...it had
terrible QC problems. It's a tossup which was the less reliable
product: the 1710AV, or the PowerBook 5300. Check out some of the
you-had-to-be-there rants about this monitor in Google Groups
(comp.sys.macintosh.*)
As of last summer though Apple was still keeping it's promise
of repairing defective 5300's. Mine hadn't yet had the case repaired
and they replaced the whole outer casing under warranty, including
shipping both ways. Not bad service for a near 7 year old laptop.
Repaired PB 5300ce in my possession, serviced in '96, no problems
other than tiny built-in speaker has died. Runs longer on its
lithium cell than any laptop I've seen.
I use it for a system console on the Prime; it's on 24x7x365.
Most batteries get screwed by that. Not this one.
Got a 500w halogen worklight too close for a while... plastic
was too hot to touch and started warping where the LCD shell
comes together on the top edge (top as in when the lid is up).
No harm to LCD screen. rock-solid. don't make 'em like this
anymore.
-dq