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Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core 8GB kit $232 / 4GB kit $116 / 2GB kit $72. New Macbook 2GB DDR3-$65. HARD DRIVES available -- Free shipping / LIfetime warranty.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

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Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

Low End Mac's Best Deals

Best PowerBook G3 Deals

2008.11.13

Got a G3 iBook or PowerBook? Join the G-Books email list.

The G3 PowerBooks were Apple's first PowerBooks to offer performance that rivaled their desktop siblings. Except for the rare original PowerBook G3 (a.k.a. Kanga, only on the market for six months), all G3 PowerBooks are supported under some version of OS X.

The WallStreet G3 is not officially supported under OS X 10.3 "Panther", but it is supported with 10.2.x and earlier. Panther can be installed using XPostFacto.

WallStreet and Lombard are not officially supported under OS X 10.4 "Tiger", which "requires" a built-in FireWire port, 256 MB of RAM, and 3 GB of available hard drive space. XPostFacto supports WallStreet and Lombard. Note that 10.4 normally ships on DVD-ROM, so you will need a DVD-capable drive, have to exchange your DVD for a CD install set, or use another Mac that can read DVDs and supports FireWire Target Disk Mode (see Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode for more on this option).

G3 Macs are not supported under Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard", although we have had several reports of Leopard running on a G4-upgraded Pismo. For more on that subject, we recommend reading The Future of G3 PowerBooks in the Age of Leopard. (It's theoretically possible that OS X 10.5 could run on a WallStreet or Lombard with a G4 upgrade, but we've received no such reports.)

To get the most out of OS X, Lombard and Pismo are superior to WallStreet.

Laptop batteries lose much of their capacity after 2-3 years, so you should plan to buy a new battery for these old PowerBooks.

WallStreet/PDQ

Apple offered the original 'WallStreet' PowerBook G3 Series with 12", 13", and 14" screens and 233, 250, and 292 MHz CPUs. Series 2 (a.k.a. PDQ) normally shipped with a 14" display, although there was a special edition with a 12" screen. Speeds were 233, 266, and 300 MHz. The biggest difference between the 233 MHz models is the lack of a level 2 (L2) cache in the Series 1 version, sometimes called the MainStreet model; this earns it a Road Apple warning.

The WallStreet model has two expansion bays, two PC Card slots, plus ADB and SCSI ports. This was the last PowerBook with ADB. There are no FireWire or USB ports, although PC Cards can add that capability. Weight is just under 8 pounds. To learn more, see Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the WallStreet PowerBook G3.

The original battery could run a WallStreet for up to 3 hours when new and fully charged, 6 hours with a battery in each expansion bay. We've been very happy with Newer Tech batteries, available from Other World Computing.

NuPower 4500mAh/65 Watt-Hour battery (25% more capacity than original), $129.99

Best WallStreet Prices

VERY HOT 14" 266, $90, BetaMacs
14" 292, $220, PowerBook Guy
Recent RAM prices: 128 MB, $9.99; 256 MB, $24.99
OWC: 128 MB low profile, $11.95; 256 MB high profile, $25.99; 256 MB low profile, $27.99

Lombard

PowerBook G3 Also known as the 'Bronze Keyboard' model, Lombard is thinner and lighter than WallStreet. It has a single expansion bay and one PC Card slot. It was the first PowerBook with USB ports and the last with SCSI. DVD is available and requires a special decoder card (included on models that shipped with DVD). There have also been G4 upgrades available, including one from Wegener Media.

A 14" 1024 x 768 display is standard. There is no ADB port on Lombard, nor FireWire, although that can be added with a PC Card. Weight is about 6 pounds. G4 upgrades are available from Wegener Media and Daystar Technology. To learn more, see Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the Lombard PowerBook G3.

We've been very happy with Newer Tech batteries, available from Other World Computing. Both Lombard and Pismo can use two batteries for up to 16 hours of field work.

NuPower 6300mAh/68 Watt-Hour battery (12% more capacity than original), $129.99
NuPower 7500mAh/81 Watt-Hour battery (62% more capacity than original), $149.99

FastMac sells a TruePower 6600mAH/71 Watt-Hour battery (42% more capacity than original) for $109.95.

Best Lombard Prices

VERY HOT 400 DVD, no battery, $150, Beta Macs
Recent RAM prices: 128 MB, $9.99; 256 MB, $24.99
OWC: 128 MB low profile, $11.95; 256 MB high profile, $25.99; 256 MB low profile, $27.99

Pismo

The same size and weight as Lombard, the 2000 Pismo is faster and was the first PowerBook with a FireWire port. It shipped with a DVD drive and has a slot for an AirPort card. There is no SCSI port.

This is one of the most upgradable PowerBooks ever, and the CPU can be upgraded to a G4, which makes it possible to run Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard". Best of all, Pismo is the only G3 PowerBook to officially support 1 GB of RAM, which really unleashes OS X. To learn more, see Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the Pismo PowerBook.

G4 upgrades are available from Wegener Media and Daystar Technology. PowerLogix and NewerTech once made G4 upgrades for Pismo.

Pismo takes the same batteries as Lombard (prices above).

The best prices are marked in bold type in the full listings below. Full listings note RAM/hard drive size/optical or Zip drive. Used Macs usually inclulde a 90 day warranty.

Best Pismo Prices

400 Zip, no optical drive, $270, PowerBook Guy
HOT 400 DVD, $300, Wegener Media
HOT 500 DVD, $350, Wegener Media
Recent RAM prices: 128 MB, $9.99; 256 MB, $15.95; 512 MB, $49
OWC: 256 MB low profile, $18.95; 512 MB high profile, $29.95; low profile, $85.99

Mac OS X and OS X Server Prices

Best Classic Mac OS Deals (use 9.2.2 for Classic Mode)
Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals
Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' Deals
Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' Deals (requires G4 and AGP graphics, can run on a Pismo with a G4 upgrade)

Be sure to factor in shipping costs (typically $20-25 for ground shipping) and possible sales tax. Your best value depends on whether you need/want extra RAM, a bigger hard drive, etc.

Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card purchases, and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.

Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Not responsible for typos. For current deals on older 'Books, see The 'Book Review.

Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits you.

Ground shipping may add $22 or more.

Lombard G3/400, 128/6/DVD, battery in unknown condition, $150
Lombard G3/400, 256/6/DVD, battery in unknown condition, $169
Pismo G3/400, 512/10/, AirPort, battery in unknown condition, tested but sold "as is", $299

Ground shipping may add $20 or more.

14" WallStreet G3/266, 64/2/CD, $268
Lombard G3/333, 64/4/CD, $299
Lombard G3/400, 64/6/DVD, $399
Pismo G3/400, 64/6/DVD, $389
Pismo G3/500, 512/12/DVD, $589

Shipping may add $20 or more.

14" WallStreet G3/300, 64/8/CD, $459.77

PowerBook Guy

Ground shipping may add $25 or more. As much as possible, PowerBook Guy returns systems to their factory specifications. This includes reinstalling the Mac OS as it shipped from the factory, replacing any failed parts, cleaning the computer, and performing various tests to ensure that it functions correctly.

WallStreet

14" G3/233, 128/3/CD, $179.95
14" G3/266, 128/10/CD, $199.95
14" G3/292, 128/10/CD, $219.95

Lombard

G3/333, 128/6/Zip, no optical drive, no battery, $159.95
G3/400, 128/6/Zip, no optical drive, no battery, $179.95
add CD-ROM for $39.95, DVD-ROM for $59.95, Combo for $79.95
add a used battery for $39.95, new for $89.95

Pismo

G3/400, 192/10/Zip, $269.95
add CD-ROM for $39.95, DVD-ROM for $59.95, Combo for $79.95
add a used battery for $39.95, new for $89.95

Ground shipping may add $25 or more.

Belkin 802.11g card, requires OS X 10.2 or later, $39.99 (add $10 for shipping)

WallStreet

14" G3/233, 64/2/no CD, includes floppy, $99.99
14" G3/233, 64/2/CD, $119.99
14" G3/266, 288/2/CD, $159.99
floppy drive module, $9.99
buy ClarisWorks 4.0 Internet Edition for $5.99 with WallStreet
many upgrades available

Lombard

G3/333, 128/4/CD, $219.99
G3/400, 128/4/CD, $299.99
G4/433 upgrade, $179.99 installed (only with Lombard purchase)

Pismo

G3/400, 128/6/DVD, $299.99
G3/500, 128/6/DVD, $349.99
G4/550, 128/40/Combo, $529.99
AirPort card, $109.99 with Pismo purchase
G4/550 upgrade, $189.99 with Pismo purchase
high capacity battery, $69.99 with Pismo purchase
other configurations and upgrades listed

Can't afford a PowerBook G3 or need something a bit smaller with more speed? Check out our latest iBook G3 Deals. Want G4 power? See our G4 Deals and PowerBook G4 Deals.

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