I need some advice on hard drive upgrades for an iBook G4

[Spanky Deluxe]

Ok, I should hopefully be getting another 'book tomorrow for the girlfriend, a G4 1.2 from which the seller's removed the hard drive. Now I'm trying to keep costs down as she can't afford much. This will become her only computer, going from a Dell desktop with I think an 80GB HD. The G4 will be 1.2Ghz w/ 768MB RAM and a Combo drive.

The choices are:

60GB 4200rpm drive for £42 (£0.70 per gb)
60GB 5400rpm drive for £46 (£0.77 per gb)
80GB 4200rpm drive for £45 (£0.56 per gb) (Refurb)
80GB 5400rpm drive for £54 (£0.68 per gb)
100GB 4200rpm drive for £65 (£0.65 per gb)
100GB 5400rpm drive for £68 (£0.68 per gb)


Now I would want this puppy to last a good while for her. She has lots of space left on her Dell (well she says so at least) and I can imagine most of her stuff is music (hours of wmas I'm going to have to convert).
To be honest, I'm leaning towards the 5400rpm drives because 4200rpm is *sooo* yesterday although that 80gb 4200 drive is sure good bang for buck and like I said, we're trying to keep the costs down.

What do you guys think?

 

[xfiftyfour]

i'd definitely steer clear of the 4200 drives.

and when you say "lots of space" left on the 80gig desktop, how much? i mean, if she's used way less than 60 gigs, get her a 60 gig drive. otherwise, i'd keep with an 80 and if she ever needs more space, she can get an external.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

An external hard drive would start getting way too complicated right now, bless her.

Hard drives are so irritatingly priced sometimes, especially these, you think "ahh yes this will do", looking at a 60gb one, then an 80gb is only a bit more so you think "ahh I'll get that instead, its only a little bit more" and then there's a 100gb one for only a bit more than the 80gb one. Grrr...


PS Could a mod maybe move this to the buying advice thread, I didn't think when posting.

 

[xfiftyfour]

An external hard drive would start getting way too complicated right now, bless her.

that made me laugh out loud literally - just shared it with my fiance.. he doesn't have that problem

Hard drives are so irritatingly priced sometimes, especially these, you think "ahh yes this will do", looking at a 60gb one, then an 80gb is only a bit more so you think "ahh I'll get that instead, its only a little bit more" and then there's a 100gb one for only a bit more than the 80gb one. Grrr...

yeah, i'm having this same problem looking at what drive to upgrade my MB to. "okay, 100 should be great.. or wait..this 120 is only 20 more.. or wait.. 160 would be amazing.." haha

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

that made me laugh out loud literally - just shared it with my fiance.. he doesn't have that problem


yeah, i'm having this same problem looking at what drive to upgrade my MB to. "okay, 100 should be great.. or wait..this 120 is only 20 more.. or wait.. 160 would be amazing.." haha

LOL! Yeah well the simpler things are computer-wise for her the less computer support I have to do and after spending a while working in tech support a few years ago I *hate* that kind of stuff. Multiple locations to store things will just lead to headaches for me, trust me!!

If I were getting a MB now it'd be a 100GB 7200rpm drive without a doubt, I'd rather have that than a slower 120GB drive but then that's me and I'd be anal enough to notice the speed difference. Plus external hard drives don't stress me out if I'm the one dealing with them.

I think I've narrowed my choices down to either the 80gb 5400 or the 100gb 5400.

 

[gman71882]

remember actual space on an 80 Gig is only around 74.4 GB's
80 GB 5400 drive is the best median product.

 

[California]

Get the 100gb 5400. At 100gbs, it will actually run faster than the 80gb at the same listed rpm. Also, you won't feel like a dope for not upgrading the most you can after the iBook is put back together. While you are at it, drop a dvd burning superdrive in it. I'm doing this EXACT same thing to a last rev iBook in upcoming weeks. Also shop around for the absolute best price.