Periodically and recently questions have recurred over iB2 comparisons and the "value" of PCMCIA slots. I also often receive offlist inquiries about 2400 issues and problems. It was never my intent to be stay so involved with this computer--my reflexive habit in the past was to always and continually buy Apple's latest and greatest, even when full configurations ran the far side of $6500--but the G3-2400's upgradability and flexibility has kept it close enough. It's likely, for pure ease of use, that I'll continue to stay involved with the 2400 despite OS X and other limitations, for certain purposes--especially on the road.
Now I don't plan to venture into this arena again, but include herein some heretofore unstated, specific, and less obvious reasons why the 2400, despite its limitations, retains some fine advantages and justifications for upgrading. Such advantages best serve those underway in many different environments, or who want maximum options to meet computing challenges under any circumstances, even if these possibilities remain unused. Depending on your work needs, one option once needed can pay for itself many times over. USABLE POWER=COMPUTING POWER--computing speed is very important but FAR from determining true computing power, which really comes down to functionality/flexibility/usability in its multiple extended forms. Greater HD storage makes a lot more sense than time/money consuming remote connections to a server for downloading files/apps that should already have been preloaded, except for time critical data updates. I've already previously made my views known on ram (and Classic OS stack stability limitations). If Apple in its infinite wisdom had not disabled bootup from ram disk, then I would have left my 2400 the instant it was possible to set up a 500-900mb ram boot disk because that speed would have been awesome. And I've always maintained if you're using Photoshop all day a desktop/large color calibrated CRT is still the only way to go. A snappier Finder is neat, and opening a big PS doc in 7 instead of 13 sec is cool, too, but not a crucial determinant for mobile computing. Any G3-2400 is adequately fast and suitable for reading/editing functions in even high powered apps. OS X isn't contortion free, yet...and the fastest PB running the latest bloatware doesn't remotely compensate for a slowed down operator! SIZE=SECURITY--I'm able to take my G3-400 2400 everywhere with great peace of mind and NEVER leave it in hotel rooms or offices. That's deserving to lose it and many have/will (just like data backup rules). Add-ons can stay behind but not the computer itself. Even a 12" iB2 is too large to rigorously do this. PC subnotebook users have a big advantage here, but the 2400 meets my weight/bulk/size "cutoff" point. REPAIRABILITY/FLEXIBILITY & RELIABILITY--the 2400 allows and iB2 does NOT allow: --bootup repair from floppy (with automatic boot priority)* --bootup repair from PCMCIA via ATA, CF, SM, HD (Type II & III) --bootup via ram disk (great for extreme power management), you can then push battery life up to 2:45-3 hrs --bootup by external SCSI HD or CD --repair/bootup via SCSI mode over another computer (probably even a PC configured with SCSI and Mac compatible file readers, although I've never tried this) Wallstreet or later eliminates floppy, PCMCIA and ram bootup by open firmware, leaving CD & external SCSI. Pismo or later eliminates floppy, PCMCIA, SCSI and ram bootup by open firmware, leaving CD & external Firewire/USB but none of these are foolproof with a badly crashed computer. Even the PCMCIA slot doesn't automatically have boot priority for emergency rescue. Only the lowly floppy guarantees boot priority to get back inside a crashed computer/corrupted system, or to prioritize another boot drive. * --> REMEMBER, any time you have a smilin'Mac hanging up instead of the flashing question mark, it can be difficult to switch into another boot priority mode, especially on the road. A partially booting (then freezing) OS usurps boot priority. The lowly floppy guarantees priority accessibility to switch to another boot drive, SCSI mode usually and CD probably. Although I run multiple partitions on multiple systems, directory corruption occurs surprisingly often enough for me to be very wary. I've faced several occurrences where DW2.1, TTP3.06, NDD6.03 etc. were helpless (all choked dead) and had to drop into file level editing to get my partition back to a state where the usual utilities could effect directory repairs. So flexibility of repairability, and several viable options, are paramount considerations for a road warrior power user. Sidney Ho / Pt-1 ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com> Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
