eBay'ed a PowerBook 180. What to do next?

[TheNixer]

I parted ways with $100 for a PowerBook 180 that came in the mail Saturday. I know it sounds like a lot for an old PowerBook but I wanted the 180b specifically and this one looked pristine. I didn't want a clunker - and I was thankful to not get a clunker. This is my first "retro" Power Book and I've got to say I'm thrilled with it. So much that I'm considering getting rid of my space hungry compact Mac's. It looks fantastic. It still has the back port cover, no scratches, scuffs or chips. The screen is immaculate, the floppy works, even the battery works for about an hour! The hard drive is making a funny sound every so often so I imagine I'll have it open sooner or later to address it. It's a stock 4mb. with 100mb hard drive. It even came with a nifty Apple multi-color case.

For anyone who's got a vintage PowerBook, I'd like some advice.

(1) I've heard there are two capacitors behind the screen that need replacing. Anyone know what they are? Done it before? Like I said, the screen is immaculate. I'd like to keep it looking fresh.

(2) Does it take the standard size PRAM battery? Is it soldered in or does it have a slot?

(3) Hard drive. I know these things are pricey to find in the wild. Anyone used a CF in one?

Thanks for any and all help guys. Much appreciated.

 

[beachycove]

The capacitor issue seems to affect passive matrix screens, but the 180's active matrix screen is by definition different. It is also finicky for some reason (blackening edges and eventual unusability afflicting some units). I would be inclined to let sleeping dogs lie rather than tinker, as long as it works.

The existing backup battery may well be viable. They often are in the 100-series machines, but they cannot charge unless the main battery reaches terminal voltage. So it is a better idea to buy a main battery first and then see how things look.

SCSI to CF cards have been available, as have SCSI to IDE adapters. Expect to pay another $100, if you can find them. I think ARtmix on eBay has them occasionally. Or, you could just buy a broken Duo or 500-series machine and harvest the hard drive, which in the later models is typically a 230mb drive or some such. You really don't need much more than that.

I love my 180, and my 270c, which has the same screen technology. The early active matrix screens were just gems.

 

[TheNixer]

My worst fears are already being realized. After using the 180b for a few hours this afternoon I noticed the corners getting darker (picture attached). I read through some old threads but there really was no definitive fix for the problem. It seems replacing the original capacitors could only do the 180b some good but I'm concerned it won't fix the video issues. I hope this laptop comes apart easily. I don't want any pry marks or scratches added to what is a very pristine case.

 

[Byrd]

After a few hours of use, the slight vignetting on your PB180 is actually exceptionally good. Many PB170 active matrix displays (I'm not sure if the PB180 has the same display) get this effect after a few minutes of use, to a much greater degree (almost like looking through a tunnel).

As the capacitor replacement in these displays is still not a confirmed fix in my mind, I wouldn't do any repairs at all at this stage.

 

[beachycove]

The tunnel syndrome behaviour is something that kicks in shortly after booting. Blackness (not a shadow) spreads from the corners first, then from all the edges towards the centre, so that it creeps completely across the screen in about 20 mins., with the result that the machine is unusable for more than a few minutes at most. It is documented in posts here and there on discussion groups going back as long as a decade, so I doubt that the trouble is capacitors. Certainly, there is no known fix.

It it doesn't go any further than it has there, I'd not worry too much just yet.

 

[TheNixer]

Guys, thanks for the replies. Much appreciated. So are ALL active matrix displays affected by this problem or just some? And while the passive matrix displays aren't as stunning do they have this problem at all? How about the color active matrix display of the 180c? I would assume it to be worse. I actually found an online source for a new active matrix grayscale display for this PowerBook 180b, assuming they are actually in stock. I sent them an inquiry about it. It's a little pricey but it's purchasable. I also saw a thread where it was mentioned moisture may have entered the screen. I suppose this could also affect old stock, unused displays depending on how they were stored.

 

[beachycove]

Some, not all, early active matrix screens only are affected. However, what you have does not actually look like the problem described -- or if it is, it is an exceedingly mild form of it.

The active matrix colour screens are smaller and therefore less of a pleasure to work on. They also seriously impact on battery life if that is any concern.

 

[J English Smith]

Yeah, seriously, I'd leave that alone unless it gets worse. I think that looks in great shape for being 20 years old!

My two PB150s are holding up so far, but they are about 5 years more recent...

 

[TheNixer]

Well, I thought I had a source for a new old stock screen from VIS in the UK. After talking with them more I found out it was just a pull from another machine. That does me little good, considering they wanted $100 US dollars shipped. If it had been a sealed screen I might have bit on it and put it in another 180c that was worse just to see how it handled.

I'll take the advice and not take the machine apart. I'll just enjoy what I've got. Thanks all!

 

[Whitesnake]

Do you know if a PowerBook 180c screen can be fitted to a 180? and will you get the full 256 colour?

My PowerBook 180 screen is failing from the black tunnelling problem :disapprove:

 

[LCGuy]

Can't be done - despite the similar name (and specs), the guts of the 180 and 180c are actually very different to each other.

 

[Whitesnake]

Damn, :-/ I really wish there was a way to fix this tunnelling screen problem.

I just picked up a PowerBook 170 and that has the same problem.

From what I can tell it seems like a guarantee that you will get this problem from the 170 or 180.

 

[register]

PB 180_b_ ?

 

[nvdeynde]

(2) Does it take the standard size PRAM battery? Is it soldered in or does it have a slot?

The Pram battery can be replaced: it's a coin Panasonic Vanadium Pentoxide rechargeable battery VL2330 HFE of 3 volts. It's on the interconnect board and with a bit of soldering easy to replace.

As for 2.5" SCSI Hard drives: well good one's are very hard to find. You can buy non-working powerbooks on Ebay or so and hope the hard drive is still good but experience has learnt chances are slim the hard drive inside is still good.

Always test your hard drives with Apple HD SC Setup or another low level formatter like FWB to be sure the drive has no bad sectors.

If you can pick a brand: go for IBM, 2nd choice would be the larger Connor drives.

Nico