Resolved iMac DV SE for selling

Hello again all....!

Visiting a swap meet the last weekend I bought a iMac G3/500 DV SE. Always like this model of iMac and wanted to have one. In a impulse, I shelled out the $75 the seller was asking. Checked the thing and have Mac OS 9.2.2 installed, a 80 GB HDD and 1 GB of RAM. Comes with the Apple Pro keyboard and mouse.

Long history short, I put it in a desk in a University where I give classes (wanting to upgrade/tinker with it) and a professor passes by and fall in love with the thing (I cleaned it thoroughly....). Sitting there with no use, I have a Bluetooth combo of keyboard and mouse. The guy offers me $300 if:

1-Update the OS to the maximum possible (I have done my homework and think 10.4.11 is the maximum. No problem here because I have a legit copy I can use and pass)

2-Install a decent version of Office

3-Install the version of Adobe CS suite the machine can suport

4- Get the Bluetooth combo of keyboard and mouse to work

5-Make the computer wireless capable (Internet)

So, my real problems are issues 2, 3 and 4, and here I come with me advice/help request:

1-What is the last version of Office supported in this machine/OS
2-What is the last Adobe CS suite supported in this machine/Os
3-The Bluetooth thing can be done in a reliable way? What do you suggest to resolve this issue?

As always, thanks in advance for the advice and help.

Thanks all....

skateny said:

There seems to be more to this than meets the eye.

If the buyer isn't fully aware of the limitations of your iMac, even were you to make the desired upgrades, he may not be happy with his purchase once he starts using it. If he's someone you deal with fairly regularly, this could become a problem.

Too many people who purchase older Macs suffer from the mystery of ignorance about all things Apple. They hear/read all kinds of great things about Macs, but know little about their capabilities and limitations. You see this frequently on this forum, with people buying PowerPCs -- often at a premium -- who only seek help and do proper research AFTER the purchase.

"I just bought an MDD PowerPC. How can I get a copy of Mountain Lion? Can I put in 8GB of RAM? Can I stream videos at 1080p? How well does it work with Netflix?"

Because it was love at first sight for your buyer, I'd have a frank discussion with him about his needs and expectations. Yet, you did find/buy the iMac, and if/when you make the upgrades, you will have fashioned a rig for him to his specs. With that -- and this is if it were me -- I'd offer it to him for $200.

Click to expand...

for the input, advice, suggestions and comments.

1- I would do the Tiger upgrade, because I can and was requested by the buyer. Also, open the options for more use.
2- I am grateful for the info about Office and CS.
3-I dont consider myself a shady person. Only tackling this project by the interest of the buyer. I agree, a talk is a must, to show him the limitations and problems he can get buying the machine. I dont have any intention of scam somebody I have to see in a daily basis. What I can do is make a budget with the upgrades the buyer wants and said, charge 25% over if want to have a revenue. But that last thing, I can void totally or in some extent....

Thanks again all for the posts. Feel free to continue, in the constructive way and more based in the original questions.

So,.....

after a talk with the buyer, about the limitations/pitfalls of the iMac, he still wants to buy it, with the upgrades outlined, so I procceded:

1- Installed Tiger and updated up to 10.4.11 Give the buyer original OEM retail disc with DVD with upgrades: $ 35

2-Installed Office 2001 and pass the disc with legit license: $35

3-Downloaded CS2 and installed it : $20

4-Installed an AirPort card I bought in eBay: $35

5-Installed a D-Link USB Blueetooth dongle I got in eBay. Both keyboard and mouse works, pass them to buyer: $75

Applying my 25% I billed $250. So the buyer got a $50 rebate. So far, so good...

Thanks again all for the useful hints, advice and pointers. And for advising me to have a talk with the buyer. In this way, he can know the limitations about the computer he is buying.