Feeler (FS): loaded 1.5 GHz PB 15"

[Demon Hunter]

I posted this earlier but that was before the Rev. D release. What do you think is a reasonable price for this? It will be on eBay soon (relisting sucks). Thanks. :)

First so you know who I am: I'm a college student at the University of Minnesota, studying English. I've decided the 15" isn't the best model for me, after carrying it around all semester long.

This is a Powerbook G4 in excellent, like-new mint condition with the following BTO options (all available):


80 GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
1.5 GHz G4 processor
Radeon 9700 128 MB VRAM
1 GB genuine Apple Memory (covered by warranty, 1 SO-DIMM, ideal for upgradability)
4x SuperDrive


The top case and keyboard have been replaced new by AppleCare (paperwork provided). I have taken extraordinary measures to keep the Powerbook's condition top-notch. The screen is perfect with no dead pixels, scratches, etc. I have kept it in immaculate care using microfiber cloths and iKlear protective polish. There's no indication whatsoever that it was used (for writing term papers) :).

It will ship in the original box, with all manuals/coupons/CDs (in new condition) with a clean install of Panther. I'll run software updates if requested. I'll also throw in my copy of Microsoft Office 2004, which I will install on your request from the original CD (which ships with the PB).

Warranty lasts until about September.

Closest similar setup at apple.com/store costs $2649.

[adamjay]

superdrive?
combodrive?

[Demon Hunter]

4x Superdrive.

[Demon Hunter]

Okay... here's my take on it.

My model ($?):


1.5/128
4x SuperDrive
MS Office 2004


A new model from Apple Store, BTO ($2649):


1.67/64
SMS, BT 2.0
8x SuperDrive
iLife '05


A few things cancel out. This gives the newer Powerbook a 4x faster SD ($75?) and SMS/BT 2.0 ($100?). Take off $50 because it's not direct from the factory new, and $50 for some of the warranty having elapsed, and I'm looking at around $2350.

I think that's reasonable and fair, what do you guys think?

[wnameth]

i think more people would rather have the new one, for a couple hundred dollars more

[therevolution]

Eh... I'd rather pay $100 more for a new laptop than get one that's been used for five months, no matter how well it's been taken care of. I'd go a bit lower if it were me.

[Rod Rod]

This gives the newer Powerbook a 4x faster SD ($75?)

The new PowerBook's Superdrive burns DVDs 2x faster than the model it replaces. If it were 4x faster it'd burn at 16x. :)

[Demon Hunter]

The new PowerBook's Superdrive burns DVDs 2x faster than the model it replaces. If it were 4x faster it'd burn at 16x. :)

I was never good at the math. ;)

[Rod Rod]

I was never good at the math. ;)

fwiw I put Calculator in my dock. It comes in handy all the time.

[matticus008]

The new PowerBook's Superdrive burns DVDs 2x faster than the model it replaces. If it were 4x faster it'd burn at 16x. :)

Well...it burns twice as fast, yes. But it also burns 4x faster, if you take "x" to mean an incremental unit for CD read or write speeds. So both are correct, you just have to specify whether 2x=twice as fast or 2x= 2 "speeds" faster.

As for the pricing on the PB, I think it's competitive as of January, but unfortunately the "better" PBs are now out and so you'll probably have to take a bit lower. I'd say that since the closest matching educational price is $2250 (with less VRAM, but all the new features), you're going to have to beat that in your offer. You might be able to get $2200, if you really play up the 1GB authentic Apple-installed RAM. Best of luck!

EDIT: with MS Office, you might have better luck selling it separately, if you can transfer the license...but if you're getting a new PB, why not keep it and install on yours?

[Rod Rod]

Well...it burns twice as fast, yes. But it also burns 4x faster, if you take "x" to mean an incremental unit for CD read or write speeds. So both are correct, you just have to specify whether 2x=twice as fast or 2x= 2 "speeds" faster.

Of course. A 52x CD burner is 36x faster than a 16x burner. /sarcasm

"x" (as in 4x, 16x, etc) always means "times one unit" and never "increments of one unit."

[Demon Hunter]

...but if you're getting a new PB, why not keep it and install on yours?

I'm switching to iWork ASAP. I was only using PowerPoint and Word, so Microsoft can bite me now. :)

[matticus008]

Of course. A 52x CD burner is 36x faster than a 16x burner. /sarcasm

"x" (as in 4x, 16x, etc) always means "times one unit" and never "increments of one unit."

A 52x burner and a 16x burner have a difference of 36x. With CD hardware, you very, very rarely see "x" used in the traditional sense, because of how they are sold. This is for the exact reason you outline. If you have a 16x drive and your packaging says "2x faster than 16x" people will automatically think "18x" because that's the way they have been sold for 15 years. To someone who stops to think about it, 2x clearly means twice as fast, and so we might want a 32x drive for that claim, but that's not how consumers operate. That's exactly why you never see "2x faster than <number>x!" on boxes. If manufacturers want twice as fast, they will say, "twice as fast as an 8x burner!"

"x" is a multiplier in all science and math fields, but for consistency in CD speeds, the "x" is always relative to 1x CD drives (150KB/sec read speed) and not to each other. So 4x faster than 12x is 16x and most definitely not 48x.

[matticus008]

I'm switching to iWork ASAP. I was only using PowerPoint and Word, so Microsoft can bite me now. :)

Haha! Excellent. Keynote is great, but it might take a little getting used to after PowerPoint.