What are the "pros and cons" of the PowerBook G3 models? Is one right for my needs?

Please note that Apple discontinued the PowerBook G3 on January 9, 2001.

Like any other purchase, only you can make the decision whether or not the PowerBook G3 is the right Mac for you, but you can evaluate the pros and cons of the series to see if your needs are met. This summary may be helpful in making a decision:

Pros:

• Extremely expandable, far more so than more recent Mac notebooks -- memory, hard drive, optical drive, and processor all can be upgraded. PC Card/CardBus compatible.
• Hot-swappable bays are convenient and support a variety of optical drives, dual batteries, and more.
• Long battery life possible with dual batteries.
• The last "Firewire/Pismo" models support relatively modern technologies -- AirPort, USB, and Firewire (Earlier models support SCSI for respectable speed).
• All models can boot MacOS 9, all models support MacOS 9/Classic applications.
• Internal modem standard.

Cons:

• Even the "Firewire/Pismo" models are not supported by versions of MacOS X after MacOS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" (earlier models top out with earlier versions of MacOS X).
• Non-upgradable video processors have become the "weak link" for long-term legacy use.
• The hard drive is more of a challenge to upgrade than on some more modern Mac notebooks.
• Bulky and heavy compared to more modern Mac notebooks.

If you are looking for a cheap, but still usable, notebook Mac and MacOS 9/Classic support, expansion, and battery life are important, but weight is not, the PowerBook G3 models are worth considering (particularly the Firewire/Pismo models). If you have the budget, a PowerBook G4 or MacBook probably would be a better choice for most users.

Where can I buy a PowerBook G3?

Typically, there are any number of places to purchase a used Mac, but the PowerBook G3 is old enough it really only is of interest to collectors these days. Try to find one on the local classifieds site or auction site of your choice.

Alternately, try contacting site sponsor Operator Headgap Systems. OHS specializes in keeping older Macs productive and may be able to help you track down a PowerBook G3 or even have one in stock.

Who designed the PowerBook G3?

Apple's industrial design for many years has been performed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group, led by Jonathan Ive.