Interesting Ibook g3 500

[Unknown_K]

Won an Ibook G3-500 first model (64MB RAM, 10GB HD). The interesting thing about it was that it seemed to be 100% stock with IE5 preview edition installed on OSX 10.0.3 4P13 like it just left the factory. Was sold as dead and not charging but boots fine and battery is charging (no idea how good it is). Snagged it for the screen but it cleaned up very nice so will keep it intact (has 512MB RAM upgrade).

Most machines you get these days have a much newer OS on them (too new sometimes) so I wonder if somebody got this new and never used it or just did a reinstall from the OEM CDs.

What do you guys use for an OS on this type machine (10.3?) My other 500 is OS 9.2.2.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

That'll run Tiger okay with a little more RAM, it's basically a 12" Pismo.

 

[Unknown_K]

576MB is maxed on that model. Didn't even come with an airport card (was optional), very first bottom of the line model. Probably should just go OS 9 on it like the other one.

 

[Cory5412]

I would probably also run OS 9 on it. I had Tiger running on one briefly, and it was terrible. It was only usable to open an app and print, and it was used at the time as a cheap method to control prints to a very expensive printer.

Panther or Jaguar might be nice, and if you kept it offline, that early version of OS X would be a neat oddity, but in terms of actually doing stuff with it, I'd just wipe the drive and put OS 9 on it.

Did you get the install media with it? If not, you may consider (if it's reasonable)_ replacing the hard disk, for 1) performance 2) so you can preserve the original configuration, easily.

 

[joewhk]

If you have other Tiger-running Macs around, I'd just leave it as is for historical reasons. The idea is like "This is what it is when it was launched in 2001" and, yeah, to see the "oddity" as Cory mentioned above. 

 

[Unknown_K]

I have a stack (probably 3 feet tall) of spare working IDE laptop drives, when you collect laptops they tend to come in handy.

Generally anything pre OSX 10.3 is unusable and 10.3/10.4x suck with that rage video chip and 8MB of RAM plus low RAM ceiling. Since I do have another working Ibook g3 500 with OS 9 I will probably leave it as is for now, or remove the HD and install another (kind of a pain on those models) if needed. I have a few ibook and Powerbook G4's around for a usable OSX 10.4.11 experience if needed.

No install media just the laptop and some dirt. Ebay find for $10 shipped The battery is an aftermarket one from 2005 that still charges ( no idea how long it lasts). Seems like this model had major issues from the factory, luckily this one works.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

The 500/600's aren't so bad, it's the later models with the Radeon that are doomed to fail, the chip bakes off the board. The first white iBooks and the last G4 ones are the only ones that are mostly 'safe'.

 

[Macdrone]

just remember the G4 ibooks the wifi kernel panic issue.  I have seen it a bunch but have not taken one apart enough to find if its the motherboard or airport card issue.

 

[Unknown_K]

How common are those kernel panics? I have a couple g4 Ibooks and never noticed one. Also have a newer g3 ibook coming (got it because it was faster then the 500 I have, not sure what speed it is actually).

 

[Macdrone]

the 1.33 and 1.42 Ive seen 12 out of 16 so far.  I still have 2 that both have the issue as I was really gonna try and fix them.  If airport is disabled the issue goes away.

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

Never noticed that on my 1.42. You sure it's not shutting down because of the defective Reed switch they all seem to develop? I had big issues with mine until I unplugged it.

 

[Macdrone]

reed switch? not sure but kernel panics happened when accessing airport  card/functions.  beyond that, i never have had time to open them up.

 

[Unknown_K]

My latest G3 Ibook showed up, its a 900mhz with 32MB VRAM (final model). Wiped the password protected OSX 60GB HD and installed OS 9 forever on it (OS 9.2.2). The optical drive tray keeps ejecting (with a cd/dvd or empty) what's wrong with it ( Sony CD-RW CRX820E)?

Oh yea, while the unit cleaned up nicely but the keyboard needs another bath (ick). Also there is a crack in the hinge plastics so the lid is slight ajar (still latches).