iBook G3 or iBook G4?

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Hello everybody,

I've got a Mac mini now, but I'm tired of being tethered to my desk so I've decided to buy an iBook. There's just one problem; I'm not sure if I should get a G3 or a G4.

Here's what I'll be doing:

1. Web browsing

2. I've got some music I'd like to put on there, but it isn't necessary

3. Stuff in iWork like spreadsheets, Keynote presentations, and pretty basic word processing

4. Email

5. iChat

It is also worth noting that I'd really like to run Tiger on the thing, so I'd be up to date.

I've also got an app that some of you may remember, HyperCard, that I love and I really want to run on this.

Any suggestions would be great!

 

[txnoob]

Hello everybody,

I've got a Mac mini now, but I'm tired of being tethered to my desk so I've decided to buy an iBook. There's just one problem; I'm not sure if I should get a G3 or a G4.

Here's what I'll be doing:

1. Web browsing

2. I've got some music I'd like to put on there, but it isn't necessary

3. Stuff in iWork like spreadsheets, Keynote presentations, and pretty basic word processing

4. Email

5. iChat

It is also worth noting that I'd really like to run Tiger on the thing, so I'd be up to date.

I've also got an app that some of you may remember, HyperCard, that I love and I really want to run on this.

Any suggestions would be great!

I'm sure the experienced ones will want to know your price point....

 

[SkyBell]

In most cases, I would say go for the iBook G3 since it's powerful enough to do everything you want, and would be cheaper then a G4.

However, the line of white iBook G3's is known for their horrible reliability and graphics problems. Something like 70% of the machines are affected by them/ You could get a 500 MHz iBook G3 which had a much lower rate of these problems, but I'm not sure you'd be happy with the speed. (If you think you would though, then by all means, get one.)

So, I'm going to have to say go with the G4. If you do though, make sure it's at least the 1 GHz model, as the 800 MHz was known to also suffer from the G3's problems.

So to sum it up, either get the 500 MHz iBook G3, or a 1 GHz (or faster) iBook G4.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Forgot that. I'm looking to spend no more that about $250 on this. The only thing it needs to have is AirPort and an OK sized HDD (~40 GB).

 

[zap2]

I'd highly suggest a G4...my G4 iBook holds up quite well with 10.5 on it!

I'm not sure prices for them, but the extra speed with a G4 would be well worth it(if you want to use 10.5)

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Running 10.5 seems like the thing to do. I just looked on ebay, and Tiger is going for ~$100, with ~11 hr left! Just looked a PB G3s; they're not even close to what I need.

What specs should I look for?

 

[mcavjame]

We use G3 ibooks at work for student presentations with Keynote. It is painful with the waiting sometimes.

However, that may be due to the fact that the lab has new(ish) imac 2.66 machines, and I have a Mac Pro at home. By comparison the G3 seems so slooooowwwww.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Waiting how? To switch slides, to launch, what?

 

[zorahk]

Correct answer is neither


PPC SUCKS.

 

[zap2]

If you're going to run 10.5, you really need to have a G4(although G3 can be hacked to work, I believe)


If I were you, I'd put as much cash towards a higher clock speed for the laptop, and worry about RAM(and HDD) later...you can always upgrade those, CPU tends to near impossibe

 

[zap2]

Correct answer is neither


PPC SUCKS.

How is that helpful?

If you'd like to start a thread about PPC vs x86 both in theory of what the architecture can do and in practice with how the companies making them preformed, feel free!

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

PPC SUCKS.

Not only is that untrue, but the way I see Apple's transition to Intel chips is this:

They gave in to the big-guy, like the corner store closing due to Wal-Mart. PPC is what made Apple special. The only thing I know of that runs a PPC chip now is the XBox 360 and the Wii.

On the other hand, It was an OK move because now Apple's got really fast MacBooks and a nearly 3.0 GHz MacPro (why is the operating frequency lower?).

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

If I were you, I'd put as much cash towards a higher clock speed for the laptop, and worry about RAM(and HDD) later...you can always upgrade those, CPU tends to near impossibe

That's a good idea. What type of RAM (I've got 1 GB worth of SO-DIMM RAM left over from a Mac mini upgrade) and what HDD port do they have?

 

[SkyBell]

That's a good idea. What type of RAM (I've got 1 GB worth of SO-DIMM RAM left over from a Mac mini upgrade) and what HDD port do they have?

I'm too lazy to do it for you, but you can find out at apple-history.net

Personally, I'd go for a 1.2 GHz G4. You can probably find one for $300-350.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

~$300 is great. Where would I find one?

 

[SkyBell]

~$300 is great. Where would I find one?

eBay, probably.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I'll check that out.

if anyone else has ideas I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

They look pretty good on ebay.

So... If I were to buy one of these things, obviously I'd run Leopard. So would you recommend just the OS or the Mac OS X Box?

 

[mcavjame]

Waiting how? To switch slides, to launch, what?

Start up is slow, which is compounded by the fact that the school machines are networked, so the authentication process is slow.

Application start up is slow, but once you get running it's not bad. You are limited on certain animations for sure, but it gets the job done.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I see. It looks like I'll be going for a G4 then.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I know that the PPC processors, especially the G5s, get pretty hot. Will heat be an issue i.e. marks on my legs? (I don't really care, but it's nice to know)

 

[SkyBell]

I know that the PPC processors, especially the G5s, get pretty hot. Will heat be an issue i.e. marks on my legs? (I don't really care, but it's nice to know)

My iBook G4 is pretty good as far as heat goes. It can get uncomfortable on the legs when converting video and other processor intensive things, but it's pretty good overall.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

That's great then, I guess.

Are these rugged? Like can they take some bumping on tables and furniture and maybe a fall from the lap?

 

[txnoob]

Correct answer is neither


PPC SUCKS.

My Mac Mini is barely faster (however still noticeably) than my eMac 1.25GHz PPC for Browsing, Word Processing, Email , etc. So iWork would be faster, it would still be quite functional on the eMac. Hence why I've been using it for a year, still use it, and will continue to use it. It runs on par with my single core P4 2.8 windows machine. That PC is only 2.5 years old, the eMac PPC is almost 5 years old with slower ram, slower drive interface, slower bus speed, etc. My son has a G4 Power Mac 1ghz and again, w/ 10.5 it's great for basic tasks too. Find me a 8 year old PC at 1GHz w/ 1GB of Ram running Vista Home Premium as smoothly as th e PowerMac runs Leopard. Not going to happen, cuz I happen to to have a PIII 1ghz machine and tried it for giggles because it was the minimum specs.

But then again, the OP asked for G3 v. G4 comparison.....

So just because it's old, and you think it sucks, doesn't mean it doesn't still serve some people's needs.

 

[chuckcalo]

You might want to get a G4 refurbished from TigerDirect for $419.99. Here's the link:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4505598&CatId=4360

And if you're too lazy to check the specifications, here they are:

Display Type: XGA TFT LCD


Screen Size: 12"


Maximum Resolution: 1024 x 768


Memory Type: DDR


Memory Size: 512MB


Memory Speed: PC133


Memory Slots (Total): 2


Memory Slots (Filled): 1


Memory Slots (Available): 1


Capacity: 40GB


Hard Drives Included: 1x 40GB


Drive Types: Hard Drive


Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM


Lifestyle: Home & Student


Condition: Refurbished


Operating Systems: Mac OS X10


Platform: Notebook PC


Processor Brand: PowerPC


Processor Type: Single-Core


Processor Speed: 1.33GHz


Processor Number: 1.5


GPU/VPU: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9200


Video Memory: 32MB


Optical Drive Type: DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive


Audio Description: Integrated Audio


Audio Channels: 2


Audio Output: 1 - Headphone output port


Integrated Microphone: N/A


USB Ports: 2


FireWire Ports: 1


LAN Ports: 1


Modem Ports: 1


Audio Out Jacks: 1


Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Modem
Integrated Wireless LAN


Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN


Protocols: V.92
802.11b
802.11g


Buttons: 1


Keyboard Type: Standard Size


Battery Type: Lithium-ion


Battery Life: N/A


Specification Notes: [7] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are based upon the manufacturer's exact model specification as published on the manufacturer's website, and a confirmation against product samples.


Color: White