iBook G3 Clamshell Mod - Install 1400x1050 Pixels HD LCD

This is one of the passages about the iBook G3 Clamshell modification project, of which a logicboard of Intel i5 was being installed into the classic Apple iBook G3 Laptop.

We start this project in 2014. We finished it in April 2015. A video about this project was uploaded onto Youtube. And I have been using it for almost a year.

Actually, I am very satisfied with its performance:

The i5 CPU is fast. The system is very quiet, stable and smooth, even if being upgraded to Mac OS X El Capitan.

Temperature of CPU is around 50 degree celsius all time.

The design of iBook Clamshell is the most elegant laptop ever. The idea of inclusion of a handle is great. I like carry the iBook with the handle. No pouch or cover is ever needed.

I applied a layer of protective film onto the shell. The skin protects the laptop and is still adhere firmly after a year. There is no need to buy any cover for it.

It is amazing to use a classic laptop like this, perform contemporary tasks effectively after 16 year of its first issue.

However, honestly speaking, there are some limitations to the modified iBook.

First, the screen resolution is limited to 1024 by 768 pixels. Which is a very low technology in these days.

Secondly, the battery life is about 3.5 to 4 hours after fully charged. I am not satisfied with this. I will try to find out if this is caused by too many application being used at the same time.

Recently, the iBook's LCD screen was replaced, by an aviation-graded 12" HD LCD with resolution 1400x1050 pixels.

Upgrading the LCD of iBook Clamshell to 1400x1050

After the replacement, the System Preferences Window becomes smaller. Now the display can show more information; and it will be more meaningful to use the multi-tasking of Mac OS X El Capitan.

The Screen Resolutions of Macbook Air is 1440x900

In Apple's official site, it is declared that the resolutions of 13" MBA is 1440x900 whereas 11" is 1366x768. Now we have more pixels but in a smaller panel!

Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

Tearing Off the Rubber Layering of iBook Clamshell

Thanks to a mixture of plastic and rubber casing, the iBook Clamshell is extra-ordinary tough against shocks. The rubber layering, however, is very easy to have marks appeared on it.

What is the nature of those marks?

Today I tried to tear off this rubber layering from the iBook to check the nature of those marks: are they remain inside the rubber? Or between the rubber layer and the plastic shell? 

I have a damaged graphite case for this experiments.

I started from a cut made by the cutter. And then I tore the plastic off with force.

The plastic attached firmly with the plastic shell. Huge amount of force was used. It is therefore unlikely that those mark are dirts penetrated between the rubber layering and the plastic shell.

There are 4 knots close to the battery door. It could not be tore off without the aid of a cutter.

Finally, I took apart the rubber layer from the plastic case. The plastic shell is still remaining clean. I conclude that those are not dirt, instead, discolour which could not be eliminated by water, detergent or alcohol. 

So, if your iBook Clam has marks appear.  Do not try to clean it because it could not help. It is better to have a replacement instead.

Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com

How to Remove Scratches on Your Macintosh?

Every Macintosh is piece of Art. When a person chooses to buy a Macintosh, normally s/he takes into account the design or outlook in the buying decision. The good experience of using it not only comes from the specs but also the cool designs of the machines.

It will be great if it could always maintain a gloss outlook as newly purchased. Unfortunately, sometimes, we may make scratches out of accidents. If there is such a case, polishing it will "cure". 

Polish the case of vintage Macintoshes like iMac, iBook or Macbook is not difficult at all. All you need are the right materials and patient.

Please bear in mind that not all Macintoshes require polishing. The tutorial here does not apply to those with a factory made rough surface (like the Classic, Or Apple II) and those with a metal case (like Macbook Air or Macbook Pro).

There are several materials I usually use to remove scratches, the choice depends on the deepness of the scratches. The following passage will start from the ones with the strongest abrasive power:

(1) Sand Paper: it is used to abrase severe marks on the plastic case. You may apply water during the work.

(2) Polish Notion: the one with a red bottle has particles of 3 mini-metres whereas the one with the yellow bottle has smaller particles of about 1 mini-metre. When your Mac has light scratches, it is better to skip the sand paper and use the red bottle instead. The yellow one is normally used to make a gloss surface after removal of scratches.

(3) Tamiya Polishing Compound: I use it when all the scratches are removed. It provides a perfectly smooth and glossy finish.

(4) Poly Watch: I use it in the very final stage. It makes a even more glossy effect compare with the Tamiya Compound. But it is extremely expensive.

How to Polish?

First you need to access the severeness of your scratch, if the scratch is mild, you may skip the sand paper and use polish notion directly. I rarely use Tamiya Compound or Poly Watch in the very beginning.

And then applies the polish notion onto a soft cloth (I prefer cloths being cut from an old T-shirt), and rub the scratch by making small circles. For a normal scratch I usually rub thousands of times, it might takes several weeks to clear a mark. So the clue is "patient". 

Erik Siivel (@siivel.com)

Modder | Producer | Blogger | Youtuber

Email: siiveldotcom@gmail.com