PowerBook Buyer's Guide

PowerBook 5300cs

by Steve Hildreth

The 5300cs is identical to other 5300-series models with the exception of its passive-matrix color display. This display is better than the one in the 520c, but still doesn't compare with an active-matrix display. With its 100 MHz PowerPC processor, 500-750 MB hard drive, and 8-16 MB RAM, it is a good buy for someone looking for a relatively powerful, and cheap, color laptop. In the used market though, the 5300cs is only a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than a used 1400cs, and the 1400cs is a much better buy. But if every dollar counts, then the 5300cs is the way to go. Just be sure that your 5300cs has been through Apple's repair program to correct its well-publicized quality-control problems.

Rating

At the time: B

Ports
1 serial
ADB
audio in
audio out
video out
HDI-30 SCSI
IR
1 expansion bay
2 PC card slots

Display
Passive-matrix 256 colors
10.4"
640x400 resolution

Weight
6.2 pounds

Apple's Specifications:

Logic Board Ports Power
Processor: 603e, 100 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: mini-15
Floppy: none
SCSI: HDI-30
Geoports: none
Ethernet: none
FireWire:
Mic Type: Line in
Other Ports: Printer, Speaker,
Max Watts: 45
Amps: 1.88
BTU per Hr: 153.9
Voltage: 100-240
Freq Range: 50-60 Hz
Battery Type: PB5300, NiMH
Soft Power: yes
Memory Video Memory
Logic Board: 8, 16 MB
RAM Slots: 1, PB53xx
Min - Max RAM: 8 MB - 64 MB
Min RAM Speed: 70 ns
RAM Sizes: 8-64 MB
Install in Groups of: 1
Resolution Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(built in)
512 x 384 n/a-bit
640 x 400 n/a-bit
640 x 480 8-bit
800 x 600 n/a-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: 8/25/1995
Discontinued: 8/3/1996
Form Factor: PowerBook 5300
Gestalt ID: 128
Weight (lbs): 6.2
Dimensions (in): 2.2 H x 11.5 W x 8.5 D
Addressing Modes: 32-bit
Orig SSW: 7.5.2
Orig Enabler: PowerBook 5300 Enabler
ROM ID: $077D
ROM Ver: $27
ROM Size: 4MB
AppleTalk Ver: 58.1.6
Mac OS
Supported:
7.5.2
7.5.3
7.5.5
7.6
7.6.1
8.0
Floppy Size: 1.44MB
Floppy Inject: manual
Min. Int HD Size: 500-750MB
Int HD Interface: IDE
Orig CD Speed n/a
Int CD Support:



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