Is $800 a good deal for a 400Mhz TiBook?

[ELYXR]

I was offered a 400Mhz TiBook for $1000, but I talked the guy down to $800. It's in excellent shape, is that a good deal? It only has 8MB of VRAM, 384MB of SDRAM, 10GB Harddrive, DVD-ROM... no warranty.

Isn't it totally obsolescent? Am I wasting my time? :confused:

[rainman::|:|]

Personally, i'd spend the extra $200 to get a new iBook. i'm not sure if this is a good deal or not, i've no idea the resale value of specific models, but i will say that warranty is worth it's weight in gold... anyway the iBook would be like twice as fast, and be able to support Quartz Extreme, which is a good thing. Your only real downside to an iBook is the screen size, as well as a couple of connectivity limitations.

pnw

[altair]

I would also buy an ibook instead. 400mhz is pretty old. Save your money and buy an ibook.

[cr2sh]

I disagree, $800 is an excellant price for a 400mhz Tibook. If nothing else buy it and resell it on ebay, it'll go there for about a grand.

[rt_brained]

Originally posted by cr2sh
I disagree, $800 is an excellant price for a 400mhz Tibook. If nothing else buy it and resell it on ebay, it'll go there for about a grand.

Or more...My girlfriend was thinking about selling her 500 MHz iBook on eBay and found that some fool just recently bid $900 for someone's 344 MHz clamshell.

I hope that fool isn't a member here. But if they are, then I meant "fool' in the kindest most endearing way.

[mangoman]

Huh. Interesting info. I was debating sellin' my old 400mhz TiBook: it's got 768mb RAM, 20gig HD, Airport card, and the logic board was just replaced last year by Apple. Hardly use the little monster, actually. But I never listed it on eBay 'cause I figured no one would want it... I was hoping to get a grand for it, but maybe, from what you guys are saying, I might get more.

Well...

[cr2sh]

It is highly unlikely (depending on software) that you're going to get more than a grand for it. $900 for a clamshell is obscene and I have a hard time that the seller ever recieved that much money for it. On the other hand, 400Ti's were going for about a grand a week ago on ebay pretty consistantly. The longer you wait obviously, the less it's worth, so if you're not using it - sell it, but conservative I'd say market value is ~$950. Just a guess and value will also vary depending on your feedback rating. Good luck!

[ELYXR]

Do you think the loss of Quartz Extreme (8MB VRAM) is a big deal? I want to use this laptop for video editing, managing music, etc... This means I'll probably have to replace the harddrive just about right away. Is it worth it, not from a value perspective, but from a practical standpoint?

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by cr2sh
I disagree, $800 is an excellant price for a 400mhz Tibook. If nothing else buy it and resell it on ebay, it'll go there for about a grand.

if you are a moderate laptop user like me...email internet word processing light graphics in photoshop, etc...then it's actually a good deal

i wouldn't use if for high end gaming since the video card is outdated, but it still has altivec which is good for os x and photoshop

you can get external storage cheap these days and of course you can up the ram on the tibook with little cost, but as for the vram, you will have to live with it, which at the time was great, but even the $999 ibook now has 16 mb of vram on it...but that laptop still uses the non altivec g3 chip

[Centris 650]

Originally posted by rt_brained


Or more...My girlfriend was thinking about selling her 500 MHz iBook on eBay and found that some fool just recently bid $900 for someone's 344 MHz clamshell.


Realllly...hmmm I have a iBook SE (466) I'd sell for $900! Why can't I ever find people with too much cash to buy my stuff on ebay?! ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Centris 650


Realllly...hmmm I have a iBook SE (466) I'd sell for $900! Why can't I ever find people with too much cash to buy my stuff on ebay?! ;)

if i had nine hundred and was given the choice of

1) an ibook se 466 with firewire and dvd

OR

2) a pc laptop, celeron 1.5 ghz, with cd-rom, 128 mb ddr ram

...and somehow these were my two choices, i would buy the ibook

[Centris 650]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


if i had nine hundred and was given the choice of

1) an ibook se 466 with firewire and dvd

OR

2) a pc laptop, celeron 1.5 ghz, with cd-rom, 128 mb ddr ram

...and somehow these were my two choices, i would buy the ibook

Then have I got an iBook for you!:D

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by ELYXR
Do you think the loss of Quartz Extreme (8MB VRAM) is a big deal? I want to use this laptop for video editing, managing music, etc... This means I'll probably have to replace the harddrive just about right away. Is it worth it, not from a value perspective, but from a practical standpoint?

Practically speaking, you're not going to touch a laptop that can do what this can do for $900. The altivec is vital for video editing and while the cpu speed does leave something to be desired, it'll smoke a g3 at 600mhz for video due to the altivec. If you can afford to spend a little more then drop it on ebay for something with a 133fsb.. but then you're buying from a stranger. Practically speaking, buy it and try it out.. SERIOUSLY, if you find out that it doesn't do what you want it to (which i seriously doubt) you can sell it on ebay for $800 as easy as pie and not be out anything. I'd think you'd be a fool not to take it at that price.

[ELYXR]

Thanks cr2sh...

I think you're right... also, if you think about how much a 10GB iPod goes for, this doesn't seem like that bad of a deal. I've been following eBay for a couple of weeks now... it amazes me to see how much people will pay for a Pismo. :eek:

Most of my confusion came from spending too much time at Best Buy this holiday season. Seeing how little new PC laptops are going for with all the rebates and stuff. It's hard to imagine the slim margins these companies have had to endure. Apple doesn't seem to play that game (too much) and I like it.

[rt_brained]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


if i had nine hundred and was given the choice of

1) an ibook se 466 with firewire and dvd

OR

2) a pc laptop, celeron 1.5 ghz, with cd-rom, 128 mb ddr ram

...and somehow these were my two choices, i would buy the ibook
If somehow these were my two choices, I would have my head examined.

[scem0]

It is an excellent price, but it all depends on how you want to use
it. I think by spending $200 more, you would get a better deal
with a new iBook. ;)

[Centris 650]

Originally posted by scem0
It is an excellent price, but it all depends on how you want to use
it. I think by spending $200 more, you would get a better deal
with a new iBook. ;)

Shhhhhh!!!!!! ;)

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by scem0
It is an excellent price, but it all depends on how you want to use
it. I think by spending $200 more, you would get a better deal
with a new iBook. ;)

If Apple gets on the ball and releases a replacement slot-loading superdrive for the older Ti's... he could get one of those. An iBook just doesnt make sense for what he wants to do. :p

[mattmack]

Originally posted by cr2sh


If Apple gets on the ball and releases a replacement slot-loading superdrive for the older Ti's... he could get one of those. An iBook just doesnt make sense for what he wants to do. :p

I believe MCE has a slot loading superdrive for these. I saw them at macworld. If anyones interested I could look up the url later

[saabmp3]

Whoa!
I've been looking for a superdrive replacement for a while. If you know where to get one please post the link.

BEN

[mattmack]

Originally posted by saabmp3
Whoa!
I've been looking for a superdrive replacement for a while. If you know where to get one please post the link.

BEN
Their website is www.mcetech.com
they have combo drive and superdrive upgrades for the powerbook G4 and internals for G4 towers. They are compatible with iDVD. Also they recommend that you only put a superdrive in a G4 machine.:D

[mattmack]

Originally posted by mattmack

Their website is www.mcetech.com
they have combo drive and superdrive upgrades for the powerbook G4 and internals for G4 towers. They are compatible with iDVD. Also they recommend that you only put a superdrive in a G4 machine.:D
Just checked there sight and they don't list the internal one yet but on my pamphlet the part #is DVDR4XDT. I have written their support with the question. And the powerbook drive is available Feb 25th

[ELYXR]

I bought the TiBook and it is in perfect condition... not even a noticeable scratch. I paid $750! On my way driving home I felt very satisfied. I liked that I had a chance to check it out beforehand with my own eyes and hands. It's my first laptop, YIPPIE!!! The only thing is no warranty, but for a $750 Titanium Powerbook...oooh, I like how that just rolls off the tongue.

Anyway, Thanks again everyone... I needed to hear what all you guys said! ;)

[yzeater]

Congratulations! I bought my first mac, a Powerbook 500-512-30gig-DVD with 1.5 yrs AppleCare left for $200. I love it, and that price can't be beat. Having connections rocks:D

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by ELYXR
I bought the TiBook and it is in perfect condition...

Great job man! I know you're going to love it. I can't wait to order my 17". As I've said before: Slowest two-months, EVER! :)

[MacFan25]

I think that I would also spend $200 more and buy a new iBook. The iBook would have more mhz and plus it is new.

[ELYXR]

My girlfriend has an iBook (white chicklet) with a 500Mhz G3 and 256MB of RAM, Etc...
Since I've been working on this 400Mhz G4 TiBook I've been realizing how much of OSX is optimized for Altivec. It boots noticeably faster... screen redrawing is much better... Safari on the G4 smokes the iBook big time. I really don't think the G3 can hold it's own... at least not this one. :rolleyes:

[mattmack]

Originally posted by ELYXR
My girlfriend has an iBook (white chicklet) with a 500Mhz G3 and 256MB of RAM, Etc...
Since I've been working on this 400Mhz G4 TiBook I've been realizing how much of OSX is optimized for Altivec. It boots noticeably faster... screen redrawing is much better... Safari on the G4 smokes the iBook big time. I really don't think the G3 can hold it's own... at least not this one. :rolleyes:
I agree my G4 450 smokes my wifes g3 500 ibook
Of course it could be that I have dual processors too:p