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The Webb Chronicles
Clamshell iBook Still a Fun and Practical Notebook
- 2006.08.11
Years ago, when desktops were beige and laptops were black, a revolution was born. Apple beat the odds and introduced the iMac to the world, adding a splash of color and innovation to the stale PC market.
And what's better than a multicolored, all-in-one, easy to use computer? A notebook to match, the iBook.
Available in iMac-matching blueberry
or orange, the first generation iBook did to the notebook market what
the iMac had done to the desktop market: It provided an affordable,
easy to use, and reliable machine for the consumer market that stood
out from the monotonous HP's and Dells.
Marketed as "an iMac to go", the iBook shipped with a 300 MHz PowerPC G3, 32 MB or 64 MB of onboard RAM, a 12" (800 x 600) active matrix display, a 3 GB or 6 GB hard disk, and an optional AirPort card. It had plenty of power to run Mac OS 8.6 or 9.x, but more RAM is a must for OS X.
Fast forward to 2006, seven years after its debut. How useful is the clamshell iBook in today's world?
I wanted to buy a notebook computer for my 14-year-old cousin from Italy. Initially I thought a PC would be best, due to the lack of Apple support in Italy, but as I watched her use my Mom's Pismo PowerBook and easily navigate and enjoy the functionality, I decided that a Mac would be perfect.
I found an excellent deal on eBay: A blueberry 300 MHz machine with 128 MB of RAM, a 6 GB hard drive, and and Airport card - all for $120.
I knew that OS X was a must, but the limited 6 GB hard drive and 128 MB of RAM would be a real problem for 10.4, so I went with 10.3, which worked great after a mere 64 MB RAM upgrade. Applications such as Office 2004 and iTunes are slow loaders, but once up and running they perform in a satisfactory capacity. 3D games are, obviously, not a good idea on this machine with just 4 MB of VRAM.
The screen, although limiting with its 800 x 600 maximum resolution, is crisp and bright. Expansion ports are lacking in this model, since it has only one USB 1.1 port, ethernet, and a modem, but that adds to the notion of simplicity that Apple clearly wanted to convey with this machine.
The handle included on this machine is also a very nice touch and was very convenient.
Case design is a mixed bag, both
now and in 1999. Many touted the iBook as being too feminine (see
The BarbiBook), due to its
clamshell shape and colors.
It was only with the release of the Graphite Special Edition that the iBook gained a more elegant feel. However, given its target market being high school and college kids, the design was appropriate and well marketed. Even today one of these original iBooks stands out in a crowd - in a positive way.
Bringing this machine to the office or campus isn't something I would do; however a for an Italian high school student, this machine is perfect.
Granted, this iBook isn't a speed demon in any way, but it's amazing
what a 7-year-old Apple notebook can do. And what's more incredible is
that it still looks good doing it.
Further Reading
- Getting the most out of the clamshell iBook, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.08.14. "'Unique' is an overworked adjective, but in the case of the clamshell iBook, it's justified. There's never been anything quite like it before or since."
Recent PowerBook Beat articles
- Clamshell iBook still a fun and practical notebook, 08.11. "Granted, this iBook isn't a speed demon in any way, but it's amazing what a 7-year-old Apple notebook can do."
- Italy, a virtually untapped market ready for the Mac, 07.27. iPods are everywhere in Italy, but finding a Mac in use or a dealer that sells them is another story.
- The PowerBook 3400: Surprisingly useful and spry with the Classic Mac OS, 05.16. The last PowerBook before the G3, the PB 3400 actually outperforms the "MainStreet" PowerBook G3 - and it's generally available for under US$100.
- Picking a Power Mac G4: How much Mac do you need?, 03.22. Today's laptop computers can be great primary computers, but sometimes you need things only a desktop model can offer. A used Power Mac G4 can be a good choice.
- More in the PowerBook Beat index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 15" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based MacBook launched at 1.83-2.0 GHz, had several teething problems.
- Group of the Day: System 6 is the email list for those who choose System 6.
- November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
- IBM Model F: A Great Old Keyboard with an Outdated Layout, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 11.19. Although it used a different technology than the revered IBM Model M keyboard, the Model F was a great keyboard in its own right.
- Soft Touch Keyboards, Wireless Mouse Options, Loving SeaMonkey 2, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.18. Also the future of browsing with PowerPC Macs and the multiple mouse input bug introduced with OS X 10.5.8.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
- More deals in our archive.
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