1400c - took a punt.

[sos_nz]

I took a chance on a Powerbook 1400c at a local auction website. It was pretty much "as is, where is" and wasn't booting because the (replacement 20GB) hard drive had been wiped. No indication as to the CPU speed or amount of RAM. It also had a small crack on one of the hinge covers. No biggie.

As it was going cheap ($38USD), I figured "why not?". I was hoping I may be able to scavenge some RAM and parts from my 1400cs to make a "maxxed out" machine.

Turned out it's a 133 (slightly disappointed - was hoping for a 166. Hey - it could have even had a G3 card in it, but didn't). It also only had 16MB of RAM. Bummer. Still, the active matrix screen is nice. And my 1400cs came from Japan, so has kanji as well as English characters on its keyboard. I now have a "clean" looking English-only keypad now.

What it does have it an internal-slot Apple Video Card. Nice.

 

[bibilit]

Congrats,

The 1400 is a really nice laptop, the "C" is the better screen as well.

Just get one a couple of weeks ago myself.

 

[Byrd]

I'd look out for a 1400cs/166 and transplant the best parts into a good unit - they go for considerably less, as the passive LCD is considerably worse You might be lucky and get a piggyback RAM module too, so whatever you have now can be plugged in and get at least 32MB+ RAM.

 

[sos_nz]

Yes, thank you enablers! I am still trying to justify to my wife why it is I had two ancient mac laptops (1400c and 1400cs) disassembled on the living room floor last night. Still - that's good advice in the 166

I agree - the active matrix screen really is a looker compared with the dual (dull) scan of the 1400cs.

I'm quite happy with the combination of the two units now:

A 133Mhz 1400c, all plastic in good nick, a rebuilt 12xCD-Drive unit, 32MB RAM, an Apple Vid Card, a 4GB compact flash card, running OS 7.6.1, 8.6 and 9.02 on three different partitions.

Now if I can get around to rebuilding the battery and / or finding a good PRAM battery....

EDIT: Oooo - a 166 1400c (with a bad screen), and 50MB RAM (I'm assuming 8 on-board + 16MB + 24MB cards): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Apple-Powerbook-1400c-Works-Rare-/200993648524?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item2ecc27af8c

 

[techknight]

I have noticed the 1400C units are getting a tad pricey lately. Including that one.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Just to be officious: I don't think that's what you've done with your casual comment at all, but we don't criticize pricing or sellers, ever, we're not an eBay feedback forum. They have their own, see the rules gang.

If something is a deal, I guess it's OK to say so, so what the heck. 1400s in good shape are getting a lot rarer than they were. I don't think that's pricey at all for a 1400c/166 in that kind of shape with a CD. Who the heck needs/uses a Floppy module anway?

First, there's no hinge stress cracks in the lid that I can see, that alone is worth a lot when many of the 1400s I've seen on eBay show signs of stress failure. Both catch releases, for the Bat and Aux bay are in still place and it looks pretty darn good overall, It's not mint and small pics can hide a lot, but the seller says it's blemished outright. The only part that appears to be missing is the @$$flap. Even its Ho Chi Minhs still have some tread on them!

So what if it needs a new screen, it's got the Power Brick! :lol:

You've got to be really lucky to bottom fish a decent 1400 on the 'Bay these days, I've been watching. }

 

[techknight]

Did i mention anything about eBay in my post at all? Or a particular seller, or any seller at all? I dont think I did. I generalized.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Just to be officious: I don't think that's what you've done with your casual comment at all . . .

I said I didn't think what you did was a big deal and started off with a little joke about being officious instead of official and even added wink to that when I went about my modly duty of showing due diligence.

However you did include that particular listing as an example of one of the class of 1400s that are becoming pricey. No slapped hands here, I'm just showin' the flag for the protection of the mod squad and the 68kMLA overall, comrade.

No harm, no foul, just a gentle reminder to all. :approve:

jt

 

[techknight]

I know ;-) i realized that mistake, after i made the post. I tend to take things too seriously and skip half the words I read when my mentality changes.

 

[J English Smith]

I really do need to sell some of mine, I am not using them since I got so deep into Pismos. I will probably list some in the sale area later things month. I do love the keyboard and screens, they are nice machines. Better to use at home as they are fairly heavy!

 

[unity]

I really need to dig into my PowerBook/MacBook inventories. But the 1400 is one I had many of at one time. Now I am down to a NOS motherboard (Apple Service Part), a few case parts and oddly the Japanese motherboard you mentioned. I have no clue how I ended up with that!

Great machine though. I had a Newer Tech video card installed with one that I decked out to the max. I don't recall clearly, but it may have even had wireless (non-apple card). One of those regrets of selling I have now. And one of those systems I will once again own, one way or another... (insert evil villain laugh)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Once I finally get through my stack of 1400's, I'll be listing parts, RAM etc. from the units with the dreaded stress cracked lids.

 

[techknight]

I need the case. Upper/Lower if you run across one.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I've got plenty of everything except the lid tops prone to those nasty stress cracks. That'd be why I have plenty of the other three pieces. :-/

 

[techknight]

cracks havent formed in mine... YET....

But they tore the bottom case all to pieces, broke all the plastic, and everything getting the HDD out. So the speaker cover, top piece, and bottom piece are all broken to pieces.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

You're officially on the list, Good bit of luck that, you've got the hardest of the pieces in good shape!

I got three 2300s like that. I think maybe I got two good screens and two good MoBos out of that mess. All three had snipped apart TrackPad cables . . .

. . . heaven only knows how they got the drives out of there! 8-o