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Comparing models
Posted by: madsox on 2026-06-14 14:25:42 Comparing the motorola powerbooks with an eye on actually using one for personal day-to-day stuff (games, notes, nothing too serious), would there be much difference between different models if not pushing them? I loved the 68000 powerbooks with the trackball, never got to own one but now I want to. A 160/165/170/180, all the 68030 models (or maybe a Duo, but that's a bit different) - how much difference did those gradual improvements (clock speed, adding the FPU, etc) actually make? Oh, and I do want a greyscale, I really liked those monochromey days. Which should I loko for? Also, which is going to be easier/harder to restore, assuming whatever I find needs work?
Posted by: Byrd on 2026-06-16 03:13:08 Think I posted much the same stuff in your other thread, but I'd grab whatever PowerBook/Duo you can find that's lead an easy life, stored indoors with a good LCD (no polariser/glue destruction and no tunnel vision). Reason being: yes you can replace the polariser film on some, but it's not guaranteed and never quite as good IMO. The other consideration is to look out for good plastics, almost all of them you will find need some element of repair work but avoid the ones with significant cracks as they only get worse with disassembly. In no particular order, have a look out for - PowerBook 150 (derided on launch but good as vintage PB nowadays, plastics poor), - PowerBook 140/145/160/165c: find one with good LCD - PowerBook 170/180: tend to have tunnel vision issues, not really fixable, but if you get a good one, that monochrome! - PowerBook 180c: you'll pay fair coin for it but the colour TFT LCD is largely solid - Duo: fine for secondary 'Book, keyboard tends to be terrible to use on most, same LCD problems as PowerBooks - PowerBook 5x0: nice units tend to be reliable LCD issues same as before, plastics quite thin and brittle
Posted by: bibilit on 2026-06-16 04:26:33 PowerBook 180c: you'll pay fair coin for it but the colour TFT LCD is largely solid The only issue, is the screen being smaller than the 180 or 1XX series.
Posted by: bibilit on 2026-06-16 04:27:27 PowerBook 140/145/160/165c: find one with good LCD Also bad plastic (hinges)
Posted by: croissantking on 2026-06-16 04:33:20 - PowerBook 150 (derided on launch but good as vintage PB nowadays, plastics poor), lack of adb is unforgivable!
Posted by: madsox on 2026-06-17 18:36:29 The other consideration is to look out for good plastics, almost all of them you will find need some element of repair work but avoid the ones with significant cracks as they only get worse with disassembly. In no particular order, have a look out for Nice summary, thank you! I need to find a little old lady who only ran her powerbook to dial up AOL on Sundays... 😎
Posted by: Byrd on 2026-06-18 02:24:39 You just need one that was stored in someone's home, not put out in the shed for years on end 🙂. First inspection will tell pretty quickly as as soon as you open it things will snap.
Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2026-06-18 11:38:01 lack of adb is unforgivable! Can confirm. I had my 150 out a few days ago to test my spare floppy drive (someone on the forum is looking for one) and the trackball has stopped working. I don't actually think it's the trackball, but something else in the chain, because swapping out the trackball and the keyboard didn't get it working. 🙄 Naturally, it's the one model where I can't just plug in an ADB mouse.
Posted by: Byrd on 2026-06-18 14:30:34 'Fritter - Powerbook 150 ADB Port How-To Hack time! But agree hit rate of PB150 myself is 3 crumbled into worse on repair, but maybe there is an intact one out there.
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