Buy old iMac - need help!

[sparks9]

Hi
I don't have a Mac now, but I'm looking into buying a used old iMac. Mostly for using iTunes (storing my music collection), with my iPod and for using Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (surfing, emailing, writing, NOT heavy use or gaming).

I found an add for a used iMac, specs:
iMac DV Special Edition (1999)
400 Mhz G3 processor
256 MB RAM
13 GB HD
CD/DVD combo-drive (slot-loading)
Mac OSX 10.3.3 (<--THIS IS GOOD)
Incl. mouse and keyboard
The seller says "good computer that works perfectly".


How much should I pay for an iMac like that. (You can tell me in dollers).
A new emac from Apple is 800 dollers.

Will an iMac like the above mentioned be able to run well in 10.3?

[sparks9]

BTW: Will a regular 7200 rpm HD from hitashi or maxtor or seagate or so work in an old iMac, and will I be able to replace the HD myself?

[rueyeet]

I've seen Macs about that age and specs going for $300-$400. I wouldn't pay more than $500 even if the seller throws in the Panther disks (without which you're not really getting Panther if anything goes wrong with your machine).

Not sure about the hard drive.

[sparks9]

I've seen Macs about that age and specs going for $300-$400. I wouldn't pay more than $500 even if the seller throws in the Panther disks (without which you're not really getting Panther if anything goes wrong with your machine).

Not sure about the hard drive.

300-400, that is ALOT. Too much I think (especially without 10.3).

[applebum]

Hi
I don't have a Mac now, but I'm looking into buying a used old iMac. Mostly for using iTunes (storing my music collection), with my iPod and for using Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (surfing, emailing, writing, NOT heavy use or gaming).

I found an add for a used iMac, specs:
iMac DV Special Edition (1999)
400 Mhz G3 processor
256 MB RAM
13 GB HD
CD/DVD combo-drive (slot-loading)
Mac OSX 10.3.3 (<--THIS IS GOOD)
Incl. mouse and keyboard
The seller says "good computer that works perfectly".



How much should I pay for an iMac like that. (You can tell me in dollers).
A new emac from Apple is 800 dollers.

Will an iMac like the above mentioned be able to run well in 10.3?

I have that exact model only mine came with just a 10 GB drive. I am runing Jaguar on it and it works fine. It is also mostly used for iTunes. I do have 384 mb of ram, so if you can, you should up the memory as high as possibl. An external HD should work fine (USB), I have never been bold enough to open it up and put in a different HD. You will truly enjoy it.

[thehuncamunca]

the iMacs on ebay are quite overpriced, considering that you can get a brand new eMac for $749 edu and some refurbs for 500-600
i'd suggest saving up for an emac i think you'll be really disappointed with the performance of a $300-400 imac

[ToddW]

I agree with the above poster. Don't settle for a old iMac, get either a refurbed emac from the apple store http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70202/wo/d77p0KGpaP3t31C7sl71IZEnDYl/0.0.7.1.0.5.13.0.3.0.0.0.0.3.1.1.0?20,34 or go for a new one.

[Horrortaxi]

As far as muscle is concerned, the G3 is good for what you want to do. I'll go as far as to say it's perfect. Similar computers are going for $400-$500 on Ebay, though you might luck out and find one cheaper. Ebay is a "buyer beware" nightmare though. If you're going to go the Ebay route, be cautious. If you don't want to risk having some dumbass take your money or pack your computer so poorly so it breaks in transit (that happened to me) then maybe it's worth another $300 to get a new (faster) computer straight from Apple (and with a warranty).

Can you swap the hard drive? Yes. Will it run Panther? Yes, quite well.