ibook hinge trauma... ouch

[appaddict]

Hello, My wife has an early Ibook 500 MHZ PowerPC G3 with 640 MB SDRAM. Besides it being slow it is faithful and we have been using it without problem. However, a few days ago the hinge started being difficult to open, and she tried to open it again today and it broke! The plastic at the base of the screen broke. (See attached Photo)

It is still working, she just has trouble opening and closing it, and I am afraid it is on its last legs. Is this worth fixing? How much would something like this cost to be fixed at an Apple Store?

See attached photo!

_ appaddict

 

[Maxiseller]

Even if it only costs you $200 to fix it, It will be (IMHO) too much to spend on a machine that is heavily outdated. Put the money to a new mac - you'll be very happy

 

[CoMpX]

If you can live with it as it is, then just keep using it until it dies. A repair would likely cost more than you can get for it if you tried to sell it. If anything, just buy a new Mac.

 

[neib]

Awww that sucks, I remember my Ibook g3 always had that stiff to open problem too. Maybe you can try some duct tape/zap glue or and rivets to piece it back together. You can get an ibook g3 for 200 dollars on ebay. So if you get it professionally repaired and it's over that, or even near it, I would just either get another ebay'd ibook or an upgraded laptop.
Hardware in general will start to show problems in around 5 years. . . and we are at around year five for those? I would consider upgrading to a macbook for the next 5 years.
Heck, i'd sell you my old one for cheap if someone hadn't stolen it recently -_-. I'm sure you'll find other people would be willing to do the same.

 

[xPismo]

Ouch!

Sorry to hear it. We have a 600/G3 here still being used. Great machine, but like they said above, with a Macbook running at $1000 for a many fold better computing experience... it would be hard to justify the repair cost.

 

[appaddict]

ugh

HI Guys, thanks for all the good feedback. Yup, I thought that was the case. I design websites for a living, and she has started to help me on this, so.... needless to say she needs a new ibook. Dreamweaver is dragging to say the least on her little ibook, now this hinge thing.

So if she has to buy a used ibook, powerbook? For about 500 dollars, what do you suggest? An early G4 powerbook or ibook? Just wondering. I noticed she was not too upset at the notion of having to get a new one, she just read your replies.

Thanks! Appaddict

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

If you're technically minded you could look on eBay for a hinge or a display case and fix it yourself. I did that on this iBook that I'm typing now and it cost be about $20 to fix.
Upgrading to a G4 would be a big plus though imo.