occupant
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G3/233 12" worth buying? - 2006/06/01 20:57
I have the opportunity to buy the first Powerbook G3, the 233MHz model with a 12" screen. It's dirt cheap. The seller has a whole bunch of them and the one I'm bidding on has a tiny 2GB drive, OS 10.2.6, and no battery. But it DOES have 160MB of RAM which is somewhat more than my iMac DV which has 128MB. I guess I want to know if the machine is worth buying or not, or if I should continue to save until I can afford something better?
Other questions I have include...
Should I keep OS X on it or revert back to 9.2.2 which is what I have on every other iMac I run (my DV, my daughter's Blueberry 350, and my son's Bondi Rev. D)? If I keep the 10.2.6 that is on there, is it worth the time to upgrade to 10.2.8 or maybe a version of 10.3 or 10.4?
Is it very difficult to install a larger HD in this model? Any limits on size, do I have to partition out a piece for OS X like I would on the Rev. D machine? Would a 20-30-40GB drive work well in a basic machine like this or should I search for a smaller drive like 6-10-15GB?
Are there any kind of upgraded batteries available for this computer or should I stick with an Apple battery? Any recommendations on where to get a good battery, used, recon, or new?
I don't think it comes with a CD drive, so I'l be shopping for one of those if I get this thing. Is there a CDRW available for the 1st gen PB G3? What models did they come in, or is it an aftermarket piece?
The PCMCIA slot is just begging for a wireless card. Who makes the best one, where do I get it, and is it worth spending much more than $30-$40 for a card, or should I just stick to plugging it into an RJ45 plug?
The back cover is missing, do I need to worry about dust getting in? Are covers still available from Apple or am I stuck looking on eBay for a part or a parts machine?
How reliable is the 12" screen on this and are replacements available?
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