Macintosh PowerBook 100
- For more information, see this article's corresponding Wikipedia page: PowerBook 100.
| Preliminary Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 1991 |
| Leak Risk | High |
| Batteries | Main is a removable Lead-Acid pack, PRAM batteries are 3 CR2430 Lithium Coin Cells |
| Mounting Technology | Through Hole, SMD, Sockets |
| Capacitor Types | Aluminum Electrolytic, Tantalum, Ceramic, Polymer |
| Destructive Entry | No |
| Hardware Specifications | |
| CPU | 68000 @ 16 MHz |
| Memory Capacity | 2MB to 8MB |
| Memory Type | On-board Pseudo-SRAM, Proprietary Expansion Slot for up to 6MB additional Pseudo-SRAM |
| Storage | 20 or 40MB 2.5" SCSI Hard Drive, HDI-20 Floppy Port, HDI-30 SCSI Port |
| Graphics | 9" 640x400 1-Bit Monochrome FSTN LCD |
| Display Interface | Proprietary LCD Cable, No External Video Port |
| Sound | 8-bit Mono @ 22 kHz |
| Power Requirements | |
| Input Voltage | 7.5V DC |
| Current (Amps) | 2A |
| Power Connector | Center Positive |
The Apple Macintosh PowerBook 100 is a portablized version of the Apple Macintosh Portable, designed by Sony, as Apple was busy designing the all original PowerBook 140 and 170 models. This listing is currently incomplete, as I'm in the process of recapping mine, but as I get more data I'll fill in more.
Known Issues
No display/Poor contrast response
Causes
- Bad capacitors in the LCD panel
- Damaged contrast potentiometer
Solutions
- Replace capacitors C1 through C8 (3.3uF 35V) on the LCD
- Clean or replace VR402 on the board under the LCD
Pink splotch in screen
Causes
- Rubber degradation on screen border bumpers, causing the top panel to hit the trackball when the lid is shut
- Hard impact to the display
Prevention
- Remove the trackball when storing the laptop for a long period of time
- Leave the lid open and the laptop on display when not using the laptop
- In concept you could replace the rubber bumpers and avoid these solutions, but there's no template yet for a mold
Solutions
- Replacing the LCD panel is the only true fix, otherwise you have to work around the damage when using the laptop
Does not boot from 20 or 40 MB Conner hard drive after recap
Causes
- Bad original SCSI hard drive
Solutions
- Replace original SCSI drive with new-old stock or modern solid-state replacement (i.e. BlueSCSI, RaSCSI, SCSI2SD)
Disassembly Notes
The laptop uses 3 phillips head screws on the bottom of the laptop to hold the display assembly in. Once they are removed, the whole laptop (excluding the display panel itself) becomes tool-less for the purposes of replacing capacitors. Every part is either socketed or clipped in with metal tabs. Once the keyboard is slid out of the machine, the palm rest slides up by grabbing the part nearest the back of the laptop, gently pulling up, and sliding it back. The display itself uses phillips head screws hiding under some covers on the bottom of the screen hinge assembly.
Original Parts
Sharp LM64P791 T-Con Board
This board lacks an official part number, as it is technically part of the LCD itself.
| RefDes | Qty | Capacitance | Voltage | Mount | Diameter/Size | Height | Lead Spacing | Temp | Type | Brand | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 | 8 | 3.3 µF | 35V DC | SMD | 0 °C | Electrolytic | Unbranded |
Replacement Parts
Sharp LM64P791 T-Con Board
| RefDes | Qty | Compatible Part Number | Order Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 | 8 | ? | Digikey |
If parts are not available or different selection is preferred, you can use the values in the Original Parts section to perform a parametric search.
Kits
- Console5 Capacitor Kit: https://console5.com/store/apple-macintosh-powerbook-100-smd-tantalum-and-radial-cap-kit.html