Getting the Most Out of the Clamshell iBook
Charles Moore
- 2006.08.14 -
Tip Jar
"I'm kind of looking for a laptop just like this one right now, but
I went to the Apple site and can't find it on there," the reader's
email said.
The "laptop just like this one" in the JPEG attachment was a
tangerine 300 MHz
iBook, one of the original models from way back in 1999, so it was
no mystery why it couldn't be found on Apple's website. The query is
testimony to the enduring appeal of these machines.
"Unique" is an overworked adjective,
but in the case of the clamshell iBook, it's justified. There's never
been anything quite like it before or since.
Used iBooks
I was able to direct the reader to Wegener Media, which
currently has 300 MHz iBooks available for a reasonable $229.99. You
can also have an Airport wireless card installed for $109.99, 256 MB of
RAM for $29.99, 512 MB for $99.99, and a new 4000 mAh battery for
$79.99.
However, it's possible to do even better than that if you shop
around. Last week,Charles Webb wrote about finding a clamshell iBook
for his 14-year-old cousin with with 128 MB of RAM, a 6 GB hard drive,
and an Airport card - all for a measly $120 (see Clamshell iBook Still a Fun and Practical
Notebook).
You'll have to dig a bit for such bargains, perhaps on eBay. While used and refurbished dual USB
iBooks (both G3 and G4 models) are prolifically available from online
resellers, clamshell iBooks are relatively rare on the commercial used
laptop market.
Limitations
There are presumably a lot of these machines out there, still giving
their owners great service, but with non-upgradable G3 processor power
of 300 MHz to 466 MHz, 4-8 MB of video RAM, and limited expansion
potential, the clamshell iBook is no more than barely adequate for
running OS X - and indeed only officially supported by OS X
10.4 Tiger on the last ("Paris" or Sept. 2000) revision 366 MHz and 466 MHz machines with
FireWire. (See our Guide to G3
iBooks for a quick comparison of the various clamshell iBook
configurations.)
Another shortcoming is the 12" 800 x 600 screen, which is okay for
working with text, but not really satisfactory in this day and age.
However, if you can live with the small display and your power
requirements are modest, the clamshell iBook still has its charms, and
there are a few hot rodding tweaks that can be employed to enhance its
performance.
For example, some people aren't aware that the clamshell's single
SDRAM slot will accommodate a 512 MB chip, since Apple's official specs
list a 256 MB maximum. Indeed, the original maximum RAM spec Apple
cited for the 300 MHz iBook was 160 MB!
However, Apple used to frequently understate maximum RAM capacity
for its portable products (after all, they didn't want to claim they
worked with memory densities that didn't yet exist and couldn't be
tested). For example, the official maximum RAM configuration for the
Pismo PowerBook is 512
MB, but I have 640 MB installed in mine, and you can go up to 1 GB
with two 512 MB DIMMs.
The original 1999
iBook featured 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
FastMac ($109.95 with 41% longer life) or Other
World Computing (65 watt-hour and 71 watt-hour - 50% more capacity
- available for $109.99 and $129.99 respectively).
The original clamshell iBook featured a 12.1" TFT display, a
built-in 56K modem and 10/100Base-T ethernet networking, a single USB
port, and a built-in 24x CD-ROM drive. The "Revision B" iBooks
(unveiled in Tokyo in February 2000) came with 64 MB of RAM and a 6 GB
hard drive - up from the not really adequate 32 MB and 3.2 GB of the
original model.
There was, however, quite a lengthy list of features that the iBook
did not have, including:
- No PC Card slots
- No video out (added on the Sept. 2000/Paris models)
- No expansion bay
- No SCSI or FireWire ports (also added on the Sept. 2000/Paris
models)
- Only one USB port
- No microphone or sound-in port
- No IRDA
- No stereo speakers
- No DVD support (added on the Sept. 2000, Paris SE models)
Unfortunately, none of this stuff is upgradable (except for the
optical drive, and that with considerable difficulty), so the most
desirable clamshell iBooks are the "Paris" models, which had an AV
video-out port and a new composite video port, but output video to TV
through a special cable, and FireWire, especially the SE model with its
DVD drive.
The Paris iBooks also got speed bumps to 366 MHz and 466 MHz for the
basic iBook and the iBook SE, respectively, and used IBM's PowerPC
750cx processor, which used less power than the 750 G3 of the earlier
models (about 4W at 400 MHz vs. 7W).
The 750cx also has an integrated 256 KB level 2 (L2) cache running
at full CPU speed, albeit the size of cache was reduced from the
original iBook's 512 KB cache.
Additionally, the Paris models have an ATI Rage Mobility 128 video
card with 8 MB of VRAM, 10 GB hard drives (and optional 20 GB
units), and, as noted, are the only clamshell model officially
supported by OS X 10.4.
If you are enamored of the case design of the clamshell iBook with
its two-tone color schemes and fold-out carrying handle, the Paris
models are definitely the best choice performance- and
connectivity-wise - if you can find one at a reasonable price.
For available iBook RAM upgrades, the most convenient place to check
out availability and compare prices is at ramseeker. Currently prices are
averaging around $90 for 512 MB and $25-30 for 256 MB.
Hard Drive Upgrades
As for hard drive upgrades, as upgrade vendor MCE Technologies 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
- MCE 60 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $209
- MCE 80 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $239
- MCE 100 GB iBook Hard Drive Upgrade - $289
All 5400 rpm
From the time MCE receives the iBook to the time they ship it back
out is generally 1-2 business days.
TechRestore
offers overnight laptop upgrades from any location in the continental
US. 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.
- 60 GB 5400 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $149
- 80 GB 5400 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $179
- 60 GB 7200 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $199.99
- 100 GB 5400 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $219.99
- 120 GB 5400 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $229.99
- 80 GB 7200 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $239.99
- 100 GB 7200 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $289.99
- 160 GB 5400 rpm nationwide overnight laptop hard drive upgrade
service with installation and data transfer, $329
Other World Computing also
offers a wide variety of hard drive upgrades that will fit the
clamshell iBook, but you'll have to arrange for installation.
If 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 clamshell iBook. IFixIt also has a selection of
parts and upgrade items for the clamshell.
While the mostly non-upgradable clamshell iBook is not an ideal
candidate for serious hot rodding, maxing out the RAM and getting a
bigger, faster hard drive and higher capacity battery will extend their
useful life.
However, if you're not especially attached to the clamshell form
factor, I would suggest giving careful consideration to selling your
machine and picking up a used or refurbished dual-USB iBook as an
alternative. The bottom line cost might not be much higher than
upgrading your present machine and you'll have a faster machine.
Appendix
Clamshell iBook Specs
- 300-MHz PowerPC G3 processor; 512K level 2 backside cache on
processor module
- 66-MHz system bus
- 32 MB of SDRAM - upgradable to 544 MB
- 3.2 GB IDE hard drive
- 24x CD-ROM
- One 12 Mbps USB 1.1 port
- Built-in 10/100Base-T ethernet
- Built-in 56K modem supporting K56flex and V.90 standards
- Optional 11 Mbps AirPort wireless networking card
- Single built-in mono speaker; 16-bit stereo sound output
minijack
- 4 MB of video memory
- 2D/3D graphics acceleration through ATI RAGE Mobility graphics
controller with 2x AGP
- 12.1" (diagonal) built-in TFT SVGA active-matrix display, offering
640 x 480 and 800 x 600 resolution with millions of colors
- Lithium-ion; 45-watt-hour battery; up to 6 hours of battery
life
- full-size keyboard
- Solid-state Apple trackpad supports tap, double-tap, and drag
capabilities
- Width: 13.5 inches (34.4 cm)
- Height: 11.6 inches (29.4 cm)
- Average depth: 1.8 inches (4.6 cm); depth ranges from 1.24 inches
(3.15 cm) at the thinnest point to 2.06 inches (5.2 cm) at the thickest
point;
- Weight: 6.7 pounds (3.0 kg)
- PowerPC G3 microprocessor running at a clock speed of 300 or 366
MHz.
- 512 KB backside L2 cache
- 64 MB of SDRAM - expandable up to 576 MB
- Hard drive with a capacity of 6 GB.
- CD-ROM drive with 24x speed
- 12.1" TFT display with SVGA (800 x 600) resolution.
- 4 MB of video RAM supports millions of colors - ATI RAGE Mobility
graphics controller with 2x AGP
- Lithium ion battery - battery life under normal use is up to 6
hours.
- One USB 1.1 port
- Built-in modem with 56 Kbps data rate.
- Built in ethernet port for 10Base-T and 100Base-TX
- Internal wireless AirPort LAN module available as a build-to-order
option or as a user-installable upgrade.
- Built-in mono speaker and a stereo headphone jack.
- Integrated trackpad includes tap/double tap and drag features.
- Weight: 3.0 kg (6.6 pounds) with the battery installed.
- 34.4 cm (13.5 inches) wide x 29.4 cm (11.6 inches) deep.
- Thickness varies from 3.1 to 5.2 cm (1.24 to 2.06 inches); the
average thickness is 4.6 cm (1.8 inches).
- Active-matrix 12.1" color display (800 x 600)
- Lithium Ion battery (up to 6 hours use)
- tappable trackpad
- built-in mono speaker
- 10/100Base-T ethernet
- Built-in 56k Fax/Modem
- 16-bit stereo sound output
- 24x CD-ROM drive
- 10 GB HD
- One USB port
- One FireWire port
- Maximum RAM: 576 MB (64 MB standard)
- PowerPC 750cx (G3) 366 MHz
- 66 MHz System Bus
- 256 KB on-chip L2 cache
- ATI RAGE Mobility 128 graphics accelerator with 8 MB of SDRAM
- Optional Airport wireless networking
- Carrying handle
- Weight: 6.7 pounds
- Active-matrix 12.1" color display (800 x 600)
- Lithium Ion battery (up to 6 hours use)
- tappable trackpad
- built-in mono speaker
- 10/100Base-T ethernet
- Built-in 56k Fax/Modem
- 16-bit stereo sound output
- 6x DVD-ROM drive
- 10 GB HD (20 GB optional)
- One USB port
- One FireWire port
- Maximum RAM: 576 MB (64 MB standard)
- PowerPC 750cx (G3) 466 MHz
- 66 MHz System Bus
- 256 KB on-chip L2 cache
- ATI RAGE Mobility 128 graphics accelerator with 8 MB of SDRAM
- Optional Airport wireless networking
- Carrying handle
- Weight: 6.7 pounds
