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PowerBook Buyer's Guide
Original PowerBook G3
by Steve Hildreth
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
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 |
|
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