Help me decide which PowerBook(s) to keep

[tendim]

Pending my giving away of a 165c, I have three PowerBook's left, and I have to get rid of at least one system for space reasons.

• PowerBook 3400c/200 with CD-ROM and Floppy modules
• PowerBook Duo 2300c with three docs:
  Minidock
• Floppy MIcrodock
• Ethernet Microdock

[*]PowerBook 1400c with CD-ROM module


Uses for the hardware:

• Means to transfer materials to my Mac Plus (800k floppy)
• Classic development
• General tinkering

End state:

• PowerBook 3400c
  Either 8.x or 9.x (leaning towards 8.6)
• CodeWarrior for development
• Dual-boot with Linux/PPC or NetBSD/PPC

[*]One other PowerBook running 7.x

• 
  TInkering with 7.x
• Testing of any 7.x s/w I make in the PowerBook
• General backup

Now, the 1400c and 2300c are both unable to run Linux or NetBSD b/c they are NuBus architectures.  Both, to my knowledge, are 33MHz bus machines...

• PowerBook 2300c
  Pros:
  Have the Ethernet module already
• High PDC (pretty damn cool) factor
• Great conversation piece

[*]Cons

• 
  Only floppy OR Ethernet at any one time, not both
• 9.5" screen

[*]PowerBook 1400c

• 
  Pros
  Nice large screen
• Amazing keyboard
• CD-ROM

[*]Cons

• 
  Have to use PCMCIA Ethernet (which I have)
• No floppy (does it matter?)

All things being equal, if you had to pick one, and the general specs (MHz, RAM, HD) were the same, which would you prefer?  The 2300c only has 24 MB RAM, I'd have to check on the 1400c, but the 1400c will beat the 2300c on speed no matter what, since the base is 117MHz.

Thoughts??

Tks,

-10d

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

Dump the 1400c IMO. That's the easiest one to pick back up if you ever wanted to. You've got the 3400c for the speed demon, the other one can be less practical, and I'd keep that Duo.

 

[MJ313]

If your 3400 works, for the love of all things holy, check the PRAM battery and if it's old get it out of there...

 

[techknight]

Personally, I like the look and feel of the 1400c. But i also like the sound of the 3400c. 

But I also have more Duos than I know what to do with. All color. 

If I were faced in a dire situation, I would keep the best machine to use as a bridge that has all ports and expandability. Such as Floppy/CD, PCMCIA, etc... And then sell the rest. 

If it wasn't for the issues of the the plastics, the bad LCD displays, and other things that happen to the powerbooks, I would only have powerbooks with no desktops as they are small form factor, and you can literally shove them anywhere until you ready to use it. 

Desktops, Not so much..

Bad LCDs are the very reason why I circulated out all my B&W powerbooks for color ones. Not because they are newer, but they are much less prone to LCD degradation failure. But some people prefer B&W, which I certainly dont have a problem with that prerogative. Except for the fact those LCDs need constant attention. 

 

[Strimkind]

My recommendation after owning all three would be the 1400c and the 2300c. The 3400c is notorious for failing as already mentioned, and 8.6 on a 1400c with 64MB RAM is perfect. As it is the 117mhz model you can easily find a 133mhz to speed it up a bit.

The 2300c gives you the small form factor with the dock option should the LCD ever really crap out. The 2300c would be best with 7.6.1

 

[Byrd]

I'd dump the 1400c - if you have a maxed out Duo 2300c, it's a much nicer machine and more interesting machine to play around with with although the keyboard is pretty horrible to use for long periods.

The 3400c isn't any less reliable than other 'books, I've come across several over the years all of which worked fine.

JB

 

[Bunsen]

Duo + 3400 IMO for reasons already discussed.  The two Nubus slots in the Dock would even let you use the Duo as a substitute desktop machine if space gets even tighter.