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The Road Warrior Mailbag - Monday, May 19, 2008

WallStreet Power Surge Damage?

A Decade Of The PowerBook G3 Series - From The Road Warrior Archive

WallStreet Power Surge Damage?

From Bill

Hi Charles,

I use my daughter’s old WallStreet PowerBook at the office and sadly it won’t fire up. Yesterday morning before I went over, the power utility was by following up a complaint we lodged about flickering lights. The service guy disconnected us, replaced a junction or two and reconnected.  that may have fixed the flickering but....

I had it plugged into an old power bar, which I am gathering now, had no, or had lost surge protection capability.

Where is the likely downed component?  (the PB was powered down at the time.

Thinking it might be the yo yo power adapter but have no spare one to test.

Bill

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Hi Bill;

My best guess would be that if there is hardware damage, the power adapter probably got fried in the power restore surge. Hopefully, that was as far as it got.

Any Apple laptop power adapter from the PowerBook 1400 to the Pismo (including clamshell iBooks) will work with the WallStreet for testing/replacement purposes.

Actually, the adapters that shipped with the later PowerBooks and iBooks will work fine as well except they have a smaller connector at the computer. Madsonline used to make an adapter, and perhaps other vendors do as well. I’ve just spliced the correct size adapter on. Coax splices are a little tricky, but definitely possible.

Cheap power bars, even with nominal surge portection, are no guarantee.

Charles

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Re: WallStreet Power Surge Damage?

All is well, Charles

I called the Mac Store here ; a fellow suggested it might only take a reset of the built in surge protector: unplug, pop battery (which I could not do - the battery has not functioned for years anyway), hold power up button for 10 sec., plugged in and she fired right up.

Bill

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Hi Bill;

Glad to hear it was nothing too serious. I should have suggested trying a Power Manager reset.

Charles

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A Decade Of The PowerBook G3 Series - From The Road Warrior Archive

Speaking of the WallStreet, It was just over 10 years ago (May 6, 1998) that Apple iCEO Steve Jobs wowed the Apple faithful by unveiling the coolest laptop most of us had ever seen—the PowerBook G3 Series Wallstreet. More than 200,000 PowerBook G3 Series Is and Series IIs were sold during their year of production, making this model one of the most successful PowerBooks ever up to that point.

The G3 Series machines were not without some gremlins - the poorly engineered ribbon connector on the 13.3” displays, some heat sinks that worked loose, some shorted RF shielding, and a suspected batch of faulty capacitors in the power management circuit which resulted in some failures, and in a very few cases causing the units to smolder or even catch fire.

However, most PowerBook G3 Series users loved their machines, which were as close to being a full-fledged desktop computers stuffed into a portable form factor as had yet been seen. These PowerBooks could truly serve most users as an “only” computer.

With Bill’s question being our only Mailbag query this week, and the recent 10th anniversary of of the WallStreet, I’ve chosen the column I wrote after my own WallStreet arrived in January, 1999, which also includes some interesting discussion about apple’s then-lack of a thin, three-pound subnotebook. There finally is one of course, but who knew back then it would take none years to materialize?

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THE ROAD WARRIOR

Miscellaneous Ramblings (And My New G3 Is Here (Originally Published January 13, 1999)

A Road Warrior reader, John, had a succinct comment to make about my claim last week that the PowerBook G3 Series is the best portable computer ever—period.

“Bull pucky....,” said John, “only if you want to lug around a complete desktop replacement machine. If what you want is a very light, thin portable computing device that doesn’t include the kitchen sink (and there for the weight and space of the kitchen sink) you’re flat out of luck with Apple.”

When you’re right, you’re right, and John’s right. There is a big fat hole in Apple’s model lineup right now where a state-of-the-art subnotebook ought to be.

“Have you noticed the HP Sojourn?” John asked, “which is really made by Mitsubishi and their version is called a Pedion, terrible name but…

“It’s less than 3lbs, and .7 inches thin. Yes, there are compromises like no built in CD-ROM or floppy on the base unit, but it is very light and small. Much easier to carry around a show floor than the G3 PowerBooks. The sad thing is that if Steve hadn’t stopped cloning, you could buy a Mac version of the Pedion.”

I have noticed, and there is also the Sony Vaio 505, the new Dell Latitude LT, and Gateway’s Solo 3100 SE, all under four pounds range and sporting a razor-thin form factor that pushes my aesthetic buttons.

The svelte Sony Vaio 505 weighs in at less than three pounds and is less than an inch thick, yet features a 10.4” TFT display, an almost full-sized keyboard, a 266Mhz Pentium processor, 32 MB of RAM, and a 4 Gig HD—all for less than $2,000.

Dell’s $2,299 Latitude LT is one inch thick, weighs 3.09 pounds, and also features a 266 MHz Pentium MMX processor, an 11.3-inch TFT screen, 64MB of RAM, and a 4.3GB hard disk drive. Apple’s not the only one with color either. The Latitude LT is powder blue with a magnesium cover.

In my ‘Books (pun intended), these little beauties exemplify the form factor Apple should be shooting for with the new subnotebook P1 [as the coming iBook was being called in the rumor orbit at the time].

The Portable 1 Website reports that Apple may release a version of the P1 without a CD-ROM or DVD drive at the thousand dollar price point. That would certainly steal the thunder from the PC compacts mentioned above price-wise. I’m skeptical that it can be done for that price, but would be happy to be proved wrong.

Portable 1 also says that “it is highly likely that the translucent white and bondi-blue mixture will be used with the P1 so that Apple can give its line of computers some sort of conformity.” I’m inclined to agree with that surmise, especially since the Blue G3 desktop introduction at MacWorld SF.

Apple really needs to get the P1 right, both to maintain the roll they’re on, and because competition is fierce in the subnotebook sector.

Mac OS Rumors reports that a PowerBook G3 Series II price cut will probably come in late February or early March, along with the introduction of at least one new speed-bumped model—likely to 366 Mhz.

The 233 Mhz low-end machine is expected to continue with a price cut to around $2199 (not really enough change to wait for if you’re shopping) while the current 300 Mhz PDQ may drop below $3,000 (by one dollar).

Look for PowerBook DVD-RAM at MacWorld Boston and Lombard by “mid-year” says MacOSRumors.

MY NEW POWERBOOK G3 SERIES II 233 ARRIVED LAST FRIDAY MORNING!

I love it.

As regular Road Warrior readers will recall, I tried out a demo G3 233 Series I (no cache/ STN display) a few weeks ago, and was favorably impressed, but this one with its 12/1” TFT screen and 512k of backside cache is a whole ‘nother dimension.

Some readers emailed to ask why I didn’t go for the 14.1” display. The short answer is $$$$$. The same machine with the 14.1” display costs about $600 Canadian dollars (plus 15% Harmonized Sales Tax) more than the 12.1.”

The other reason is that for the type of stuff I do most—text crunching—the 12.1” screen’s 800 x 600 resolution has some advantages. As reader Parker Montgomery wrote on this issue several weeks ago:

“My first PowerBook was (and is) the PowerBook G3 233 with 12.1” TFT screen—exactly the model that you prefer. I paid exactly $2250 exactly two months ago. I am absolutely delighted with it! One reason why I bought it, instead of one with 14.1” TFT, is that its ‘native’ screen resolution is 800x600. At 800x600, text on the screen is larger and
easier to read than on a 14.1” TFT at 1024x768. Much better for general use, IMHO.

“With my main desktop system (a SuperMac S900),” says Parker, “I use the Apple Studio Display, which has a viewable diagonal exactly 15.0 inches long. At its native 1024x768 resolution, text appears slightly smaller than on my PowerBook with 12” screen. But the text size is so close to that on my PowerBook that I can switch my gaze from one screen to another in rapid succession without any eyestrain.”

Someone who can really use a lot of on screen real estate for what they do with their ‘Book would of course be better off with the big, beautiful, 14.1” display. It’s not a matter of which is “better.” It’s what suits your needs (and wallet) best.

Personally, even the 12.1” seems to me like the wide open range, after wrangling in the tiny corral of my PB 5300’s 9.5” grayscale display for the past two+ years!

Speaking of the 5300, my daughter, who has taken it over, is finding it amazingly expansive and powerful compared with the Mac she had been using—a 1987 Mac Plus with 2.5 MB of RAM and a 20 MB HD, so these issues are partly a matter of perspective! I borrowed the 5300 back for half an hour last evening to transfer some files I’d left on the HD to the new ‘Book, and I still _love_ the compact size and form factor of the 5300. This will sound like heresy to some, but on the balance I think the clean-lined 5300 is still the best-looking PowerBook so far (bring on a slim-line P1, Steve—please).

However, this new G3 of mine is a great and glorious machine. On Sunday afternoon we had it (Ether) networked with my other offspring’s identical machine, listening to Enya, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton through the speakers on one while simultaneously transferring large files to the other and never missing a note.

I am really happy that I finally decided to go with the Series II TFT ‘Book rather than a leftover or refurb. Series I with a passive matrix display like the demo I tested. That was a very nice and capable machine, and the STN display is not nearly as poky as some suggest. I could have been quite comfortable with it. But the 512k of backside cache and the bright, crisp, fast TFT display propel you into another dimension.

I’ve already gotten used to the G3’s large palm rest acreage, and find them quite comfortable—better than the 5300. The keyboard is not even in the same universe as the one that is the 5300’s worst feature. The scissors-action keys are delightfully quiet and light, and have a silky-smooth feel.

As I mentioned in my recent PowerBook G3 Series I review, I’m not enchanted with the G3’s shrunken “command” key that makes room for the new “fn” key and a second “option” key to the right of the space bar and “enter” key. A second “command” key would have been more useful. I’m also not crazy about the minuscule, “inverted tee,” page action keys that some people think are an improvement over the old full size ones, or the dainty function keys which are smaller than the 5300’s none-too-large ones. I also find the volume/brightness/mute/power switches behind the keyboard small, stiff, and awkward to manipulate. I don’t like the G3’s trackpad button either, although the one on my new machine is the best among a half dozen or so G3 ‘Books I’ve checked out lately. I much prefer the 5300’s smaller, light and positive trackpad button, but most of the time I will use my two-button MacAlly mouse anyway.

The G3’s stereo speakers are a _lot_ better than the pathetic mono one in the 5300, but they still leave much to be desired. No bass response, and plenty of distortion when the level is turned up. I’m skeptical about them being upward-facing as well. We heat with wood, which is the nicest kind of heat [ )], but it does tend to create a lot of dust, which of course will inevitably settle through the speaker grilles.

The G3’s internal modem is very convenient and built-in Ethernet is wonderful, especially since this machine has no floppy drive. I’m still not sure that I can live without a floppy, but since that is the wave of the future I’m going to give it a shot. We still have three floppy-equipped Macs in the house for emergencies, and my external Zip drive is more practical for backups anyway.

I got along quite happily with 24 MB of RAM plus RAMDoubler in the 5300, so I initially thought that G3 ‘Book’s standard 32MB would be adequate for starters. It’s not. I have already ordered a 64 MB RAM upgrade, which arrived this morning, and will bring the G3’s memory up to 96 MB. That’s what the other G3 Series ‘Book in the household has, and the owner says more would be welcome (!). I think 96 should be more than sufficient for my anticipated requirements, and probably 64 MB would have been enough for now, but I’ve learned that it seems you can never really have too much RAM.

I will probably make more use of the stack of CD ROM references that I have once I get back into the habit after two years of using a CD-less machine as my daily workhorse. The 20x CD ROM drive works well, even though it sounds like a Boeing 767 taking off and vibrates alarmingly, in contrast to the completely smooth and silent old 2x Sony drive (with caddy) in my ancient desktop LC 520.

The materials and build quality of the G3 ‘Books is extremely good. My new machine was made in Taiwan, and I think the Taiwanese-built G3s have a distinct quality of finish edge over the ones I’ve used that were built in Cork, Ireland. This has been a limited comparison, but a consistent one. The plastic used in the Taiwan models is a little bit “blacker” and shinier than the Irish models, which may or may not appeal, according to individual taste. I like the slightly more matte texture of the Irish ‘Books, and the inky blackness of the Taiwan ones, so I guess some of us are just picky and hard to please.

The Modem cable door is tricky to open when the PowerBook is sitting on a flat surface, or perversely flops open when you don’t want it too. Once you get it open, the phone jack is mounted too deep inside, making it difficult to unplug phone cables. Minor aggravations, but something for Apple to work on.

I dislike the G3’s screen latch, which is also difficult to operate with the PowerBook sitting on a flat surface. The 5300’s horizontal slider screen latch is superior. The expansion bay and battery release levers work nicely, but they also have an unhappy tendency to hook clothing when the ‘Book is being carried or handled.

You can expect to hear more about my excellent adventures with the G3 ‘Book in future editions of The Road Warrior.

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As postscript, the old WallStreet is still in good working order, save for the original battery, which finally croaked last fall. The machine is now in retirement, since my wife took over our G3 iBook just before last Christmas, but it was a faithful old Road Warrior!

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cmoore@macopinion.com

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