Easiest way to add USB to PowerBook G3 M4753

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Easiest way to add USB to PowerBook G3 M4753

I would like to add a USB port to by PowerBook G3 so I can use it for iPods. What is the easiest way to add a USB port to the PowerBook G3? Use Type II PC Card or Type III PC Card with attached USB port?

Can the Geoport be used to attach a USB port?

I'm looking to use this older Powerbook exclusively for iTunes downloads and sync to iPods, so just need simple way to add USB port.

Thanks for your help or input.

PowerBook G# (M4753), Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on Sep 15, 2007 6:48 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 15, 2007 7:35 PM in response to ClarkG3

The ONLY way to add USB to a PowerBook without USB ports (the ones before Lombard), is to use a compatible Cardbus slot card. But your profile indicates you do not have Mac OS X. Therefore, it would be not be possible to sync an iPod using iTunes.

Also, the latest iTunes requires "500MHz G3 processor or better." There is only one stock PowerBook G3 that meets that requirement, and it already has USB ports.

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Answer 2

Sep 17, 2007 9:03 PM in response to ClarkG3

Two years ago I had Jaguar OSX10.2.8 installed on my Wallstreet (M4753), and it worked perfectly with my 30GB iPod Photo and iTunes 4.7, using a PC card USB adaptor (Belkin Busport Mobile).

I run Tiger on my Powerbook now, and no longer have any need to use iTunes or my iPod with it.

A new or very recent model iPod will not work. An older one like mine will if used with an older compatible version of iTunes.

Regards. Robert

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Answer 3

Oct 9, 2007 4:17 AM in response to ClarkG3

I had and still have ( although it doesn't work too welll ! ) a G3 Wallstreet Powerbook. As it didn't have USB ports, i was told that it was impossible to upgrade is to OSX, so it was running with 9.6 ( IIRC ).

Anyway, i bought quite a cheap PCMCIA card from eBay, which acts as a four way USB hub, and this worked quite well. THere is a bit of software needed that acts as a driver and this can be downloaded - if you run a search on this forum, you will find the link for the driver.

It worked quite well, I was able to attached USB devices such as a plug n play MP3 player and USB Memory devices. Didn't try anything like camera's or iPods though.

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