Considering a Clamshell

1) What is the maximum amount of RAM for the different models?

You can install a single 512 MB SO-DIMM in each one. The very early iBook 300 MHz came with 32 MB soldered onto the motherboard. All other clamshell iBooks have 64 MB soldered onto the motherboard. Therefore the maximum RAM is 544 MB or 576 MB.

2) How do Tiger/Panther perform on the clamshells?

Great.

3) Will Office:mac 2004 run on ANY clamshell model? (My school has 3 iMacs an D*lls out the wazoo)

Of course the Mac version of Office will work on the iBook just like other Macs.

5) Finally, would you recommend that I get a clamshell or some other laptop?

I recommend that you click on the 'Store' link above. Then click on the red tag that says 'Save'. There are some great deals there and they change frequently. As an example, currently there is a "Refurbished iBook G4 1.2GHz/ 256MB/ 30GB/ CD/ 12-inch TFT" for $699. That is much better cost/performance ratio than you are going to find with a used clamshell.

I would second Duane's suggestion to look go with a red-tag sale ibook. Although you will be able to run everything you want on a color ibook, it is going to be very sluggish. It's a 5 yo machine afterall.

I have the fastest color ibook, a 466mhz graphite, and although it works in a pinch, and looks awfully fine, it really isn't up to par with a 1.2ghz G4 ibook. The delay between clicking something and then the action actually happening can get confusing. For example, click on the wireless icon on the title bar -- nothing happens -- click again just as it is opening from the last click thus causing it to close. It can get rather frustrating to do any real work on it.

Right now, I have it set up as a "coffee table magazine" -- i.e., it's there for guests who want to do light browsing. If I had to work on that computer -- I'd go nuts.

Also consider that even if you get a good deal on ebay, let's say $350, chances are it will have inadequate memory. You will have to pay $100 for the memory module. Secondly, the HD will likely be 6 or 10 gbs -- that just isn't sufficient. The OS is going to take up 3-4, and your applications a bit more. Secondly, you mention you want to some HTML editing. Some of the sweetest development software exists on the Unix side of OS X. You are going to need ample disc space to be able to use that stuff. Last, you won't have room for lots of pictures or music or any of the extras that make a computer fun. Add $80 for a HD upgrade (you do the labor). You're up $530 for antiquated hardware. Want more than 45 minutes of battery life (the battery you get is going to be worn out) -- add another $130 for a new battery (don't buy a "new" but old battery off ebay -- li ion batterys have a shelf life even if unused). When you are taking notes in class, you want to make it through the whole class I presume.

Also note that although iPhoto is going to run, it is designed for a higher resolution machine than the 800x600 color ibook (it wants 1024x768 -- i.e., a white G4 ibook), so it won't run optimally. Add to that the fact that simple things like resizing an image view take a long time to happen on the old color ibook and iPhoto, although it will run, won't run well on the old machine.

I know this is getting long, but here's my take on things. An iBooks is a great and cool machine -- as long as it isn't your primary computer. For that matter, my early 80s TRS-80 color computer is a great machine and it can do all kinds of amazing stuff -- there's even a guy out there who uses one to serve web pages. But it's a curiosity now and should never be considered as a primary computer. You would be much better off to buy something about 1-2 years behind the current "best" -- that way the machine will still be able to power modern applications, but you won't pay the "latest and greatest" premium prices. Honestly, the color ibooks are at the end of their useful life.

Please note I'm not flaming -- these are cool old computers without a doubt, I've already invested 700ish bucks in mine just because I like them, but I already have a speedy desktop and a speedy laptop. The ibook is for my collection, not for real work. And although I know many people do have them for their primary machine -- I guess I just can't fathom that. You buy a computer -- you want to work it, make it serve you, and a machine this old just isn't up to the task. By analogy, you could probably run a restaraunt off a coleman camp stove -- but you couldn't run it efficiently. You'd need a nice 6 burner job to get everything done in a timely fashion.

4) What's the greatest version of iTunes (and maybe iPhoto) that can run on the clamshell?

iTunes == 5.0

iPhoto == 2.0.1

thanks to thepotter and to Duane for their contributions to all of us curious / dedicated/ foolish/ clamshell owners and lovers wondering just what to do with these things. Your input is greatly appreciated.
j

well, i agree, a clamshell is very frustrating to use as a main computer. (hence my emac and the AMD 64 X2 systems) While im about to go buy a used Titanium (DVI) Series G4 powerbook on ebay, i had invested a @#$%-load of money on my old 300MHz Tangerine iBook. Now as a PC modder, i figured, hey, why not a mac? after removing a lot of plastics and disassembling the screen to make the logo light up and give the case that "see through" effect, and tweaking the the jumper settings a bit, i now have the following:

PPC G3 @ 433MHz
576MB RAM
DVD-ROM
6GB HD (Noisy!!)

WHen i origianlly got the 'book:

PPC G3 @ 300MHz
192MB RAM
CD-ROM
60GB 72k RPM HD

With the cool mod looks of the Tangerine see through plastics and a blue handle from a blueberry model, people and my friends at my high school think it looks one-of-a kind. Now i just gotta get my hands on that powerbook...

Custom Built AMD 64 X2, iBook 433, eMac 700 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Now I know that it's pretty uneffective to buy a Clamshell, but I've been ******* after it for all these years since it came out. I just didn't have the funds to purchase it. Yes, I know that it would defenetley be more cost effective to buy a refurb'd G4 14", but the COLOR... And the handle. It just looks really good. as soon as I had a spare $300 I went on eBay and picked one up. When I got it, it seemed to work pretty good, although i'm reluctant to install mac os 10 on it (I know, I know... OS 9.2 is obsolete, but it's charming... and I can actually use it on an iBook with only 128 MB ram). I can use all of the old apps that I had for old mac os 7-9 on it without the lag of the "Classic" shell. I would never use it as a main computer... it's too slow, even in the classic os. I use my eMac for main computing use, and I use my iBook to take to classes and jot down notes, and To write up papers during the lunch hour. Battery life isn't the greatest, and It's pretty heavy, but it gets alot of looks from my classmates. All in all, it's a really good workhorse, a bit bulky, but can only really be described as "Cute".

Hi. This is in reply to Aaryn Dominguezs' comments.

You were able to install a DVD player on your Tangerine 300MHz iBook? How? Does it work OK? Did you have to add anything extra to the processor board? I've been trying to find out if it could be done (over and above just installing a combo drive that is). I want to put one in a Graphite 366 SE, but I thought that only the 366mhz Firewire (the next model up) and newer could use DVDs.

Also, how did you increase the processor speed? I know how to do it on an xlr8 zif carrier card, or the Beige G3, but didn't know it could be done on the Clamshells.

Thanks.

PM9600/XLR8 G3/384 * Beige G3/338 MT * Lombard G3/400 * Mac OS 9.2.2* Mac OS 9.2.x Indigo 366 FW - OS 10.3.9 (kicking and screaming)

PM9600/XLR8 G3/384 * Beige G3/338 MT * Lombard G3/400 * Mac OS 9.2.x / Indigo 366 FW - OS 10.3.9 (kicking and screaming)

I have a clamshell I got for free, and I am glad I did not pay for it. The hard drive, and the motherboard have both died. Personally I would get a white iBook from ebay.

ibook clamshell Mac OS 9.2.x