Right: CD-drive, air vent and kensington system lock.

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    At the back, with the lid open, we see the same upturned and bitten apple,
    below is the power connector, under the opening cover: audio connectors, 2 usb, network connector, s-video, vga, modem and infrared window.

    The keys on the keyboard are made of transparent plastic, which looks very nice (in fact, this is the bronze keyboard)

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Well, of course, take a look at the bottom, where we again see the apple (already non-luminous) and stickers with information:

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    The Powerbank is equipped with a 45-watt charger, not devoid of design:

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    It is worth paying attention to an interesting device for removing the battery and cd-drive.
    By the way, instead of a cd drive, it is possible to install an additional battery (exactly the same):

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    MacOS version 8.6 was preinstalled on the MacBook.
    After increasing the RAM to 256, the maximum possible for this MacOS 10.3.9 device was installed quite easily.

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Of course, I could not resist and “climbed” inside this beautiful creation.
    The keyboard is held by two latches, after clicking off which it can be easily lifted

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    With the naked eye you can see IBM 4.86 GB hard drives

    Armed with a screwdriver and unscrewing 3 screws, you can remove the aluminum shield, which also acts as a heatsink for cooling the processor.

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Now you can get a board with a processor and RAM. Here it is (photo from two sides):

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Carefully removing the radiator with thermal padding, we get to the "heart". Here it is - the processor:

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    As already mentioned, the “native” RAM bar (128 Mb) was replaced by two of 128 for better performance.

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    Oddly enough, but the 1999 laptop proved to be quite frisky. Quite decent performance: for example, dock animation and window minimization animation do not slow down.
    The battery generally surprised. At the age of 10 years, he is able to maintain the health of the MacBook for 3 hours. Unfortunately, it was not possible with various programs to “pull out” information on it from the number of charge cycles, wear, etc.

    This rarity weighs (yes, it can already be called a rarity) of the order of 2.5 kg.

    Software component:
    MacOS 10.3.9
    Safari 1.3.2
    Adium 0.89.1
    ...

    Concluding this review of the past, a reliable, pleasant to the touch and unapproved design of the past, I want to say:
    They did it before! )))

    And, of course, a photo of a luminous apple (inverted):

    Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3

    wallpaper of 1280x800 size can be taken here

    ps I really wanted to create a blog for such a museum, call it “Stylistically random retro”, where every Khabrovsk citizen could show everyone his precious rarity, and the rest could be nostalgic or just watch how various devices survived to our times and how cool they are.
    Write about your rarities and the top management of Habr will allow to create a blog for this.


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