Just as an added bonus video, there was also something similarly done for Mission Impossible.
Just as an added bonus video, there was also something similarly done for Mission Impossible.
It's Independence Day which means I get to re-post the Independence Day (movie) + PowerBook TV ad again! :)
Apple did some heavy product placement for this movie.
After more than a month of on-and-off work reading datasheets, routing traces in KiCad and ordering components from distributors I managed to put together my #powerbook 165c RAM expansion board!
This was definitely the most challenging thing I've ever built, but super super satisfying to see completed.
If you want to know more: the KiCad project is up on Github (https://github.com/svkampen/ramdemption), and I am planning on writing a big blogpost about the whole process, which I'll toot about when it's up.
#PowerBook 5xx rear feet:
I first tried to print the TPU part lying but it's ugly, I'll attempt on the side now.
So, before I reassemble my #PowerBook 520c, any part that needs modeling?
I’ve had this StarCraft CD since 1998. Finally using it on a Mac.
Zerg rush ^_^ keke
Thinking Different, Thinking Slowly: LLMs on a PowerPC Mac [The Resistor Network]
http://www.theresistornetwork.com/2025/03/thinking-different-thinking-slowly-llms.html
So, the only thing I hate more than people forcing me to published unfinished work because they are redoing what I spend nights already doing, is people wasting time doing what I already did…
For example, I left the filter larger than the display as I wanted to make sure it would cover everything fully and no dust could get in. I went a bit too far and this caused some parts of the filter to bend ever so slightly by the plastic frame of the display.
This doesn't cause stress on any of the parts, it just means the light reflects a bit differently in some places, which if you know what you're looking for can be obvious.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
So, what does the result look like? Pretty good, I think! Even with the filter not directly applied, the result is quite clean and clear looking — especially keeping in mind we're dealing with a 30 year old active matrix LCD display with aging backlight.
It's definitely not perfect, though, and I have some ideas that I'd like to do next time I open this laptop up — as its speaker isn't currently working, which I have to fix too.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
While I was here I used a bit of epoxy to sort of glue up a small broken part as best I could. It came to me in this incomplete and broken state so there's only so much I can do. It's something, at least.
The combination of now brittle plastics and very poor design decisions really do have this thing exploding parts left and right. If you want to work on these, a 3D printer is probably essential. Which, sadly, I don't have.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
Fortunately it was easy to remove this, err, mistake in confidence. You saw nothing!
For my second attempt I chose an easier route; Leave the protective film covering the film's adhesive on and simply attach the film to the sides of the display, and have it sort of hang in front of the screen.
I'd be sacrificing a bit of display quality, but I can revisit attempting to do it right again once I obtain the tools and/or skills.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
With that success under my belt, I felt hopeful. The next step was to find out the polarizing filter's orientation, as that varies by display. I wasn't able to find this online for this specific model, so I thought I'll just order a few in the obvious orientation choices. Easy.
I initially didn't order the 45 degrees variant, because I thought; surely it's not 45 degrees, right? That'd be a silly number.
Right?
It was 45 degrees.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
But I digress.. the residue has to go, and no amount of alcohol was doing anything to it. I found this recommendation for a certain cleaning liquid designed for this very purpose, so I ordered that and gave it a try. To my surprise, it worked amazingly well.
I put two paper towels on the display, drenched these in the liquid, let it sit for a bit, and then wiped everything off. That's it, super simple. The screen looks gorgeous!
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
And the smell! Don't get me started on the smell. I did this in front of an open window wearing a mask, but still had to walk away. Just the act of removing the film awakened this positively vile chemical stench that just can't be right.
Kind of terrifying we're normally sitting in front of this (while warm from being powered on!). I wonder if this stuff slowly seeps out too over the years? Yikes.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
I mention scary because have you ever tried to apply a screen protector to a phone display? Yeah, well, I suck at that. This would be that, but bigger *and* required removing the old polarizing filter without, you know, destroying the display in the process. I know what I'm doing, I lie to myself.
Anywho, in for a penny.. Fortunately the filter came off fairly easily. But by golly did it leave a *ton* of glue residue behind. Hoboy.
#MARCHintosh #Apple #Macintosh #PowerBook #5300C #RetroComputing
Still needs a few tweaks but…
USB-C power adapter for the #PowerBook 5xx…
(note it doesn't provide charge)