My current laptop is a 867MHz 12" PowerBook G4. It's around 4-5 years old now, but still works (more or less) fine, running Tiger.
It does have a few physical hardware issues. The front of the bottom casing is warped (bent outwards from the frame) on one side from a drop, poor battery life, the battery does not stay in because the small plastic prongs on one side snapped off, the latch doesn't close as securely as it used to, and there are a few dead pixels.
I can get a new case and battery and have the case installed all for around $300, though really I just need a battery that won't fall out when I pick up the laptop.
However, I also have an opportunity to purchase a brand new white MacBook (lowest-end model) for $800, shipped.
I've been eyeing the black MacBooks because the integrated graphics don't impress me and I'd like to have DVD burning capabilities like I do right now... plus there's the black = cool factor.
To be honest, though I've survived just fine these last few years without playing any "serious" games on my laptop (I have a brand new PC tower, a Wii and a DS for all my gaming needs anyway), don't think I'd need to burn a DVD with my laptop (would I?), and I can live with white. I've even done some homework on cases and palmrest guards already to keep it nice and clean and scratch-free.
Here's the catch: I just started a leave of absence from my job to focus on school so that I can graduate with a good GPA this June. From now until then my money is coming 95% from loans.
What would you do in my position? Just fix up the PowerBook for now or jump at the great offer for the MacBook?
It does have a few physical hardware issues. The front of the bottom casing is warped (bent outwards from the frame) on one side from a drop, poor battery life, the battery does not stay in because the small plastic prongs on one side snapped off, the latch doesn't close as securely as it used to, and there are a few dead pixels.
I can get a new case and battery and have the case installed all for around $300, though really I just need a battery that won't fall out when I pick up the laptop.
However, I also have an opportunity to purchase a brand new white MacBook (lowest-end model) for $800, shipped.
I've been eyeing the black MacBooks because the integrated graphics don't impress me and I'd like to have DVD burning capabilities like I do right now... plus there's the black = cool factor.
To be honest, though I've survived just fine these last few years without playing any "serious" games on my laptop (I have a brand new PC tower, a Wii and a DS for all my gaming needs anyway), don't think I'd need to burn a DVD with my laptop (would I?), and I can live with white. I've even done some homework on cases and palmrest guards already to keep it nice and clean and scratch-free.
Here's the catch: I just started a leave of absence from my job to focus on school so that I can graduate with a good GPA this June. From now until then my money is coming 95% from loans.
What would you do in my position? Just fix up the PowerBook for now or jump at the great offer for the MacBook?