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[gert79]

Hello community, long time i didn't post here.

I was thinking of maybe adding a mobile option for my sound editing, to copy stuff from my QS onto it for oldschool editing on the go, not sure if it does exist but maybe a serial port would be cool to hook up the Opcode Studio 4 and a firewire soundcard? Also for file transfers firewire would be better than USB 1.

I looked around for the "latest" machines that can run OS9 natively and found the Powerbook G4 Titanium series, in some places it was said they are not reliable, had some issues? Also it was said the "non titanium" (aluminum) series cannot run OS9 native, but i found some forum posts that is factually is possible?

The "Pismo" type i would like to avoid, sorry to say the look does not appeal to me.

Then i also found a model "A1007", PowerBook 4,3, G3 which looks very promising, and i thing native resolution of 1024x768 would be perfect for SVP.

All these machines can be had in a price range from 80 to 150 euro, i am just not sure which to choose.

Are there any machines to avoid, that have common errors that will be a problem? Dying displays, dying powersupplies? Are there any machines that have some specific strengths?

Important for me would be also that i can build in a SSD in the availabe space, given the availability of SSD for the footprint. Also to extend RAM to 1024 MB given the availability of RAM modules.

I have actually researched the whole thing a bit, it is just really hard to get proper info from sellers aswell.

Any input welcome

[robespierre]

All the laptops that can run OS9 use fluorescent display backlights. They are now 20 or more years old and these fluorescent tubes are all worn out.

[rvense]

Titanium Powerbooks are famous for bad hinges and flaky paint.

The multicolour iBooks all have 800x6000 screens, but G3 iBooks are also 1024x768. I believe there's an issue with keyboards developing a smell? But I don't know the details of that.

20-25 year old laptops are quite likely to have issues, though. Adjust expectations...

[smilesdavis]

i had to go thru 10 tibooks before i scored some perfect specimens. Worth it, totally. (in cartman voice)

do we have a list of Cardbusses that work on mac os 9? cause im tryint to transfer a simple .sit from a WIN10 machine to a tibook9.2.2 and i cant figure out whats the easiest way...

Update: So the second most professional Audio hardware you can hook up to your PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) (the one you want since it doesnt overheat as much as the 1.0 Ghz) is the RME Digiface - CardBus Combination.

"In S/P-DIF mode, identical signals are available at both the optical andthe coaxial outputs. An obvious use for this would be simply connect-ing two devices, i.e. using the Audiolink 96 as a splitter (distribution 1on 2). To receive signals in AES/EBU format,an adapter cable is required." it has WordClock I/O and should work on Mac OS 9. (even 8.6 I've read). so you can transfer audio via aes/ebu from a modern rig or into your tibook to process with the amazing mac os 9 processors everyone forgot about.

Im gonna get one of those rme and report back.

oh wait ... why "second" you might ask. magma chassis 4U with Pro Tools Mix Cube also works on a TiBook with the Magma Cardbus. Studio Vision Pro supports 24-bit TDM systems from 4.1+ onwards. so you can run an entire mix cube SVP setup from a tibook with a 4U magma chassis on a cardbus. now thats a endlevel setup.

personally i cant get it working in Mac OS 9, but OS X works so far. maybe someone here can help?

[gert79]

Thanks guys for all the information.

Yes sure the backlight can die... many of the powerbooks i saw still work, maybe they have not been used so much? in worst case i could attach a monitor, its still more portable than the QS tower.

@smilesdavis - so you had to go thru ten tibooks (that failed) an result was that the PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) is the best option? The RME interfaces are hard to find in complete condition, many just sell the box without the card.

I thought firewire would be a good option, magma cardbus/chassis i have never seen or heard of.

[ssp3]

Update: So the second most professional Audio hardware you can hook up to your PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) .... is the RME Digiface - CardBus Combination.

Yeah, "We got both kinds, we got country and western!" 

Ever heard of anything like that?
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=3375.0
http://media.miroc.co.jp/show_rep/AES2002/07/mobilei.html

Old, OS9 related PR. Start here.
https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/community/mh-news.html?start=250
https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/community/mh-news/209-mobile-io-no-brainer-for-brain.html

[smilesdavis]

i tend to forget firewire is already present in the tibook