Would you pay $450 for a retrofitted iBook G3?

[kylera]

Some dude is selling a retrofitted iBook for $450. Here are the specs:

1024x768 display
G3 466MHz
576MB RAM
64GB SSD
DVD-RW
Internal AirPort
New battery

Also, the overall machine is in excellent cosmetic condition - practically as if it was just taken out of the box.

Would this be a decent buy in any shape or form? I obviously have no illusions of doing anything fancy, but this would be a nice addition to a collection and maybe I'd drag it out every now and then for doing some word processing.

[tom vilsack]

I would never pay that much for a clamshell,even with the wild upgrades...but if it's something you really want,and you have the extra $$$...why not.

[G-Mo]

I'm not nostalgic, I don't collect... I wouldn't pay money for a non-Intel Mac, not even sure you could pay me to take one.

[lucasfer899]

nah, could get a decent PMG5, intel mac mini, or gen1 macbook air for that kind of money, so no.

[666sheep]

If you're a hardcore collector and you don't mind to spend such money – why not. If it's really in "just out of a box" shape OFC. Original box and accessories would be nice too.
Personally I'd find more fun in modifying it myself (and I'd love to do that with my 466, but so far I can't get needed LG LCD cable).

[SkyBell]

Doesn't sound like he actually did a whole lot of "retrofitting" to it. If it were an Intel system in a clamshell case, then it would most likely be worth that and possibly much more. But an "upgraded" G3? Probably not.

[jessica.]

Never. This is a bad buy.

[Jethryn Freyman]

Hell no. My 4,1 Macbook, 2.1GHz, cost $399. I stick in a $120 128GB SSD, 6GB memory, even without those upgrades, it's cheaper, and will obliterate the G3 in performance in every single way you can think up.

[MultiFinder17]

Nope - the only things that I see there that would really bump it up in price from a standard clamshell are the new, higher-res display and the SSD. However, whereas these would make it more pleasant to use, it would still be a fairly miserable experience for daily usage. Plus, if you're looking for a collector's machine, realize that this machine is nowhere near original any longer.

[cocacolakid]

From a collector's point of view, it's worthless. Collectors want mint, stock items.

You would put an SSD in it to make it faster, not more valuable. And the upgraded screen is nice, but again, it's still a G3, which means it can't stream any video and it's going to be slow even with the SSD. It's not practical for any use other than turning it on to show friends.

[Jessica Lares]

$450 isn't even worth it for you to use it every now and then. What are you thinking?! Go get an iPad instead.

[ybz90]

I wouldn't pay $450 for ANY PowerPC Mac. For this, not more than $50 myself, $100 max for anyone else and that wouldn't be a great deal.

[rjcalifornia]

Originally Posted by kylera

Some dude is selling a retrofitted iBook for $450. Here are the specs:

1024x768 display
G3 466MHz
576MB RAM
64GB SSD
DVD-RW
Internal AirPort
New battery

Also, the overall machine is in excellent cosmetic condition - practically as if it was just taken out of the box.

Would this be a decent buy in any shape or form? I obviously have no illusions of doing anything fancy, but this would be a nice addition to a collection and maybe I'd drag it out every now and then for doing some word processing.

It depends, does it run Crysis? :P

No, seriously, no. He's trying to rip you off. Get instead a White Macbook 13.3"

[blesscheese]

The specs indicate it is a clamshell iBook with Firewire, but those only have an 800x600 display. I am always leery of people selling stuff and they don't know the specs.

As a piece of hardware, it would be worth the cost of shipping to some people. As a collector's item, well, as pointed out, people want it in pristine condition with all the original stuff.

It is basically worth whatever you would want to pay for it. Given it has a new battery (worth $50???) and a 64GB SSD (worth $80??) full 512 MB RAM module (worth $30???)...it isn't worth much more than the amount one could salvage from it.

FYI, some color iBooks were less common than others, so a Lime green one may be worth $50 to somebody.

[Jessica Lares]

Originally Posted by blesscheese

The specs indicate it is a clamshell iBook with Firewire, but those only have an 800x600 display. I am always leery of people selling stuff and they don't know the specs.

They upgraded the screen. If you have the right parts you could do it. Still, pretty cheap.

[skateny]

I'll sell you an iBook with a 1.33 GHz G4 processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 1024 x 768 display for $750.

But no, I wouldn't take the clam shell for half the price. I'd have no use for it, and I'm not sure it would be worth what you'd pay for it ten years down the line.

[cocacolakid]

Originally Posted by skateny

But no, I wouldn't take the clam shell for half the price. I'd have no use for it, and I'm not sure it would be worth what you'd pay for it ten years down the line.

And that's the real problem. It doesn't have a value to collectors today, so most certainly no collectible value in 5-10 years. Which would be fine if it were at least usable today, but it's really not. It's not like taking a G4 iBook or PowerBook and doing similar upgrades. Those machines can still get quite a bit of use out of, but G3's are long past their expiration dates unless all you do is check email and do word processing. Browsing isn't going to be that great and anything with Flash/Java/ or streaming video is not going to work well if at all.

I had a G3 Pismo, great machine in it's time, but that became so outdated it really couldn't be used for any current things even a few years ago, and it was more powerful than the clamshell.

[666sheep]

Originally Posted by cocacolakid

And that's the real problem. It doesn't have a value to collectors today, so most certainly no collectible value in 5-10 years. Which would be fine if it were at least usable today, but it's really not. It's not like taking a G4 iBook or PowerBook and doing similar upgrades. Those machines can still get quite a bit of use out of, but G3's are long past their expiration dates unless all you do is check email and do word processing. Browsing isn't going to be that great and anything with Flash/Java/ or streaming video is not going to work well if at all.

I had a G3 Pismo, great machine in it's time, but that became so outdated it really couldn't be used for any current things even a few years ago, and it was more powerful than the clamshell.

I think it depends... Item is worth as much as one wants to pay for it. Collectible? It depends on what do you collecting for. My collection is not for future resale, so I don't really care how much it will be worth in 5 or more years. If one wants insanely upgraded Clamshell and has some $ to throw out - why not?

$450 is overkill, I agree. I'd prefer to mod it myself instead of buying modded one. It would cost a lot less and would give me a lot more fun.
But It's me, someone else could have different priorities.

Useability? My Clamshell serves as jukebox and light web browsing machine - yes, it's still possible with G3 optimized Camino, even in 800x600. Running 10.4.11 and OS 9. Still great machine for some OS 9 games. All depends on needs.

[RedCroissant]

Originally Posted by kylera

Some dude is selling a retrofitted iBook for $450. Here are the specs:

1024x768 display
G3 466MHz
576MB RAM
64GB SSD
DVD-RW
Internal AirPort
New battery

Also, the overall machine is in excellent cosmetic condition - practically as if it was just taken out of the box.

Would this be a decent buy in any shape or form? I obviously have no illusions of doing anything fancy, but this would be a nice addition to a collection and maybe I'd drag it out every now and then for doing some word processing.

I would advise against it. I purchased my iBook G4 for $149 less than 4 months ago.

[MisterKeeks]

Never. That's $1/MHz.

[Brian Y]

Originally Posted by MisterKeeks

Never. That's $1/MHz.

Same as a 15" retina :P.

[MisterKeeks]

Originally Posted by Brian Y

Same as a 15" retina :P.

But that has 4 cores, so I would say it is .25. It also has a bit higher resolution, though this display has been upgraded.

[ickystay]

I agree that it's too expensive.

On the other hand, a fresh lime green iBook with a watch-able screen would be the baddest notebook at your local Starbucks.

[ybz90]

I know it has its appeal, but count me among those who did not like that iBook at all. I don't know what it is about it, I like the G3 iMacs just fine, but those iBooks are not my favorites. I'd much rather rock a Pismo.

[g4manimac]

Yeah its too high,but if you really really want it and trust me ive been there you could talk him WAY WAY down or ebay has them for $100-150 and you could mod it exactly the way you want it and that is a good feeling ,for that price maybe some gold plating? platinum charger tip? diamond keys j/k