The PowerBook G3/500 (Firewire/Pismo) — formally a member of the “PowerBook Firewire” series (note the lack of official “G3″ designation) as dubbed by Apple, but often referred to by its codename of “Pismo” — features a 500 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 1 MB of “backside” level 2 cache, 64 MB of RAM, a 12 GB hard drive, a tray-loading 6X DVD-ROM drive, and ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM in a sleek black portable case with a 14.1″ TFT active-matrix color display.
Although each shares a case that is quite similar to the “Bronze Keyboard/Lombard” PowerBook G3 models that came before them, the “Firewire/Pismo” systems use a faster logic board design with a faster bus (100 MHz), faster hard drive standard (Ultra ATA/66), faster graphics (Rage Mobility 128), support for optional AirPort (802.11b), and dual Firewire ports (dropping SCSI).
There are two slightly different configurations of this model. It originallly shipped with a 12.0 GB hard drive (M7633LL/A), and on September 13, 2000, this was increased to a 20.0 GB hard drive (M7712LL/A). The price for each configuration was GBP£2000.
| Introduction Date: |
February 16, 2000* |
Discontinued Date: |
January 9, 2001 |
| Processor Speed: |
500 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench: |
215 |
| Processor Upgrade: |
PB G3 Daughtercard |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| System Bus Speed: |
100 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
160 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: |
1 MB (backside) |
| Details: |
Includes a 1 MB level 2 cache on a 160 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: |
1.0 GB* |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Video Card: |
Rage Mobility 128 |
VRAM Type: |
SDRAM |
| Details: |
ATI Rage Mobility 128 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: |
12.0 GB |
Int. HD Interface: |
Ultra ATA/66 |
| Details: |
The original model was equipped with a 6.0 GB hard drive (M7630LL/A). 10.0 GB hard drive standard starting September 13, 2000 (M7711LL/A). |
| Standard Optical: |
6X DVD-ROM* |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
*This model has a single “hot-swappable” 5.25″ bay (on the right side) that holds a tray-loading 6X DVD-ROM by default. The right bay can hold a battery as well, but the battery bay (on the left side) only supports a battery. |
| Standard Modem: |
56.6k |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11b (Optional) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
N/A |
| Details: |
Internal support for “AirPort” (802.11b), but not pre-installed by default. No internal support for Bluetooth. |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
2 (400) |
| 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 Firewire/Pismo |
| Apple Order No: |
M7630LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Firewire/Pismo |
| Details: |
*M7630LL/A was assigned to the original configuration with a 6 GB hard drive. M7711LL/A was assigned to the second configuration equipped with a 10 GB hard drive. |
| Apple Model No: |
M7572 (EMC 1840-1) |
Model ID: |
PowerBook3,1 |
| 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: |
9.0.2 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.4.11 |
| Details: |
This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.4.11. |
| 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. Yep, this laptop, with it’s firewire port, does support OS X 0.4 |
| Dimensions: |
1.7 x 10.4 x 12.7 |
Avg. Weight: |
5.7-6.1 lbs (2.6-2.8 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches while closed – height by width by depth, (4.1 cm, 32.3 cm, 26.4 cm). Apple reported that the weight varied by configuration. |
The PowerBook G3/500 (Firewire/Pismo) — formally a member of the “PowerBook Firewire” series (note the lack of official “G3″ designation) as dubbed by Apple, but often referred to by its codename of “Pismo” — features a 500 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with 1 MB of “backside” level 2 cache, 64 MB of RAM, a 12 GB hard drive, a tray-loading 6X DVD-ROM drive, and ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM in a sleek black portable case with a 14.1″ TFT active-matrix color display.