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Bondi Clamshell!

Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
I was cleaning my bedroom today, and when I was taking stuff downstairs I saw my iBook. I've had it for a few years, and it works but needs some cleaning, a new battery, and a replacement power adapter (it came with a generic third party adapter that doesn't fit well enough). Apparently there are new clamshell batteries available on Newegg, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them? I have zero soldering skills or equipment, so rebuilding one myself is impractical at the moment.

Pictures are here, I didn't realize how big they were until I tried to insert them into this post and I'm too tired to resize and reupload them!  :lol:

 

sfiera

Well-known member
Action Retro did a video here: 






TL;DW: works, but didn't seem to retain the advertised capacity. He said he was going to try to exchange it, to see if the problem was the one battery or the seller, but I didn't see a follow-up video yet.

 

Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
I saw that video, and read in the comments that he did exchange it and the replacement worked perfectly. So I'm leaning towards that option, but want to know if anyone more knowledgeable than me has input. :)

I'm also confused on what power adapter is the best option. The white bricks all look like the one I have that doesn't fit, and trying to find an original yoyo adapter (which is what I'd ideally like) is just confusing thanks to the two different designs.

 

Byrd

Well-known member
The OEM white Apple adapters have a smaller DC plug to fit later iBook G3 (snow) and above 'Books.  You are looking for the yoyo or earlier power brick designed for PowerBook G3s.  The yoyo power bricks are not known for their longevity and prone to fail; to be honest I'd look for a replacement new adapter from a reputable source - not the eBay HK ones, but one sold via a local seller that has good reports.

 

Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
The OEM white Apple adapters have a smaller DC plug to fit later iBook G3 (snow) and above 'Books.  You are looking for the yoyo or earlier power brick designed for PowerBook G3s.  The yoyo power bricks are not known for their longevity and prone to fail; to be honest I'd look for a replacement new adapter from a reputable source - not the eBay HK ones, but one sold via a local seller that has good reports.
That'd explain why I haven't been able to find a good yoyo brick! :lol:  I honestly don't know if there are any sellers in my area (southeast Wyoming), but I'll take a look. Thank you!

 

AichEss

Well-known member
I've given up on trying to find a reasonably priced yoyo adapter and don't really trust the Asian generics.

Kensington had a replacement at one time. Try model number K33079 on the Bay.

AichEss

 

Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
I've given up on trying to find a reasonably priced yoyo adapter and don't really trust the Asian generics.

Kensington had a replacement at one time. Try model number K33079 on the Bay.

AichEss
Truth! What I have is an Asian generic, and it's just... nope. Is this what I'm looking for?

Also, when looking for something else I came across Apple Rescue of Denver. It's a repair shop that also sells computers and parts, and they seem to have a pretty wide selection. I'm considering buying a SuperDisk drive from them, they have the bondi/blue variant in stock!

 

AichEss

Well-known member
Truth! What I have is an Asian generic, and it's just... nope. Is this what I'm looking for?
The "this" isn't the right one - the DC end is the smaller one for the G4 'Books.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kensington-Univ-AC-CAR-AIR-Adapter-APPLE-MAC-33079-power-charger-case-F-Ship/254210700745?hash=item3b302375c9:g:OGkAAOSwgspZubzm

has the correct DC connector.

It seems that most of the eBay listings in this category are by (sorry) yard sale/junk collectors that don't have a clue about what they list. If you have a bit of time and patience new, unopened, complete packages pop up pretty often. That way you will know what you are getting.

Don't fall for this one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Kensington-Notebook-Power-Universal-AC-Car-Air-Adapter-for-APPLE-33057/392755809348?hash=item5b72120c44:g:itgAAOSwp2xej2UN

It has been listed like forever and does NOT have AC capability.

Let me try to do this right.

These adapters come with the AC-to-DC converter and a whole lot of interchangeable DC tips for the different connections. The listers aren't knowledgeable or particular about whether or not the tip you need is in the package.

 
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Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
Let me try to do this right.

These adapters come with the AC-to-DC converter and a whole lot of interchangeable DC tips for the different connections. The listers aren't knowledgeable or particular about whether or not the tip you need is in the package.
Yeah, I noticed that. :( It's all very confusing for a power adapter noob! :lol:  What should I watch for in a listing?

 

Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
Thank you! That's extremely helpful! :D

Alright, it's apparently making me edit this post instead of making a new one. :lol:  Just to double check, does this have the right tip? I'm hoping to have at least a charger by the week after next, my crazy dream is to use the iBook as a writing machine for school (and maybe a few light games as well) and my English class starts on the eighth.

 

Papichulo

Well-known member
i use the black square 45w adapter for the powerbook g3 series made in 1998.  works on my clamshell and duo and powerbook g3

 
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Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
Awesome! :D Thank you for your help! 

I'm still on the fence about trying that battery given the $60 price tag, and I'm also wondering if there's any shot of getting a G3 on wifi in 2020 or if I'm stuck with sneakernet (which, realistically, I'll probably use most of the time anyways, but being able to say I could get online if I wanted would be cool :lol: ).

 

davidg5678

Well-known member
I'm also wondering if there's any shot of getting a G3 on wifi in 2020 or if I'm stuck with sneakernet (which, realistically, I'll probably use most of the time anyways, but being able to say I could get online if I wanted would be cool :lol: ).
This is more a matter of whether you should do it, not if you can do it. If you configure your router to not use any encryption (or an outdated standard of encryption), it will definitely work, but this is usually an all around bad idea as it exposes all of your network to neighbors, hackers, etc. You might be better off using Ethernet and some kind of wireless repeater for it. The iBook doesn't really have the ability to make use of high speed internet, so pretty much any kind of Ethernet system would work.

In terms of battery packs, I can confirm that the $60 pack is a pretty good deal. I decided to rebuild my own battery pack, and so far it has cost much more money, while proving to be incredibly difficult. (I definitely have not recently melted my battery pack ;))

 
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Juliet Elysa

Well-known member
You might be better off using Ethernet and some kind of wireless repeater for it. The iBook doesn't really have the ability to make use of high speed internet, so pretty much any kind of Ethernet system would work.
That or one of those USB adapters is what I was hoping to do, since I'd rather not take a laptop apart more than I need to! Though the USB adapters do require drivers, and I'm pretty sure they don't support OS 9 anymore so that probably wouldn't be an option... :lol:

 

davidg5678

Well-known member
That or one of those USB adapters is what I was hoping to do, since I'd rather not take a laptop apart more than I need to! Though the USB adapters do require drivers, and I'm pretty sure they don't support OS 9 anymore so that probably wouldn't be an option...
There is no need to take the laptop apart for ethernet, nor a need for a USB dongle. There is already an ethernet port you can use on the side of the computer. If you plug an ethernet cable between this port and your router, you will be online. 

I mentioned a wireless ethernet repeater, as you may wish to use your laptop somewhere other than connected directly to your router. This is a device that does the work of connecting to your modern network for the iBook and simply provides an ethernet link for you to connect to the older computer. I think something like this product would work. Before doing anything fancy though, you should probably try connecting the laptop directly to your router with an ethernet cable, just to make sure everything works.

 
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