Rabid RAM Rant
Notebook RAM comes in various form factors, but the basic standard (which Powerbooks use) is called “SODIMM”. RAM also comes in various speeds; PC-2700 (also called DDR333) and PC-4200 (also called DDR533 or DDR2). All this I have known.
I am the proud owner of a new 1Gb PC-4200 SODIMM. Currently my Powerbook contains 256Mb of RAM soldered onto the motherboard (wonderful design decision Apple, thankyou!), and a 256Mb PC-2700 SODIMM that I installed when I bought it.
I have now learnt (by bitter experience) that a PC-4200 SODIMM is not the same shape as a PC-2700 SODIMM. Oh, yes, they have the same, ahem, “form factor”, but the little slot in the PCB that aligns the pins with the motherboard is in a different place. Out by a good 3mm, I’d say. Not sure how “form factor” is defined, but it obviously doesn’t mean “specific enough to be able to buy RAM according to it”. I have since found an Apple document (down the ladder to the basement, with a torch, behind a sign saying “Beware of the leopard”) that says that 12″ Powerbook G4 (the 1.33GHz processor type, but without Gigabit ethernet - man, how many models are there??) takes PC-2700 RAM. I guess this implies, although doesn’t explicitly state, that PC-4200 RAM is not OK.
You may let your imagination run wild when imagining my frustration. I guess I shall just put this SODIMM back on eBay, and start bidding for another one…
