The 500MHz iBook G3 is not that slow for what he will be doing. I have one, and it works just as well as my 1.67GHz PowerBook G4. The only thing that it skips on is trying to edit in iMovie and iPhoto. It's a great little computer otherwise. 
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I have $200 to spend
- Thread starter napsterking
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okay what i meant to say is Are these good places to buy a ibook
Btw im going to be 17
i could get a job right now but i cant cause i am at a 2 1/2 month vacation to see my other parents
So you're going to be a senior in high school? (I am!)
Is there any way for your parents to just give you $200 for your birthday? That way, you could save up, and get a new laptop just before going to college...
The local classifeids are always a good place to look, if you absolutely need a laptop NOW. People practicly GIVE stuff away in local ads...
As mentioned before, Ebay is also an option.
Good luck on your search!
Is there any way for your parents to just give you $200 for your birthday? That way, you could save up, and get a new laptop just before going to college...
The local classifeids are always a good place to look, if you absolutely need a laptop NOW. People practicly GIVE stuff away in local ads...
As mentioned before, Ebay is also an option.
Good luck on your search!
Those dont have wifi anyways. The first one can do wifi with a $70 update, making it over $200 and about the same cost as an EEE.
This is clearly not the computer for you.
This is clearly not the computer for you.
I'm going to jump on with the people that say you don't want a used ibook.
If you want a laptop, as a few others have said, check out the asus eee pc. It boots linux (although if you want to, you can put windows on it with some tweaking), its $300 (yes, I KNOW this is $100 more then you are planning on spending. But its brand new.), and its small. Thats an advantage and disadvantage. Its bad, because the screen and keyboard are smaller then 'full size' computers. On the other hand, it is good, because it makes it that much more portable.
It has built in wireless (my dad got the cheapest he could for $300, and did absolutely nothing to it), and it boots up fast. It might be worth checking out to see if you can get a used one in good condition. But they ARE in high demand, so even used might not get you a great discount.
If you want a laptop, as a few others have said, check out the asus eee pc. It boots linux (although if you want to, you can put windows on it with some tweaking), its $300 (yes, I KNOW this is $100 more then you are planning on spending. But its brand new.), and its small. Thats an advantage and disadvantage. Its bad, because the screen and keyboard are smaller then 'full size' computers. On the other hand, it is good, because it makes it that much more portable.
It has built in wireless (my dad got the cheapest he could for $300, and did absolutely nothing to it), and it boots up fast. It might be worth checking out to see if you can get a used one in good condition. But they ARE in high demand, so even used might not get you a great discount.
are you joking?? the macbooks that are availible today are hugely improved over the ibooks of 2000
Totally agree.
But I guess if you really only have two hundred to spend, I would either take what you can get, or ask for cash and do some stuff around the neiborhood to save up a couple hundred more.
im a bit confused here. i always get the impression that many people still use their legacy macs and that they suit their needs. however, when this poster wants to buy one, everyone tries to convince him out of it?
because they usually use them as secondary computers. This will be his primary computer that he does everything on, and sure... its capable... but why wouldnt you save a little bit longer and get something nice. Its not that its a terrible machine, its just not a wise decision...
Usually people that still use their legacy mac falls into one of the following two categories:
1) It is their secondary mac and they already have another more modern mac.
2) They use it to run OS9 and other classic apps and games.
If they fall into #1, speed doesn't really matter. They've probably passed it down to their young kids to play educational games, or use it as a jukebox, kitchen mac etc. If the computer dies, they wouldn't been devastated because the computers would've already proven its worth. However, if the OP's old mac dies, it will be a complete waste of money, and he/she will be out of $200 as well as a computer.
If they fall into #2, again, it's often more of a hobby than actual day to day use. They will use apps/OS that are less demanding than the ones that the OP will be using. Having an old computer as your primary computer and run modern apps on it is not the most pleasant experience.
Lastly, there is a difference between using the old mac that you bought 7-9 years ago, and buying a 7-9 year old mac today. It was a wise decision to buy that mac back then, it is not a good decision to buy it now.
Wait, where did Napsterking (OP) say this was going to be his primary computer?
I was under the impression he wanted a laptop for the sake of having a laptop (and to have portable WiFi access).
I was under the impression he wanted a laptop for the sake of having a laptop (and to have portable WiFi access).
This is kind of my opinion on the matter. The people still using old macs bought them new, and they are just using them until they die. They have basically gotten their moneys worth out of the computer.
The OP on the other hand, is purposefully buying an old computer that he plans to depend on, even if it is just for wifi access.
Said another way, its smart to keep using an old computer you have already paid for. Its not too smart (in my opinion) to buy an old computer that you don't know what its been through, and it could die the day after you get it. That isn't a good use of $200 if it dies the day after you've bought it.
But, I have a feeling the OP will do whatever they want... They asked for our opinions, and we have given them. Sometimes people don't like the advice they are given and they end up doing something anyway. I have certainly done that plenty of times. Sometimes it works out ok, sometimes it doesn't.
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How about this deal?
If you are looking for a reliable cheap laptop, I have a 500MHZ G4 Titanium that I will sell to you. It would be much better than any of those other machines you are looking at! It's rarely been out of my office (I used it in a docking station) so there is not much wear and tear. I only hang on to it in case my main computer (a Mac Pro) breaks down. I used it a couple of months ago to layout a 30 page brochure with CS3 and it worked without any slow down. The only thing it needs is a new battery which you can get pretty cheap. I'm going to be buying a new laptop soon as the next version comes out, so might as well sell this one.
Let me know and I'll send you pictures. I'm sure we can work something out within your price range.
If you are looking for a reliable cheap laptop, I have a 500MHZ G4 Titanium that I will sell to you. It would be much better than any of those other machines you are looking at! It's rarely been out of my office (I used it in a docking station) so there is not much wear and tear. I only hang on to it in case my main computer (a Mac Pro) breaks down. I used it a couple of months ago to layout a 30 page brochure with CS3 and it worked without any slow down. The only thing it needs is a new battery which you can get pretty cheap. I'm going to be buying a new laptop soon as the next version comes out, so might as well sell this one.
Let me know and I'll send you pictures. I'm sure we can work something out within your price range.
I bought a 12" iBook G3 500 10.4.11 10GB HD for $170 on ebay. It runs great, I maxed out the RAM at 640MB (added a 512MB module in addition to the on-board 128MB) and added an Original Airport card. I bought and will be installing an 80GB Seagate HD soon. It's a perfect mobile Wi-Fi browser. Youtube is of course choppy, but it's a great machine to carry around. Remember, if you buy something like this or a G4 iBook and it needs a battery, it will cost $130 new from Apple. If it needs an Airport card it could be $70-100. You need to max out the RAM, $70-100. If it needs a hard drive that could also be $70-100 hoping that you can install it, then you'll need an OS X install disc. A new charger is $79 if the original one fails. For $200 you might get lucky and find a perfect iBook, but be prepared to invest some more after you buy it.
For your budget, get the iBook/500.
It doesn't matter which one, really. Just get the BetaMacs or the Wegener Media one. I got a (W)egener (M)edia iBook but alot of people are saying that WM isn't that great. I would go for the BetaMacs, one and if you could muster up an additional $20 or so, I would get the 256MB memory upgrade. I wish you luck! Ignore what people are saying about slowness. It's just because they've been spoiled with 30000+GHz computers. Here's a list of the Macs that I've had no problems with, web surfing, HTML editing, etc.:
iMac G3 333MHz + Upgrades are 40GB hard drive, 160MB memory, and Panther
iMac G3 600MHz + Upgrades are 256MB memory and Panther.
iBook G3 500MHz + Upgrades are Panther.
eMac G4 700MHz No Upgrades (yet!)
So anyways, let me know what you decided!
It doesn't matter which one, really. Just get the BetaMacs or the Wegener Media one. I got a (W)egener (M)edia iBook but alot of people are saying that WM isn't that great. I would go for the BetaMacs, one and if you could muster up an additional $20 or so, I would get the 256MB memory upgrade. I wish you luck! Ignore what people are saying about slowness. It's just because they've been spoiled with 30000+GHz computers. Here's a list of the Macs that I've had no problems with, web surfing, HTML editing, etc.:
iMac G3 333MHz + Upgrades are 40GB hard drive, 160MB memory, and Panther
iMac G3 600MHz + Upgrades are 256MB memory and Panther.
iBook G3 500MHz + Upgrades are Panther.
eMac G4 700MHz No Upgrades (yet!)
So anyways, let me know what you decided!
I agree for primary use the laptops your looking at will be serverly underpowered. Now with that into conciteration. Sometime before christmas i plan on buying a cheap (read:less than 300 dollar) mac laptop just to screw around with. Leave in another bedroom, take to friends a house, so i dont have to lug my primary laptop (macbook 2.2) everywhere.
mostly for collection purposes i would buy one. For you, Id say do what you want. If your just doing simple tasks it should handle them, but remember the lappy is very old and it could break at any time, hopefully you get lucky. Make sure it has an airport card or wifi would be useless!
mostly for collection purposes i would buy one. For you, Id say do what you want. If your just doing simple tasks it should handle them, but remember the lappy is very old and it could break at any time, hopefully you get lucky. Make sure it has an airport card or wifi would be useless!
OP, I think if you're not completely sold on a laptop...a desktop like an iMac G3 wouldn't be too much different. Don't take this particular link as my recommendation, but just for an example: (http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-iMac-G3-5...yZ111418QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) $40 for a machine about the same as the iBook, except it's a desktop. Anyways, just a consideration.