Just sold my PowerMac Dual Core for $800... was it too cheap?

Hmmm, I don't think so, is that in AUS $ or American? because I just picked up a late 2005 G5 powermac with 4GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro and 500GB hard drive for $900 AUS...So I think you actually got a really good price for it, whether it is in american or australian dollars, well done!

i payed $20 for a G4, 800mhz (about i dont remember). 1 gig of ram. So you did very well.

I think you offered an excellent price to what it was worth.

I recently purchased the June 2004 dual 2.0 with 5GB ram, and the ati XT800 card for $1,000 Canadian on Craig's list and thought at the time that was fair value. I've added more Ram, replaced one of the hard drives - and since it is almost 5 years old, I'm looking to get a spare power supply.

These are extra expenses that any prospective buyer is considering when buying an older machine. This is why I cannot understand some people asking for so much for their G5 - even though I think they're great. They might need a little sprucing up which adds to the overall expense. The software is moving to Intel, and by the time Snow Leopard arrives, it is going to get harder to convince people to buy into the PPC machines - except for the die hard fans who want to continue to use the excellent software that we have.

Don't feel bad. You got a fair price and made someone very happy that will cherish your G5 for many years to come. I know I am grateful for the machine that I have bought from someone. In the end I think he was pleased that he found someone who knew the value of what he was getting and would take pleasure in it's continued usefulness.

Mike

Yes, that was too cheap. A dual core G5 shouldn't sell for under $1000.

Did you sell it on craigslist?

I sold my mint dual 1.8 right before Christmas for $700, it had 9800 OEM 256mb, DVR-108, 2.25gb memory, 80gb hard drive, airport extreme and original box.

I sold my other dual 1.8 with 8 memory slots for $600 and had 1.5gb, 160gb+320gb hdd. 9800 pro 128mb.

I'm pretty close to you so yeah I think you could have gotten a little more. That was a good price though as they do hold their value. But I guess it'll sell for what ever price you want as long as there is a buyer. I sold both of mine within a few days of listing them. Yeah I miss mine too but there will always be more of them .

I think you sold at a fair market price, especially since you didn't lose money in the deal.

Buying a used Mac is a tough decision because they are so expensive new, become obsolete so quickly and yet still cost a lot even when nearly obsolete. Just look how much the later G4 towers still cost.

I bought a Dual 533MHz Digital Audio G4 back in '06 and have since put enough money into it to have bought a new tower - but I spent the money over 4 years. I need to replace it soon but this time around I'm going to bite the bullet and get a new tower.

Lord Blackadder said:

Buying a used Mac is a tough decision because they are so expensive new, become obsolete so quickly and yet still cost a lot even when nearly obsolete. Just look how much the later G4 towers still cost.

I bought a Dual 533MHz Digital Audio G4 back in '06 and have since put enough money into it to have bought a new tower - but I spent the money over 4 years. I need to replace it soon but this time around I'm going to bite the bullet and get a new tower.

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I'm curious - why do the Mac machines hold their value for so long?

By the time you can buy a tower for under $1,000 - the performance with the current software makes you want to think twice and buy new instead, yet the new ones are so dear in price.

I'm almost thinking of an alternative strategy is to buy an upgrade copy of current software, then in four years buy a current machine that will then be used at that time for under a $1,000. The current machine in four years time will work well with the software that your machine was designed for.

Looking to cut corners pricewise with a Mac is not easy.

Mike

Toronto Mike said:

Looking to cut corners pricewise with a Mac is not easy.

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LOL, no...hence hackintosh.

No, Hackintrash.

Genghis Khan said:

LOL, no...hence hackintosh.

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Hackintoshes have limitations that will keep them firmly in the realm of the hobbyist though.

As to the used values, Apple has a strong brand image and a unique OS. So if you want to go Apple, there is no cheap aftermarket PC you can buy. You have to get a Mac. And as long as the price of new Macs remains in the mid-to high end price range, resellers and people on ebay can charge higher prices for used machines and people will pay them.

For example, if Apple released an inexpensive "xMac" minitower that many people have been whining about for years, it would quickly destroy the used market for towers and, to a lesser extent, iMacs. The G4s and G5s would be cheap as dirt since a new computer with an up-to date CPU would be available for the same money.