iBook

Not to be confused with the iBooks book reader application.

The iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer from 1999 to 2006. The line targeted the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers.

Three distinct designs of the iBook were introduced during its lifetime. The first, known as the "Clamshell", was influenced by the design of Apple's popular iMac line at the time. It was a significant departure from previous portable computer designs due to its shape, bright colors, incorporation of a handle into the casing, lack of a hinged cover over the external ports, and built-in wireless networking. Two years later, the second generation abandoned the original form factor in favor of a more conventional rectangular design. In October 2003, a third iteration was released that added a PowerPC G4 chip and a slot-loading drive.

Apple replaced the iBook line with the MacBook in May 2006 during Apple’s transition to Intel processors.

Contents

iBook G3 ("Clamshell")

iBook G3 ("Clamshell")

The original iBook in Blueberry color
Developer Apple
Release date July 21, 1999
Discontinued May 1, 2001
CPU PowerPC G3, 300–466 MHz

In the late 1990s Apple was trimming its product line from the bewildering variety of intersecting Performa, Quadra, LC, Power Macintosh and PowerBook models to a simplified "four box" strategy: desktop and portable computers, each in both consumer and professional models. Three boxes of this strategy were already in place: The newly introduced iMac was the consumer desktop, the Blue and White G3 filled the professional desktop box, and the PowerBook line served as the professional portable line. This left only the consumer portable space empty, leading to much rumor on the Internet of potential designs and features. Putting an end to this speculation, Steve Jobs unveiled the iBook G3 during the keynote presentation of Macworld Conference & Expo, New York City on July 21, 1999.

The design was clearly influenced by Apple's consumer desktop, the iMac. In fact, the marketing slogan was "iMac to go". The clamshell design also echoed the eMate 300. Apple continued its trend of using transparent colored plastics for the shell, and releasing a product in multiple colors. Like the iMac, the iBook G3 had a PowerPC G3 CPU, and no legacy Apple interfaces. USB, Ethernet, modem ports and an optical drive were standard. The ports were left uncovered along the left side: a cover was thought to be fragile and unnecessary with the iBook's new interfaces, which lacked the exposed pins of earlier connectors. When the lid was closed, the hinge kept it firmly shut, so there was no need for a latch on the screen. The hinge included an integrated carrying handle. Additional power connectors on the bottom surface allowed multiple iBook G3s to be charged on a custom-made rack. The iBook G3 was the first Mac to use Apple's new "Unified Logic Board Architecture", which condensed all of the machine's core features into two chips, and added AGP and Ultra DMA support.

The iBook was the first mainstream computer designed and sold with integrated wireless networking. On the iBook's introduction, Phil Schiller, Apple's VP of Marketing, held an iBook while jumping off a height as data from the computer was transferred to another in order to demonstrate the wireless networking capability. The display bezel contained the wireless antenna, which attached to an optional internal wireless card. Lucent helped create this wireless capability which established the industry standard. Apple released the AirPort Wireless Base Station at the same time.

There was heated debate over many things such as the aesthetics, features, weight, performance, and pricing. To provide good impact protection, the iBook was larger and heftier than the PowerBook of the time, and yet had lower specifications. Standard features like PC card slots were absent. Speculated features such as touch-screens and an ultra-long battery life were absent. The iBook gained the label "Barbie's toilet seat", due to the distinctive design.[1] Nevertheless, this same design made the iBook G3 unmistakable in movies and television shows.

The iBook was a commercial success.[2] The line continually received processor, memory, hard disk upgrades, and new colors. FireWire and video out were later added. The design was discontinued in May 2001, in favor of the new "Dual USB" iBooks.

Vestiges of design ideas first adopted in the iBook G3 can be still be seen today: moving interface ports from the back to the sides and leaving them uncovered, omitting a latch for the computer's lid and providing color options and an eye-catching design intended to be seen with the computer open.

Models

Component iBook G3
Refresh Date July 21, 1999 February 16, 2000 September 13, 2000
Display 12 in active-matrix TFT display, 800×600 pixel resolution
Colors Tangerine and Blueberry Graphite Graphite, Indigo, and Key Lime
Front side bus 66 MHz
Processor 300 MHz or 366 MHz PowerPC G3 (750) 366 MHz PowerPC G3 (750) 366 MHz or 466 MHz PowerPC G3 (750cxe)
Cache 64kb L1, 512kb L2 backside cache (1:2) 64kb L1, 256kb L2 cache (1:1)
Memory 32 MB or 64 MB (soldered to the logic board)
Expandable to 544 MB or 576 MB (288 MB or 320 MB specified by Apple)		 64 MB (soldered to the logic board)
Expandable to 576 MB (320 MB specified by Apple)
Graphics ATI Rage Mobility (2× AGP) with 4 MB of SDRAM ATI Rage Mobility 128 (2× AGP) with 8 MB of SDRAM
Hard drive 3.2 GB or 6 GB ATA HDD 6 GB ATA HDD 10 GB ATA HDD
AirPort Optional Integrated 802.11b AirPort Card
Optical drive 24× tray-loading CD-ROM drive 24× tray-loading CD-ROM drive or 4× DVD-ROM drive
Ports USB 1.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 10/100 Ethernet USB 1.1, FireWire 400, 3.5 mm headphone jack with composite video out, 10/100 Ethernet
Included Operating System Mac OS 8.6 Mac OS 9.0.2 Mac OS 9.0.4
Maximum Operating System Mac OS X 10.3.9 "Panther" and Mac OS 9.2.2 Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2
Weight 6.7 lb/3.0 kg
Dimensions 1.8×13.5×11.6 in

The iBook has been upgraded to 576 MB of RAM including the 64 MB onboard.

Expandability and upgrades

The original iBook's only customer-serviceable parts were the memory (RAM) and AirPort card, accessed via two slots under the easily removable keyboard. No other modifications were possible in-warranty. There was no PCMCIA port for additional expansion capabilities. 40 screws needed to be removed to access the hard disk. The optical drive, however, can be accessed much more easily, requiring only 11 screws and one standoff to be removed.

Later on, some users have even transplanted a 1024×768 LCD from the more recent white iBook onto a clamshell iBook.[3]

All clamshell iBooks shipped with Mac OS 8.6 or 9.0. However, all iBooks supported upgrading to Mac OS X v10.0–v10.3.9. Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger", which requires a Firewire port. This port is found only on the late-model iBook G3 FireWire/SE (366/466 MHz). However, it is possible to use third-party software such as XPostFacto, to install version 10.4 on earlier clamshell iBooks (all before the final upgrade in 2000). The models which do not require XPostFacto are the Firewire Graphite and Indigo models.

iBook G3 Dual USB (12.1" and 14.1")

iBook G3 ("Dual USB")

The second-generation iBook G3 (12.1 in).
Developer Apple
Release date May 1, 2001
Discontinued October 22, 2003
CPU PowerPC G3, 500–900 MHz

Apple debuted the next-generation iBook G3 at a press conference in Cupertino, California on May 1, 2001. The previous bold colors and bulky form-factor were abandoned, as was the handle, the latchless design and the additional power connectors on the bottom surface.

The resulting iBook was available in white only, and incorporated transparent polycarbonate in its casing. It was 30% lighter, and occupied less than 50% of the volume of the model it replaced, being smaller in all 3 dimensions. Despite that, it added an extra USB port and a higher resolution screen. Apple claimed the compact design did not sacrifice durability, saying it was “twice as durable” as the previous model.

With this revision, Apple began transitioning to translucent and white polycarbonate casings in most of its consumer line, such as the iMac and the eMac. In contrast, most of its professional products used an anodized aluminum finish. (The older Mac mini used both.)

Models

Component iBook G3 Dual USB 12"
Refresh Date May 1, 2001 October 16, 2001 May 20, 2002 November 6, 2002 April 22, 2003
Machine Model PowerBook4,1
Display 12.1" TFT XGA active matrix display, 1024×768 pixel resolution
Front side bus 66 MHz 66 MHz or 100 MHz 100 MHz
Processor 500 MHz PowerPC G3 (750cxe) 500 MHz or 600 MHz PowerPC G3 (750cxe or 745/755) 600 MHz or 700 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx) 700 MHz or 800 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx) 800 MHz or 900 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx)
Cache 64kb L1, 256kb L2 cache (1:1) 64kb L1, 512kb L2 cache (1:1)
Memory 64MB or 128MB (soldered to the logic board)
Expandable to 576MB or 640MB)		 128MB (soldered to the logic board)
Expandable to 640MB
Graphics ATI Rage Mobility 128 (2X AGP) with 8 MB of SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon (2X AGP) with 16 MB of SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (2X AGP) with 16MB (700 MHz) or 32MB (800 MHz) SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (2X AGP) with 32 MB of SDRAM
Hard drive 10GB ATA HDD 15GB or 20GB (Optional on 600 MHz Model Only) ATA HDD 20GB or 30GB ATA HDD 20GB (700 MHz) or 30GB (800 MHz) ATA HDD 30GB (800 MHz) or 40GB (900 MHz) ATA HDD
AirPort Optional Integrated 802.11b AirPort Card
Optical drive Tray-loading CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or CD-RW or DVD-ROM/CD-RW Tray-loading CD-ROM (500Mhz) or DVD-ROM or DVD-ROM/CD-RW (600 MHz) Tray-loading CD-ROM (600Mhz) or DVD-ROM/CD-RW (700 MHz) Tray-loading CD-ROM (700Mhz) or DVD-ROM/CD-RW (800 MHz) Tray-loading CD-ROM (800Mhz) or DVD-ROM/CD-RW (900 MHz)
Ports A/V Port supporting VGA, Composite Video and Sound via adaptors. 2x USB 1.1. 1x FireWire 400. 10/100 Ethernet. 56k v.90 modem. Internal Microphone and Kensington Security Lock. Mini VGA supporting VGA, Composite and S-Video via adaptor. 3.5mm Sound out. 2x USB 1.1. 1x FireWire 400. 10/100 Ethernet. 56k v.90 modem. Internal Microphone and Kensington Security Lock.
Original Operating System Mac OS 9.1 Mac OS 9.2.1 / OS X 10.1 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.1.4 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.2.1 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.2.4
Maximum Operating System Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2
Weight 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)
Dimensions 1.35 x 11.2 x 9.6 inches (3.4 x 28.5 x 23.0 cm)
Component iBook G3 Dual USB 14"
Refresh Date January 7, 2002 May 20, 2002 November 6, 2002 April 22, 2003
Display 14.1" TFT XGA active matrix display, 1024×768 pixel resolution
Front side bus 100 MHz
Processor 600 MHz PowerPC G3 (745/755) 700 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx) 800 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx) 900 MHz PowerPC G3 (750fx)
Cache 64kb L1, 256kb L2 cache (1:1) 64kb L1, 512kb L2 cache (1:1)
Memory 256MB (128MB soldered to the logic board)
Expandable to 640MB
Graphics ATI Rage Mobility 128 (2X AGP) with 8 MB of SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon (2X AGP) with 16 MB of SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (2X AGP) with 32 MB of SDRAM
Hard drive 20GB ATA HDD 30GB ATA HDD 40GB ATA HDD
AirPort Optional Integrated 802.11b AirPort Card
Optical drive Tray-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Ports A/V Port supporting VGA, Composite Video and Sound via adaptors. 2x USB 1.1. 1x FireWire 400. 10/100 Ethernet. 56k v.90 modem. Internal Microphone and Kensington Security Lock. Mini VGA supporting VGA, Composite and S-Video via adaptor. 3.5mm Sound out. 2x USB 1.1. 1x FireWire 400. 10/100 Ethernet. 56k v.90 modem. Internal Microphone and Kensington Security Lock.
Original Operating System Mac OS 9.2.1 / OS X 10.1.2 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.1.4 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.2.1 Mac OS 9.2.2 / OS X 10.2.4
Maximum Operating system Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2
Weight 5.9 lbs (2.7 kg)
Dimensions 1.35 x 12.7 x 10.2 inches (3.4 x 32.3 x 25.9 cm)

iBook G4

iBook G4

iBook G4 (12 inch)
Developer Apple Computer
Release date October 22, 2003
Discontinued May 16, 2006
CPU PowerPC G4, 800 MHz–1.42 GHz

Apple added a PowerPC G4 chip to the iBook line on October 23, 2003—finally ending Apple’s use of the PowerPC G3 chip. A slot-loading optical drive replaced the disc tray. The iBook G4 also features an opaque white case finish and keyboard, and a plastic display hinge.

Component iBook G4 iBook G4 (Early 2004) iBook G4 (Late 2004) iBook G4 (Mid 2005)
Display 12.1" or 14.1" TFT XGA active matrix display, 1024×768 pixel resolution
Processor 800, 933 MHz, or 1.0 GHz PowerPC G4 (7455) 1.07 or 1.2 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.2 or 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33 or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A)
Cache 64KB L1, 256KB L2 Cache (1:1) 64KB L1, 512KB L2 Cache (1:1)
Front side bus 133 MHz 133 MHz or 142 MHz (14.1")
Memory 256 MB (128 soldered to logic board)
Expandable to 1.12 GB		 256 MB (soldered to logic board)
Expandable to 1.25 GB		 512 MB (soldered to logic board)
Expandable to 1.5 GB
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 (4X AGP) with 32 MB of SDRAM ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 (4X AGP) with 32 MB of SDRAM
Hard drive 30, 40, or 60 GB 30, 60, or 80 GB 4200-rpm 40, 60, 80, or 100 GB 4200-rpm
AirPort Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g card Optional or built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g card Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g card
Bluetooth Optional Bluetooth 1.1 Built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
Optical drive Slot-loading DVD/CD-RW Combo Slot-loading DVD/CD-RW Combo or DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive Slot-loading DVD/CD-RW Combo or DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive
Ports 2 - USB 2.0, 1 - FireWire 400, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56k v.92 modem, Built-in Microphone, 1 - 3.5mm audio out, Mini VGA supporting VGA, Composite and S-Video via adaptor.
Maximum Operating System Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" on 800Mhz model.
Mac OS X 10.5.8 "Leopard" on 933Mhz and 1.0Ghz models.
Unofficially, 800 MHz Model can run Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard”
 Mac OS X 10.5.8 "Leopard"
Weight 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) 12.1"/5.9 lbs (2.7 kg) 14.1"
Dimensions 1.35 x 11.2 x 9.1 inches (3.4 x 28.4 x 23.1 cm) 12.1"/1.35 x 12.7 x 10.2 inches (3.4 x 32.3 x 25.9 cm) 14.1"

Models

Expandability and upgrades

The iBook keyboard lifts up, allowing installation of the AirPort (wireless) card and additional memory. This gives the keyboard a "spongy" effect, especially in PowerPC G3 models with the translucent keyboard. The "sponginess" was corrected in the PowerPC G4 models.

Accessing the hard disk drive is complex and time-consuming, involving partial disassembly of the unit and the removal of over 20 different-sized screws.

The memory in the iBook G4 is covered by a removable Airport card, and accessible by removing the RAM shield with a Phillips 00 screwdriver. While some of the earlier models (e.g., 800 MHz and 933 MHz) have a specified 640 MB RAM limit, it is possible to have a total of 1.12 GB of RAM installed (128 MB built-in, plus a 1 GB SO-DIMM ), or 1.25 or 1.5 GB in the later models with 256 or 512 MB of ram soldered to the logic board.

Quality issues

In late November 2003, a number of iBook G3 users reported display problems with their laptops. In December 2003, a group of users headed by Michael Johnson and Bill Owen sought to file a class action suit against Apple. In response, Apple initiated the "iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program" in January 2004, which covered the expense of repairing affected iBooks for three years.[4][5] In June 2004, the Repair Extension Program was expanded to cover "all White G3 iBooks".[6][7]

The iBook G4 seemed to suffer from display problems similar to those of the iBook G3, but was not covered by the repair extension program. Owners of iBooks that required expensive repairs for these problems submitted new class action lawsuits in December 2006.[8]

On May 2, 2007, the Danish Consumer Board published an extensive report[9][10] made by an external party concerning the Apple iBook G4 logic board issue. A press release[11] referred to the global consequences this could have for possible guarantee claims.

Timeline of portable Macintoshes

See also: Timeline of Apple Macintosh models


References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ The iBook Modification Project. Accessed on March 25, 2009
  4. ^ OSnews — iBook Issues? You're Not Alone,[2004-01-03
  5. ^ Apple.com — Expanded iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program FAQ
  6. ^ Apple.com — Expanded iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program FAQ
  7. ^ iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program Expanded to All White G3 iBooks, announcement dated late June 2004, found in web archives of apple support forums.
  8. ^ "Law Suits report in Boston Globe"
  9. ^ "iBook G4 Logic Board issue report made under the authority of the Danish Consumer Board"
  10. ^ "Danes prove Apple iBook G4 has a defect - The INQUIRER"
  11. ^ "Press release about the iBook G4 logic board issue made by the Danish Consumer Board"

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