Q: PowerBook 280c or 2300c questions
Hey, I'm new to this particular forum, but just wondering if I can get some help.
I'm really attracted to the entire line of the Duo PowerBooks, and namely the 280c and the 2300c.
I guess the main reason that I'm considering the Duo 280c is because a friend of mine used to own one, and he raves about it constantly, how the video performance is better than the 2300c, and the track ball feels much nicer than the track pad of the 2300c...
But I do understand that the numbers don't lie, and the 2300c has the 100 MHz vs the 33 MHz of the 280c.... Likewise the maximum supported OS for the 280c as far as I know is OS 8.1, whereas the 2300c will go up to 9.1...
So I guess you're next question is, what the **** am I wanting to do with it? Well, that's a very good question! I know that I can't do much of anything without having at least a minidock or duo dock. I would like to be able to use it for word processing email, maybe SOME basic web browsing (though I KNOW there are limitations with that, given the max resolution of 640x400...) and perhaps, to have a sound-track to all of this work, and have some type of way to play audio while working.
Now, the first thing that I notice about these is that the only way to have audio and internet connectivity at all is via some type of dock. After doing some digging, it looks like I would either need a mini dock (I've seen one made by E-Machines, called the E-Machines Etherdock.....? and I've seen one made by Newer Technologies that's also called the Etherdock...) However as far as the audio output jacks on these mini docks, I THINK that the 280c has only 8 bit mono audio out, and the 2300c has only 16 bit mono audio out.
BUT, the Duo Dock II has two NuBus slots, so is it possible to install a NuBus video card and NuBus sound card into one of those, and have decent graphics and sound while the unit is docked there? And if so, what type of screen resolution and sound quality can I expect? (1024 x 768 would be REALLY nice, but I could like with 800x600 if I had to... Also having stereo sound output is fairly important, as long as it can play CD-Quality audio. I know I can use iTunes with OS 9, but if I had OS 8, I'll definitely have to find an alternative...)
Another item of concern is the batteries -- is there any way to rebuild the batteries? And if so, where would you find the cells to rebuild them with? I've heard that the batteries weren't too great in these things, and I've seen replacements out there for 100 plus.......not my cup of tea.
I'm attracted to these machines because they sell for SO CHEAPLY out there these days.... and I'm really attracted to the design, and docking concept. I'm just wondering if I can do the above things with it....
I'm really attracted to the entire line of the Duo PowerBooks, and namely the 280c and the 2300c.
I guess the main reason that I'm considering the Duo 280c is because a friend of mine used to own one, and he raves about it constantly, how the video performance is better than the 2300c, and the track ball feels much nicer than the track pad of the 2300c...
But I do understand that the numbers don't lie, and the 2300c has the 100 MHz vs the 33 MHz of the 280c.... Likewise the maximum supported OS for the 280c as far as I know is OS 8.1, whereas the 2300c will go up to 9.1...
So I guess you're next question is, what the **** am I wanting to do with it? Well, that's a very good question! I know that I can't do much of anything without having at least a minidock or duo dock. I would like to be able to use it for word processing email, maybe SOME basic web browsing (though I KNOW there are limitations with that, given the max resolution of 640x400...) and perhaps, to have a sound-track to all of this work, and have some type of way to play audio while working.
Now, the first thing that I notice about these is that the only way to have audio and internet connectivity at all is via some type of dock. After doing some digging, it looks like I would either need a mini dock (I've seen one made by E-Machines, called the E-Machines Etherdock.....? and I've seen one made by Newer Technologies that's also called the Etherdock...) However as far as the audio output jacks on these mini docks, I THINK that the 280c has only 8 bit mono audio out, and the 2300c has only 16 bit mono audio out.
BUT, the Duo Dock II has two NuBus slots, so is it possible to install a NuBus video card and NuBus sound card into one of those, and have decent graphics and sound while the unit is docked there? And if so, what type of screen resolution and sound quality can I expect? (1024 x 768 would be REALLY nice, but I could like with 800x600 if I had to... Also having stereo sound output is fairly important, as long as it can play CD-Quality audio. I know I can use iTunes with OS 9, but if I had OS 8, I'll definitely have to find an alternative...)
Another item of concern is the batteries -- is there any way to rebuild the batteries? And if so, where would you find the cells to rebuild them with? I've heard that the batteries weren't too great in these things, and I've seen replacements out there for 100 plus.......not my cup of tea.
I'm attracted to these machines because they sell for SO CHEAPLY out there these days.... and I'm really attracted to the design, and docking concept. I'm just wondering if I can do the above things with it....
iBook clamshell, Mac OS 9.2.x, 80 GB Hard Drive with AirPort Card and 576 MB of Ram
Posted on Oct 18, 2008 10:38 AM





