Re: G3 iBook Usefullness
- From: me18@xxxxxxxxxxx (zoara)
- Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 15:12:58 +0000
Danny Thompson <danny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
A (non-Mac-using up to now) friend has been given a G3 iBook (Marble?)
600, 12Gb, 128Mb with a CD drive.
She has passed it on to me to 'tinker with' for her. She wants to use it
for wireless browsing, and for iTunes syncing with her 2nd Gen Nano.
I had a quick look and found that it boots ok, still has a usable
battery, but the CD isn't working (if you put a disc in, the drawer
clicks back out a couple of seconds after you engage it).
Does it do this with all discs? I mean, have you tried CDRs and pressed
CDs? Data CDs and music CDs? Just wondering whether it's barfing on
certain types of disc. Does it make any noises while it tries to read
the disc?
I had a similar problem a while back, and I'm trying to remember how I
fixed it. It was either a dodgy 'latch' or a misaligned/sticking laser
transport; check the little rounded spring-loaded catch that you can see
closest to the hinge unside the open drawer and see if it sticks at all
(it's fiddly, you might want to remove the CD bezel).
Also, try physically moving the laser transport towards the centre of
the tray (don't touch the laser!) - it will make a nasty clicking sound
but as long as you are gentle you won't harm it; then try again. I think
there's also an adjusting screw on the laser, if there is you could try
adjusting it. But only make quarter-turn adjustments at a time, and make
sure you remember how many turns (and in which direction) you need to
get it back how it was - it's a bugger to get those back when you
forget.
It's also worth remembering that you can use Target Disc Mode to access
another Mac's CD drive - even for installs. Either boot the iBook in TDM
(hold down T when booting, IIRC) and use your Other Mac to install stuff
to the iBook hard disk, or boot the Other Mac in TDM, stick a CD in its
drive, and access it from the iBook. With the first option, you'll need
a PPC Other Mac to install OSX, and the install might be a bit wonky
(like the trackpad not working) if your Other Mac is substantially
diferent (like a desktop).
It's running 10.2.0, and comes with all the original install discs.
Booting into it gave me a similar displaced feeling I got when moving
from OS 8/9 to 10.0. Things have moved on the in the last half-decade
haven't they?
They have :)
I've had a quick browse at www.lowendmac.com, but wondered if anyone
here is using one - and whether you think my friends ambitions for it
are realistic. Are there any other sources which will tell me what the
thing will run?
That age of machine will be fine for browsing and iTunes. Just whack in
some extra RAM to avoid irritating beachballs.
Oh - it doesn't have an Airport card. Can I use a D-Link USB wireless
dongle-thingy? Or does it *have* to be an Airport card?
I don't know, but internal wireless is so much nicer.
-z-
--
No 3G. Fewer megapixels than an N95. Lame.
.
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