Hotrodding The Dual USB iBook
by Charles W. Moore
There are a ton of dual USB iBooks out there. Apple’s longest-running portable model, the White iBook was in production for a bit more than five years, in a dizzying assortment of a configurations with 12.1 inch and 14.1-inch display screens, and clock speeds of (G3) 500,600,700,800, and 900 MHz; and (G4) 800 and 933 MHz, and 1,1.2,1.33, and 1.42 GHz.
Consequently, there are an awful lot of white iBooks available used and refurbished, and notwithstanding some spotty reliability issues, they are my first-choice recommendation for anyone looking for an inexpensive Mac laptop who can’t quite pony up the $1,100 for a new MacBook.
Indeed, TechRestore will sell you a pack of 10 900 MHz G3 12” iBooks for $4,490 (for full details and other sizes and clock speeds available in bulk packs see: http://www.techrestore.com/xcart/home.php?cat=320 ), which is an option that would make considerable good sense for educational institutions or businesses on a tight budget in need of a fleet of cheap but reasonably powerful workhorse laptops.
In practical terms, I think even G3 dual USB iBooks make better sense than a Pismo or early revision Titanium PowerBook for roughly the same price. The 700 MHz G3 and later WhiteBooks had a much better video card, and two to four times the video RAM of a Pismo or Mercury TiBook, and the screen on the 12-inch model is superb. The iBook is also more rugged than the Ti, and less prone to expensive repairs.
For a bit more money, the 1.2 GHz and higher G4 iBooks are especially well-equipped, with USB 2, at least a combo drive, 32 megabytes of video RAM, and on the last revision 1.33/1.42 GHz machines, 512 megabytes of RAM soldered to the motherboard (expandable to 1.5 GHz), plus Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor and Scrolling Trackpad technology, and a RADEON 9550 graphics processor unit fully supporting Core Image in OS 10.4 Tiger.
But even G3 iBooks are no slouch. My late 2002, 700 MHz, 12-inch unit has been an excellent performer, and still does an amazingly competent job of running OS 10.4 Tiger, even with its modest 16 megabytes of VRAM and RADEON 7000 gpu. In 43 months of use, 34 of them as my main production machine, it has never missed a beat. Absolutely one of the best computers I’ve owned. I still like it a lot and enjoy using it. The 17-inch PowerBook that replaced it as my number one machine is wonderful, but the iBook’s trim size still appeals to be greatly.
But what about all those motherboard failures? - you might ask. A pertinent question, and undeniably, a percentage of these machines had serious issues in that regard. I’ve heard from users that have had up to for logic boards replaced under either AppleCare or the extended service program Apple had in place for a while covering certain G3 dual USB iBook models. On the other hand, my 700 MHz unit is statistically one of the most, if not the most trouble-plagued model, and mine has been flawless for going on four years, so the problems are definitely not universal. On the other hand, it’s definitely something to consider before purchasing a G3 WhiteBook especially. There is a roll-of-the-dice dynamic that obtains.
The G4 models have not been entirely problem-free (what mass-produced product is?) But their record has been much better than their G3 predecessors’ was. My daughter’s 1.2 GHz iBook is closing in on two years of service with no troubles, and she doesn’t treat her laptop gently. That one spent last summer touring Europe in a backpack, and is now with its owner in Japan.
The dual USB iBook has some shortcomings to be sure. The keyboard, is in a word, mediocre, and some of the ones used in the G4 models have an issue with letters flaking off the key caps in addition to indifferent key action. There is no PC Card slot, which won’t bother a lot of users, but is a pain if you need it to, for example, add a USB 2 adapter or somesuch. The G3 models can only support up to 640 megabytes of RAM, which I find less than what I would prefer for running Tiger.
(Note: The 12” PowerBook, which, like the iBook, was manufactured for Apple by Asustek, and shares much of the same engineering, has a much better keyboard than the iBook , and a number of other high-end PowerBook features. Prices on the early revision 867 MHz and 1 GHz 12” PowerBooks are quite reasonable these days, and they are also well worth considering for laptop buyers on a budget).
No iBook is processor-upgradable, but there are some other sorts of hotrodding tweaks that can be applied to update and enhance the performance of dual USB iBooks.
Arguably, the most cost effective step to better performance in to upgrade your RAM, maxing it out in an iBook if you can manage. G3 iBooks can support up to 640 MB. The G4 Models go all the way up to 1.254 GB or 1.5 GB depending on how much is soldered to the motherboard.
For available iBook RAM upgrades, the most convenient place to check out availability and compare prices is at RAMSeeker:
http://www.ramseeker.com/
Other World Computing has a comprehensive selection of iBook RAM here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Models.cfm?stype=Memory&0509
A lot of the G3 iBook models and even some of the early revision G4s came with plain-vanilla CD-ROM drives, which is a nuisance if you need to install software (such as OS 10.4 Tiger) that ships on DVD media, or just want to watch DVD movies or access archived files stored on burned DVDs. Or perhaps you have a Combo drive equipped iBook and would like to be able to burn DVDs.
Happily, several vendors supply Combo or SuperDrive upgrades for the white iBooks.
MCE Technologies sells a slot-loading SuperDrive DVD-burning optical drive upgrade designed for the tray-loading white iBook G3 or G4 for $129.
Compatible with All iBook G3 and G4 (Tray-Loading/Dual USB) Systems. For more information, visit:
http://www.mcetech.com/products.html
FastMac has Combo Drives for G3 iBook Dual USB models for $179.95.
For G4 iBooks there are even more attractive options - a Combo Drive 24x for $109.95, and a SuperDrive 8x Dual-Layer for $149.95. More information here:
http://store.fastmac.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=drive+ibook
TechRestore has a variety of Superdrive DVD-R Upgrades for and iBook G4 Systems ranging in price from $119.99 to $179.99. You can check them out here:
http://www.techrestore.com/xcart/home.php?cat=256
A higher capacity, faster hard drive can also give your iBook a new lease on life.
TechRestore offers Overnight laptop upgrades from any location in the continental U.S. Prices include overnight pickup of your laptop, installation, data transfer and return overnight shipping, and will also send your old drive back to use as a backup.
60GB 5400 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$149.00
80GB 5400 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$179.00
60GB 7200 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$199.99
100GB 5400 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$219.99
120GB 5400 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$229.99
80GB 7200 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$239.99
100GB 7200 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$289.99
160GB 5400 RPM Nationwide Overnight Laptop Hard Drive Upgrade Service with installation and data transfer
$329.00
For more information, visit:
http://techrestore.com/xcart/home.php?cat=255
MCE Technologies also sells hard drive upgrades and notes:
“The hard drive in the iBook is not end-user, or even dealer/service center, upgradable. Just accessing the hard drive bay is a job involving the removal of over two-dozen screws, hex-nuts, plastic parts, and very small, sensitive, electronic components. If the proper level of anti-static protection is not maintained and the take-apart procedure not properly documented then a successful upgrade is nearly impossible.... Fortunately, we have the facilities and can perform the upgrade for you. MCE offers an iBook hard drive upgrade program.”
All of the upgrades listed below include the hard drive, installation, and data transfer from the original hard drive to the new hard drive. Once the upgrade has been completed the computer will be returned according to the shipping option selected at the time of ordering.
MCE 40 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $189.00
MCE 60 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $209.00
MCE 80 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $239.00
MCE 100 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $289.00
All 5400 RPM
From the time MCE receives the iBook to the time they ship it back out is generally 1-2 business days.
For more information, contact:
MCE Technologies
30 Hughes, Suite 203
Irvine, CA 92168
MCE telephone: (949) 458-0800
or visit:
http://www.mcetech.com/products.html
Other World Computing also offers a wide variety of hard drive upgrades that will fit the iBook, but you’ll have to arrange for installation. For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/
If, notwithstanding MCE Tech’s caveat, you think you have the skill and patience to tackle the job yourself, or want more information to help determine whether you do or not, check out iFixIt.com’s free illustrated teardown guide for the iBook here:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/
IFixIt also has a selection of parts and upgrade items for the iBook here:
http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/
The dual USB iBook has an advertised battery life of up to six hours, but you can do better than that these days with a high-capacity battery replacement from http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?cPath=56&products_id=234 Fastmac/TruePower ($99.00 - 14% to 18% longer life) or http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook/batteries/
Other World Computing/Newer Technology offer various 45.5 watt-hour, 55.5 watt-hour, 59 Watt-Hour, 71 Watt-Hour, and 74 Watt-Hour High Capacity batteries for dual USB iBooks available from $99.95/$139.99 and offering up to 50% more capacity than the standard Apple battery. For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook/battery/ibook-g3-g4-12inch/
and
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook/battery/ibook-g3-g4-14inch/
The white iBooks are going to be around for quite a while yet providing excellent service to their owners. As you’ve probably guessed, I’m a fan of these machines. I think that the form factor of the 12” model in particular (along with the slightly smaller and sleeker 12” PowerBook) pretty much hits the sweet spot between “big enough for serious work” and portability, and with a bit of upgrading, they can still hold their own quite nicely.
Find the lowest price on a new or refurbished Mac at PCPrices/Mac.