Advice urgently needed!

His Mac Mini, G4 1.25Ghz, 1GB RAM, 40GB HD, no BT and AE, 17" LG LCD in matching silver, Apple keyboard and Mighty Mouse, plus $100

for

My iBook G4 12", 1.2Ghz, 768MB RAM, 60GB HD, BT and AE,

I find I just don't take my iBook out much really, just the convenience of bedside internet surfing is nice. Perhaps I should up the cash to $150? I'm going to get a Lacie firewire drive (or equivalent matching) to compensate for the reduction in internal hard drive space and then also spend like $30 to get a USB BT adapter. Thoughts?? It is tempting, the 1.25Ghz Mac Mini with 1GB RAM is scoring 33% higher than my current iBook setup, I'm just losing portability that I rarely rarely need anyway.

up it to $200 or $175 at least and see if he comes back with $150

Don't do it.

Think about the cafes, you can't take a mini to a cafe.

At least trade it in for a iMac.:)

Don't do it.

Think about the cafes, you can't take a mini to a cafe.

At least trade it in for a iMac.:)


i would agree the G5 iMac a better swap even though you'd have to cough up some dough

G5 iMacs are so very cool

yea we'll see but this does seem like a good offer... Hmmmmm...

Think of it this way:

A $400 (new, CompuSmart) mini, plus $100 of RAM and a $285 monitor. Keyboard and mouse add some too but the cost is nothing, especially considering you can get a cheaper kbd/mouse combo.

do you think your upgraded iBook is worth less than $1000?

the 1.25Ghz Mac Mini with 1GB RAM is scoring 33% higher than my current iBook setup, I'm just losing portability that I rarely rarely need anyway.

Where's that 33% coming from? Are you talking Xbench, or something? I can;t see it being THAT different.

I'd stick with your iBook if I were you. Your wireless functionality offers extremely flexible use. I suppose the big question is whether or not the 12" display on your iBook is a hassle for you, because that's the only REAL benefit I see in this deal... and you didn't mention the iBook's screen as a problem in your OP.

Once you buy an external hard drive to make up for the anemic 40GB on the mini AND buy a USB bluetooth adaptor, you'll have easily more than eaten up that cash you think you're getting. That stuff is just to get the Mini up to par with what you have in your hands right now! Better toss a powered USB hub in there while you're at it.

Pass. http://deephousepage.com/smilies/icon130.gif


PS: Not that resale of your iBook will be stupendous once the macintels come out, either, but Minis -- especially a base one (RAM notwithstanding) -- are gonna hit the floor by then.

I really don't think that's a fair trade...in terms of value:

You are getting:
Mac Mini: Can be had for about $500 (sometimes less) on eBay
17" LG LCD: Maybe $300
+ $100 cash

He's getting:
A nicely upgraded iBook which you could easily sell for over $1000 (I would expect around $1100, maybe $1200 if you are lucky).

I really don't think this is a fair trade for you.

And for God's sake, DON'T BUY a pre-assembled external Firewire drive. I don't know what's worse: buying extra RAM from Apple? Or buying a LaCie external FW drive. MAJOR rip-off, when you consider how truly easy it is to buy an empty FW housing and IDE drive of your exact choice from your garden-variety PC shop and assemble it yourself. This is the easiest DIY project there is, and one could save well over a hundred dollars. Easy.

Also, if you do want more screen real-estate... then buy yourself a monitor and hook it to the iBook. There's a hack to even span your desktop across the two displays! Now that's sweet, and you can't run dual displays off a Mini (there's a new USB thingy that is SUPPOSED to be coming out with OS X drivers to do this, but it costs over US$150.00 and no release date for OS X drivers).

Don't do it! You can easily trade for a used 17" iMac G5 plus $100.

dude I don't see a $400 Mac Mini at Compusmart. I did see a $95.99 Mac Mini at Costco in my dreams.

This guy did seem a bit whacked though, he was trying to convince me that G4 processors have a faster architecture than G5s.

This guy did seem a bit whacked though, he was trying to convince me that G4 processors have a faster architecture than G5s.

http://deephousepage.com/smilies/spit.gif

Forget this deal, Dona83 http://deephousepage.com/smilies/nope.gif

.

It's _not_ AudioDan, it's a local guy who responded to my Craig's List ad, I know where he lives so this ain't a scam for sure, I just have to see what will make this a good deal for me, and whether or not I'm really willing to give up portability.

.

Don't do it! You can easily trade for a used 17" iMac G5 plus $100.

This is exactly what I am trying to do. My iBook is up for trade as well. I would prefer a new iMac (frontrow, etc). but it depends on the price difference.

I wouldnt do it. You could G5 iMac for sure.

dude I don't see a $400 Mac Mini at Compusmart. I did see a $95.99 Mac Mini at Costco in my dreams.

This guy did seem a bit whacked though, he was trying to convince me that G4 processors have a faster architecture than G5s.


http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=33248&highlight=compusmart

Not sure if they're still available at any compusmarts, but they were.

I'd keep the iBook too. This is not a good deal. Get yourself an external monitor instead and you have a better system than you would have with the Mini he's offering.

dona,

just a side note, if the guy says he will pay the $100 through bidpay its a scam. anyway, i was selling something on craigslist for 350 and I got this email from a guy who said he will pay $400 for the item (my item was a mac) via bidpay. It looked like a template email that he sent out to all his victims... err sellers.

Anyway, i've sold an ipod mini and a imac g3 on it and its great. But i must have gotten atleast 3 fraud responses, and they all said they would use bidpay to pay and they'd use their fedex account to cover the shipping costs.

http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=33248&highlight=compusmart

Not sure if they're still available at any compusmarts, but they were.

As of Saturday evening, they were gone. My mom tried to pick one up and they were all sold out, even had them check out the other stores. So she got the 1.42ghz instead for $499. Also got the HP 3in1 deal/freebie after rebate, and the 19" widescreen Acer that was talked about here as well. Sweet package overall.

Oh and this trade sounds bunk, he should be giving you money. You can sell your system for at least $1000 with the upgraded ram.

Base Mini, well compusmart is sold out, Apple had refurbs going for $469, and last week's Carbon ad also listed used minis for $469+$100 ram upgrade=$569, $286 for the monitor http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=008597&cid=MT.899 and we're at $855, maybe $100 for standard apple keyboard and MM, and you're still up on him.

Keep your iBook, you can either mirror or span on a external monitor if you want the extra screen real estate, and if you want, you can get a generic mouse and keyboard for $30 to hook up to the iBook. Plus you have the option of surfing in a Café, which that alone blows away the idea of having a mini instead.

vince

Oh this guy is local, I would meet him up and actually take a look at the Mini first.

I've decided I'm keeping my iBook and buying an iMac G5 17" 1.9Ghz to become my main computer and keep the iBook as my portable lugabout. Why? Well I just got the word that I have a business trip to Calgary next week, now I know why I got my iBook. :)

Oh btw I have a Logitech Cordless Duo MX with the ever so awesome MX700 RF-wireless mouse I just think a Mighty Mouse looks cool, that's all. Perhaps since I really don't need a home computer yet too i'll wait until the IntelliMacs come out then I'll make my decision. :) At that time I can either get an Intellimac or grab a remaining iMac G5 if I find that the possible redesign or XBench results aren't too my liking.

Why? Well I just got the word that I have a business trip to Calgary next week, now I know why I got my iBook. :)


Hurrah for business trips! Cool! :)

well I have had a few more offers come in over the past week, one as low as $900 (I told him I sold it but for $900 he would more realistically be looking at a 800Mhz model, 1Ghz if he's lucky) to $1150 (but she could not wait for me to come back to Vancouver)