Andy’s PowerBook Problem

[AndyO]

It began, as all stories do, a long time ago. In late 1991 in fact, when I was given a PowerBook 170 by my then boss. A portable Mac, what’s not to like? Except that I didn’t much. I used it when I had to, but desktop Macs were my thing. This continued right the way up to, and beyond, 1997, when I bought a PB1400cs, and rather disliked it ever since.

In fact I still have it, and still dislike it. I don’t really know why, but I do know that when I moved to the US in October 99, it was one thing I knew for sure I would not be taking with me. Somehow I did, and promptly forgot about until two years ago.

It was around then that I saw an eBay listing for a 145B, in pretty good working and physical condition, selling for not much at all. What, I wondered, could be wrong with just a tiny bit of grey-colored nostalgia?



And that was just the start of the problem ...

 

[AndyO]

I am, I admit, a PowerBook-aholic. I knew this when in the course of little over a year, I accumulated a PB 180, a 165, a 520c, another 165 for parts, a second 520c for parts (mostly the power supply), though otherwise it was working despite totally busted screen hinges, a 540c (which I broke trying to switch out the keyboard), 1 13-inch wall street, 2 14-inch PDQs, a 12-inch G4, 1 15-inch G4, and 2 17-inch G4s.

I also have a TiBook which I bought new in whatever year it was, but which no longer works, plus a G3 iBook, and a Graphite Clamshell (which I don't particularly like).

Then, because that's not enough, obviously, I got a PowerBook 190, which I use every day, and a 5300cs, which was listed as untested and had no power supply, but despite being amongst Apple's real low points, turned out to be in excellent working condition and just a bit scuffed. It had been through the rebuild program, and was barely used afterwards, and runs really well.

Photos of some will follow at some point, because the first rule of recovery is to admit you have a problem, and clearly I do.

 

[AndyO]

The latest is another 5300, but this one was listed on eBay for a whopping $200, quite expensive for an old joke. However, it was described as being NEW. Thinking it was too good to be true, I almost ignored it. Then, decided, perhaps I'd get it anyway, and hope it really was.

It arrived today, and appears to be as described; still sealed in it's bag, never used, and a 1997 build from the refurb/repair program.

 

[AndyO]

 

[AndyO]

I haven't unsealed it yet, so I don't even know which 5300 model it is. Likely a cs of course, but I almost don't want to open it up and find out!

I do suspect the 90-day limited warranty period may have expired though.

 

[LaPorta]

Oh good! I wanted to see what became of the still new in bag PowerBook!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

An, so I’m not the only one here with this PowerBook mania! I don’t need to list out everything I’ve got here, it’s all in my signature… Can’t wait to see what model yours turns out to be!

 

[AndyO]

Oh good! I wanted to see what became of the still new in bag PowerBook!

Hard to believe it is what the seller described it as. I might have to leave it in the bag... until the weekend maybe!

An, so I’m not the only one here with this PowerBook mania! I don’t need to list out everything I’ve got here, it’s all in my signature… Can’t wait to see what model yours turns out to be!

Ah, perhaps our own chapter for meetings then... And even after that, I forgot to include my 3 Lombards (one for parts)! I also didn't mention my 15 and 17-inch first model Intel MacBook Pros, which perhaps ought to count if I have to be totally honest about my problem!

I do actually need two of (almost) everything, because I use them and work at home and at the office. I really don't regard many of these as daily drivers for portability since they're a bit fragile. Much as I am.

 

[Byrd]

Watch those 5300 hinges when you open! They were always crap and I can just see something cracking if never opened up before.

 

[AndyO]

Yes indeed... I know the rebuilt units were a bit more robust, but this does deserve a bit of additional care!

 

[AndyO]

Of course, there's the PowerBook 190 I recently acquired too, and the Duo 230 I usually forget I even have....



The 190 is about to suffer a cracked hinge, unfortunately, so I have to keep it open and use it, for its own good. And the Duo... one of the cutest laptops ever. Awful keyboard, but still I ought to remember I own one!

 

[joshc]

I actually appreciate all this a lot, because all my experiences/attempts with PowerBooks have ended up in failure or dissapointment. I bought a 100 many years ago, and never got it working. Then I had a 540c, 5300, 170, 1400 and some others I'm probably forgetting along the way. The 540c actually worked well, and this was back when they weren't as plagued by weak plastics as they are now, I'd actually love to have that machine back, but now they are too expensive and too fragile. The 5300 actually also worked fine, but it was generally just a bit rubbish so I didn't keep it. The 170 had power issues - turns out I was using the wrong power adapter with it! (just what it came with, but it was a low power adapter and wasn't the right one for it). The 1400 was fine but had a passive matrix screen which I just can't get along with at all. The only PowerBook I might consider is a Pismo or Lombard, but otherwise I'm sticking with desktop machines.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Nice laptops! An eventual goal of mine is to get a 190cs and do a screen upgrade to a 5300c active panel. Would make a really great 68k machine! Add the Duo 230 to the recapping list, those have the same bad caps in the screen but they also have a small bundle of the little trash cans in the power circuit that really like to leak and send the wrong voltage into 5v components (iirc) and blow up the board.

 

[AndyO]

I actually appreciate all this a lot, because all my experiences/attempts with PowerBooks have ended up in failure or dissapointment. I bought a 100 many years ago, and never got it working. Then I had a 540c, 5300, 170, 1400 and some others I'm probably forgetting along the way. The 540c actually worked well, and this was back when they weren't as plagued by weak plastics as they are now, I'd actually love to have that machine back, but now they are too expensive and too fragile. The 5300 actually also worked fine, but it was generally just a bit rubbish so I didn't keep it. The 170 had power issues - turns out I was using the wrong power adapter with it! (just what it came with, but it was a low power adapter and wasn't the right one for it). The 1400 was fine but had a passive matrix screen which I just can't get along with at all. The only PowerBook I might consider is a Pismo or Lombard, but otherwise I'm sticking with desktop machines.

Oddly, I have a really don't-like-at-all feeling about my 1400. I've had it since new, and tried to leave it behind when I moved to the US 20+ years ago, but it somehow managed to get here anyway. I rarely use it, and based on my experience of it, I'd really decided I didn't want any PowerBooks now. See how that worked out!



Most of my PowerBooks have passive matrix screens, and I don't really mind them - once I get to work I don't really notice, but some are quite bad as they start up. Active matrix is notably sharper and more crisp when I use one, so I notice then!

The Wallstreet, PDQs and Lombards - not to mention G4 PBs too of course - which I have all have active matrix screens, but due to motor control issues (mine, not the computer's!) their keyboards don't really suit that well, where the older systems do.

I always preferred desktops too, but these days they don't work quite so well for what I need at home... and desk space is a bit limited at work too. I do have a truly great G4 iMac which I used at home for a while with a black switch keyboard and trackball - that was excellent until I fell into the PowerBook addiction problem.

Nice laptops! An eventual goal of mine is to get a 190cs and do a screen upgrade to a 5300c active panel. Would make a really great 68k machine! Add the Duo 230 to the recapping list, those have the same bad caps in the screen but they also have a small bundle of the little trash cans in the power circuit that really like to leak and send the wrong voltage into 5v components (iirc) and blow up the board.

Yes, it does need a recap, but I'm going to need to find someone who can do it for me. As time goes by, my motor skills have deteriorated to the point where I doubt I could manage it myself.

There's a 190cs on eBay right now that I'd be a bit tempted by, but I think it lacks a functioning keyboard and trackpad... and I don't need any more parts machines! But still, that form factor is what I really like.

 

[LaPorta]

I must say, my 1400 is the only of my PowerBooks I use. The screen is active matrix, however, and I have a G3 in it. With two rebuilt batteries, it’s a real nice travel companion.

What is it you don’t like about yours?

 

[AndyO]

I must say, my 1400 is the only of my PowerBooks I use. The screen is active matrix, however, and I have a G3 in it. With two rebuilt batteries, it’s a real nice travel companion.

What is it you don’t like about yours?

I have never really been able to decide why I don't like it, but I didn't, right from the start. Back then I wasn't really interested in portables, so it was really just a system to use on fairly regular commutes to London for meetings, but it never really fitted in with what I needed. Back then I was still doing a lot of publishing design/layout, and it felt more in the way than useful when I was using it.

I'd say I thought it was too heavy, but I once carted an Osborne 1 by train from home in Manchester to a meeting in London, and that was heavy!

I'm not too concerned with getting performance from my PowerBooks because they do what I need pretty well as they are. If and when I need anything more powerful I just move over to one of the G4s for that task, but generally the earlier 68k and PPC systems are good for what I do - they do a lot of grunt work, drafting materials away from distractions, but the final stuff is done on M1 Macs and Windows 10/11 PCs.

 

[AndyO]

The scruffier of the two PDQs, with the SCSI2SD v5.5 thumb drive mounted, prepping installers for the earlier PowerBooks. Also, two Lombards, the top one in excellent working order, despite it being described as 'selling for junk', and the bottom one the parts machine that actually works pretty well, but has really bad hinges and broken plastics.



The parts Lombard has actually been really useful testing solid state replacement drives for the Lombard above it, and the one at home, and the PDQs too.

 

[CC_333]

As time goes by, my motor skills have deteriorated to the point where I doubt I could manage it myself.

I may have asked this before, but is it anything debilitating or progressive to the point where you will eventually be fully disabled, or is it just some kind of age-related thing, like arthritis or some such?

Feel free to not answer if you feel I'm being too nosy!

c

 

[AndyO]

I may have asked this before, but is it anything debilitating or progressive to the point where you will eventually be fully disabled, or is it just some kind of age-related thing, like arthritis or some such?

Feel free to not answer if you feel I'm being too nosy!

c

Oh, no problem. It's a not untypical problem for people with autism spectrum disorders. Coupled with sometimes poor executive function, I can see exactly where I mean to put my finger or how to hold or manipulate something, but I can't make it actually work that way when I try. It's frustrating, but not usually a big deal. Sometimes I walk into doorposts too, even though I am aiming myself in between them quite properly! It's just the brain and muscles don't seem that good at coordinating themselves sometimes. Other times, it's fine.

Typing too. I can see the keys, and with a good keyboard, I can type quickly and accurately, but modern keyboards with flat, square key caps don't give me the feedback I need to locate my fingers right on the key center, so I make loads of typing errors, or have to type very slowly. Hence I'm very fussy about the keyboards I use!

It is getting a bit worse as I get older, but that's mostly just an age thing I think.

 

[CC_333]

Huh, that's an interesting problem I never thought about!

It doesn't sound to me that it's particularly debilitating, but of course, I don't experience it, so I can't know. Maybe it is?). At best, it seems that it just makes you rather clumsy at times, I guess?

Is it something that can improve somewhat through deliberate practice and exercise?

Sorry if I mangled my words a bit. Tact is not always my greatest strength.

c