PowerBook Duo 2300
The PowerBook Duo 2300c is the only PowerPC PowerBook Duo and the last of the line. Apple introduced it on 28 August 1995 with a 100 MHz PowerPC 603e, a 9.5-inch colour active-matrix screen, a trackpad in place of the trackball, and an IDE hard drive. It keeps the Duo case, battery and 152-pin docking connector, so it works with the existing Duo Docks, MiniDock and floppy adapter.[1][2] It was discontinued in February 1997 and replaced by the PowerBook 2400c, which dropped the docking system.[3][4]
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| PowerBook Duo 2300c (Geoffrey Perez, Wikimedia Commons, public domain) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Subnotebook computer |
| Released | 28 August 1995 |
| Discontinued | 1 February 1997 |
| Intro price | US$3,700 (8 MB, 750 MB); US$4,700 (20 MB, 1.1 GB) |
| CPU | PowerPC 603e at 100 MHz |
| Memory | 8 MB on the logic board; one Duo RAM card slot (cards to 48 MB), to 56 MB |
| Storage | 750 MB or 1.1 GB 2.5-inch IDE hard drive |
| Display | 9.5-inch colour active-matrix LCD, 640 × 480 at 256 colours or 640 × 400 at thousands of colours |
| Sound | — |
| ROM | 4 MB (Apple specification page); 1 MB (Service Source) |
| Power | Type III NiMH battery; 24 V DC, 36 W adapter |
| Dimensions | 1.5 × 10.9 × 8.5 in (H × W × D) |
| Weight | 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.5.2 to Mac OS 9 |
Specifications
edit| Item | PowerBook Duo 2300c |
|---|---|
| Processor | PowerPC 603e, 100 MHz, 32 KB on-chip cache, integrated FPU |
| RAM | 8 MB low-power self-refresh DRAM on the logic board; one expansion card of up to 48 MB, 70 ns, to 56 MB. The 20 MB model shipped with a 12 MB card.[5] |
| Video memory | 1 MB, soldered[5] |
| Display | 9.5-inch colour active-matrix LCD; 640 × 480 at 256 colours or 640 × 400 at thousands of colours |
| Storage | Internal 2.5-inch IDE hard drive, 750 MB or 1.1 GB; external floppy through the floppy adapter or a dock |
| Ports | RS-422 serial (mini DIN-8); 152-pin processor-direct docking connector; slot for an internal modem |
| Input | 63-key keyboard (64 ISO); solid-state trackpad, 400 dpi in relative mode |
| Sound | 4-voice, 8-bit; records at 11 or 22 kHz; built-in microphone and speaker |
| Main battery | NiMH Type 3; 2 to 4 hours; recharge about 2 hours asleep or off, 4 hours in use |
| PRAM battery | Rechargeable lithium, service part 922-1418 |
| Power adapter | Input 100-240 V AC; output 24 V DC, 1.5 A, 36 W |
| Size and weight | 1.5 × 10.9 × 8.5 in (3.8 × 27.7 × 21.6 cm); 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) |
| Gestalt ID | 118 |
The two Apple documents disagree on the ROM. The Service Source says 1 MB of ROM on board; Apple's specification page gives 4 MB, ROM ID $077D.[2][1] Apple's figure for maximum memory is 56 MB in both the Service Source and the Memory Guide.[2][5]
History
editWikipedia states that Apple ran the 603e, a 64-bit-bus processor, on a 32-bit bus so that it would work with the Duo Docks, and that this held back system and video performance.[4] Apple also sold the 2300c board as an upgrade for every earlier Duo. The kit is a 2300c case bottom, logic board and CPU stiffener assembly with a new power adapter and a PowerPC name plate; the customer's display, keyboard, trackball and hard drive move across.[6] Powerbook27364 on 68kMLA gives this as the reason the board carries connectors for both kinds of display and both kinds of hard drive.[7]
Hardware
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Logic board
editApple's service board is 661-0153.[2] It has FSTN (J6) and TFT (J7) display connectors, so it drives either the passive-matrix screen of an upgraded 210, 230 or 250 or the active-matrix screen of a 270c, 280, 280c or 2300c, and it has both SCSI and IDE hard drive connectors.[2][6] On an upgraded 210, 230 or 250 a pliable heatsink has to be bent back to reach J6, and Apple says to flatten it again afterwards.[6]
The board has seven or eight surface-mount electrolytics, depending on the source. Console5 lists C2 (47 µF 35 V), C3, C7, C8 and C9 (100 µF 35 V), C6 (100 µF 25 V), and C41 and C94 (33 µF 25 V).[8] androda on 68kMLA also counted two 33 µF parts; MacDat lists one.[9][10] Count the 33 µF cans on the board in hand before ordering.
Battery and power
editThe 2300c uses the same Type 3 battery as the 280 and 280c, Apple part 661-0053.[2] Sideburn on 68kMLA found that a Duo battery pack contains a Dallas DS2400 identification chip and that a 2300c would not run from 12 V applied to the battery contacts on a bench supply until the chip was connected. Sideburn rebuilt a pack with AA-size NiMH cells.[11] Apple's adapter check is 24 to 25 V at the plug, dropping no more than 1 to 2 V under load (PDF pp. 207-208); the older 24 V Duo adapter is not for use with a 2300c board.[2][6]
Sleep
editApple's charts cover two sleep faults peculiar to the 2300c (PDF pp. 64-65). If it will not wake after two or more days asleep, plug in the adapter and press the rear power switch. If it will not sleep, check that the system is 7.5.2 or later and that the display actuator is fitted to the CPU stiffener, then replace the sleep switch and finally the logic board.[2]
Common problems
edit- No picture and no drive activity after the startup chime. Sideburn's 2300c came back after every connector and the RAM card were reseated; Powerbook27364 suggests shining a torch on the screen to tell a dead backlight from no video, and notes that a fitted battery sometimes stops a board booting.[7]
- A four-tone hardware-failure chime. Apple's first check is that the mylar tape over the docking connector is in place.[2]
- Leaking electrolytics; MacDat reports that a recap can revive a dead 2300c.[10] See PowerBook Duo Capacitor Replacement Guide.
- Stiff, mushy keys.[7]
Fault-finding is on PowerBook Duo Troubleshooting, and disassembly and care on PowerBook Duo General Maintenance.
Documentation
edit- PowerBook Duo 2300c Service Source
- PowerBook Duo 200 Series Service Source: the 2300 upgrade procedure (PDF pp. 227-239)
- Apple Memory Guide (PDF p. 114)
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Related pages
editReferences
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Apple, "Macintosh PowerBook Duo 2300c/100: Technical Specifications" (retrieved 2026-10-02). PowerPC 603e at 100 MHz; 64-bit data path, 33 MHz bus; 32K L1 cache; 36 W, 1.5 A; Duo NiMH Type III battery; 8 MB on board, one Duo RAM slot, 8-56 MB, 70 ns; introduced 8/28/1995; Gestalt ID 118; 4.8 lb; 1.5 H × 10.9 W × 8.5 D in; 32-bit addressing; System 7.5.2 with the PowerBook 5300/2300/190 Enabler, supported to Mac OS 9; ROM ID $077D, 4 MB; 750 MB to 1.1 GB, SCSI and IDE interfaces.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Apple Computer, PowerBook 2300 Series Service Source, hosted here as File:PowerBook Duo 2300c Service Source.pdf (see PowerBook Duo 2300c Service Source). PDF page numbers: general information pp. 3-4; tools p. 9; logic board connectors p. 10; specifications pp. 15-24; symptom charts pp. 29-65; take apart pp. 67-179; upgrades pp. 181-190; battery procedures pp. 192-208; exploded view p. 210.
- ↑ Low End Mac, "PowerBook Duo 2300c" (retrieved 2026-10-02). Introduced 1995.08.28, discontinued 1997.02.01; 8 or 20 MB, expandable to 56 MB; 750 MB or 1.1 GB; 9.5-inch 640 × 480 display at 8 bits, 16 bits at 640 × 400; 4.8 lb; power supply M4174. Secondary source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wikipedia, "PowerBook Duo" (retrieved 2026-10-02). 2300c released August 1995 at US$3,700 (8 MB, 750 MB) or US$4,700 (20 MB, 1.1 GB); the 603e run on a 32-bit bus for compatibility with the Duo Docks; line discontinued in 1997 and replaced by the PowerBook 2400c. Used for history only.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Apple Computer, Apple Memory Guide (May 2000), hosted here as File:Apple Memory Guide (May 2000).pdf (see Apple Memory Guide). PowerBook 2300c, PDF p. 114: 8 MB soldered, one expansion slot, 56 MB maximum; the 8 MB configuration has no card and the 20 MB configuration a 12 MB card; 1 MB soldered VRAM.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Apple Computer, PowerBook 200 Series Service Source, hosted here as File:PowerBook Duo 200 Series Service Source.pdf (see PowerBook Duo 200 Series Service Source). 2300 Series Upgrade, PDF pp. 227-239: kit contents; display cable to the TFT connector (J7) for a 270c, 280 or 280c, or to the FSTN connector (J6) for a 210, 230 or 250; new modem software; the older adapter is not for use with the upgraded system.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 68kMLA forum thread "Powerbook Duo 2300c - power on chimes but nothing else...", Sideburn and Powerbook27364, March 2024. Reseating connectors cured a chime-only 2300c; torch test for the backlight; the 2300c board has SCSI and IDE drive connectors; battery packs use ten 4/5 A NiMH cells. Community repair report.
- ↑ Console5 TechWiki, "Macintosh PowerBook 2300c" (retrieved 2026-10-02). Cap list: C2 47 µF 35 V; C3 100 µF 35 V; C6 100 µF 25 V; C7, C8, C9 100 µF 35 V; C41 33 µF 25 V; C94 33 µF 25 V. Secondary source.
- ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "PB Duo 2300c and 270c Capacitor list", androda, Challenger 1983, 3lectr1cPPC and others, January 2021 to July 2023. 2300c logic board: four 100 µF 35 V, one 100 µF 25 V, one 47 µF 35 V (Nichicon) and two cans marked 33 EHA, later confirmed as 33 µF 25 V. Community repair report.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 MacDat, "PowerBook Duo 2300c Capacitor Reference" (retrieved 2026-10-02). Logic board: four 100 µF 35 V, one 100 µF 25 V, one 47 µF 35 V, one 33 µF 25 V; no reference image. Secondary source.
- ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "Powerbook Duo Battery Pack types and compatability", Sideburn and others, March-November 2024. Rebuilt M7782 and M1499 packs; DS2400 identification chip required for the 2300c to run from the battery terminals; bench test at 12 V, 1.6 A limit. Community repair report.