Thinking of selling my PB G4 1.5GHz/15"...

[MikeTheC]

Why is it that nothing's ever simple?

Alright, here's the deal. Yesterday, the HDD in my PowerBook died. Naturally, my first thought was to replace it so I can get back to using it. But then this occasioned the thought that perhaps I should maybe sell the unit while it still has some value left to it.

If I were truly wise, I would have sold it around the time the MacBooks and MacBook Pros were about ready to be sold, but then I've never staked claim to so great a level of self-deception. Anyhow...

So I'm left with two possibilities, and these are ones I'd like to explore with the rest of you, my Mac-using brethren.

1. Replace the HDD, then sell it.

2. Don't replace the HDD, but sell it as a unit with a dead HDD.

Now, whether I sell it here through MacRumors.com, or on eBay, or elsewhere is of little concern to me. I just would like your frank, honest comments on this situation. If this were politics, what I'm doing would be called "floating a trial balloon".


Alright, folks. Thoughts?


P.S.: Oh yeah, maybe you folks might be interested in the specs. Here they are:

PowerBook G4, 15.2" screen
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4
1 GB RAM
80GB (or larger, depending) HDD
Illuminated backlit keyboard
SuperDrive
802.11g and Bluetooth

Cosmetically, the unit is in excellent condition. In any event, I would completely clean the case and the LCD prior to shipping, so it would look as close to new as I could humanly get.

Thanks in advance!

[ghostshadow]

Why is it that nothing's ever simple?

Alright, here's the deal. Yesterday, the HDD in my PowerBook died. Naturally, my first thought was to replace it so I can get back to using it. But then this occasioned the thought that perhaps I should maybe sell the unit while it still has some value left to it.

If I were truly wise, I would have sold it around the time the MacBooks and MacBook Pros were about ready to be sold, but then I've never staked claim to so great a level of self-deception. Anyhow...

So I'm left with two possibilities, and these are ones I'd like to explore with the rest of you, my Mac-using brethren.

1. Replace the HDD, then sell it.

2. Don't replace the HDD, but sell it as a unit with a dead HDD.

Now, whether I sell it here through MacRumors.com, or on eBay, or elsewhere is of little concern to me. I just would like your frank, honest comments on this situation. If this were politics, what I'm doing would be called "floating a trial balloon".


Alright, folks. Thoughts?


P.S.: Oh yeah, maybe you folks might be interested in the specs. Here they are:

PowerBook G4, 15.2" screen
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4
1 GB RAM
80GB (or larger, depending) HDD
Illuminated backlit keyboard
SuperDrive
802.11g and Bluetooth

Cosmetically, the unit is in excellent condition. In any event, I would completely clean the case and the LCD prior to shipping, so it would look as close to new as I could humanly get.

Thanks in advance!

I think it'll sell either way, I think people will try to lowball you big since the hdd is dead. If you replace the drive you'll get a better deal out of it in the long run.

I know it's a long shot, but I have a 12'' near same specs, interested in a trade?

[puckhead193]

is this a rev C or D?

[ChrisBrightwell]

I'd say $750 w/ no drive, $1k with it. A little less on each count if you don't have the 128MB Radeon.

[Veritas&Equitas]

I'd say $750 w/ no drive, $1k with it. A little less on each count if you don't have the 128MB Radeon.
No shot in hell getting $1k.

Even with a new drive, he'd be lucky to get $750 total. Check CL or eBay prices...this model has REALLY dropped in resale value.

[Jschultz]

No shot in hell getting $1k.

Even with a new drive, he'd be lucky to get $750 total. Check CL or eBay prices...this model has REALLY dropped in resale value.

For sure. I just sold the Powerbook in my sig ( a 17") to a fellow forum member for $800. I think he got a good, fair deal. However, if he paid that amount for a 17" of the same specs (minus the ram), I'd expect the 15" to be a lot less. I even had the 128 mb Radeon 9700 in mine too. Honestly, I'd offer $750 with the new drive.

[shu82]

I would say 400-500 tops. I wouldn't want to pay too much for a laptop I have to take apart. I have better odds with repair than the apple guys. It doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money just to zap the logic board when you get it.

[Jdot]

Yeah i paid $784 for a 1.67 powerbook 15" with the DDR2 memory and 100gb 7200 rpm hard drive and radeon 9700 128mb so i don't think your gonna get more than 600 for yours with a hard drive maybe 500 without the hard drive

[SuperCompu2]

replace the HD and keep the thing, PowerBooks have many more years of life in them (as I type this from an iBook G3)

a nice +100GB HD 5400RPM and up should get this baby on the road again. Unless you really need power for Pro apps, PowerBooks are great machines.

As far as pricing goes, there is always someone willing to pay a reasonable asking price. I saw a 1.25GHz Powerbook go for 1500 a little while ago, so dont get your hopes down.

[GSMiller]

replace the HD and keep the thing, PowerBooks have many more years of life in them (as I type this from an iBook G3)

a nice +100GB HD 5400RPM and up should get this baby on the road again. Unless you really need power for Pro apps, PowerBooks are great machines.

As far as pricing goes, there is always someone willing to pay a reasonable asking price. I saw a 1.25GHz Powerbook go for 1500 a little while ago, so dont get your hopes down.

I agree. I would fix it and keep it unless I had too many computers as is or I really really wanted a new one.

[Veritas&Equitas]

I saw a 1.25GHz Powerbook go for 1500 a little while ago, so dont get your hopes down.
That buyer was probably on drugs. I don't know a soul that would even think about that kind of money.

Look at any of the auctions on eBay, or even your local CL, and you'll see that the prices that these optimistic people are quoting you are WAY off from real world prices.

[je1ani]

$1500 wtf!> I've seen PB Core Duo's go for $1000!

[MikeTheC]

Great. Thank you all for your comments. It's really helped to confirm what I had been thinking: replace the HDD, then sell it. Because you're all correct: nobody really wants a computer with a dead HDD.

I hadn't even thought about the VRAM, actually. It's the 64MB Radeon.

And yes, I am going to sell it now because, while in a sense I don't "need" a new computer now, by the time I actually do, the thing will be worth so little it would be pointless to sell it, and I really don't want to start my next computer purchase "from zero".

Again, thank you to everyone who's responded. When I get the unit completed and put up for sale, I'll put it in my signature here, just in case any of you folks want to buy it.