Why isn't the new airport extreme card compatible with older iBooks?

[Greg Bernhardt]

My friend has an ibook, maybe 2-3 years old. I bought her the new airport extreme card. Tried installing it, but it seems the card isn't compatible with the ibook. How can this be? I followed the instructions, but the extreme card seems too small and the connection is different. The connection type is like a video card and the connection inside te computer is more like a pcmcia. I'm pretty pissed apple doesn't have better compatibility. Any ideas?

 

[dduardo]

I did a search and it looks like the old ibook can only take the regular airport card (not the extreme version). There are usb wireless adapters that you can look into.

 

[ComputerGeek]

My friend has an ibook, maybe 2-3 years old. I bought her the new airport extreme card. Tried installing it, but it seems the card isn't compatible with the ibook. How can this be? I followed the instructions, but the extreme card seems too small and the connection is different. The connection type is like a video card and the connection inside te computer is more like a pcmcia. I'm pretty pissed apple doesn't have better compatibility. Any ideas?

is the iBook a g4 ibook or a g3 iBook?

the AE cards only fit in the g4 models.

you will need a regular airport card for a g3 ibook which you could probably find on ebay

I do not see how it is apple's fault that they moved on in technology and an old iBook cannot use a new Airport card (which uses 802.11g, rather than 802.11b) should they retro fit all their old hardware that is out and about to be able to use the new cards?

 

[Moonbear]

Must be closer to 3 years old if it's not compatible with the airport extreme card.

Here's a list of the computers compatible with the AE card:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107440

And the older airport card:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106777

The good news is that the airport base station is compatible with both 802.11b and 802.11g, so once you've got the right card, the current Airport Extreme base station or Airport Express will both work with it.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Well I did finally get an the older airport card on ebay. It's still frustrating that apple can't support something only 2-3 years old since the old airport card is now discontinued.

 

[Moonbear]

Well I did finally get an the older airport card on ebay. It's still frustrating that apple can't support something only 2-3 years old since the old airport card is now discontinued.

G4 models were already out 3 years ago, so those buying G3s were getting the super-cheap deal on what was already a several year-old model. The G3 iBooks are pretty much 6 year old technology now. Your friend is the first person I've heard of ordering one without the airport card factory installed.