Looking for advice on iBook purchase - Mac nerds help

Markman

Looking for some advice on the purchase of an iBook.

I wanna buy my old lady an iBook. I found this add on craigslist.

]I am selling my mother's (i.e. never used except for email) Apple iBook G4. Here are the specs:

1.25 gigs DDR SDRAM
1.2 GHz PowerPC g4
60Gig hard drive
Mac OSX 10.3.9
DVD + CD-RW
Airport wireless card
14" monitor
Serial number available

there is one problem and that is that the mouse pad doesn't work (common problem with this model). You can either get it fixed or just use an external mouse. I will throw in a free USB mouse.

Here is more information:
iBook G4 Late 2004 model (but with extra RAM)


I have a few questions:

At those specs, will I be able to install and run Leopard smoothly?

Again, at those specs, will I be able to install and run Adobe CS3 (or maybe CS4) smoothly?

Is this a good price and should I buy it?

Thanks in advance

rbrumble

That's the same as the iBook model I have (bought brand spanking new in Jan 2005) and it runs Leopard no problem (it came with Panther and I've upgraded it to every new OS X as soon as it's released). Apparently some of the features in Leopard are not supported with this older hardware, but it runs everything I need it to (internet, word processing, stat software - I used this laptop all through grad school and it was the most reliable computer I've ever owned, bar none).

I couldn't tell you about the CS software, but it will be slower than a new Macbook with an intel chip for a couple of reasons: they're newer and faster, and the code is optimized for x386 architecture not PPC. That's a big drawback.

You didn't say what the price was in the ad, but on eBay these models are going for US$400 - I'd say that's a fair price in Canadian dollars considering the broken mousepad (although if this is meant to me a portable computer, that's a deal breaker, find another one).

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-Bryan

iMac (1.83GHz intel core duo, 1.5 gig ram, OS 10.5.7); Dell Mini 9 (1.6 Ghz intel Atom CPU, 2 gig ram, 64 gig Runcore SSD, OS 10.5.7); iBook G4 (1.2Ghz PPC, 768 Mb, OS 10.5.7); iPhone 8Gb (black), iPod touch 16 Gb, blue 2nd generation blue iPod nano, 1st generation blue iPod mini, Newton 2000, Newton 2100, eMate 300.

dolawren

How much was it?
You didn't list the price.

Quick look of craigslist shows most of them in the $400.-$500 range.
From 12" 1.33 to 14" 1.42

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The future is one of my favourite past times.
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Magic Portal

Markman

Thanks for the info.

She is asking $420 for it so I think I'm gonna pick it up. I wonder if I can get teh mouse pad fixed and for how much?

rgray

WTF???... You want our help but you put our forum down in your first post???? Curious tactic. There are over 25000 members here and who knows how many lurkers! ehMac has become one important got-to Mac resource.

I'd be wary of this machine for one particular reason, namely the sellers comment that the trackpad failure is a common problem. AFAIK this is not true, especially ar he/she claims it is little used. I would suspect something got dumped in it. Caveat emptor, dude, but 20 years Mac experience says stay away from this one.

If you are looking at the CS software, I'd hold out for (at least) an early Intel product. The G4s were great, but they have had their day - you would just be buying problems with uptodate software. The next iteration of the OS won't run at all.

EDIT: Note that the $400 price was for a fully working unit. With a busted trackpad it is worth no more than $300 if that. Call an Apple shop and price out trackpad replacement..... the answer will not make you happy.

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"..not all those who wander are lost.." j.r.r. tolkien

FOR SALE:
SPSS Grad Pack

HowEver

Avoid this laptop. You would be looking at the cost of a new trackpad plus labour--so perhaps $150 extra, with NO guarantee there aren't many other problems. As well, the claim about "email only" use is somewhat insulting to your intelligence.

Run from this.

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Markman

Oops. Sorry about that. I was being lazy and just copy and pasted something from a forum that actually does not get alot of traffic. And I am one of those lurkers. I'm here almost every day.

Anyway, I'll take your info into consideration. You've made me quite wary. Probably pick it up anyway and keep my fingers crossed.

rgray

do not pay more than $300 for this machine!

__________________
"..not all those who wander are lost.." j.r.r. tolkien

FOR SALE:
SPSS Grad Pack

dolawren

I wouldn't pick it up, There are better iBook's available for the same price.

__________________
-----------------------------------------------------
The future is one of my favourite past times.
-----------------------------------------------------
Magic Portal

wslctrc

I just recently sold an ibook that worked perfectly and two days after the sale it apparently just up and died I was told. I would suggest taking the $420 and the possible $150 repair and buy an older macbook that would run what you want without worry. JMO.