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Anyone own a Powerbook G4 that they are looking to sell?

S

snarestud940

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 3, 2012
517
28
My mother just saw my new macbook pro retina 15 inch, and she wants an older computer with just apple capabilities to learn. She is in the $100-$200 price range, and is looking at the 15 inch powerbook G4 to just learn apples software, and have a computer for web browsing and email only.

I saw some on eBay, but not sure if they are real, or in good shape. Does anyone know about them? Does anyone have one that the are looking to sell?
 
The G4 is downright ancient and will struggle in Flash-heavy websites.

Personally I'd look elsewhere.
 
the basic macbook, or air? or a refurbished one on the apple site? or...(don't anyone shoot me), a chromebook? i agree, tho, the G4 will be painful...
 
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I agree with the other posters, $200 will buy an early MacBook Pro, and that's definitely a better choice. While you can browse modern websites on a PowerBook G4, it's very slow, and nearly all newer apps are Intel only.
 
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I'd suggest an early Intel-based white MacBook or MacBook Pro.

Having the "Intel inside" is going to make things easier.
 
If all she needs is to "have a computer for web browsing and email only" then I agree with the recommendation to go with something along the lines of a ChromeBook. An old $100-200 MacBook Pro could prove to be just as sluggish, no?
 
I'd agree with others about getting a MacBook/MacBook Pro/Air or worse a Chromebook, finding usable software, dealing with Coupon sites would be impossible or even a recent printer to work on PowerPC via CUPS printer driver will be very hard(Brother laser printers still support PPC but you need Leopard).

Don't recommend a PowerBook G4, besides Flash/Shockwave being woefully outdated with exploit holes you'll have security holes in Tiger/Leopard & Safari which would be like walking across a minefield. TenFourFox is really choppy at times with HTML5 sites.
 
You could find a 2007 15" MacBook Pro for less than $300 on eBay. it has Intel Core 2 Duo I think it can run Yosemite 10.9 OS. But beware of logic board (motherboard) is not a great one. I bought one for 350 few years ago to replace Powerbook G4.
 
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