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PowerBook G3 Q&A - Updated January 12, 2010
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What type of expansion bays are provided by the PowerBook G3? Are all PowerBook G3 expansion bays compatible with one another? What types of capabilities do the PowerBook G3 expansion bays support?
The Original/Kanga, Wallstreet, and PDQ PowerBook G3 systems have one 3.5-Inch and one 5.25-Inch "hot swappable" expansion bay. The Bronze Keyboard/Lombard and Firewire/Pismo lines have one 5.25-Inch "hot swappable" expansion bay (as well as a 3.5-Inch bay that only can be used for a battery). The drive bay modules are not interchangeable across all PowerBook G3 systems.
The modules for the Original/Kanga PowerBook G3 are backwards compatible with the PowerBook 190 and PowerBook 5300 but are not compatible with other PowerBook G3 models. The modules for the "Wallstreet" and "PDQ" lines are compatible with one another but not earlier or later systems. Finally, Apple notes that expansion modules designed for the Bronze Keyboard/Lombard models will work with the later Firewire/Pismo models, but due to logic board differences, not necessarily vice versa.
Essentially -- whether it's 3.5-Inch floppy disk or battery module or a 5.25-Inch hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, SuperDisk, or Zip drive module, be sure to confirm that it is compatible specifically with the particular PowerBook G3 of interest.
What type of expansion slots are provided by the PowerBook G3 models?
Information about the expansion slots provided by the PowerBook G3 line are detailed on the specs page for each model, but also are summarized below for your convenience.
PowerBook G3 | Expansion Slots |
2 Type II PC Card* | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
2 Type II PC Card† | |
1 Type I/II PC Card†† | |
1 Type I/II PC Card†† | |
1 Type I/II PC Card†† | |
1 Type I/II PC Card†† |
* Also supports one Type III PC Card.
† These models also support one Type III card (CardBus compatible).
†† These models also are CardBus compatible. They do not support Type III cards.
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