posts tagged with the keyword ‘powerbook’

2004.02.11

DIY PowerBook Repairs

As PowerBook (and iBook) users know all to well, those damn power adapters can go bad. Well, mine finally got to the point of not working. So for the last few weeks or so I’ve been without the use of pbox, our lovely old PowerBook G3 Wallstreet.

I looked on ebay and at some of the 3rd party suppliers of power adapters, but because I’m what you might call frugal, and a hacker, I took matters into my own hands, and in my own hands I put some tools. Pliers, utility knife, wire cutters, and some duct tape. Ah, there’s always room for duct tape…

So now the power adapter works again. I did managed to lose a tiny resistor in the hackery of it all, but as the saying goes “We got power!” I mean, what could that little resistor be doing anyway? Sure, there is a chance I might get an electrical shock when checking email, or launching Firebird, I mean FireFox, might cause it to burst into flames. Oh well, such is the price you pay for attempting to keep up with the fast pace of technology on a limited budget…

Flaming PowerBook warning label

#tags: , , ,

Comments Off

2003.04.08

My Kingdom for a Torx 8!

When repairing a PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet) you’ll need two Torx screwdrivers, a size 8 and a size 6. If you’re lucky, you’ll find these at your local hardware store. If you’re unlucky – or cheap – this might be more difficult.

I managed to get the Torx 6 at the local hardware store, no problem. They also had a Torx 8 bit, with the security hole in it, which makes it cost more, and allows you to remove Torx screws of the size 8 variety with a small pin in the hole on the top. Yeah, so anyway, I bought that one. The bit worked OK until I had to remove some screws that are way inside, that require you use a Torx 8 with long skinny shaft – which means the damn bit would not fit. This halted repairs a bit.

So I happen to be at Home Depot, they have a Torx set but it’s $20, which for someone who is cheap, is quite the deterrent. I ended up calling another hardware store, they had nothing, I then called Radio Shack, and they did have a tool with fold out Torx bits, but they said it was $16, and it sounded cheap and I wasn’t sure it would work, plus I figured if I was gonna spend that much I’d spend $20 for a nice set.

So at this point I continue to hope I’ll find a single Torx 8 screwdriver, and if I don’t I’ll end up spending $20 for the nice set, even though I’ve already spent $7 for the bit and the Torx 6.

This demonstrate the frustration of everyday life I must endure…

(I’ll leave it up to you to determine if that last statement was sarcasm or not…)

#tags: , ,

Comments Off

2003.03.31

TO DO: Fix Wallstreet

Looks like I’ll need to read the Powerbook G3 Wallstreet take-apart instructions. As far as I can tell the power connector broke loose in my Wallstreet…

I fear having to use the soldering iron, as it’s been years since I’ve done any serious soldering…

#tags:

Comments Off

2003.02.27

Slow S X

We went to the Apple Store last weekend. It was actually Emma’s idea. (I’m a proud dad!) So while the girls played Barbie games on the eMacs (under OS 9 interestingly enough) I checked out all the hardware. Damn technolust!

That iPod. Wow. 20 Gigs. Tiny. And it plays music. Out of my price range.

12″ PowerBook. Nice. Very nice. Tiny. Out of my price range.

17″ PowerBook… oh, not out yet… Pretty sure it’s out of my price range.

So I was using a nice shiny new PowerMac G4 and I tooled around iPhoto a bit, and got the spinning beachball, or lollypop, or whatever it is in Jaguar. I thought, “Well, no surprise, I get that a lot on my G3/250mhz Wallstreet, and my G4/400mhz at work, and even my G4/733mhz at home.” So I looked at the little sign, and realize I’m using a PowerMac G4 with dual 1 Gig processors.. and 1 Gig of RAM.

But I’m not worried, any day now Apple will come out with faster hardware, with more processors, and more RAM slots, and someday my friends, the spinning beachball, or lollypop, or whatever it is in the current version of the Mac OS, will be a distant memory…

Of this I am sure. Maybe.

#tags: , ,

Comments Off

2003.01.27

The Crazy Ones…

Does anyone besides me remember when computer nerds and jocks were two different groups? Hmmm…

Anyway, for Maddy’s birthday we went to the Build-A-Bear Workshop, which is a place that little girls like. She made a bunny and got some clothes for it to wear, because, you know, you can’t have a naked bunny now, can you?

After the bunny-making we stopped by Libby Lu which is another store that little girls like. It’s a very girly store. The employees (all girls) wear fairy wings and dance and sing when it’s someone’s birthday. This is the first time I’ve had to wait for an employee to finish dancing to make a purchase.

That was all a whole lot of fun, but we then headed over to the store that kids love the best, yes, the Apple Store! While I asked one of the geniuses about external CD burners (for my brother-in-law), and possible firmware updates for my Wallstreet, the kids enjoyed the games in the kids area, just as I knew they would. This was actually the hardest store to get the kids to leave. It makes me proud… I promised to bring them back another day.

Oh, when I was talking to the genius, he told me he had a Wallstreet, until someone puked on it. He was in college at the time, and there was this high-school kid staying with him, and… well, you know…

The guy waiting next to me at the Genius Bar said I got a Titanium PowerBook about 4 months ago… I’m a switcher… which I found amusing. Does Apple make “I’m a Switcher” shirts, it could be a popular item?

Damn Superbowl messed up the whole ABC schedule, putting Alias on later than usual, thanks for nothing you dang football watchers…

I did see an Apple commercial with that little short guy, and the really tall guy, and I believe it was narrated by Jeff Goldblum. Ah, now that’s what I like to see. Apple is still saying, “Hey, our products are for freaks! Look at these freaks! They choose Apple!” And yes, that includes Jeff Goldblum. He’s a freak as well. And I’m not using freak in a derogatory way, but you football-lovin’ superbowl-watchin’ people just wouldn’t understand…

Peace! I’m outta here!

#tags: ,

Comments Off

« Older Entries | Newer Entries »

buy the button:

But The Button

recently at:


top recent artists: