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The scarcity of Titanium PowerBook G4's

Mr. Dee

Mr. Dee

macrumors 603
Original poster
Dec 4, 2003
5,990
12,840
Jamaica
Finding a second hand PowerBook G4 Titanium that someone is not trying to make a fortune out of is proving elusive. I would like to get one just to complete my collection of vintage OS X installs. Currently have two Ti's with 10.1 and 10.2, but would like to have one just for 10.0. I noticed all the auction sites either have some going for 500 dollars or some beat up left for dead models with prices that are just laughable. These things are not a gold mine; in fact, I don't even see the two I have which are in perfect working condition making it into the next decade.

That said, is anyone here willing sell one under $100 or even trade for a PowerBook G3 Wallstreet, working (but needs a new) battery?
 
So you'll be looking for an original M5884 from early 2001; a 400 or 500 MHz model, as that's the only model that natively has 10.0 support (and as far as I'm aware, no effort has been made to run 10.0 on anything newer).

That'll take me out from any consideration as both of my Titaniums are DVI models (A1001 and A1025); newer than 10.0 support.
 
I would say that the reason they are so scarce is the lack of quality construction. With a lot of the TiBooks, hinges were an issue, but the cases also had problems. By the time I passed on my old TiBook 400 it had simply become a bag of loose parts. The casing had crumbled completely and the frame, bottom pan and LCD were the only metal parts that were still whole.

I related this in a thread in the iPhone section about the iPhone 15. I'm not interested in that phone if Apple used the same Titanium materials with it that they used in the TiBook.

Others seem to have had better luck, but not me.
 
Doq said:
So you'll be looking for an original M5884 from early 2001; a 400 or 500 MHz model, as that's the only model that natively has 10.0 support (and as far as I'm aware, no effort has been made to run 10.0 on anything newer).

That'll take me out from any consideration as both of my Titaniums are DVI models (A1001 and A1025); newer than 10.0 support.
Click to expand...
Actually, I think both mine are 400 and 500 MHz models. They are at work, will check tomorrow. I would be willing blow out one of mine for 10.0 and if I get another one just swap that out with 10.1 or 10.2. Are you open to parting with one of your PowerBook Ti ?
 
Mr. Dee said:
Actually, I think both mine are 400 and 500 MHz models. They are at work, will check tomorrow. I would be willing blow out one of mine for 10.0 and if I get another one just swap that out with 10.1 or 10.2. Are you open to parting with one of your PowerBook Ti ?
Click to expand...
In any normal circumstance, maybe, but right now shipping is cost-prohibitive for me and I have bigger priorities for my financials right now. Apologies.
 
Doq said:
In any normal circumstance, maybe, but right now shipping is cost-prohibitive for me and I have bigger priorities for my financials right now. Apologies.
Click to expand...
Well it's not an immediate need, but when things improve, please let me know. And remember, I'm willing to throw in a PowerBook Wallstreet from 1998.
 
You fancy a trip to the UK? lol . Someone in London is selling one very cheap on the usual auction site, £115 but it's collection only, the person will not ship it
 
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ojfd said:
I agree. I have several TiBooks (400; 500x2; 550x2; 667x2, 1Ghz) and half of them have dead displays or display backlight.
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Hinges were never the issue for me. I know a lot of people had problems with that, but a nuke could not have taken out my TiBook's hinges. What happened with me is that slowly over time the case started to crack around the hinges. Then at some point in trying to replace parts to keep it going pieces of it started crumbling.

TiBooks look great, I just don't think Apple intended people to be using them 20+ years on.
 
Mine is in pretty good physical condition. The hinges are good but there's a bit of the usual flaking along the front/top edges of the palm rest. It was used a lot for a couple of years when I got it new, but largely untouched since. Which is probably why it no longer powers up reliably. The screen is great including the backlight when it does work, but it will chime, and remain dead most startup attempts. I think that kind of fault is almost as common as hinge issues.
 
I just watched Dune on mine

IMG_3222.jpeg
 
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ojfd said:
I agree. I have several TiBooks (400; 500x2; 550x2; 667x2, 1Ghz) and half of them have dead displays or display backlight.
Click to expand...
I have a 800 MHz model with a bad display backlight, I am thinking about seeing if I can do that LED upgrade I have seen people do with the clamshell iBook. I have nothing to lose.
 
link? that sounds interesting. also with mine i need to redo the batteries, dont hold a charge worth squat
 
reddrag0n said:
link? that sounds interesting. also with mine i need to redo the batteries, dont hold a charge worth squat
Click to expand...
Not sure if you are referring to my post but I’ll respond anyway.

Upgrading iBook Clamshell Display?

Hello! I finally have time to get back to my Macs after my surgery, and I noticed that my clamshell's display panel is problematically dim even at full brightness. Can the panel be swapped out, and if so what's the best replacement option?
68kmla.org 68kmla.org
 
Mr. Dee said:
Finding a second hand PowerBook G4 Titanium that someone is not trying to make a fortune out of is proving elusive. I would like to get one just to complete my collection of vintage OS X installs. Currently have two Ti's with 10.1 and 10.2, but would like to have one just for 10.0. I noticed all the auction sites either have some going for 500 dollars or some beat up left for dead models with prices that are just laughable. These things are not a gold mine; in fact, I don't even see the two I have which are in perfect working condition making it into the next decade.

That said, is anyone here willing sell one under $100 or even trade for a PowerBook G3 Wallstreet, working (but needs a new) battery?
Click to expand...

Perhaps worth checking/monitoring Yahoo Auctions JP and Mercari. (For example, via Buyee or some alternative service.) I have seen G4 Titanium ones on sale there every once in a while.
 
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