I must very respectfully agree with Beverly. Part of the reason I never
bought a 1400 was that there was still MAJOR compromises with the Powerbook.
It still only had one speaker, smaller HD, slow CD-ROM, smaller screen,
slower processor, but most important of all, the limitation of 64 megs of
RAM. I have friends that can't run OS 8.6 because it uses too much RAM. The
3400 could still run OS 9.0.4 without hesitation, no virtual memory while
running Netscape, Photoshop, word, and illustrator!
The 1400 (w/ 64 megs) can't run complex architectural CAD, and 3D
renderings. It could barely play games that was written for the 603-604
family. The 1400, even when new, was little more than a web browser,
expensive word processor. The 3400 (w/144 megs) blew away the 1400 in all
applications it ran. There was no applications the 3400 couldn't run for its
day. I've never owned or saw a Powerbook that could perform at that level,
until the G3's were introduced.
Yes, most of us will never use CAD software on our Powerbooks, but I would
still want 144 ram to run anything I wanted. I also wanted to use the PB as
my primary machine, the 3400 was the first PB that I was able to do that.
Then there is the cost of a G3 upgrade, a mixed blessing. Yes, it screams
with the upgrade, but w/ the slow bus, and limited RAM, it still can't do
much compared if you just bought a low end wallstreet. Plus, upgrading any
of the Powerbooks has never made much sense, financially. I upgraded my old
520c to PCC, and got screwed with new OS upgrades, unsupported, this and
that, and the wad of cash I plunked down....Loved my 520c, before the
upgrade! My new Pismo is upgradable, but I will buy a new PB when the need
comes, or when I just can't live without a sexy ti-book ;)
Yes, the internal modem is limited to 33.6 bps, but I installed a PCMICA 56k
modem.
On anther note, I've never used the dongle for ethernet/modem, which is the
smartest port design Apple has ever made.
Also, the expansion bays are more abundent on the 3400 than the 1400 since
you can use the expansion mods from the 5300. The 5300/3400 also had an
expansion bay AC adapter! Just slide in the AC adapter and you don't have to
carry an external brick with you!
But I must agree the the 3400 was a real boat anchor! But if you get
yourself two AC adapters, and get skilled at managing your OS to eek out as
much power as you can on the 2 hour battery, weight is not much an issue
compared with weight of a Ti-book and one AC adapter.
> Beverly Woods on 8/28/01 11:45 AM wrote:
>
>> In case anyone else is contemplating this question, my very petite
>> 10-year-old scoffs at the idea that her 3400c/200 is not worth its weight. I
>> wrote a column on my selection process which you can find at:
>>
> I never said it wasn't worth it's weight. As a matter of fact,
> pound-for-pound you get more for your money in a 3400. That's one of the
> points I was making. Having hauled a 1400 and a 3500 (a Kanga, same
> weight/form factor) around on my shoulder the small difference can be
> significant.
>
> As a matter of fact, I came to this realization one day while hoisting my
> briefcase with 3500 to my shoulder and wincing at the pain going from my
> shoulder to the base of my skull. Until that moment I thought the ache was
> stress related. I now alternate shoulders.
>
> Strangely enough, I now own the heaviest PowerBook know to man, a Wallstreet
> with 14.1" screen. I'm such a slouch ;^)
>
> I really loved the 1400 when I had it. Especially after the 400MHz Sonnet
> upgrade! What a screamer. Plus the keyboard was the best of any PowerBook
> I've owned (including a Duo230, Duo280, Duo2300, PB190, PB5300, PB1400,
> PB3500 & Wallstreet).
>
> If I were to buy another pre-G3 PowerBook, hands down, it would be the
> 1400c/166. While there is a memory limitation of 64MB, it was never a
> problem, perhaps since it wasn't my primary Mac.
>
> The thing that got peoples attention the most was the picture of my family
> on the lid of the 1400. The BookCover feature is truly unique.
>
> -makmac
>
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