>I have been using a 1400c 133 Mhz to surf the net. It is really slow, but I >didn't realize how slow before I started up my PowerMac 7300/200. It was >much faster. The modems are the same speed. The largest difference is that >the 1400c has 40 Megs of RAM, the 7300 has almost 300 Megs. I am aware that >there is difference in clock speed, but it shouldn't be that much.
The 7300 has a PPC 604e vs. the 603e on the 1400, which means the CPU is about 1.5 - 2x faster per clock cycle just to start with. The desktop also has a PCI architecture vs. NuBus (so I/O is faster), faster memory bus, an L2 cache, etc. This is why clock speed is a fairly useless measure. The amount of DRAM installed won't make a difference btw, as long as you have enough in each case to avoid using VM (you do). >Now the question. I am getting a 2400c together, it has taken a while, it >will have 80 Megs of RAM, and I'll surf the net through a modem card. > >How will the 2400c compare in speed, or if I want more speed, should I >start saving for an iBook? It's not as fast as the 7300 either, but it's fairly comfortable for most light use. But it's nowhere near as fast as the iBook for a whole host of reasons. Even just using a 56k modem, the browser software just runs much faster on the iBook. If you can scratch a working 2400 together for cheap it's still worthwhile, but if you're looking at more than a couple hundred dollars, I'd personally start saving for the iBook instead. In fact I am currently facing a similar choice as I decide whether to try further to fix my own still-dead 2400, or just give up and start saving. You have to consider that every port connector and peripheral for the 2400 is basically dead - anything new will come out for USB and Firewire and it's all cheaper as well as more available. Given that the machine itself may also fail relatively quickly, throwing a lot of money at it makes no sense at this point. Some people here are very attached to theirs (and that's perfectly fine), but they already have them and have come to view them as more than the sum of their parts. You're just trying to get a computer together here. Either way I'd look seriously at a used iBook instead of a new one - my sister was able to get a 500MHz DVD/CD-R model with an Airport card for U$1000 a few months ago. Since I've now read that most of the 2001 iBooks can be run at 600/100 like the new ones, I'll probably up the clock speed on hers and it'll be identical to the current models for nearly half the price (they use the same parts, and were probably crippled so as not to "compete" overly with the TiBook, a nasty practice from the '90s that I'd hoped Apple had outgrown). ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com> Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
