PowerBook Buyer's Guide

Original PowerBook G3

The original PowerBook G3 was basically a speed-bumped 3400c. With the same 12.1 inch screen, ports, and case, it replaced the 3400c's 180-240 MHz 603e chip with a rip-snorting next-generation 250 MHz 603 Arthur G3 chip, making this one of the fastest laptop in the world at the time. About the only thing this machine lacks is a larger 13.3 or 14.1 inch screen. The G3 was a little pricey, at over $5500 when introduced, and geared more for the high-end user than someone looking for a word-processor. But if you could afford it, the G3 undoubtedly made every other laptop user on your flight green with envy.

Rating

At the time: A+

General

  • 250MHz PowerPC G3 processor
  • 512K backside L2 cache
  • 32MB RAM standard, maximum 160MB
  • 5.0GB hard drive
  • 20x CD-ROM drive

Ports

  • 1 serial
  • ADB
  • audio in
  • audio out
  • video out
  • HDI-30 SCSI
  • IR
  • 1 expansion bay
  • 2 PC card slots


Display

  • Active-matrix 1000's of colors
  • 12.1"
  • 800x600 resolution


Weight

  • 7.1 pounds (?)

Apple's Specifications:

Logic Board Ports Power
Processor: G3, 250MHz
PMMU: integrated
FPU: integrated
Data Path: 64-bit, 50Mhz
L1 Cache: n/a
L2 Cache: 512K
2nd Processor: none
Slots: 2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III)
ADB: 1
Video: HDI-15
Floppy: none
SCSI: HDI-30
Geoports: 1
Ethernet: 10BaseT
FireWire:
Mic Type: Line In
Other Ports: Printer, Speaker,
Headphone,
Max Watts: 45
Amps: 1.88
BTU per Hr: 153.9
Voltage: 100-240
Freq Range: 50-60 Hz
Battery Type: 47 Wh Lithium Ion
Soft Power: yes
Memory Video Memory
Logic Board: 32 MB
RAM Slots: 1, PB G3
Min - Max RAM: 32 MB - 160 MB
Min RAM Speed: 60ns
RAM Sizes: 4-128 MB
Install in Groups of: 1
Notes: Support EDO RAM devices on its memory modules
Resolution Video Memory
built-in LCD (2MB VRAM)
(built-in)
512 x 384 n/a-bit
640 x 400 n/a-bit
640 x 480 n/a-bit
800 x 600 16-bit
832 x 624 n/a-bit
1024 x 768 n/a-bit
1152 x 870 n/a-bit
1280 x 1024 n/a-bit
Physical Software Storage
Introduced: 11/15/1997
Discontinued: n/a
Form Factor: PowerBook 3400
Gestalt ID: 313
Weight (lbs): 7.5
Dimensions (in): 2.4 H x 11.5 W x 9.5 D
Addressing Modes: 32-bit
Orig SSW: 8.0
Orig Enabler:
ROM ID:
ROM Ver: $077D
ROM Size: 3072K
AppleTalk Ver: 60.2
Mac OS
Supported:
8.0
8.1
8.5
Floppy Size: 1.44MB
Floppy Inject: manual
Min. Int HD Size: 5GB
Int HD Interface: ATA
Orig CD Speed 20x
Int CD Support: yes



apple