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Coolest 68k Powerbooks to own?
- Thread starter ironhalo
- Start date
I personally think a PB180 with a working screen is a unique piece of vintage tech that is hard to beat. The screen is the thing; until you have seen one of those in full glory, you’ve not understood the appeal. It is simply magnificent. AND it is actually more legible outdoors in full sun, backlight off, than it is indoors. It’s like having the gem-like screen of a Compact Mac on steroids.
Yes, they get tunnel syndrome, but they don’t all get it. So, find one that doesn’t have the tunnel problem.
I sold a 180 a few years ago to a local collector. It was perfect. Was trying to get the clutter under control. Made myself a couple hundred or some such, but I regret, regret, regret doing so!
Yes, they get tunnel syndrome, but they don’t all get it. So, find one that doesn’t have the tunnel problem.
I sold a 180 a few years ago to a local collector. It was perfect. Was trying to get the clutter under control. Made myself a couple hundred or some such, but I regret, regret, regret doing so!
I've been trying. It's really really hard, nearly all of them have tunnelling.
I haven't seen a single person in the past couple years with a tunnel vision-free 180. There are a good handful of unaffected 170s still, but the later grayscale panels seem to be getting them nearly 100% of the time now.
Honestly, the tunnel vision problems, cap leakage issues / other logicboard failures and general unreliability of 68k PowerBooks are what keeps me away from them. I don’t have any in my collection and I’ve been through a few over the years, a 100, 540c, 145, 165c, probably others I’ve forgotten.
I think it’s pretty fair to say any 68k PowerBook could become a moderately difficult repair project so it’s good to be sure that’s what you’re looking for.
I know it’s not as fun or classic and can’t run System 7 but a Pismo is where it’s at if you just want a PowerBook that can run Mac OS and run most old games/software, they are reliable and easy to find.
I think it’s pretty fair to say any 68k PowerBook could become a moderately difficult repair project so it’s good to be sure that’s what you’re looking for.
I know it’s not as fun or classic and can’t run System 7 but a Pismo is where it’s at if you just want a PowerBook that can run Mac OS and run most old games/software, they are reliable and easy to find.
...cap leakage issues / other logicboard failures and general unreliability of SE/30s are what keeps me away from them.
Not to dis the SE/30 (or 68k PowerBooks) but these old Macs are just that - old - so, routine TLC and preventative maintenance comes with the territory. For me, my 68k PB faves are my PB 100s [which I've just begun the process of restoring & re-capping - one has already gone to another member here] and my PB 180C - which recently had a screen re-cap and is looking great! A couple photos :
That 180C shot does not do the screen justice... so here it is close up :
The 180c LCD really is fantastic. There does seem to be a huge price spike for these on eBay currently though, despite them being pretty common. Hopefully they crash soon…
Touché.
Yes, a buyer shouldn't get an old Mac with an expectation of no problems of any kind. Preventative maintenance and repair tasks come with the hobby these days. I just prefer keeping an SE/30 going vs. a PowerBook but others may differ. I suppose the analog board in compacts makes for a rather frustrating thing if they decide to go wonky... and let's not mention the weak RAM slots and weak ROM slots on SE/30 logicboards either.
It certainly cannot be argued that the 180c display is rather hard to beat for anything of that age and Mac OS looks really great on it.
Now running 14MB RAM?
Not yet... got distracted with the PB 100 restoration, my PM8500 upgrade to dual 604s + BeOS, some early version BlueSCSI & SCSI2SD shenanigans (which impacted the PM8500 u/g
) ... so ... haven't popped open the 180C to fit that shiny new RAM card. Getting close, though, re-capping the screen on my other PB 180C so will have them both at full RAM soon! 
Where did you get the 180c RAM from?
I've got a panel from a 140 that I'd be willing to sell; it's been recapped but I think it is starting to have a small amount of dead pixels. Last time I checked it still works.
Not quite. It’s got no ADB, a horrible LCD, weird IDE interface and it suffers from many of the same reliability issues that plagued the 140-180.
There’s a certain irony here, you have the holy grail of a tunnel vision free 180, but it’s so coveted that it can’t be fully enjoyed for fear of it degrading.
My oven baked 180 LCD is decently usable but far from perfect, so I don’t mind wearing it out.
Maybe the best plan is to have two of every machine you like - one that’s pristine that you don’t use, and one that’s a bit more rough and ready that you enjoy using.
Sorry, my sarcasm to text failed here. My 180 has tunnel vision and as per what most people see its takes some number of minutes for it to affect use. My poor attempt at a joke was if I only use it for 2 minutes I can pretend it does not have tunnel vision. Guess I’m not quitting my day job for comedy!
