Fra,
(I worked with the PowerBook teams that made the PowerBook G3 Hooper,
Lombard and Pismo models.)
Don't buy a PowerBook G3/Lombard: it was a transition model and it's
too old now. There are limitations on RAM, some Mac OS X features
simply don't work (like the DVD player), and altogether it's not a
great deal. The PowerBook G3/Pismo is a much much better model:
larger RAM, better video driver, much more reliable. It can take up
to 1G RAM, runs Mac OS X v10.4.2 perfectly. It's worth the extra money.
I've been using PowerBook G3/Pismo 500Mhz since they first came out.
Fitted 768M RAM and a fast 60G drive last year. Works great. Only
thing that's a pain is USB 1.1 only ... too slow to download 1G
memory cards through a standard card reader. A good workaround
(thanks Cotty) is a FireWire CF card reader (and for SD cards, an SD-
>CF card adapter).
Very soon I'll spring for a new iBook or PowerBook G4, though, as the
new ones are much faster and much more useful with Photoshop. The
iBooks were designed for education/students/etc and are somewhat more
rugged, have a larger battery.
Godfrey
On Sep 28, 2005, at 10:09 AM, Frantisek wrote:
Hi,
I would have a question for the mac gurus here, again concerning
powerbooks. Thanks for all the answers few months before.
Now, I have an option to buy a G3 Bronze(Lombard?) very cheaply, with
max RAM and configuration. Usually second-hand macs are way overpriced
here in Central Europe, and ordering from US Ebay is a bit risky with
a computer, in my opinion (customs, damage,...)
From the last replies, it seems G3 Pismo is the one to go, but I can't
find it here for a good price. The G3 Bronze/Lombard is a little
slower, doesn't have AirPort builtin or FW ports, but otherwise seems
about as capable.
Any opinions, please? I can get a PC notebook for similar price but
for on location wiring of photographs, the mac would be easier -
great PJ software and second battery bay in the G3.
Thanks!
Frantisek
