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PowerBook Buyer's Guide

PowerBook 1400cs

by Steve Hildreth

This review of the 1400cs was posted in June, 1997, after I purchased one:

"My initial impression of the 1400cs is that it's an extremely solid machine. The keyboard is metal based, giving the keys a solid, crisp feel. The dual-scan, passive matrix screen is huge and bright, and the 800x600 resolution provides the same working space as a 17-inch monitor. The active matrix screen would be even better, of course, but it just wasn't worth the extra $1000, and I'm glad I didn't spend it. The trackpad is smooth, and with click & drag capabilities, is a snap to use.

It comes with a full array of installed software, including System 7.5.3, Claris Works and Claris Organizer, Apple Internet Connection Kit (Netscape, Claris E-Mailer, etc.), and a bunch of other stuff. This is a true plug and play machine. The 750 MB hard drive is sufficient for me (for now), and my Zip drive can handle any overflow. After much tinkering, the system software is now taking up about 8 MB, leaving 16 MB for other software. I plan to buy more RAM soon to take up the slack. A word to Apple: Include more RAM with your new PowerBooks. 12 or even 16 MB just doesn't cut it these days.

Installing extra RAM and the optional video card was practically a no-brainer. Pop the speaker grill, pull back the keyboard, remove the six screws securing the heat sink, and the 1400's innards are exposed. The video card pops in with no problems. Two small screws on the back side of the 'Book secure it. The RAM card was a little tighter, and it took a couple of tries to get the card lined up with the plastic edge guide provided inside the right side of the 'Book. All in all, it probably took 20 minutes or so, but I was moving slowly and very carefully. When I install more RAM in the future, I don't expect it to take more than 10 minutes.

With minimal power conservation (AppleTalk off, screen slightly dimmed), I am getting 1-2 hours from the battery. That's really not much improvement over my old 165c and no where near the 4 hours quoted by Apple.

Rating

At the time: A-

General

  • 117-MHz PowerPC 603e
  • 133 or 166 MHz PowerPC 603e with 128K level 2 cache
  • 16MB RAM standard, maximum 64MB via one RAM slot (can piggy-back two RAM cards)
  • 750MB (1400cs/117) or 1GB (1400cs/133 & 166) hard drive
  • Sleep-swappable 6x, 8x, or 12x CD-ROM drive module, except in some base 1400cs/117 models.

Ports

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

Display

  • Passive-matrix 1000's of colors
  • 11.3"
  • 800x600 resolution

Weight

  • 7.0 pounds with CD-ROM drive installed
  • 6.7 pounds with floppy drive installed

Battery

  • 30 watt-hour nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH)

Sound

  • 16-bit, CD-quality stereo sound capable of driving headphones or external speakers
  • Built-in speaker and integrated microphone
  • Digital-to-analog conversion sampled at 44.1, 22.05, or 11.025 kHz
  • 16-bit audio line-in for recording

Size

  • Height: 2.0 in. (5.2 cm)
  • Width: 11.5 in. (29.2 cm)
  • Depth: 9.0 in. (22.5 cm)

Apple's Specifications:

PowerBook 1400cs/166
     
Logic Board Ports Power
Processor: 603e, 166MHz
PMMU: integrated
FPU: integrated
Data Path: 64-bit, 33.3MHz
L1 Cache: 32K
L2 Cache: 128K
2nd Processor: none
Slots: 2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III )
ADB: 1
Video: opt.mini-15
Floppy: none
SCSI: HDI-30
Geoports: none
Ethernet: none
FireWire:
Mic Type: Line In
Other Ports: Printer, Speaker,
Max Watts: 45
Amps: 1.875
BTU per Hr: 153.9
Voltage: 100-220
Freq Range: 50-60 Hz
Battery Type: PB1400, NiMH
Soft Power: yes
Memory Video Memory
Logic Board: 16 MB
RAM Slots: 1, PB1400
Min - Max RAM: 16 MB - 64 MB
Min RAM Speed: 70ns
RAM Sizes: 8-24 MB
Install in Groups of: 1
Notes: Memory expansion slot allows "piggy backing" of up to two memory cards.
Resolution Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(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 na/-bit
1152 x 870 n/a-bit
1280 x 1024 n/a-bit
Physical Software Storage
Introduced: 10/15/1997
Discontinued: n/a
Form Factor: PowerBook 1400
Gestalt ID: 310
Weight (lbs): 6.6
Dimensions (in): 6 H x 11.5 W x 9 D
Addressing Modes: 32-bit
Orig SSW: 8.0
Orig Enabler: none
ROM ID: $077D
ROM Ver: n/a
ROM Size: 4MB
AppleTalk Ver: n/a
Mac OS
Supported:
8.0
Floppy Size: 1.44MB
Floppy Inject: manual
Min. Int HD Size: 1.3GB
Int HD Interface: ATA
Orig CD Speed 12x
Int CD Support: yes

PowerBook 1400cs/133
     
Logic Board Ports Power
Processor: 603e, 133 MHz
PMMU: integrated
FPU: integrated
Data Path: 64-bit, 33.3 MHz
L1 Cache: 32K
L2 Cache: 128K
2nd Processor: none
Slots: 2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III)
ADB: 1
Video: opt. mini-15
Floppy: none
SCSI: HDI-30
Geoports: none
Ethernet: none
FireWire:
Mic Type: Line In
Other Ports: Printer, Speaker,
Max Watts: 45
Amps: 1.875
BTU per Hr: 153.9
Voltage: 100-220
Freq Range: 50-60 Hz
Battery Type: PB1400, NiMH
Soft Power: yes
Memory Video Memory
Logic Board: 16 MB
RAM Slots: 1, PB1400
Min - Max RAM: 16 MB - 64 MB
Min RAM Speed: 70 ns
RAM Sizes: 8-24 MB
Install in Groups of: 1
Notes: Memory expansion slot allows "piggy-backing" of up to two memory cards.
Resolution Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(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: 5/19/1997
Discontinued: n/a
Form Factor: PowerBook 1400
Gestalt ID: 310
Weight (lbs): 6.7
Dimensions (in): 2 H x 11.5 W x 9 D
Addressing Modes: 32-bit
Orig SSW: 7.6.1
Orig Enabler: none
ROM ID: $077D
ROM Ver: n/a
ROM Size: 4MB
AppleTalk Ver: n/a
Mac OS
Supported:
Floppy Size: 1.44MB
Floppy Inject: manual
Min. Int HD Size: 1.3GB
Int HD Interface: ATA
Orig CD Speed 8x
Int CD Support: yes

PowerBook 1400cs/117
     
Logic Board Ports Power
Processor: 603e, 117 MHz
PMMU: integrated
FPU: integrated
Data Path: 64-bit, 33.3 MHz
L1 Cache: 32K
L2 Cache: none
2nd Processor: none
Slots: 2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III)
ADB: 1
Video: opt. mini-15
Floppy: none
SCSI: HDI-30
Geoports: none
Ethernet: none
FireWire:
Mic Type: Line in
Other Ports: Printer, Speaker,
Max Watts: 45
Amps: 1.875
BTU per Hr: 153.9
Voltage: 100-220
Freq Range: 50-60 Hz
Battery Type: PB1400, NiMH
Soft Power: yes
Memory Video Memory
Logic Board: 12, 16 M B
RAM Slots: 1, PB1400
Min - Max RAM: 12 MB - 64 MB
Min RAM Speed: 70 ns
RAM Sizes: 8-24 MB
Install in Groups of: 1
Notes: Memory expansion slot allows "piggy-backing" of up to two memory cards.
Resolution Video Memory
built-in LCD screen
(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: 10/1/1996
Discontinued: 7/14/1997
Form Factor: PowerBook 1400
Gestalt ID: 310
Weight (lbs): 6.7
Dimensions (in): 2 H x 11.5 W x 9 D
Addressing Modes: 32-bit
Orig SSW: 7.5.3
Orig Enabler: PowerBook 1400 Enabler
ROM ID: $077D
ROM Ver: $32
ROM Size: 4MB
AppleTalk Ver: 58.1.6
Mac OS
Supported:
7.5.3
7.6
7.6.1
8.0
Floppy Size: 1.44MB
Floppy Inject: manual
Min. Int HD Size: 750MB, 1GB
Int HD Interface: ATA
Orig CD Speed 6x, 8x
Int CD Support: yes

 

Week's Best MacBook Prices:
Specials for PowerBook Central Readers

17" MacBook Pro
2.8GHz: MSRP $2499
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MacMall - Your #1 Apple Superstore! $2294

15" MacBook Pro
2.53GHz: MSRP $1699
2.66GHz: MSRP $1999
2.8GHz: MSRP $2299

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ClubMac - The Online Mac SuperStore $1578.99 $1798.99 $2088.99
MacConnection $1579 $1799 $2089
MacMall - Your #1 Apple Superstore! $1579 $1844 $2094

13" MacBook Pro
2.26GHz: MSRP $1199
2.53GHz: MSRP $1499
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ClubMac - The Online Mac SuperStore $1118.99 $1398.99
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MacBook Air
1.86GHz/120GB HD: MSRP $1499
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MacConnection $1439 $1729
MacMall - Your #1 Apple Superstore! $1439 $1729

Apple Store
Apple Refurbished
17" 2.93GHz MacBook Pro: $2199
17" 2.66GHz MacBook Pro: $1949
15" 2.93GHz MacBook Pro: $1949
15" 2.66GHz MacBook Pro: $1699
15" 2.8GHz MacBook Pro: $1699
15" 2.4GHz MacBook Pro: $1349
13" 2.4GHz Alum MacBook: $1099
13" 2.0GHz Alum MacBook: $949
13" 2.13GHz White MacBook: NA
13" 1.8GHz/128GB MacBook Air: $1449
13" 1.6GHz/120GB MacBook Air: $1199

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