After reading several threads where forum members bid on as-is or parts only systems only to find them fully functional I decided to browse through Ebay to see what I could find in a MacBook. While doing so I stumbled across a 12" PowerBook 1.5GHz system being sold as-is, parts only. The seller did not have a power supply and therefore was unable to test it. Nothing unusual about this until I looked at the price...a mere $18.00 and some change **shipped** This wasn't $18.00 and change plus shipping, it was $18.00 and change including shipping. Having had a few beers I decided what they hey, I've wasted more money on more foolish things. So I hit the BIN button and lo and behold it arrived in today's mail.
I grabbed my iBook power supply, plugged it in, and hit the power button. No boot chime but it did start and booted into OS X, or at least partially. Nice, it is a system that powers on and partially works. Grabbed my Leopard DVD, popped it in the drive, and it booted to the installer. Even better, a fully working system. I ran System Profiler and Disk Utility and everything appears to work. Nice find for $18.00 and change.
So I have this system and do not know what to do with it. It's a 1.5GHz system, 1.25GB RAM, 80GB HD, SuperDrive, etc. It appears to be a fully loaded (and purchased that way) PowerBook. Unfortunately it does have a few bruises (as seems typical of these things). Slight bends on the corners of the system and a small dent in the right palm rest. A couple of dead pixels on the display in the very lower right corner of the screen. Haven't had an opportunity to test the battery life, need to install a new OS first. Overall in pretty darn good condition for the price.
For $18.00 and change (I get the feeling I basically got the system for free and just paid for the shipping). I think it's a keeper. I need to exercise the HD to ensure it's not on its way out (anyone have any recommendations for a test program?) Once I've done that a new OS install (suggestions? I have 10.3.x, 10.4.x, and 10.5.x)
I grabbed my iBook power supply, plugged it in, and hit the power button. No boot chime but it did start and booted into OS X, or at least partially. Nice, it is a system that powers on and partially works. Grabbed my Leopard DVD, popped it in the drive, and it booted to the installer. Even better, a fully working system. I ran System Profiler and Disk Utility and everything appears to work. Nice find for $18.00 and change.
So I have this system and do not know what to do with it. It's a 1.5GHz system, 1.25GB RAM, 80GB HD, SuperDrive, etc. It appears to be a fully loaded (and purchased that way) PowerBook. Unfortunately it does have a few bruises (as seems typical of these things). Slight bends on the corners of the system and a small dent in the right palm rest. A couple of dead pixels on the display in the very lower right corner of the screen. Haven't had an opportunity to test the battery life, need to install a new OS first. Overall in pretty darn good condition for the price.
For $18.00 and change (I get the feeling I basically got the system for free and just paid for the shipping). I think it's a keeper. I need to exercise the HD to ensure it's not on its way out (anyone have any recommendations for a test program?) Once I've done that a new OS install (suggestions? I have 10.3.x, 10.4.x, and 10.5.x)