PowerBook Buyer's Guide
PowerBook 1400c
by Steve Hildreth
The 1400c is identical to the 1400cs with the exception of the active-matrix color screen. Active-matrix screens are always better than their passive-matrix counterparts, even the dual-scan variety. However, you'll pay the price in terms of battery drain and more money out of pocket. If your work demands a top-quality display for personal or professional reasons, then go for the 1400c. This is especially true if you work with graphics-intensive applications or photographs. If you can deal with a minor amount of ghosting and a screen that is less bright, then you'll likely be satisfied with the 1400cs and save a bundle of money to boot. While the 1400-series PowerBooks are certainly slower than the 3400c and 2400c, the 117, 133, or 166 MHz PowerPC 603e processors are no slouch and will get the job done on all but the most demanding applications. For the money, especially on the used market, these laptops are a great deal. Besides, with the available G3 upgrades, you can have a very fast laptop.
Rating
At the time: A
General
- 117-MHz PowerPC 603e
- 133 or 166 MHz PowerPC 603e with 128K level 2 cache
- 16MB RAM standard, maximum 64MB via one RAM slot (can piggy-back two RAM cards)
- 750MB (1400c/117), 1GB (1400c/133), or 2.0 GB (1400c/166) hard drive
- Sleep-swappable 6x, 8x, or 12x CD-ROM drive module
Ports
- 1 serial
- ADB
- audio in
- audio out
- video out (optional)
- HDI-30 SCSI
- IR
- 1 expansion bay
- 2 PC card slots
Display
- Active-matrix 1000's of colors
- 11.3"
- 800x600 resolution
Weight
- 6.9 pounds with CD-ROM drive installed
- 6.6 pounds with floppy drive installed
Battery
- 30 watt-hour nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH)
Sound
- 16-bit, CD-quality stereo sound capable of driving headphones or external speakers
- Built-in speaker and integrated microphone
- Digital-to-analog conversion sampled at 44.1, 22.05, or 11.025 kHz
- 16-bit audio line-in for recording
Size
- Height: 2.0 in. (5.2 cm)
- Width: 11.5 in. (29.2 cm)
- Depth: 9.0 in. (22.5 cm)
Apple's Specifications:
PowerBook 1400c/166
| Logic Board |
Ports |
Power |
| Processor: |
603e, 166 MHz |
| PMMU: |
integrated |
| FPU: |
integrated |
| Data Path: |
64-bit, 33.3 MHz |
| L1 Cache: |
32K |
| L2 Cache: |
128K |
| 2nd Processor: |
none |
| Slots: |
2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III) |
|
| ADB: |
1 |
| Video: |
opt. mini-15 |
| Floppy: |
none |
| SCSI: |
HDI-30 |
| Geoports: |
none |
| Ethernet: |
none |
| FireWire: |
|
| Mic Type: |
Line In |
| Other Ports: |
Printer, Speaker,
|
|
| Max Watts: |
45 |
| Amps: |
1.875 |
| BTU per Hr: |
153.9 |
| Voltage: |
100-220 |
| Freq Range: |
50-60 Hz |
| Battery Type: |
PB1400, NiMH |
| Soft Power: |
yes |
|
| Memory |
Video Memory |
| Logic Board: |
16 MB |
| RAM Slots: |
1, PB1400 |
| Min - Max RAM: |
16 MB - 64 MB |
| Min RAM Speed: |
70 ns |
| RAM Sizes: |
8-24MB |
| Install in Groups of: |
1 |
| Notes: |
Memory expansion slot allows "piggy-backing" of up to two memory cards. |
|
| Resolution |
Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(built in) |
| 512 x 384 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 400 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 480 |
n/a-bit |
| 800 x 600 |
16-bit |
| 832 x 624 |
n/a-bit |
| 1024 x 768 |
n/a-bit |
| 1152 x 870 |
n/a-bit |
| 1280 x 1024 |
n/a-bit |
|
| Physical |
Software |
Storage |
| Introduced: |
7/14/1997 |
| Discontinued: |
n/a |
| Form Factor: |
PowerBook 1400 |
| Gestalt ID: |
310 |
| Weight (lbs): |
6.6 |
| Dimensions (in): |
2 H x 11.5 W x 9 D |
|
|
|
| Addressing Modes: |
32-bit |
| Orig SSW: |
7.6.1 |
| Orig Enabler: |
none |
| ROM ID: |
$077D |
| ROM Ver: |
n/a |
| ROM Size: |
4MB |
| AppleTalk Ver: |
n/a |
Mac OS
Supported: |
7.6.1
8.0 |
|
| Floppy Size: |
1.44MB |
| Floppy Inject: |
manual |
| Min. Int HD Size: |
2GB |
| Int HD Interface: |
ATA |
| Orig CD Speed |
8x |
| Int CD Support: |
yes |
|
PowerBook 1400c/133
| Logic Board |
Ports |
Power |
| Processor: |
603e, 133 MHz |
| PMMU: |
integrated |
| FPU: |
integrated |
| Data Path: |
64-bit, 33.3 MHz |
| L1 Cache: |
32K |
| L2 Cache: |
128K |
| 2nd Processor: |
none |
| Slots: |
2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III) |
|
| ADB: |
1 |
| Video: |
opt. mini-15 |
| Floppy: |
none |
| SCSI: |
HDI-30 |
| Geoports: |
none |
| Ethernet: |
none |
| FireWire: |
|
| Mic Type: |
Line in |
| Other Ports: |
Printer, Speaker,
|
|
| Max Watts: |
45 |
| Amps: |
1.875 |
| BTU per Hr: |
153.9 |
| Voltage: |
100-220 |
| Freq Range: |
50-60 Hz |
| Battery Type: |
PB1400, NiMH |
| Soft Power: |
yes |
|
| Memory |
Video Memory |
| Logic Board: |
16 MB |
| RAM Slots: |
1, PB1400 |
| Min - Max RAM: |
16 MB - 64 MB |
| Min RAM Speed: |
70 ns |
| RAM Sizes: |
8-24 MB |
| Install in Groups of: |
1 |
| Notes: |
Memory expansion slot allows "piggy-backing" of up to two memory cards. |
|
| Resolution |
Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(built in) |
| 512 x 384 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 400 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 480 |
n/a-bit |
| 800 x 600 |
16-bit |
| 832 x 624 |
n/a-bit |
| 1024 x 768 |
n/a-bit |
| 1152 x 870 |
n/a-bit |
| 1280 x 1024 |
n/a-bit |
|
| Physical |
Software |
Storage |
| Introduced: |
10/1/1996 |
| Discontinued: |
n/a |
| Form Factor: |
PowerBook 1400 |
| Gestalt ID: |
310 |
| Weight (lbs): |
6.6 |
| Dimensions (in): |
2 H x 11.5 W x 9 D |
|
|
|
| Addressing Modes: |
32-bit |
| Orig SSW: |
7.5.3 |
| Orig Enabler: |
PowerBook 1400 Enabler |
| ROM ID: |
$077D |
| ROM Ver: |
n/a |
| ROM Size: |
4MB |
| AppleTalk Ver: |
n/a |
Mac OS
Supported: |
7.5.3
7.6
7.6.1
8.0 |
|
| Floppy Size: |
1.44MB |
| Floppy Inject: |
manual |
| Min. Int HD Size: |
1, 1.3GB |
| Int HD Interface: |
ATA |
| Orig CD Speed |
6x, 8x |
| Int CD Support: |
yes |
|
PowerBook 1400c/117
| Logic Board |
Ports |
Power |
| Processor: |
603e, 117 MHz |
| PMMU: |
integrated |
| FPU: |
integrated |
| Data Path: |
64-bit, 33.3 MHz |
| L1 Cache: |
32K |
| L2 Cache: |
none |
| 2nd Processor: |
none |
| Slots: |
2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III) |
|
| ADB: |
1 |
| Video: |
opt. mini-15 |
| Floppy: |
none |
| SCSI: |
HDI-30 |
| Geoports: |
none |
| Ethernet: |
none |
| FireWire: |
|
| Mic Type: |
Line in |
| Other Ports: |
Printer, Speaker,
|
|
| Max Watts: |
45 |
| Amps: |
1.875 |
| BTU per Hr: |
153.9 |
| Voltage: |
100-220 |
| Freq Range: |
50-60 Hz |
| Battery Type: |
PB1400, NiMH |
| Soft Power: |
yes |
|
| Memory |
Video Memory |
| Logic Board: |
16MB |
| RAM Slots: |
1, PB1400 |
| Min - Max RAM: |
32 MB - 64 MB |
| Min RAM Speed: |
70 ns |
| RAM Sizes: |
8-24 MB |
| Install in Groups of: |
1 |
| Notes: |
Memory expansion slot allows "piggy-backing" of up to two memory cards. |
|
| Resolution |
Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(built in) |
| 512 x 384 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 400 |
n/a-bit |
| 640 x 480 |
n/a-bit |
| 800 x 600 |
16-bit |
| 832 x 624 |
n/a-bit |
| 1024 x 768 |
n/a-bit |
| 1152 x 870 |
n/a-bit |
| 1280 x 1024 |
n/a-bit |
|
| Physical |
Software |
Storage |
| Introduced: |
10/1/1996 |
| Discontinued: |
7/14/1997 |
| Form Factor: |
PowerBook 1400 |
| Gestalt ID: |
310 |
| Weight (lbs): |
6.6 |
| Dimensions (in): |
2 H x 11.5 W x 9 D |
|
|
|
| Addressing Modes: |
32-bit |
| Orig SSW: |
7.5.3 |
| Orig Enabler: |
PowerBook 1400 Enabler |
| ROM ID: |
$077D |
| ROM Ver: |
$32 |
| ROM Size: |
4MB |
| AppleTalk Ver: |
58.1.6 |
Mac OS
Supported: |
7.5.3
7.6
7.6.1
8.0 |
|
| Floppy Size: |
1.44MB |
| Floppy Inject: |
manual |
| Min. Int HD Size: |
1GB |
| Int HD Interface: |
ATA |
| Orig CD Speed |
6x |
| Int CD Support: |
yes |
|