IBook G3 or G4

[MacBrian]

Hi,

I consider buying an iBook but I need a little advice. I’m not sure if I should choose an iBook G3 (one of the later models) or an iBook G4.

I know their specs and what OS and software they can run but I’m mostly interested in the hardware. Build quality, repairability, need of recapping, LCD issues etc.

Anyone care to give me some advice?

Thanks a bunch

 

[s_pupp]

My experience with a white iBook G3/500 and a G3/600 was not good. Tons of screws, irritating to disassemble. Just to replace the hard drive with an SSD turned into a disaster.

I’ve taken apart, repaired, upgraded, and then reassembled a couple dozen Mac laptops (a mix of PowerBook G3’s, TiBooks, and AlBooks) without difficulty, but killed both iBook G3’s.

I have no experience with the iBook G4 for comparison.

 

[Franklinstein]

If you want an iBook G3, get one of the colorful ones. The white ones (especially the 700-900MHz versions) were notorious for logic board failures, particularly involving the GPU. I've seen some of them with 5 different MAC address stickers from having the logic board replaced that many times before they gave up and tossed the computer.

The iBook G4s were much more reliable. They won't natively boot OS 9, though I think you could do some hacks to get it to work (on ThinkClassic?).

Both of the white iBook families had problems with the display cables being damaged from where they pass through the hinges, so that's something to be aware of.

 

[Byrd]

If the iBook G3 works well now, it'll keep going most likely = OS 9 works well on them. There are much fewer around though nowadays because of the frequent failures. Another caveat (similar to Franklinstein's comments) just make sure the (clear) keyboard doesn't stink - another common issue and you will know it when you smell it!

iBook G4s are solid and run OS X well, and I can be found cheaper than the equivalent Powerbook 12/15" models.

Neither are particularly fun to work on to replace the HD.

 

[Unknown_K]

I think I had problems with the trackpad cable on higher end G3 iBook coming off the board (easy enough to fix). Taking the G3's apart was not much fun. If you want to run OSX get a G4 PowerBook, easier to work on and metal (better video as well), for OS 9 I think theG3 iBook's are cool.

 

[Franklinstein]

just make sure the (clear) keyboard doesn't stink

I forgot that was a thing, though you'd think I'd remember since my favorite iceBook has a smelly keyboard. It's not too bad, but it is persistent and there's nothing to be done to be rid of it except to replace the keyboard.
Also, the clear keyboards show EVERYTHING underneath the keys. Hair. Crumbs. Bugs. Fingernail clippings. Whatever gets under there. I bought one that looked like someone had used the thing as a serving tray, so many crumbs were under the keys. It's not too hard to strip it down and clean it, just tedious (you gotta take off all the keys and the scissor mechanisms to get the membrane off to fully clean it).

One good thing about buying a transparent iBook G3 (500-800MHz, but some 800MHz and all 900MHz models are opaque) is that you can recolor it while you have it apart for repairs anyway. The inside of the rear display cover and the bottom cover are painted and the paint dissolves with isopropyl alcohol. Once it's removed you can paint it whatever color you want (I've done 3 like this). You can also leave it transparent but there's not much to see on account of the shielding, and you really shouldn't remove it because it doubles as a heat spreader.

All of the iBooks are challenging to take apart. The colorful ones weren't terrible, but the white ones were. You'll need a spudger, and you need to pay attention to the screw matrix because there are a lot of screws in several different sizes and lengths. The only thing worse than the white iBooks (at least, for the era) may be the 12" PBG4 (which is based heavily on the 12" iBook).

 

[MacBrian]

Thank you very much all of you who took your time to share your valuable knowledge. Much appreciated
Though it hasn't made my choice easier I now also consider a Mac Mini G4 instead of an iBook. With limited space I prefer Macs with a small form factor.
Thanks again

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

One thing to consider is that the Clamshells are super expensive and the snow iBooks are not. The 500 and 600MHz ones should be a lot more reliable than the 700-900MHz ones because they have a way less hot-running video chip, and probably use leaded solder anyway since they're 01/02 instead of 02/03.

 

[Byrd]

One thing to consider is that the Clamshells are super expensive and the snow iBooks are not. The 500 and 600MHz ones should be a lot more reliable than the 700-900MHz ones because they have a way less hot-running video chip, and probably use leaded solder anyway since they're 01/02 instead of 02/03.

Yep you just don't see later 700 - 900Mhz iBooks around, they were so bad a common "repair" was to clamp or shim the GPU to get it to just work again before they were probably all junked. The iBook 500, 600s were great units for OS 9 and the 500 could be overclocked to 6 x 100 nicely.

 

[Unknown_K]

So are working 700-900Mhz iBooks worth much?

 

[Byrd]

Probably not - Aluminium G4 PowerBooks, Snow G3/G4 iBooks tend to not fetch much, great Macs but not a goldmine.