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PowerBook 550c
- Thread starter Charadis
- Start date
trigf
Well-known member
Charadis just sold the 550c on eBay last weekend. It went for $550.Thank you very much for this incredible post!
I recently told a friend that I had wanted a 550c for decades and he directed me to your post (I bought a 520 brand new back in the '90s-- and still have it).
Amazing job! Thank you very much for sharing your journey.
If you ever consider selling one, or KanjiTalk, please let me know.
Meanwhile, I'll be perusing Yahoo! Auctions and eBay for a complete system.
Check completed auctions and you can find it
Last edited by a moderator:
jasonstone
New member
Thanks trigfCharadis just sold the 550c on eBay last weekend. It went for $550.
Check completed auctions and you can find it
I had seen the auction, but didn't know that it was Charadis who was selling it-- had I known, I would have taken it more seriously.
However, I mostly passed it up because it had no manual, box, or software, and the 040 was replaced with a PowerPC. I have PowerPC upgrades on some of my other 5x0 Powerbooks.
I'll keep my eye out for something a little more complete either here or in Japan. I've looked in shops the past few times I went to Japan, but most likely the Yahoo! auctions will prove more fruitful.
Thanks again for the heads up.
Thank you very much for this incredible post!
I recently told a friend that I had wanted a 550c for decades and he directed me to your post (I bought a 520 brand new back in the '90s-- and still have it).
Amazing job! Thank you very much for sharing your journey.
If you ever consider selling one, or KanjiTalk, please let me know.
Meanwhile, I'll be perusing Yahoo! Auctions and eBay for a complete system.
I'm glad you enjoy! I've just returned from a trip overseas, and I haven't really checked this thread lately. Yes, the last 550c I've sold was fairly recently; I acquired it on Mercari Japan, taking interest on a PowerPC sticker that was placed above the screen and wondering if it was a stock sticker. Upon inspection, it turned out it was a fan-made badge that the owner probably stuck on, so I sold it not thinking it should be part of my collection.
The last complete in box set that I sold was also fairly recently. The LCD casing was damaged, but it did have the 040 installed, and a complete set of restore disks as well as a CD. A repeat buyer purchased it from me after multiple price drops and a final offer later. I've decided to thin out my collection quite a bit. I have made a complete set of disk image copies of the installation floppy disks, however, as I intended to upload those on Macintosh Garden at some point. I've just never got around to it, and with my big trip now out of the picture, I will start looking into it.
There was a set of two 550c computers on Yahoo! Auctions that ended this morning for 13,500 yen, a little more than $124:
https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/en/auction/yahoo/input/h388282911
If you are the purchaser of those computers, congratulations.
EMS shipping and all fees, including domestic shipping and proxy service, would probably put this at around $250 for total cost (but if you're not that in a hurry, it could be a little cheaper). If you haven't found one, yet, I suggest to keep looking around and checking..they'll pop up eventually. I would believe so. My Singapore model does not show any case damage, besides the usual scratching on top casing, etc. I always felt like the USA assembled models that I've had briefly in my possession seemed to show more case weakness than my Singapore model. The complete in box one had case damage on the top casing, and two other USA assembled models always had a "drooping front bezel" (bezel piece below LCD: one side, I think right side, sagged lower than the other side on all USA models. Even after I removed the bezel from one unit and reseated, one side always seemed lower).
My Singapore model has an evenly-set front bezel, but one of the swing-out feet broke the day I received it as I was trying to engage it. I've since superglued it, and found no other case issues, but I'm sure other pieces are bound to break with a little force. And time.
Haha, well, thanks! Glad to offer my input! I only own one 550c now, my first and favorite unit. It stays open as a display, which shows how much I trust the hinges/case plastics. But I boot it up every once in a while, and as long as it stays open, the hinges seem to hold up the LCD strong. A little oil on the hinges doesn't hurt...but I don't think it helps it too much, either.
AlpineRaven
Well-known member
Another 550c on ebay!
Wonder who it belongs to!...
Cheers
AP
Wonder who it belongs to!...
Cheers
AP
pcamen
Well-known member
So the one on eBay had a PPC processor. AFAIK the only benefit to a 550c is to have a full 040 processor, so didn’t see much point in that one. I believe the fastest PPC you can get for the 5xx series is a fairly slow 100MHz 601 which is IMHO not worth it; I’d rather stick with the 040 personally.
AlpineRaven
Well-known member
Yep - its slow, If you wanted 100mhz 603 - Just get PB5300.
I do have that CPU as well in 540c as well and if it had 68040 originally just stick with it.
But bonus if you have SCSI to IDE adapter and use SSD in it then its kinda different story.
Cheers
AP
register
Well-known member
I would like to add to 6502's comment, that it is highly recpmmended to use an SSD or other Flash Memory to replace the primary hard disk drive in any (vintage or not so vintage) computer you would like to put into frequent use. Even a ten years old Macbook benefits so very much from fast mass storage, that it remains usable as an everyday computer for most tasks up till today. To get some inspiration, you might consider to look into the Wiki article SCSI hard disk replacement options. The PB5xx series has an internal IDE connector and also an SCSI host adapter. Using the IDE connector you are already halfways up the path to use a CF card instead of the original HDD. Other options are available. The Peripherals section of our forum is a valuable source. If you tried using flash memory in your Mac, please take a minute to share your experience in the Wiki chart on Flash drive test results.
Trash80toHP_Mini
NIGHT STALKER
On the 5300 front, I suggest holding out for a 5300ce as it's 117MHz and has an 800x600 active matrix panel. 5300 is 100MHz, dual scan in color, but active matrix in grayscale, both at 640x480..
CC_333
Well-known member
pcamen
Well-known member
Oh hey, that seller has my name
[
] @Charadis that’s a nice looking 550c. Swapping in the 3400c keys was clever. I’ve been wanting English keys on my 550c and have a spare 540c keyboard but it’s the wrong color of course. Umm ... anyone have a spare bad 3400c they want to give me?
It is a very cool combination. Easy swapping the keys, and perfect chance to clean the whole assembly while you’re at it.
The SCSI to IDE connector is very picky. Once you find an SSD that pairs with it, however, the system works smoothly. Goes pretty well with the PPC upgrade
Keep it close, I’ve only seen two others for sale, both without the extra 8MB RAM onboard the daughtercard (one version has no RAM, the other has 8MB)
There is one other, the 182 or 183MHz PPC Upgrade. Never found one for sale. I’ve only seen pictures of it, from a Japanese blog that attempted to modify it (overclock it I think). Then the even rarer G3 prototype also by NewerTech. Not much info on that one
CC_333
Well-known member
Unfortunately, @Bolle has it over in Germany right now, as he was trying to install a G3 740 on it to see if it'd work (It didn't), nd I was the only one on the forum who actually had this upgrade.
I think it had 8 MB onboard, plus I have a... 24 MB addon RAM card for it? I can't remember.... Might be 16 MB....
c
I see, I think I have read about the project in another thread. While I hear a lot of negativity over replacing the 68040 daughtercard for PPC, I enjoy bringing the computer closer to being as modern as possible, and that means being able to use software that runs best (or only) on PPC.
Hoping everything pans out.
Bolle
Well-known member
Yep, 8MB on the PPC Upgrade.
BTW: I sourced a faster 603 chip that should fit on there. Going to take a go at that one once I can free up the workbench.
