$250 for a iBook g4- Good or Bad deal?

[iPinoy]

I recently bought a used iBook G4 from a friend for 250, but came without a charger and the install discs. This iBook runs perfectly and the only downside is there are a few cosmetic scratches on the outside.

This is the 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB version with the cdrw/dvdrw superdrive. Made in mid to late 2005

After buying this laptop, I immediately bought a charger from a mac dealership for about 120, and ordered the install disc's from mac online for 50. I have used this laptop for about 6 months and the battery has recently died, so I have been thinking about purchasing a new battery from the mac dealership for 130.

What i would like to know is if buying this laptop was actually a good deal considering I have spent a total of 430 on a used laptop and pretty soon it will be 560 when I purchase a new battery?

I would also like some tips in buying new iBook batteries without breaking the bank (well for me at least)

iBook G4 14in 1.42 Ghz

FEATURES:

1.42 Ghz
512MB of Ram
60GB Hard Disk
Super Drive (DVDRW/CDRW/DVD/CD)
Airport Card Installed
Internal Bluetooth

thanks in advance.

 

[bamaworks]

Well, it's not a terrible deal, but I think your first mistake was dealing with a retailer, you should have checked out ebay for the other stuff you needed, could have gotten away SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

 

[iPinoy]

Well, it's not a terrible deal, but I think your first mistake was dealing with a retailer, you should have checked out ebay for the other stuff you needed, could have gotten away SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

yes you are right I could have, but this is my first mac computer and I wanted to be sure I was getting the for sure thing, plus I could not bare to wait 1-1 1/2 weeks.

Do you recommend buying the battery online and avoid mac dealership? will it work perfectly?

 

[cygni]

Como sta ka!
It was a good deal!
I have the same machine, paid for the memory upgrade through apple, extra for the superdrive, and my out of pocket cost was about $1.5k-ish incl tax and expedited shipping. Only if it weren't the bane of my existence...

Ebay is fine, as you'll often find batteries and keyboards from machines sold in parts for very cheap. Buy new only if it has some kind of warranty and there's always macmall. Any of these choices are ususally cheaper than buying from Apple directly. Good luck!

 

[DannySmurf]

I think it probably was a good deal. However, $560 seems a bit much to spend on a three-year-old computer. That said, it is still cheaper than buying a new laptop. If the computer is still doing what you want it to, then go for it and buy a new battery (I'd try getting this particular part from a retailer or from Apple, not from eBay, since getting a used battery is a big risk no matter where you get it from).

 

[Masizzle]

 

[JacobHolmes]

I recently bought a used iBook G4 from a friend for 250, but came without a charger and the install discs. This iBook runs perfectly and the only downside is there are a few cosmetic scratches on the outside.

This is the 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB version with the cdrw/dvdrw superdrive. Made in mid to late 2005

After buying this laptop, I immediately bought a charger from a mac dealership for about 120, and ordered the install disc's from mac online for 50. I have used this laptop for about 6 months and the battery has recently died, so I have been thinking about purchasing a new battery from the mac dealership for 130.

What i would like to know is if buying this laptop was actually a good deal considering I have spent a total of 430 on a used laptop and pretty soon it will be 560 when I purchase a new battery?

I would also like some tips in buying new iBook batteries without breaking the bank (well for me at least)

iBook G4 14in 1.42 Ghz

FEATURES:

1.42 Ghz
512MB of Ram
60GB Hard Disk
Super Drive (DVDRW/CDRW/DVD/CD)
Airport Card Installed
Internal Bluetooth

thanks in advance.

I got an iBook G4 12 inch for $300 Canadian

The specs are:
1.2 GHz PowerPC G4
1.25 GB DDR SDRAM
120 GB Hard Drive
Tiger (10.4.11)
Airport

I love this thing, it runs fast and its small to carry around school

 

[l.a.rossmann]

$120 for an ibook charger is highway robbery.

 

[Surely]

$50 for install discs?

I was on the phone with Apple last week and they told me that you can buy iBook G4 install discs directly from Apple for $16.

I know this because.....
I just bought a MacBook Pro last week. I'm giving my MacBook to my mother, and she's giving me the iBook G4 that I gave to her 2 years ago so that I can sell it. She can't find the install discs, so I have to replace them before I sell them.

BTW, I estimate that I will be able to sell the iBook for around $300.

 

[Surely]

Just a little update.....

I just got off the phone with Apple, and they are sending me OSX 10.5.6 for the iBook G4 for free. For some reason (which I am not questioning) the rep decided to waive the $16 fee.

Apparently, the iBook came with 10.3 (I really thought that it came with 10.4- I don't remember upgrading the OS......), and the rep suggested that the resale value of the machine would be higher with Leopard than with Panther.

Another successful customer service experience. Well done, Apple.

 

[powerbook911]

What you really need to do is add some RAM to your computer, and you'd be even more happy with it.

Everything is in the past now, so you might as well keep the ibook running. I mean, you can of course use it with bad battery with the charger always connected too, ok at a desk.