Thread

PowerBook G4!

PowerBook G4! Troubleshooting 30 posts Aug 9, 2007 — Jan 6, 2008

#1 Thu, 9 Aug 2007 - 22:37

So, the story goes:

October 2005: I'm helping someone move into a new classroom for the afterschool program I'm in. We open the closet in the room and see a PowerBook G4 sitting there. No AC adapter, no battery.

So, the coordinator person gets a battery for it and uses it with the other 10 iBook G4s he had bought for the program. Though, since it looked "old" compared to the "new" iBooks, no one used it. At all.

June 2007: I'm cleaning out the computer cart, getting ready to wipe the iBook HDs and reinstall Tiger. I finish later in the day and put the iBooks back and realize the PowerBook is still sitting in the back. The afterschool program coordinator guy asks me if I want to take it home to work on (wipe and install). Of course, I said yes. He said not to worry about getting it back on time.

Yesterday: I bring the PB to show a Keynote presentation to the coordinator, and he says, "Ian, if it looks like you're getting a lot of use out of and like having the PowerBook, why don't you just hang on to it until/if someone comes looking for it? You've seen it; no one uses it in the cart."

So, that was that. I now indefinitely have a PowerBook G4.

Specs:

1.25GHz G4

15" screen

80GB HD

512MB RAM (I'm gonna get more soon)

Airport + Bluetooth

SuperDrive

Woot!

#2 Thu, 9 Aug 2007 - 22:48

NICE! :O An......AlBook???? :O (judging by the specs...no TiBook had a 1.25 Ghz G4 or Bluetooth)

#3 Thu, 9 Aug 2007 - 22:49

That looks like a good computer.

#4 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 00:40

That looks like a good computer.

Thank you Captain Obvious

NICE dude! I wish people would give me free PowerBook G4s!

#5 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 02:51

dude, u suck!!! congrats!

#6 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 02:52

Its not exactly a free powerbook G4, he could have to give it back any second.

Still, thats pretty neat.

#7 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 03:16

Wow, You are lucky. People around here promise to give you something, but they don't. Have fun.

#8 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 03:40

Its not exactly a free powerbook G4, he could have to give it back any second.
Still, thats pretty neat.

I doubt "any second", as the PB was in the room for at least 2 years and no one's asked about it, but you're right.

But I agree; I'm not calling it a free PowerBook G4...even though I technically own it, I'm going to try not to get too attached to it (even though I already am

)

I am pretty much ready to get my stuff off, install Jaguar (what was on it before I got it), and give it back when the time comes. Just waiting for the word.

#9 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 04:48

Nice find for sure! How would someone look at that and not want to use it because it looked "older"? You would think people would notice that it doesn't look old... I would want to be the one on the oddball machine instead of being the conformist.

#10 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 05:03

Nice find for sure! How would someone look at that and not want to use it because it looked "older"? You would think people would notice that it doesn't look old... I would want to be the one on the oddball machine instead of being the conformist.

I always wanted to use the Apple IIGS even though our elementary school had new PCs, but the IIGS had all the really cool games and stuff on it and the PCs were really boring in comparison.

#11 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 - 21:16

Nice find for sure! How would someone look at that and not want to use it because it looked "older"? You would think people would notice that it doesn't look old... I would want to be the one on the oddball machine instead of being the conformist.

Exactly! I'd see it in the cart and want to use it, but I never knew its specs. There was always one less power adapter than there were computers in the cart, and since no one used that one, its battery was always depleted.

#12 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 - 23:51

Dammit. Why can't I get a free G4???

#13 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 - 06:28

Nice score. A free PBG4 is awesome.

Does it have the backlit keyboard?

#14 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 - 15:49

I love working on those things!

#15 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 - 22:19

Does it have the backlit keyboard?

Yep -- I don't use it much though. I have it set to turn off the light after 5 seconds, and when I notice it on, I turn it off. I find in the dark, I can see the text on the keys better than I can when the backlight is on.

#16 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 - 15:09

I have a free 1.25GHz G4 Powerbook waiting for me. Trouble is, it's in another state, in pieces, and has a busted screen

#17 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 - 15:22

I have a free 1.25GHz G4 Powerbook waiting for me. Trouble is, it's in another state, in pieces, and has a busted screen

Duct tape and WD-40. Ten minutes and it'll be fine

#18 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 - 00:24

I have a free 1.25GHz G4 Powerbook waiting for me. Trouble is, it's in another state, in pieces, and has a busted screen

Ok, now its official....

I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8-o 8-o 8-o 8-o :O :O :O :O :O :O }

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Or maybe not

#19 Fri, 4 Jan 2008 - 22:39

So, I was at the after school program today working on imaging 10 iBooks, and the coordinator guy came up and told me that he cleared it with his boss that I can *have* the PowerBook!

It's a tradeoff that I'll keep maintaining the website for the program through the end of my Senior year (Junior now). Not too big of a price tag

Woo!

#20 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 00:11

...the coordinator guy came up and told me that he cleared it with his boss that I can *have* the PowerBook!...

Wicked-Sweet!! nice, grat's on the permanent score!!! I had a 1.2Ghz iBook G4 and it rocks, but that PowerBook is going to be absolutely awesome for you to use as a main machine. FYI, get leopard on it (if you haven't done so already). That system will fly with it

. My iBook G4 did, and my MacBook REALLY flies with it

#21 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 00:16

get leopard on it (if you haven't done so already). That system will fly with it .

I will eventually. I'm more concerned with getting it to at least a 1GB or more of RAM. For now, Tiger suits me.

#22 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 00:29

Holy crap dude! I only get broken promises.

#23 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 00:38

Awesome! Congrats on the permanent PowerBook, Ian!

#24 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 01:21

Thats awesome man!

#25 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 03:23

Congratulations!

#26 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 06:09

Awesome, the AlBook is a great notebook.

It took a while for me to get used to the backlit keyboard but I really like it.

#27 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 06:44

lucky... i paid 300 for this tibook.

#28 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 13:26

It took a while for me to get used to the backlit keyboard but I really like it.

I actually hate the backlight. I've found that having the computer set it automagically makes both the screen and the keyboard at the same level, and with the bright-kinda color the screen is, it almost neutralizes some of the F-keys and some in the top row.

I usually leave the backlighting off, or turn it *way* up so the light is brighter than what the screen is. With the backlight off, it's much easier to read; with the text on the keys looking black (instead of the same color as the LCD light) under the glow of the screen.

#29 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 - 23:47

Well, now it's time for the official congrats.

Congrats on scoring your own personal PBG4.

Very nice. Excellent tradeoff of some web stuff for the hardware too!

To think I paid full price for this Ti when it was brand new, and you get a better machine for free.

So happy for you right now.

#30 Sun, 6 Jan 2008 - 00:37

It's nice that they gave you the Powerbook "officially" for all your hard work, that sort of recognition/support is pretty rare these days.