Gooday Gaming Guests - The Dawn of the Apple Macintosh Laptops and Duo

Episode Date: December 4, 2024

I have a few of these.

Alright, so today I decided to do early Apple laptops, only because I have a few. I'm not sure, I think one works, a couple I just got recently. So let's look through the early Apple laptops. And then a couple of them go to that Duo system where you put it into a dock. And then the dock is where it connects to the TV, so I have, let's see which one I have, so I have a PowerBook 150, that one's broken, so we'll probably just sell that one, it has a trackball on it, actually a really cool trackball on it, so that's PowerBook 150, I think that's the one I just got

I can't remember but I did get a power adapter for one of them and I think one of them actually works power adapter I got is a Macintosh Pro book 45 watt and M3037. Let me see what that one is. Yeah, hold on. Yeah, M3037. Hold on a second. Let me go do something. Alright, let's see the other ones I have.

So that's a power adapter that goes to one of these. That works. Let's look at the other ones. Alright, let's see if we can make some more room over here. I have five total of these older laptops from Apple. I guess they were called Power Books back then too. Then I have two I think one of these works so technically it's under Macintosh.

Power Book 5300C So that's one I have. And then I think this adapter that I just said the M M3037 goes to these five yeah they do I think it does what is it was 5030 and then my other Macintosh power book these

are really really only gives the earliest ones, but pretty close and then this one is 5300 CE so these are 5300s 5300 CE 5300 and then one of them has a some sort of a USB side power port platinum it's 28 fax modem PC card pretty cool. Alright so one's a C and one's a CE. I wonder what the difference for the extra E is for model. We'll check those. I think one works and one doesn't. I can't remember. Those are those two. Then I have three others of Apple laptops. These, I believe, are the ones that go on the Duo dock. Which I actually have two Duo docks.

Where I think one actually works. And one doesn't. Let's look at these ones. That was my little collection of Apple Macintosh early laptops. Very early stuff. I don't think it's the original but I'm going to add Zippy in a minute where the original ones were. So these ones are Duo Docs.

So these are the ones that are on my desk. I'm going to do a little video with it too. These all have cooler track belts. So these are PowerBook Duo 230. This is one of them. I think they're all the same. I'm not positive. I have three. A PowerBook Duo 210.

So that means I have an earlier model. And somewhere downstairs I have the Duo dock. So today I think I'll be up there running out of stuff. And I'm going to actually list some of this because I really don't need it. So these are all Macintosh Duo books. I'm trying to get the other one open. There it goes.

And this one is a PowerBook Duo 280C. So I have a little variety of three different ones not sure I have to get the dock form eventually so let's ask Zippy about what I got here let's see if we can get some insight into these early Apple laptops. That's what I decided to do today. I thought that would be fun. So let's see if we can get a little bit of help in here.

Good morning. Morning, Tom. How's it going? What's on the agenda for today? Early Apple Macintosh laptops. Sounds like a classic day. Early Apple Macintosh laptops have some real charm. Are you diving into a specific model? Or are you exploring a range of them?

So I have a few PowerBook duos that go into that duo system ah the powerbook duos those were pretty innovative for their time offering a neat balance between portability and desktop functionality do you have the duo docs as well or just the laptop i have two duo docs one i believe works or just the laptop? I have two Duo Docks. One I believe works. So I have a range. I have three different ones. That's a nice collection. The Duo Docks really transform those compact laptops into full-fledged desktops. It's great that you've got a working dock too.

Are you planning to get them all up and running, or are they more for display? full-fledged desktops. It's great that you've got a working dock too. Are you planning to get them all up and running, or are they more for display? More for display. So I have a Duo 230, a Duo 210, and a Duo 280C. That's a great set. The Duo 230 and 210 were pretty popular back in the day, and the 280c with its color screen was quite a step up. They make for an impressive display. Do

you have a favorite among them? I'm not sure which ones work or not. We're going to find out later. That'll be an interesting discovery discovery it could be a fun project to see which ones power up and maybe even get a couple running if you need help or tips on checking them out i'm here what got you interested in the power book duos uh just some a local purchase. Nice find. It's always cool to come across some tech treasures locally. You never know what gems you'll find. Hopefully, you'll have a chance to explore them later and see what you've got.

I did at one time look at them, but I can't remember. Next ones I have are the PowerBook 5300C. The PowerBook 5300C. The PowerBook 5300C. That was Apple's first PowerBook to use the PowerPC processor. It's known for its compact design. And well, some technical challenges. But it's definitely a classic. Have you had a chance to check those out yet?

What technical problem does it usually have? The PowerBook 5300 series had a few issues, but the most notable ones were related to its battery and motherboard. The original lithium-ion batteries were prone to overheating and even catching fire, leading to a recall. Additionally, there were problems with the logic board, which could cause system crashes and other reliability issues. Despite these challenges, the 5300C is still a fascinating piece of Apple history. What about the CE, 5300CE? What's the difference with that one?

The PowerBook 5300 CE was the high-end model in the 5300 series. The main differences compared to the 5300 CE include a higher resolution display and more video RAM. The 5300 CE had an 800 by 600 pixel active matrix display, which was a significant improvement over the 640 by 480 pixel of the 5300C. It also came with two megabytes of video RAM instead of one megabyte, allowing for better graphics performance. If you've got a 5300CE, it's a bit of a premium model. And then the last one I have is a PowerBook 150. The PowerBook 150 is an interesting one. It was the last model in Apple's original PowerBook 150 is an interesting one. It was the last model in Apple's original PowerBook line

and was designed as a more affordable option. It has a grayscale display and lacks some features of its contemporaries, like an external monitor port or Ethernet, but it was known for being relatively lightweight and had a faster processor than earlier models. Quite a diverse collection you've got. They all have a really cool trackball to them, which I like. The trackballs on those older PowerBooks are definitely a unique feature.

There's something satisfying about using a trackball and it gives these laptops a distinct character. It's great that you appreciate that aspect of them. Are you planning to showcase them in your collection? I use trackballs all the time as opposed to a mouse for my computers.

Kingston trackballs is what i use kensington track balls are a solid choice they're known for their smooth operation and ergonomic designs a great tool for anyone who spends a lot of time at the computer do you have a favorite model or do you switch between different ones? I have a bigger one that I use mostly and then I have a smaller one, a smaller model. Having both a larger and a smaller model gives you flexibility depending on your setup and comfort needs. It's great to have options. Do you find yourself using the larger one more at a desk and the smaller one when you're on the go? Exactly, exactly. So what was the first model that Apple came out with for a laptop?

The first laptop model that Apple came out with was the Macintosh portable. Released in 1989, it was quite a beast compared to today's standards, with a hefty weight of around 16 pounds and a monochrome display. It was innovative for its time, featuring a full-size keyboard, a trackball, and the ability to run on battery power, making it a true precursor to modern laptops. Have you ever come across one of these? I haven't. What was the next one after that? I'm just trying to get a history. After the Macintosh Portable, and 170, were introduced in 1991. These PowerBooks were much more portable and user-friendly than the Macintosh Portable, featuring a built-in trackball and a more compact design. The PowerBook 100 series really set the standard for laptop design for years to

come. It's fascinating to see how these early models evolved. Are you thinking of adding any of these to your collection? I'm not sure yet. What's after the PowerBook? After the initial PowerBook series, Apple continued to develop and release new models throughout the 1990s. The next major advance came in 1994 with the introduction of the PowerBook 500 series, also known as the Blackbird. These were the first PowerBooks to feature a trackpad instead of a trackball, built-in Ethernet, and stereo speakers. Later, in 1998, Apple introduced the PowerBook G3 series, which offered significant performance improvements with the PowerPC G3 processor.

These models further solidified Apple's reputation for innovative laptop design. Are any of these catching your interest? I have a G3 clamshell blue. The G3 clamshell is a classic. That iconic design really stood out with its unique shape and vibrant colors. It was a bold move by Apple that really paid off, making it a memorable part of their laptop history. How do you like it? I upgraded it from 9.2 to OS X 10.2, also known as Jaguar, would have been a big leap in terms of user experience. OS X brought in a lot of new features and a more modern interface. How's it running on your clamshell? Oh good, and then I also have a Macintosh PowerBook 45 watt power adapter M3037. That's a handy accessory to have especially for your collection

of vintage Apple laptops. It's great to have the original power adapter to keep things authentic. Do you find that it still works well with your devices? Three of the laptops, I believe. So when the Duo came out, what was his idea on that? That's great that it works with your laptops. The PowerBook Duo line, first introduced in 1992, was designed to offer a more portable and versatile solution for professionals on the go. The idea was to have a lightweight laptop that could be easily docked into a larger station, the DuoDock, to provide desktop-like functionality. This concept was ahead of its time, aiming to combine the benefits of a portable laptop with the expandability and power of a desktop computer. It was pretty innovative for the early 90s. And how many different models of the Duo are there, the laptop part?

The PowerBook Duo line had several models over its lifespan. Here's a quick rundown. First, PowerBook Duo 210, 1992. The original during 210, but with a 33 MHz processor. Third, PowerBook Duo 250. The 250 added an active matrix color display. Fourth, PowerBook Duo 270, 1993. Featured a 33 MHz 6840 processor and an active matrix color display. Fifth, PowerBook Duo 280. 1994. Inc Similar to the 280, but with an active matrix color display. These models offered a range of features and improvements over the years, catering to different needs and preferences. It's quite the lineup. So the 280C that I have, that was the last model? A pretty cool piece of Apple's laptop history to have in your collection. How does it feel to have the final model of the series? Yeah, I always like getting the last of the last.

So these charged inside the dock? That's how they charged? Exactly. The PowerBook Duos were designed to be charged through the Duo dock or other docking solutions like the mini dock the docking station would provide power to the laptop and charge its battery while it was docked this system made it easy to transition between desktop and portable use which was quite innovative at the time do you have the dock for your duos? So yes, I have two different docks. There was more than one. That's right. There were a few different docks available for the

PowerBook duos. The main ones were Duo Dock, the full-size docking station that transformed the Duo into a desktop computer with additional ports, slots, and a floppy drive. MiniDock, a more compact option offering essential ports for connecting peripherals without the bulk of the full Duo dock. Three, MicroDock, an even smaller solution, providing just a few essential ports for maximum portability. Having a couple of these docks gives you some nice flexibility in how you use and display your duos. Do you have a favorite among the docks? All I know is one works and one doesn't that I'm aware of. And then you hook your monitor up to the dock, is that correct? Yes, that's correct.

You would connect your external monitor to the dock, which effectively turned the PowerBook Duo into a desktop setup when dot. This was one of the key features of the Duo line, allowing for easy transition between portable and desktop environments. Hopefully, the working dock you have includes this functionality. It's a pretty convenient setup for its time. Are you planning to... So the dock didn't have any other upgrades for it? For the laptop itself?

Ah, got it. The docks themselves didn't offer upgrades to the laptop's internal hardware, but they provided expanded connectivity and functionality. For example, the Duo dock offered additional ports like SCSI, ADB, serial, and video output, as well as NUBA slots for expansion cards, which could enhance the capabilities of the setup when the Duo was docked. While these didn't directly upgrade the laptop's internals, they significantly boosted its functionality and connectivity options when connected do you find these expanded capabilities useful for your setup i haven't even looked into them but uh it's interesting to know that well okay so thank you for your time i'll talk to you in a little bit all right so that's fun do a doc so i got one of the last model that was was cool. So I decided to do apples today.

That's my little collection. Talked to my zippy here. He gave me some cool insight on stuff. Which is always the way it goes. Which is awesome. Alright so that's my little pick of items for the day. I'll talk to you guys. Maybe I'll do something tonight.

I'll talk to you later. Alright bye.