Apple PowerBook G3 (M7229LL/A) Mac Notebook

Yes, another review of a geriatric laptop. The computer reviewed here, Apple's 1999 PowerBook, most often referred to by its codename "Lombard", is something of an transitional machine for Apple, one foot solidly in the modern era, the other still back in the old days. In comparison to the current Apple lineup, the machine that comes closest is the large (14") iBook, which is about the same size, weight and thickness, uses essentially the same LCD screen, though lacks the older model's versatile drive bay.

When I say transitional, what I mean is that in the years since the original Apple iMac was introduced with its USB port (an no other connectivity), Apple has gradually shifted away from its legacy ports (ADB, Serial, SCSI) and incorporated modern ports including USB and FireWire, all while making the old floppy drive a historical footnote. At the same time as Apple modernized the parts that you do see, they also modernized the parts that you don't, switching from so-called "old world" to "new world" roms. These roms are what control the boot process, and are roughly equivalent to a PC's BIOS. The blue and white G3 desktop (and the PCI graphics G4), some iMacs and the Lombard PowerBook reviewed here are truly transitional. This computer has the "new world" rom, which is larger and thus supports more functions than the older type, but lacks certain features introduced on the desktop G4 AGP graphics and the year 2000 "Pismo" PowerBooks, mainly the ability to boot from a FireWire drive (there is no firewire port) and the ability to select the boot device at startup by pressing the "Option" key, which is very handy for a multi-OS system.

Multi-OS system? You may why I would talk about booting more than one operating system on such an old computer, which brings me to the whole reason I am bothering to review this machine, and the reason I decided to buy it. Unlike ALL current Apple computers, older Macs can run Mac OS X, which in my humble opinion is the best operating system on the planet, but can also boot into Mac OS 9 or in the case of the Lombard, some versions of Mac OS 8. This was important for me because while OS X requires some serious computing power to run well, OS 9 is blazingly fast on a machine with the specifications of this old Lombard, and many educational game titles do better on OS 9 than on OS X (I bought this for my 10-year-old daughter).

Okay, first off, can this computer run the latest productivity and system software? Well that depends on what you call running. My Lombard is the base model, meaning 333MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 512K backside cache, a plain vanilla CD Rom drive, built in modem and Ethernet, and an 8MB ATI Rage 128 graphics card. In 1999 this was cutting edge, but today it is about the bare minumum to install and run Mac OS X10.3 Panther. Also, you will need a large hard disk and a lot of ram. My Lombard was maxed out by the previous owner, and now has a 20GB hard disk and 512MB of ram. Careful, installing OS X is tricky on one of these, with older ram modules usually causing the installer to freeze (I had to install with the upper slot empty and only 256MB of ram).

Once installed, there are a things you need to consider. First, the video card is not supported by OS X. This isn't as bad as it sounds, as the LCD works fine and you will see everything the way you expect it to be. What you won't get is any 3D acceleration whatsoever, despite the 3D rendering capabilities of the card. Forget playing modern games, even if you upgrade the processor (you can put a 433MHz G4 into the Lombard). For web browsing, email and general (non multimedia) productivity tasks, Lombard and OS X Panther do a fine job. Another big downer to this machine is that there is no slot for an Airport card. If you want WiFi on a Lombard, you will need to find a compatible PC card and install it in the laptop's only PC card slot. There are many choices, just even more choices that won't work, so shop carefully and make sure the card you get is supported by Mac. My first card didn't work despite an eBay seller insisting it was Mac compatible, but a Linksys card I bought works great, though I had to pay $20 for a commercial driver to make it work.

OS X 10.3 is not fast on a 333MHz Lombard, but it isn't annoyingly slow either. I own a fast 1GHz G4 PowerBook with an upgraded 5400 RPM hard drive. This Lombard, at 1/3 the processor speed (and lacking the Altivec engine and modern video card), fited with 1/2 the memory and a slow 4200 rpm hard drive isn't that much slower to boot up and accomplish basic tasks like opening a Word document or render a web page. Speaking of Word, I am running the very latest Microsoft Office 2004 on this machine and it too runs quite well, never really making me wait for it. Of course, DVD movies are right out, even on the faster 400MHz model from what I've read (mine lacks a DVD drive), though Quicktime movies play fine. Even Expose, Panther's cool feature that makes thumbnails of open windows and allows easy switching between them works well, although the reduction isn't the smooth graphical delight as on newer hardware, but rather a jerky (though fast) transition that gets the job done but doesn't look great in the process.

While on OS X the Lombard is merely adequate, in OS 9 this thing is a real speed demon. For comparison, we also have a 400MHz AGB Graphics desktop Power Mac that also can boot OS 9, and honestly, I cannot tell the difference between them. Even with fairly modern games like Quake III and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, both computers do an admirable job (the Lombard's video card has full 3D acceleration under OS 9). Of course, OS 9 is dated today, lacking protected memory and modern web browsers (I've heard of a version of Mozilla that works on OS 9, haven't found it yet). Of course, all of those educational CD ROMs we have run far better in OS 9 than in OS X, so I imagine my daughter will spend about the same amount of time in both systems, using OS X for work (well school) and OS 9 for play.

Okay, so performance is fantastic on OS 9 and acceptable on OS X, how about the hardware itself? Like all laptops, it is a compromise. Rather than the thin-and-light variety that I prefer, the Lombard is a full-sized laptop that is large in every dimension, including thickness (though the 1998 Wallstreet models make this one feel lithe). Apple used the size to advantage, resulting in a very comfortable machine to work on. The keyboard is large and has nice feel, better than on more any Apple laptop until the current aluminum models, in my opinion (the 2000 Pismo has the exact same keyboard), and the palmrests in front of it are positively huge. The trackpad is small, but works well and has an extremely nice button. Finally, like the current models, volume and screen brightness are controlled by dedicated function keys that are fast in operation and extremely intuitive.

That keyboard and trackpad button, by the way, are a brown (Apple calls it bronze) color that has a very distinctive look and gives the Lombard (and visually identical Pismo) a very warm feeling that somehow makes these very friendly machines. The keys are translucent, with white lettering that stands out well in most lighting. Combine the bronze keyboard with the first example of the "glowing apple" on the (very curvy and attractive) lid and you end up with a laptop that even 5-years after it was discontinued still looks modern and cool.

The highlight of the hardware package is clearly the 14.1" LCD screen. Even placed right next to my much newer 12" G4 PowerBook the screen on this 1999 model is crisp and bright, with excellent color and a reasonably wide viewing angle (about 40 degrees in either direction). The large display is mounted on robust hinges that on my 5-year-old and obviously VERY used example still hold the LCD firmly in any position, with only a small amount of wiggle. Immediately underneath that display (above the keyboard) are a pair of smallish speakers that while able to fill a room with music, sound quite good for usual computer alert sounds or playing back voice recordings.

What most Mac fans like most about the Lombard (and the Wallstreet and Pismo models that preceded and superceded it) is the versatility it offers. Wallstreet from 1998 was really king, allowing the fitment of a battery or an optical drive in EITHER bay, giving users the option of a DVD drive in one bay and a floppy in the other (but no battery power). Lombard and Pismo reduced the left slot to battery only, but the right slot can still be used for either a battery or an optical drive. I have a plain ordinary CD ROM in mine, though you can buy modern slot-loading DVD burners that work in Lombards for under $300.

Actually, losing some versatility in the left slot isn't as bad as it sounds, as the Lombard (and Pismo) give about double the runtime on a battery than the Wallstreet did, so where Wallstreet often needed two batteries, Lombard can usually get by with only one. My 5-year-old batteries are in decent shape, with one giving about 1 1/2 hours and the other the full 4 hours it was rated at when new. 5 1/2 hours is nothing to sneeze at even today, and with a cheap generic replacement battery I can bump that up to a full 8 hours of unplugged computing.

That about sums up the Lombard PowerBook. You can buy one in good condition today for under $400 (they are cheaper than the less versatile clamshell iBooks with the same processor speed), at which price you get a computer capable of excellent performance in OS 9 and more than adequate performance under OS X. Pismo models have something of a cult following and thus command high prices, but that helps keep Lombard prices down at about the same level as higher-spec Wallstreet PowerBooks. I call that an excellent value on an excellent laptop.