iBook Models/Pricing
• $999 (G3/700MHz/128MB/20GB/7500 Mobility 16MB/CDROM Drive/12.1" LCD)
• $1299 (G3/800MHz/128MB/30GB/7500 Mobility 32MB/Combo Drive/12.1" LCD)
• $1599 (G3/700MHz/256MB/30GB/7500 Mobility 32MB/Combo Drive/14.1" LCD)
• $1849 (G3/700MHz/640MB/30GB/7500 Mobility 32MB/Combo Drive/14.1" LCD)

Readers wrote that the "up to 6 hrs battery life" for the 14.1" LCD vs 5 Hrs noted on the 12.1" models is due to the 14" model having a larger battery.

There are also revisions to the Powerbook G4 - including a 1GHz model at the high end with the latest/fastest ATI Radeon 9000 Mobility graphics chip with 64MB of VRAM on the 1GHz model (32MB on the 867MHz model). The Radeon 9000 mobility has shader support missing in the previous chips. And despite conflicting rumors, there is a superdrive (DVD-R/RW) burner option on the high end. Great news.

PowerBook G4 Models/Pricing
• $2299 (G4/867MHz/256MB/40GB/9000 32MB/Combo Drive)
• $2799 (1GHz/512MB/60GB/9000 64MB/Combo Drive/Airport card)
• $2999 (1GHz/512MB/60GB/9000 64MB/Superdrive/Airport card)

Note - Apple currently has memory discounts also (noted in red) - for instance you can get the 1GHz G4 with 1GB of ram for only $40 more (after $260 discount).

See the Apple store for complete listings of models/pricing.

Note - Apple does not list DVD-RW support for even the desktop Superdrives in their "learn more" info at the apple store - however readers have used them with Toast5 in Pioneer "superdrives" (1x max DVD-RW speed, vs 2x max with DVD-R media) and as far back as OS X 10.1.0 (in this OS X 10.1/DVD-RW article from Oct. 2001). The PowerBook G4's superdrive info also doesn't list DVD-RW support per Apple and a later report from a PB G4/1GHz owner in the Nov. 20th news page noted that DVD-RW media was not supported, even though the standard drive specs from the mfr note DVD-RW support. (The PB Superdrive is only rated at 1x Max for DVD-R discs, with 24x read and the same 8x/4x max CDR/CDRW speeds as the Pioneer desktop 'superdrive' DVR-104/A04 and 103/A03 models. The desktop Pioneer drives have a fan on the drive for cooling the laser - hopefully the slotted models in the PB G4s will be reliable long term in that hotter environment.)

" Hi,
I have a Powermac G4 350 MHz (AGP) and installed a Sonnet Encore ST G4 800 MHz cpu card. This card does not work under OS X 10.2.1. They didn't have older Powermacs to do a beta test.

Unfortunately no more speed for me :-(
Kind Regards
Klaus
(he later wrote)

CPU database report is done.
Here is what Sonnet says:

-- begin --
We've discovered an issue with the 800MHz cards in certain of the older models of machines. We didn't have any of these machines to test with which is why we didn't see this during our beta testing of the card.

Please provide the following information, and I will issue a return authorization number.
-- end --

Funny, isn't it? I'm really very disappointed...
Klaus "

I wrote a Sonnet contact about this yesterday (sending them a clip of Klaus' original email comments) - but have not gotten a reply from them yet.

" I just downloaded the Pioneer firmware update for my Pioneer DVD-103 aftermarket drive, (see earlier news item below-Mike) I have a dual/533 G4. Its an OS9 only updater anyway I'm writing because I boot into OS 9 from a hard drive connected to a Sonnet ATA card and when I tried to run the updater it quit with a type 3 error and rendered the drive useless until I restarted. I figured that it had to be an issue with the IDE card so I put the drive with OS9 on the internal IDE bus, after I did that the firmware worked without a hitch, the drive is now showing up as drive revision 1.90 in System Profiler. I just wanted to alert you and your readers.
Julio"

I suspect the fact the IDE card is seen as SCSI may be a factor. As with other Superdrive flashers, you should boot to OS 9 to run them (not use Classic/OS X).

" Hi,
I've got a 2002 iBook 700 MHz, 384 MB RAM (purchased Aug 2002) with 4.3.6f3 boot ROM. Apple Profiler reports ATY, RageM6, ID 4c59, ROM# 113-xxxxx-125, 16 MB VRAM.

After applying the mod (pretty sure without any typos) the iBook didn't start any more (chime, HD spins up, power off). Getting into OF or zapping NVRAM was impossible.

Apple diagnosed a defective motherboard (!) and exchanged it.
Don't try the mod if you like your iBook - the risk is not worth it!
CU - Chris "

Although the feedback page has success stories from 2002 iBook owners with Radeon mobility graphics chip - don't attempt this if you're not willing to accept the risk of a failure regardless of how common it may be.

" The firmware updater links below are for Macintosh users who have purchased an after-market Pioneer DVR-A03/DVR-103 or DVR-A04/DVR-104 drive. The drive must be installed internally on one of the IDE channels. This firmware updater is NOT for the Macintosh SuperDrive. To update the firmware for a SuperDrive go to http://www.apple.com/hardware/superdrive/
(Note - as of today, there's only the iMac G4 superdrive A227 firmware update linked there - although G4 tower model updates are promised soon-Mike)

Macintosh customers with IEEE 1394 enclosures:
Although Pioneer cannot guarantee the availability of such tools, Pioneer is investigating methods to update the firmware in a DVR-A03/DVR-103 and DVR-A04/DVR-104 via IEEE 1394.

This firmware updater is supported under a G4 Macintosh with native OS 9.2.2 Note: This firmware updater will not work in classic mode from within OS X. Other Macintosh systems (hardware and OS) are not guaranteed at this time. "

The links there show the following firmware versions:

• DVR-103/A03 - v1.90
• DVR-104/A04 - v1.33

Note - the firmware updates are for onboard IDE connected drives. A reader with an IDE PCI Card noted the flasher did not work until he connected the drive to the onboard IDE. (PCI IDE cards are seen as SCSI by the Mac, perhaps a factor.) Also note that like the flasher I note below - you have to boot to OS 9 to run it (not OS X/or classic mode).

Reader FYI - as noted here in the FAQ's DVD section and twice recently in the news - there's a mac OEM Apple A227 firmware version flasher for IDE DVR-104/A04 drives from a 3rd party (not apple released). (It does not work with Firewire cased drives though and requires booting to OS 9 to run.) The last news item on this was a reader report in the Oct. 24th news page.
This info is also in the FAQ's DVD section for future reference.

• Apple G3/400 ZIF (from B&W G3) in Beige G3 (rated 1)
• Other World Computing G4/550 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
• Other World Computing G4/550 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix G4 800 Dual in G4/AGP (rated 9)
• PowerLogix G4 1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 9)
• PowerLogix G4/800 in G4/AGP (rated 7)
• Sonnet G4/800 in PowerCenter 132 (rated 3)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

CompactFlash Card Reader Reports
• Firewire Lexar CF Reader used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  
  Combo DVD+CDR Drive Reports:
• IDE Toshiba R1002 (4x4x24x +4x DVD ROM) in G4/AGP (OS X) (noted prev. hexedit mods for iTunes support didn't work with 10.2.1)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Lite-On 40x12x48x (didn't note model#) in Dual G4 DDR (OS 9.2)
• Sony CRX-175A1 24x10x40x in B&W G3 (OS 9.1)
  (modified itunes support files in the FAQ here)
• Sony CRX215E1 48x24x48 in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (no itunes support - FAQ here has OS X 10.2/iTunes 3 plugin, but not OS 9 one)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  IDE Drive Reports:
• IBM Travelstar 40GNX 20GB in Powerbook G3 wallstreet2 (OS X)
  (illustrated HD install guide here)
• Western Digital Caviar 80GB in iMac slot loading (OS X)
  
  Firewire Drive Reports:
• AcomData HD040FE-CU 40GB used w/7600 (OS 8.6)
  (listed under "other" brands)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

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