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Q: Powerbook 1400 need info

Hi...
Need some info on a PB 1400...
What can i do with a machine like this? Does it got airport,or can i add it? Ram? HDD? What OS?
Here is a link to someone who want to sell one of these... In case you guys(and girls) who don´t understand/speak Norwegian,let me translate some info. Without power-charger,and bad battery. Install-CD are there. OS 7.6????? What is that? Simmilar to....?
Bidding starts at 100 nok=$19
Bol
http://www.qxl.no/accdb/viewItem.asp?IDI=528287214

Imac 1.83 IC2D.Mac Mini 1.83 IC2D,Wiewsonic 20" iBookG4 1.07Ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.1), iMac 2Gb,Mac Mini 3 Gb ,iBook 1.25 Gb 160 HDD, Alu Bt Key/Mouse,H/K Soundstics

Posted on Jan 29, 2008 3:17 PM

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Q: Powerbook 1400 need info

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  • by Jan Hedlund,Helpful

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Jan 29, 2008 4:15 PM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Jan 29, 2008 4:15 PM in response to B.O.L.
    Hi,

    What can i do with a machine like this?


    Word processing, spreadsheets (ClarisWorks is a good program suite). Email (e.g. via an appropriate version of Eudora). Web use is possible (for example, through iCab or the fast text-based WannaBe browser).

    Does it got airport,or can i add it?


    You can use a 16-bit wireless PC Card (PCMCIA). See, for instance, this web page.

    Ram? HDD? What OS?


    To begin with, have a look at the specifications and at this page.

    OS 7.6????? What is that? Simmilar to....?


    It is an operating system not too different from Mac OS 9.x/Classic.

    Jan
  • by krowmagnum,Helpful

    krowmagnum krowmagnum Jan 29, 2008 6:42 PM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Jan 29, 2008 6:42 PM in response to B.O.L.
    The 1400 is really nice for writing. The keyboard is arguably one of the best Apple ever put on a laptop.

    There are 3 differnt models with 2 different screens so be sure which one it is to determine what you should pay for it.

    You can get G3 upgades on the used market that will make the old 1400 run OS 9.1 pretty well and with two 24MB sticks of RAM it will be a pretty decent little Mac. OS 7.5 up to OS 8.6 will run on most 1400's pretty well depending on the CPU speed and the amount of RAM installed. I used OS 8.6 on a 1400 133MHz with 48MB of RAM and it ran well.

    Those parts are expensive and getting harder to find so keep that in mind. The 1400's battery is usually dead and expensive to replace also.

    Wavelan (Gold/Silver) and Orinoco PCMCIA wifi cards are available used for about US$20 and work well with the 1400.

    Internal ethernet and video out add-on cards are also available on the used market. Inexpensive ethernet and modem PCMCIA cards are also available.
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 29, 2008 8:54 PM in response to krowmagnum
    Level 9 (54,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2008 8:54 PM in response to krowmagnum
    One thing people haven't brought up, and I don't know the answer myself, is the best way to get files on and off the computer unless you exclusively intend to use your network connection. Are USB cards available for this so one can use a flash drive? If so you are almost forced to do some upgrading since I don't think there is any USB support in OS7, and if this is in its base configuration you won't be able to run anything greater without upgrading parts (especially RAM). Floppy drives aren't much use these days unless your other computers date from the floppy era.
  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Jan 29, 2008 11:34 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Jan 29, 2008 11:34 PM in response to Limnos
    Hi,

    As far as I know, there is no way to add USB support to the PB 1400 computers. A 32-bit PC Card (CardBus) cannot be used.

    File transfers should not be a problem, though. Apart from Ethernet networking (wired or wireless, through separate cards), the PowerBook can read CDs. Also, flash memory cards can be used via an inexpensive PC Card adapter.

    Jan
  • by B.O.L.,

    B.O.L. B.O.L. Jan 30, 2008 4:16 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 30, 2008 4:16 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Hi Again..
    Thanx for the info.. I´m thinking of place a bidt to this machine. I was thinking of using it for internet-surf and mail/Msn messenger. Maybe iTunes but not any "hard work". And i´m not gonna drag it around,like my G4-iBook. I´t gonna stay at home,and i think it´s worth taking care of old Mac´s. I mean it´s probebly not more than 10-12 years,but i just wonder how well it stick-up for today´s machines...
    Power-adapter...Where can i get one?(they have to ship to Norway..)
    Bol
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 30, 2008 8:09 AM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 9 (61,356 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 30, 2008 8:09 AM in response to B.O.L.
    I was thinking of using it for internet-surf


    Only if your surfing is strictly limited to Non-graphic website. This Mac is NOT capable enough for general use.

    mail/Msn messenger


    extremely dubious. You will probably limited to really old version of Eudora and nothing newer.

    Maybe iTunes


    Don't even THINK about it.

    If those are the uses you want, this Mac is not nearly capable enough for you.
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 30, 2008 12:31 PM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 9 (61,356 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 30, 2008 12:31 PM in response to B.O.L.
    I think you have sort of asked your questions backward. If you had asked, "what is the cheapest powerBook I can use that can surf the Web, pick up email with Outlook Express, play iTunes music" -- the answer would never be the 1400.

    For iTunes (without iPod support) you can find a hack to get it to play in OS 9, minus some cool features. To run that you would need a G3 like a WallStreet or Clamshell iBook.
  • by touchMe,

    touchMe touchMe Feb 1, 2008 12:38 AM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 1, 2008 12:38 AM in response to B.O.L.
    step one - find a power adapter to suit

    switch 1400 power- useage to always on, load copy of Claris FileMaker 3.1 and Claris HomePage, connect as web-server and build a most excellent iPod/iPhone application or two, or perhaps a web page or three... who knows a bit of practice and you could be providing a service with on-line database hosting

    you should achieve the above for about $100 (incl. cost of 1400), you have the time since you ain't doing no work, and it will keep you out of your mothers way!
  • by AppleIIFreak,

    AppleIIFreak AppleIIFreak Feb 23, 2008 4:20 AM in response to B.O.L.
    Level 4 (2,525 points)
    Feb 23, 2008 4:20 AM in response to B.O.L.
    Just some info you may need_you can get the battery from sun remarketing -from time to time.There are also sellers for the Power-adapter in question. You can read/send mails with an ethernet card as well