can i...?

and i am wondering if i can install an AirPort card for wireless

You can't. If you need wireless on it, use a component such as this one.

(37715)

Alternatively, you could use an appropriate third-party wireless (Wi-Fi) card in the Lombard's PC Card (CardBus) slot. Make sure that Mac drivers are available for the card (and operating system) in question.

Jan

Here is a source forge driver for Mac OS X free -- but configuration is not intuitive. Be sure to read the FAQ section (Navigation buttons across the top of these pages):

http://wirelessdriver.sourceforge.net/index.html

With my Powerbook G3 333's I use a Linksys Wireless-G notebook adapter Model No WPC54G. With airport 2.0.2 (I believe) and OS 10.3.9 it works splendidly on my home network and also wifi hotspots. You can get the card on eBay for pretty cheap.

HI, the Lombard does not have an internal slot for an Apple AirPort card and also does not have the built in antenna so you can't use that option.

But the Lombard and OS X will work fine with the Microsoft MN-720 PCMCIA card. If you are running OS 9 I find the Orinoco Wavelan silver turbo cards work well but these are not supported under OS X with the built in sw so depending on what OS you plan on using may determine the card you want to use.

The other thing, since that is the 333MHZ Lombard it does not have a built in DVD decoder so you cannot play DVD's unless you pick up the PCMCIA card. The 400MHZ Lombards did have this support and the Pismo has it built in.

Personally I would look for a Pismo....

<<Personally I would look for a Pismo...>>

Lombards are a lot easier to come by, and cheaper. I have the PCMCIA card I mentioned above in both of mine, use them every day, and I also have the DVD decoder card. All work fine.

Sludgedragon wrote:
<<Personally I would look for a Pismo...>>

Lombards are a lot easier to come by, and cheaper. I have the PCMCIA card I mentioned above in both of mine, use them every day, and I also have the DVD decoder card. All work fine.

Maybe initially but if he gets the 333 he will have to find the DVD decoder card since that isn't a common item also the 333 may not come with a DVD drive or any drive at all if it's super cheap. If he has to buy these bits to play a DVD then going the Lombard route might become uneconomical.

I own 3 Lombards (333 and 400MHZ) and 5 Pismos (400 and 500MHZ) so I have experience with both and honestly for the difference in cost which if he's lucky might be minimal the Pismo is the far better PowerBook.

Also by installing an internal AirPort card he will have better range verse a PCMCIA card as the AirPort card can take advantage of the built in antenna to get a bit more range plus having built in software support in OS 9 and X. Also by doing this he opens up his single PCMCIA slot to use with such things as a USB2 or USB2 + Firewire card (which is what I use) since both Powerbooks only support USB1. With a Lombard you wind up juggling cards in the slot eg Wireless vs USB2 vs DVD decoder oh and the *DVD decoder is not supported under OSX*

With some good luck you can find a 'dead' Pismo for as low as $50 (how I wound up with several) as many folks put them away for a long time and the PRAM and main batteries go dead. Then they wind up with GLOD and think the PowerBook is pooched when in fact it only needs a power manager reset.... or they get a broken soldier joint on the AC plug and can no longer run or charge the unit so think it is scrap....

Info here on the Lombard,
http://www.kevinomura.com/powerbooks/powerbooklombard/index.html

and on the Pismo,
http://www.kevinomura.com/powerbooks/powerbookpismo/index.html

K