Bought an iBook for $7. Now what?

[Adamscomputerrepair]

I was at a yard sale this morning. Much to my surprise, a teenage girl was selling a 2005, 12 inch iBook G4 1.33. She assured me that though she didn’t have the charger, it worked. Skeptical, I asked how much? $7.

No freaking way.

$7, working or not, is an unbelievable deal on an iBook G4. Mainly because they’re collectors items now. So, I bought it figuring I had been lied to but hey, iBook man.

So anyway, I returned home, installed 1 gig of RAM in it, plugged it in, and much to my surprise IT WORKS. Like literally everything (including the battery) works. The CMOS battery might be dead but I can fix that.

Anyway, other than doing a clean install of Leopard followed by Rebirth, what should I do with it? Any suggestions?

 

[AmazingHenry]

Maybe it could be your Tiger machine? I find it good to have a computer with Tiger on it in case I need it for one of my crazy reasons.

Nice to see you posting here again by the way! I've been watching your channel and it's great that you're uploading content there again also.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Maybe it could be your Tiger machine? I find it good to have a computer with Tiger on it in case I need it for one of my crazy reasons.

Nice to see you posting here again by the way! I've been watching your channel and it's great that you're uploading content there again also.

I would, but I honestly have no use for tiger. I may make this my iTunes to ipod classic machine. Or because I use my PowerBook like a desktop, this may become my portable. And yeah I’m glad to be back. School took a lot out of me.

 

[AmazingHenry]

I would, but I honestly have no use for tiger. I may make this my iTunes to ipod classic machine. Or because I use my PowerBook like a desktop, this may become my portable. And yeah I’m glad to be back. School took a lot out of me.

Oh yeah, I forgot you were using the PB as a desktop! This would be a great portable. You could use it for typing things on the go as it has a real keyboard, unlike your iPad.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Oh yeah, I forgot you were using the PB as a desktop! This would be a great portable. You could use it for typing things on the go as it has a real keyboard, unlike your iPad.

Very true. Plus I tested my school website on the PBG4. Not only was I able to type a research essay on it, I was also able to upload no problem. These are still very capable machines. I still can’t believe I got one for $7.

 

[AmazingHenry]

Very true. Plus I tested my school website on the PBG4. Not only was I able to type a research essay on it, I was also able to upload no problem. These are still very capable machines. I still can’t believe I got one for $7.

I still can't believe that deal! Out of curiosity, what condition is it in? Good? Beat up?

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

I still can't believe that deal! Out of curiosity, what condition is it in? Good? Beat up?

Almost perfect condition. The plastic is scratched (obviously) and the bottom feet are missing. But according to the girl, her sister bought it for college in 2007 and it sat in storage since because her parents bought her an 08 MacBook for Christmas.

 

[AmazingHenry]

Almost perfect condition. The plastic is scratched (obviously) and the bottom feet are missing. But according to the girl, her sister bought it for college in 2007 and it sat in storage since because her parents bought her an 08 MacBook for Christmas.

I take it the battery doesn't work then. Well, the money you saved on that amazing price should cover a new battery, right?

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

I take it the battery doesn't work then. Well, the money you saved on that amazing price should cover a new battery, right?

So far, the battery is actually holding a charge. It’s the CMOS battery I’m worried about. First thing that happened during boot up: “your time and date are set to a time before 2001”

 

[AmazingHenry]

So far, the battery is actually holding a charge. It’s the CMOS battery I’m worried about. First thing that happened during boot up: “your time and date are set to a time before 2001”

Well, that's not a problem. Just set the clock by internet in Sys. Prefs. Then it will synchronize with the Internet on every boot up.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Well, that's not a problem. Just set the clock by internet in Sys. Prefs. Then it will synchronize with the Internet on every boot up.

Yeah I did that. Still, in a couple of days I’m going to take it apart, replace the hard drive with something bigger than 40 Gigs, and then check for corrosion in case the CMOS leaked in storage.

 

[eyoungren]

@Adamscomputerrepair

I'm glad you're happy with the iBook you just got and it's very cool that it only cost you $7.

But a couple misconceptions you have.

*Collectors item.

No.

A TAM (Twentieth Anniversary Mac) is a collector's item. Not an iBook that Apple made a bazillion of and that are still available worldwide on eBay and craigslist. I paid $10 for one once and that included free shipping.

*CMOS battery.

iBooks, and any PowerPC Mac, really, do not have BIOS. Therefore, it cannot have a CMOS battery. There are PRAM batterys, but they apply to PowerBooks/PowerMacs/iMacs/eMacs as iBooks do not have PRAM batteries (thank you @Intell).

Not meaning to sound harsh. Enjoy your iBook.

 

[benbranca]

I was at a yard sale this morning. Much to my surprise, a teenage girl was selling a 2005, 12 inch iBook G4 1.33. She assured me that though she didn’t have the charger, it worked. Skeptical, I asked how much? $7.

No freaking way.

$7, working or not, is an unbelievable deal on an iBook G4. Mainly because they’re collectors items now. So, I bought it figuring I had been lied to but hey, iBook man.

So anyway, I returned home, installed 1 gig of RAM in it, plugged it in, and much to my surprise IT WORKS. Like literally everything (including the battery) works. The CMOS battery might be dead but I can fix that.

Anyway, other than doing a clean install of Leopard followed by Rebirth, what should I do with it? Any suggestions?

Sweet deal there! I'd keep it and try to make it clean and clean up the OS (like you said, a reinstall). Keep it around until they get expensive and sell it, or use it as an email or web browsing laptop!

Nice deal!

 

[Dronecatcher]

What a great deal! I too have a 12" 1.33 model (as seen here):

In terms of capability, it's not that far behind the top end 1.67 Powerbooks - whatever your Powerbook can do, it will too. Plus, I think the iBook is more robust than the Powerbook - which is scratched and dented easily.

 

[redheeler]

@eyoungren is right, they're not really collector's items (the original G3 iBooks are different due to the unique design and colors). That being said, $7 is a good deal nonetheless, especially for an Early '05. The actual worth of it is closer to $30, depending on the condition.

Yeah I did that. Still, in a couple of days I’m going to take it apart, replace the hard drive with something bigger than 40 Gigs, and then check for corrosion in case the CMOS leaked in storage.

Replacing the hard drive in an iBook? You're in for quite a project there due to how Apple designed them. I can only wish you luck.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iBook+G4+12-Inch+1.33+GHz+Hard+Drive+Replacement/703

 

[eyoungren]

Replacing the hard drive in an iBook? You're in for quite a project there due to how Apple designed them. I can only wish you luck.

One of the reasons I have only briefly used iBooks and never as my own personal Mac.

 

[dogslobber]

I was at a yard sale this morning. Much to my surprise, a teenage girl was selling a 2005, 12 inch iBook G4 1.33. She assured me that though she didn’t have the charger, it worked. Skeptical, I asked how much? $7.

No freaking way.

$7, working or not, is an unbelievable deal on an iBook G4. Mainly because they’re collectors items now. So, I bought it figuring I had been lied to but hey, iBook man.

So anyway, I returned home, installed 1 gig of RAM in it, plugged it in, and much to my surprise IT WORKS. Like literally everything (including the battery) works. The CMOS battery might be dead but I can fix that.

Anyway, other than doing a clean install of Leopard followed by Rebirth, what should I do with it? Any suggestions?

What an awesome find! I salute your ingenuity to stop at that yard sale. The iBook for 2005 is such a wonderful machine for its day and had an awesome keyboard. I really did love my first Mac which was a 2004 iBook as it was just amazing to use. Leopard gave it an extra zest for life before I sold it to get a MacBook. This was back in the days when we lived for Mac updates as we knew they'd be awesome. Now, not so much.

So install Leopard and install TenFourFox and live life!

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Think I need to clairify a few things....
1: I collect apple anything. So to me, this is a collectors item. I’ve even bid (and won) boxes for used items before.

2: I see y’all were right about the price. I do apologize for that.

3: CMOS, PRAM. Tomato, Tomahto as far as I care.

4: I prefer Roccat web browser 1,000,000 times over Tenfourfox

 

[eyoungren]

4: I prefer Roccat web browser 1,000,000 times over Tenfourfox

Roccat is a good browser. I use it from time to time. I much prefer Demeter when I'm simply looking for speed, but Roccat is more up to date.

As far as not caring about the terminology regarding CMOS…well then, I will put it this way. Your iBook does not have a CMOS battery.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Roccat is a good browser. I use it from time to time. I much prefer Demeter when I'm simply looking for speed, but Roccat is more up to date.

As far as not caring about the terminology regarding CMOS…well then, I will put it this way. Your iBook does not have a CMOS battery.

I’m sorry for the incorrect terminology. I discovered later after taking it apart that it doesn’t have one.

 

[eyoungren]

I’m sorry for the incorrect terminology. I discovered later after taking it apart that it doesn’t have one.

No worries man.

Terminology is less important than the topic. Just wanted to point it out so we're all on the same page. That makes talking shop easier.

You won't believe how many times I got pummeled for saying OS X was based off of Linux (I know it's Unix, don't flame me again guys!!!).

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

No worries man.

Terminology is less important than the topic. Just wanted to point it out so we're all on the same page. That makes talking shop easier.

You won't believe how many times I got pummeled for saying OS X was based off of Linux (I know it's Unix, don't flame me again guys!!!).

Lol “Linus does not approve”

 

[bobesch]

Congrats - great deal. As Henry said, I'd got for a new battery, set time/date to synchronize and swap the drive with an mSATA+converter. As soon as you've replaced the main-battery time/date will become a rare problem only if the battery has become completely drained...
As Dronecatcher said, it's sturdy notebook - especially when equipped with an mSATA.
Swapping the drive is a bit time consuming and needs to remove a lot of screws. I use our desert bowls to hold the screws and parts of every step and they make the biggest pile ever compared to the other books
I have an exact copy of my PowerBook's Software on the iBook - simply cloned with SuperDuper via FireWire!
Tiger is great for Classic and old stuff from MacintoshGarden - so I'd leave a tiny partition for Tiger - you may install/run os9 onto/from the Leopard-partition and may even start compatible OSX-applications from Leopards program-folder.
The iBook will be great on the go - with iPhone and iFiles-App it can be connected with nearly all cloud-stuff and even it might sound bit awkward: if the AFP-settings are made/stored within iFiles, connection is established fast with a few clicks and files can be exchanged with the cloud, the phones camera-roll etc. You can even use the iPhone to take pictures and store them directly on the iBook. Great when writing notes and add those pictures during lectures simply by taking the picture and drag it from the desktop into e.g. a Word-document - a two-step procedure.
Typing is also great. Office '04/'08 runs smooth.
It's a perfect beamer-companion:beamer connected to the iBook which servers as a hotspot an can be steered by anther mac via screen-sharing from the distance.
You may connect speakers to the book and use Airfoil or AirTunes to spread music over your place via WiFi like with Sonos.
You can make it a file-server or fax-server - display can be dimmed to be completely dark.
TFF-Box offers functioning latest Google-Maps and WhatsApp without starting heavy TFF.
WebKit/ClickToPlugIn/Coreplayer are good for downloading/viewing 360p video. The DVD-drive makes it a mobile DVD-Player.
And it's heavy and old. Certainly no burglar will go for it!
I've got transparent self-adhesive feet at our hardware store as a replacement for missing bottom-feet. They are such a good anti-slippery enhancement that I've attached them to every of my Books even if the original bottom-feet are still in place...
Have much fun with the Book!

 

[MagicBoy]

Congrats - great deal. As Henry said, I'd got for a new battery, set time/date to synchronize and swap the drive with an mSATA+converter. As soon as you've replaced the battery time/date will become a rare problem only if the main battery has become completely drained...

A eyoungren already stated the iBook doesn't have a PRAM battery. It'll lose system settings with a faulty or discharged main battery.

Read the thread.

 

[pochopsp]

I'd use it as my main laptop with a fabulous Leopard + Debian(or the best working Linux distro for it) installation.

If you use it only sometimes you could always get a USB/Bluetooth controller and make it your retrogaming machine!

As regards the price.... Well, it's such a great deal, even if you are in the US! Here in Italy I would have to pay at least 60€ (about 67$) to get a working one.