Forums | MacLife

Funkey Monkey · 2007-09-20 9:20 am

I'm running a B&W G3 (Upgraded G4 500 mHz.)

I remember that I used to have a Performa 550--there was various software that would show me the exact date my computer rolled off the assembly line.

Can anybody tell me how to figure this out for my Blue and White? Is there some terminal command, maybe?

I'd like to throw a party for this elegant beast--it's been almost 9 years, I think.

Fracai · 2007-09-20 9:31 am

There's a way to use the serial number to determine the location and date of manufacture.
I think I have the format stored at home, but for now try searching for Apple Serial Number date location manufacture etc

I did find the following forum with a link to the following site.
http://www.ehmac.ca/anything-mac/38737- … tured.html
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

Funkey Monkey · 2007-09-20 9:31 am

In case anybody cares, I did manage to find a little app called Coconut Identity that uses data in your computer's serial number to make a guess at the machine's origin.

FWIW, the program isn't y2k compliant, or maybe it's not y1k compliant.... anyway, my computer was built in 1999, so it lists the date as "-1." Cute.

It got the date within 6 days, (December 20-26, 1999) but I'm still looking for something better. I seem to remember an exact date built into my old Performa--maybe somewhere in the ROM?

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconuti … index.html

Funkey Monkey · 2007-09-20 9:49 am

Hmm... Coconut Identity says my computer was built in December 1999...

http://www.apple-history.com says my computer was discontinued in September 1999. And MacTracker says it was killed in August. Whom to believe?

dv · 2007-09-20 10:21 am

Funkey Monkey wrote:
Hmm... Coconut Identity says my computer was built in December 1999...

http://www.apple-history.com says my computer was discontinued in September 1999. And MacTracker says it was killed in August. Whom to believe?

There were a couple revisions of G3s. probably confuses the issue. shrug

Funkey Monkey · 2007-09-20 10:32 am

dvpierce wrote:
There were a couple revisions of G3s. probably confuses the issue.

That's true... and to further compound the issue, I know that I have a Rev. 1, which means my computer couldn't have been built at the end of the series.

I suppose there's a possibility that the "-1" in the CoconutIdentity program might mean something other than 1999. I emailed the dev about it.

pkmgarf · 2007-09-26 10:33 am

I don't see what else -1 could mean. It would be nice if the serial number was like a VIN on a car. Each digit corresponds to a certain piece of information (country of origin, year, etc).

ukimalefu · 2007-09-26 1:54 pm

http://macuser.thepodcastnetwork.com/20 … -mac-born/

Mine:

Mr. T · 2007-10-09 8:39 pm

It doesn't know where or when my hackintosh was built. It says my 30 Gig iPod Photo was made in 2006, which makes sense since it was a replacement unit.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2007-09-20 9:20 am

What's my computer's birthday?

#2 2007-09-20 9:31 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

#3 2007-09-20 9:31 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

#4 2007-09-20 9:49 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

#5 2007-09-20 10:21 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

Funkey Monkey wrote:

#6 2007-09-20 10:32 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

dvpierce wrote:

#7 2007-09-26 10:33 am

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

#8 2007-09-26 1:54 pm

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

#9 2007-10-09 8:39 pm

Re: What's my computer's birthday?

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