iBook Service Source

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iBook

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Basics

iBook/iBook Special Edition

Say hello to iBook.

Overview

Product Overview

The iBook is designed for computing on the move. It features a tough, polycarbonate body, built-in handle, lithium-ion battery that runs up to six hours between charges, and support for AirPort wireless networking.

The iBook is based on the PowerPC G3 microprocessor and features

a 12.1-inch TFT display.

The iBook Special Edition was introduced in February, 2000 and features an increased processor speed of 366 MHz, a 6 GB hard drive, and 64 MB of RAM.

Service Strategy

The iBook is serviced exclusively through repair depots worldwide throughout the life of the product. Carry-in service to an Apple-authorized service provider is not available.

Important: Taking the computer apart beyond upgrading RAM or adding an AirPort Card may void the customer's warranty.

For more information about Apple's service strategy for iBook, refer to Program News on Service Source Online and the Service Source CD.

Warranty/AppleCare Protection Plan

The iBook is covered under the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty. The AppleCare Protection Plan is also available for this product. Refer to the Service Price Pages for repair facilitation reimbursement rates.

New Technologies

System Software—NewWorld ROM

The iBook is the second Macintosh portable to take advantage of ROM-in-RAM architecture. This design features a small ROM that provides hardware initialization functions and provides a mechanism to load the Mac OS ROM image into RAM. The new software architecture that is centered around ROM-in-RAM and its ramifications is named NewWorld.

ROM-in-RAM

Hardware-specific code resides in firmware (ROM) that fits into one ROM called the boot ROM. The boot ROM includes the code and tables needed to start up the computer, load an operating system, and provide common hardware access

services.

All higher-level software resides in what has been historically known as the Mac OS ROM, but with much of the old hardware-specific code moved into the boot ROM. As before, the Mac OS ROM can still be augmented by enablers, the System file, and extensions.

Prior to the iMac, all Macintosh computers required a ROM component that contained many components of the Mac OS software. The NewWorld approach sidesteps this requirement by copying an image of the Mac OS ROM into RAM before the Mac OS begins operation. Once the Mac OS begins operation, a Mac OS ROM image in RAM and an actual Mac OS ROM behave in the same way. No new or different software interfaces are directly accessible from the Mac OS.

During the boot process, software contained in the Mac OS ROM file communicates with Open Firmware to collect

information about the hardware, using the Open Firmware Client Interface.

RAM Footprint

Because the Mac OS ROM image is stored in RAM, approximately 3 MB of RAM is available for other uses. In effect, a system with 64 MB of RAM appears to have only 61 MB available. Some portion of the missing 3 MB is offset by having fewer patches in RAM.

Data Structures and Files

The Mac OS ROM image is contained in a new file, named Mac OS ROM, that resides in the System Folder. The Mac OS ROM image is exactly the same as it would be if it were an actual Mac OS ROM, containing the high-level software, the kernel software, and the 68K emulator.

Startup Disk Control Panel

Previous systems stored the user's selected startup device in Parameter RAM (PRAM) when the user selected a device in the Startup Disk control panel. The startup disk routine for the iBook, rather than setting Mac OS PRAM, sets an Open Firmware config variable called boot-device. Open Firmware honors this setting unless the selected device is unavailable or is overridden by the user.

The following keys can be pressed to override the selected startup device:

• Command-Option-Shift-Delete: ignore the boot-device setting and scan for alternate devices.

C: force the internal CD-ROM drive to be the startup device.

• D: force the internal hard drive to be the startup device.

Features

Feature List

The features of iBook include:

• PowerPC G3 microprocessor running at a clock speed of 300, 333, or 366 MHz (iBook Special Edition)

backside L2 cache of 512K

• 32 or 64 MB of SDRAM on the logic board and one expansion slot for up to 320 MB of SDRAM

• 3.2 or 6 GB built-in hard drive

• 12.1-inch TFT display with SVGA resolution (800 x 600 pixels)

built-in CD-ROM drive

4MB of SDRAM video memory

• built-in 2D and 3D graphics acceleration via the ATI RAGE Mobility video