PowerBooks (68K)

For PowerPC-based PowerBooks, click here.

68000-based
 Portable, Portable (backlit), PB 100

68030-based
 PB 140, 145, 145b, 150, 160, 165, 165c, 170, 180, 180c

68040-based
 PB 190, 190cs, 520, 520c, 540, 540c, 550c

Duos
 Duo 210, 230, 250, 270c, 280, 280c

68040-based Macs can use the HFS+ file system that comes with Mac OS 8.1, but they cannot boot from an HFS+ disk or use one for virtual memory.

• Happy birthday, PowerBook!, PowerBook Zone, 2001.10.22. A look back on the PowerBook's 10th anniversary.
• Apple Computer considers the PB 140-145b, 160-180c, and Duo 210-270c obsolete as of 2001.07.16 in the United States and 2001.07.23 in Canada. Service parts and documentation are no longer available from Apple.
• Picking a low-end colour PowerBook, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 11/10/00. If you want color and portability, but don't need PowerPC speed, here are your options.
• PowerBook 100 series retrospective, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 10/31/00. Nine years of PowerBooks - this is where they got their start.
• Retrospective: The PowerBook 500 Series, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 9/13/00. The first PowerBook that was a viable alternative to a desktop Mac.
• PowerBook Processor Upgrade SuperGuide, pbcentral, 8/7/00.
• Wide selection of PowerBook drive upgrades, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 8/3. Lots of options available, even for older PowerBooks that use SCSI hard drives.
• Solar PowerBooks, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, MacOS Daily, 6/21/00. Running with sunlight.
• Games for '030s, Brian Rumsey, Low End Mac Gaming, 5/26/00. A look at games that run nicely on the old 68030-based Macs.
• PowerBook history, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 5/12/00. A history of portable Macs from 1989 through 1996.
• Recovering a stolen PowerBook, The 'Book Page. One user's experience.
• RAM disks and why you should trash your hard drive, Charles Moore, Applelinks, 11/29/99. "I used to run my PowerBook 5300 off a RAM disk most of the time in blissful silence...."
• Why your PowerBook won't go to sleep, Info Alley
• PowerBook Duo/2400 List
• Installing Mac OS 8.5 on the PowerBook 500 series, MacNN
• ResetPwrMgr, freeware. Resets the power manager on PowerBooks, which sometimes gets messed up. Forces restart, so quit all apps before using.
• Best Sites for Classic Macs
• Parts and supplies from The PowerBook Guy
• Email lists: PowerBooks, Classic Macs Digest, Vintage Macs, Vintage Macs
• Pseud040 lets 68030-based Macs run 68040 programs - I've even heard of Mac OS 8.1 running on a IIsi!
• Software Compatible with 68000 CPU
• Review: Power-Sonic battery works in Mac Portable
• Care and Feeding of your PowerBook battery
• RAM Charger from Jump Development ($40) lets you get the most out of your RAM - especially helpful on Macs with 8 MB or less. By launching applications using the minimum amount of memory they need, RAM Charger lets you run more programs. It also works well with RAM Doubler. You can even download a demo.
• How much is your PowerBook worth? How much should you expect to pay for a used one? Get your own PowerBook Blue Book.
• Dead backlight? Visit JKL Components for replacement lamps.
• Be sure to see the list of dealers who buy, sell, or broker used and/or refurbished Macintosh hardware.

Three excellent PowerBook resources

PowerBook Central

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