I recently bagged a very used Duo 280 that reported booted as recently as this week. It reportedly has the dark corners issue I've seen talked about on the list as well.
At any rate, my issue is that the danged thing doesn't boot for me. The main battery is, of course, dead. When I first plugged in the AC adpater, I got most of the happy chime, and then nothing. I can get a small crack out of the speaker when I hit the power button now, and occasionally get the screen to flash briefly (just go dark with some random horizontal stripes). After a particuarly long "jiggle-fest", I got the evil chime o' death (http://www.mackido.com/EasterEggs/Sounds/CrashQuadra.mov). I've removed the extra RAM chip and even tried plugging in the mini-dock, having seen a report that plugging in a dock helped boot some other Duos (though I suppose they mean a full dock with the AC adpater), and still nothing. Also tried the whole power reset switch a few times. Right now I have the old PRAM battery pulled; not sure what that'd do. I've done a bit of googling and list archive searching, and it appears that there's a chance all I need to do is get a new PRAM battery. That sound like a possible solution? Sounds like it might not boot at all with a dead one, and the one that's in there looks like it's done some time. Worth a shot? Or does the death chime sound like more trouble? I'm trying to resurrect a PB 1400 right now, so I'm not looking to pour too much money into the Duo, but it's such a great size that if I'm a PRAM battery away, I'd grab that and a new main battery and use it as my mobile Mac and keep the 1400 plugged in the wall. Really a neat little Mac. Thanks, Ruffin Bailey ---------- 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>