This, in reality was launched around the time that Apple started to really and finally break the mould and the back of the computing world. The Powerbook itself, still stacks up against standard PC’s today in terms of aesthetics. So, what is it about the Lombard that makes it so different from all it’s predescessors? Well, lets start with the twin USB ports built into the back of the powerbook, giving it expandability and usability, even in todays IT world of plug and play. This gives the Lombard the edge over the Wallstreet. The system bus speed, whilst letting the mac down when compared to the more modern G4 powerbooks, still matches that of the Snow iBook 500mhz at 66mHz and this coupled with the RAM maxing out at 384 megs means that this powerbook will run OS 10.3, meaning it can keep the technological pace with all but the latest powerbooks and iBooks.
The 14.1 inch screen, built in stereo speakers and removable processos means that this powerbook is still a great buy, even by todays standards. Upgradability is the key here, allowing the simple installation of a G4 processor if ever required. Type II card slots means that the Lombard can accept upgrade cards such as firewire, wireless and memory card adapters. The built in SCSI ports, lacking on the latest powerbooks allows this mac to accept external scsi Apple Mac Peripherals. The hard drive, although small by todays standards, is still large enough to allow for storage of plenty of applications as well as installation of a dual boot OS X and classic operating systems.
Networking through the powerbook, as with all other Apple Mac laptops is available via the built in ethernet port and runs at a more than adequate 100megs. Again, this step up from the G3 Wallstreet at 10 megs matches that of the snow iBooks. Built in stereo out ports and sound in ports, infra red port, svga port all add to the useability of this powerbook.
The PowerBook G3/333 (Bronze Keyboard/Lombard) — formally a member of the “PowerBook G3 Bronze Keyboard” series as dubbed by Apple, but often referred to by its codename of “Lombard” — features a 333 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 512k of “backside” level 2 cache, 64 MB of RAM, a 4.0 GB hard drive, a tray-loading 24X CD-ROM drive, and ATI Rage LT Pro graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM in a sleek black portable case with a 14.1″ TFT active-matrix color display.
In addition to faster processors and the “bronze keyboard” for which it is named, the PowerBook G3 “Bronze Keyboard” systems are approximately 20% thinner than earlier PowerBook G3 models, have longer battery life, weigh substantially less and add dual display support. Also when compared to the “PDQ” models before them, the “Bronze Keyboard’ PowerBook G3 models exchanged the ADB and Mac serial ports for dual onboard USB ports (while retaining the SCSI port), added 10/100Base-T Ethernet (up from 10Base-T) and dropped one of the two PC card slots.
All Lombards have a 14.1″ 1024 x 768 LCD screen and 8 MB of VRAM with an ATI Rage LT Pro graphics processor. Lombard also came with restored support for monitor spanning (rather than just mirroring to an external monitor), a feature that had gone missing from PowerBooks since the 5300 had been discontinued in 1996.
| Introduction Date: |
May 10, 1999 |
Discontinued Date: |
February 16, 2000 |
| Processor Speed: |
333 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench: |
174 |
| Processor Upgrade: |
PB G3 Daughtercard |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| System Bus Speed: |
66 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
133 MHz (5:2) |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Open Firmware |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
1 MB |
| Details: |
The Boot ROM is roughly 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM. |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
512k (backside) |
| Details: |
Includes a 512k level 2 cache on a 133 MHz backside bus. |
| RAM Type: |
PC100 SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
10 ns |
| Details: |
Supports 144-pin PC100 SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules. |
| Standard RAM: |
64 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
512 MB* |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Video Card: |
Rage Pro LT |
VRAM Type: |
SDRAM |
| Details: |
ATI Rage Pro LT graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM. |
| Standard VRAM: |
8 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
8 MB |
| Details: |
The video cannot be upgraded. |
| Built-in Display: |
14.1″ TFT |
Native Resolution: |
1024×768 |
| Details: |
A 14.1″ color TFT active-matrix display with a 1024×768 native resolution. Supports 640×480 and 800×600 when scaled. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
1024×768 |
| Details: |
Simultaneously supports native resolution on the internal display and a maximum of 1024×768 on an external display. |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
4.0 GB |
Int. HD Interface: |
EIDE/ATA-2 |
| Details: |
This model does not support hard drives larger than 128 GB. |
| Standard Optical: |
24X CD-ROM* |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
*This model has a “hot-swappable” 5.25″ bay (on the right side) that holds a tray-loading 24X CD-ROM by default. It also has a 3.5″ swappable bay (on the left side) that holds a battery. |
| Standard Modem: |
56.6k |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: |
N/A |
Standard Bluetooth: |
N/A |
| Details: |
This model does not support AirPort or Bluetooth. |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
None |
| Expansion Slots: |
1 Type I/II PC Card* |
Expansion Bays: |
1 5.25″ |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Full-size |
Incl. Input: |
Trackpad |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has 77 (US) or 78 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys, and an embedded numeric keypad. The trackpad supports tap, double tap, and drag capabilities. |
| Case Type: |
Notebook |
Form Factor: |
PB G3 Bronze/Lombard |
| Apple Order No: |
M7304LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Bronze KB/Lombard |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
M5343 (EMC N/A) |
Model ID: |
PowerBook1,1 |
| Battery Type: |
50 W h LiIon |
Battery Life: |
5 Hours, 9-10 Hours* |
| Details: |
*Apple estimated 5 hours with a single battery and 9-10 hours with dual batteries under “normal usage conditions”. |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
8.6 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.3.9 |
| Details: |
This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.3.9. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Boot/Classic Mode |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
This model is capable of booting in MacOS 9 and using MacOS 9 applications within the MacOS X “Classic” environment. However, the lack of firewire ports limits this powerbook to OS X 10.3 |
| Dimensions: |
1.7 x 10.4 x 12.7 |
Avg. Weight: |
5.9 lbs (2.7 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches while closed – height by width by depth, (4.1 cm, 32.3 cm, 26.4 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$2499 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$100-US$150 |