Mac for $300.

[neoelectronaut]

My dad want's a new computer "just for internet" for $300. What's the best Mac I can get for this amount of money?

[dopefiend]

My dad want's a new computer "just for internet" for $300. What's the best Mac I can get for this amount of money?

This is probably the best your going to get.
For $300 and only needing just the internet, pick up a brand new PC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4603&item=4135712028&rd=1

[cubist]

Used CRT iMacs will do that job very nicely for around $300.

There are no "new PCs for $300" that will include everything you need. Never consider mail-in rebates, either.

[dopefiend]

There are no "new PCs for $300" that will include everything you need. Never consider mail-in rebates, either.

Eh? Of course there is.

neoelectronaut, will you need a monitor or do you already have one ready for it?

edit:Just to prove you wrong :rolleyes: :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51136&item=5100150826&rd=1

+ Linux(I recommend Fedora)
---------
Good

[cubist]

edit:Just to prove you wrong :rolleyes: :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51136&item=5100150826&rd=1

+ Linux(I recommend Fedora)
---------
Good

You've proved me right. By the time you add a new keyboard, new mouse and new monitor you will be close to, if not over, $400... not to mention shipping. And do you really want to buy a computer over eBay? Who's providing technical support? (BTW I recommend Fedora also, if you have a PC that can run it.)

But anyway, enough of the PC troll price garbage. The original question was "what's the best Mac I can get for $300?" Your response has nothing to do with that question.

If the monitor can be excluded, you could get a used B&W G3 for around $300, which would be better than the iMac. I'd suggest looking for an iMac DV so you would have FireWire.

[dopefiend]

But anyway, enough of the PC troll price garbage. The original question was "what's the best Mac I can get for $300?" Your response has nothing to do with that question.

.....When looking for a PC for internet use only, a PC is the best bet for a cheap price. I was just offering another solution for the person since I already gave him a link to a used Mac.

You've proved me right. By the time you add a new keyboard, new mouse and new monitor you will be close to, if not over, $400... not to mention shipping. And do you really want to buy a computer over eBay? Who's providing technical support? (BTW I recommend Fedora also, if you have a PC that can run it.)

You have no idea if he needs a monitor or not yet! Damn man, read my posts!

It was just an example I found in the 30 seconds or so I looked.

Many people buy computers over ebay :rolleyes: Where the hell do you think he is going to get it?

No one will be providing technical support on that used emac either...so throw that out in the reasoning...

[Daveman Deluxe]

If you're that keen on a Mac, either go through eBay or a reseller such as PowerMax computing. Here's their page for used Macs under $500 http://www.powermax.com/cgi-global/generate_css_temp.cgi?i=PM_CU&hq=500&t=Used+computers+under+$500

You probably don't want anything less than a 400 MHz G3 of some type.

[wide]

Yeah...I would get a used or new eMac if I were you, even if the cost is a higher than $300. All I can say is that on my Pismo (G3, 500 MHz), internet browsing is noticeably slow. This could be because I am used to high-end computers, but I do not think that is the case.

You could also check out the Apple refurbished section, but the lowest price I saw was $649 (a refurbished 800 MHz iBook).

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/72303/wo/2yeKgMMRLltE29R70HiHjFbSajJ/0.0.7.1.0.5.13.0.5.0.0.0.0.3.1.1.0?75,30

[neoelectronaut]

Price is simply not an option. It's either $300 or nothing. He's expecting a PC, but if I can, I'd rather him get a Mac, it'd be free of so many headaches.

[dopefiend]

it'd be free of so many headaches.

Maybe a new mac, but your going to get an old, used peice of hardware. I would consider staying with the PC if I were you.

[titaniumducky]

Unfortunately, for $300, a PC is your only real option. The Mac you get for that much is going to be a true piece of junk! The PC will probably be a 1-2 GHz Celeron with 128MB of RAM.

[dopefiend]

The PC will probably be a 1-2 GHz Celeron with 128MB of RAM.

Nah, you can get better than that off of Ebay.

[Finiksa]

Nah, you can get better than that off of Ebay.

Yeah, you can get a Mac…

[michaelrjohnson]

i've got an old imac i may be willing to let go of for around that price range.


contact me via email (mjohn058@uwsp.edu) or AIM (mjohn058)

[Chip NoVaMac]

Look at the Apple Store "deals" area. You won't find $300, but some great deals any ways:

eMac 1.25GHz/256MB/40GB/Combo/E/56K-Refurbished for $699
iBook 800MHz/128MB/30GB/CD-ROM/E/56K/12"TFT - Refurbished for $649

[titaniumducky]

Look at the Apple Store "deals" area. You won't find $300, but some great deals any ways:

eMac 1.25GHz/256MB/40GB/Combo/E/56K-Refurbished for $699
iBook 800MHz/128MB/30GB/CD-ROM/E/56K/12"TFT - Refurbished for $649

But he/she told us that the price was not flexible.

[Sun Baked]

But he/she told us that the price was not flexible.Well I guess there are always the Windowless PCs from Wally World for $300

[adamjay]

the above mentioned iMac CRT on eBay for $299 is a damn good deal if you ask me. 400mhz G3, 512MB, 40GB and running panther, whats wrong with that if all he wants to do is browse the internet. Keep in mind, that if all he wants to do is internet - he'd have to look out for spyware, adware, and virus attacks on the PC... and (at least for right now) this would hardly be an issue on the Mac.

grab that iMac on eBay while you still can.

[vollspacken]

look around and try to grab a CRT iMac DV (a.k.a. rev. D iMac)... it might take you a while but you should be able to get one for $300 if you are lucky...

that is a fine machine and should fit your needs perfectly...

IF you already have a screen, go for a blue & white G3... more or less the same performance, but you'll be able to upgrade later :)

you won't need a G4 just for internet and word processing...

vSpacken

[nyprospect]

This is probably the best your going to get.
For $300 and only needing just the internet, pick up a brand new PC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...4135712028&rd=1


This is a perfect deal for what your dad needs.Save dad the headache of getting his homepage hijacked and all the little dirty things running around windows.

[Soc7777777]

i have a p4 1.3 ghz compaq presario desktop and would be willing to sell it... make an offer...(it blows those macs for 300 out of the water...) it has 128mb pc 800 rdram (probibly not expandable due to rdram being really expensive and hard to find, but its just a tad slower than ddr266)... it has a 40 gig hard drive... dvdrom and cdrw... it has windows xp pro installed and everything seems to be working fine... 3 years and 2 months old

[Soc7777777]

that thread was out of place... considering that you were looking for a mac... i just wanted to be an a$$ and post it anyway... im sorry about that...

[adamjay]

look around and try to grab a CRT iMac DV (a.k.a. rev. D iMac)... it might take you a while but you should be able to get one for $300 if you are lucky...



Just a Friendly correction here... The Rev. D iMac was actually not the iMac DV. The Rev. D was before the DV, and featured a 333mhz G3; slower bus speed, no firewire, and a little less Video Ram. The iMac DV, on the other hand, was 400mhz G3, with 2 firewire ports.

check out apple-history.com , its real handy.

and also, the first eBay link posted on this thread, is in fact a 400mhz iMac DV for $299. i'd grab it if i were the original poster.

[applebum]

Here (http://www.macofalltrades.com/) they have a blue and white for $299. Very upgradeable and should do internet just fine.

[dbauer]

You have a lot of options for $300. An iMac DV would do you fine, as would a B&W PowerMac. You can find the B&W PowerMac on eBay for around $200 so you would still have some money for a cheap 17" monitor. You can also find a 233 iMac for around $100 and add an upgrade card for $200 that would get you up to a G3 500 or so but I can't remember the site I saw the upgrade on, try googling for it.

Unfortunately the real issue here is the video chipset in older iMacs (233-333)and B&W PowerMacs. They are PCI based (iMac DV is AGP but the older ones are not) and really hinder the performance of OS X. You could upgrade the heck out of the processor and video card in a B&W but then you just spent as much as a refurb eMac and you still won't have Quartz extreme (not supported on PCI video) so it doesn't make sense. If you are planning on using OS 9, you could go with a very cheap beige G3 (either all-in-one or desktop/tower) and spend less than $100. I have both an all-in-one and a desktop that work great for the internet in OS 9 (and OS X 10.2.8 albeit somewhat choppy video).

My real recommendation is to move up to a G4 Sawtooth PowerMac. I picked one up on eBay for $370 shipped (G4 450) and it is perfect for what your Dad is looking for. I've seen some of the G4 400 and G4 350 models go for under $300 but you have to keep an eye on it. This machine is fully upgradeable from the video standpoint because of the AGP graphics. From a CPU standpoint, you can drop a 1.4 Ghz G4 in it and have a (nearly) top of the line Mac. My other recommendation is the iMac DV because of the firewire connections. The older iMacs have no way of getting data in them at a high speed (even the network port isn't going to handle video).

Hope this helps. ;)

edit: found the upgrade site: iMac upgrade (http://www.technowarehousellc.com/imacupgrades1.html)

[flyfish29]

Many people buy computers over ebay :rolleyes: Where the hell do you think he is going to get it?

No one will be providing technical support on that used emac either...so throw that out in the reasoning...

You can buy used macs from resellers and sometimes they will offer some support for a certain number of days...depends on the shop, but you can buy them used at shops. I have a purple iMac CRT that I would be willing to sell. Have a copy of Jaguar 10.2.8 too you can put on it.

Good luck

Johnny

[michaelrjohnson]

Ahem...

I *still* have an iMac DV (400MHz G3, 10GB HD, 768MB RAM, OS X 10.3.4) that I'm trying to get rid of.

[kylos]

400 MHZ imac with 40 gig drive running Panther? That is a very useable machine. My mom's 350 MHZ imac is running panther and is used heavily. It works great, will take up less space, won't have spyware hassles (it's unbelievable the junk you'll find on a windows pc), will look nice, won't be needing much service, etc, etc, etc. Oh, and its a mac. Piece of advice: make sure the seller is sending the original cds. I would suggest a fresh install of the os just for peace of mind.