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iMac G4 absurd prices

R

retta283

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Jun 8, 2018
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I've been looking at some PowerPC stuff on eBay, since my area never gets this stuff. Got to iMacs, and the G4 prices are wild. I see 700-800 MHz 15" going for $150-$250 USD. Those machines can't even run Leopard. I could buy a 2011 iMac for that price...

17" and 20" are also wild. There are some that are decently priced, but relative to other Macs from the era they are still too pricey ($100-$170) to be worthwhile. It's too bad because I wanted one of these guys but I am not going to pay this kind of money for one.

I can only assume this is because every "trendy" tech YouTuber or blogger buys one of these things to stick on a shelf and never touch. The only other Mac from this era that sees similar insane pricing is the Clamshell iBooks.
 
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retta283 said:
I can only assume this is because every "trendy" tech YouTuber or blogger buys one of these things to stick on a shelf and never touch. The only other Mac from this era that sees similar insane pricing is the Clamshell iBooks.
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Absolutely...
 
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All PPC macs are some of the best looking computers ever imo, but the iMac G4 is on a level all its own as one of Apple's most iconic designs. It is a shame they're so expensive though, even broken. Only the 15" low end ones are anywhere close to affordable, the prices for 20" models are truly crazy.

Although, people are paying these prices, though I don't know who:
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Have a holiday in the uk, these prices are landfill.

Only drawback is they are collection only.


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AL1630 said:
All PPC macs are some of the best looking computers ever imo, but the iMac G4 is on a level all its own as one of Apple's most iconic designs. It is a shame they're so expensive though, even broken. Only the 15" low end ones are anywhere close to affordable, the prices for 20" models are truly crazy.
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Although I never thought much of the iMac G4’s aesthetics or design, I do completely understand and appreciate why there’s a devoted fan base for them and why surviving examples in excellent shape are coming up for a lot of money. They were definitely their own thing in their moment, and finding one with all parts working — especially all the swivelling arm parts — is probably getting pretty tough these days.
 
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Here's one currently listed in my area. Things have dried up so much I almost never bother checking CL anymore.

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dacasl said:
Here's one currently listed in my area. Things have dried up so much I almost never bother checking CL anymore.
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It's like that in my area too. CL used to be full of PPC stuff, now there's almost none and it's expensive and/or broken if it's even there.
 
Back in 2002-2003, when Apple was selling these brand new, the guy I was working with got one of the iMacs for free. He lived in an apartment complex and was coming down the hallway to his place. The neighbor across the way had thrown out all this stuff from her apartment in the middle of the hallway and there was the iMac sitting out there. He asked if he could have it and she said yes. She even went back in and grabbed a keyboard and mouse for him. All free.

Turns out that the neighbor's boyfriend had cheated on her - so she dumped all his stuff in the hallway, including the iMac.
 
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I've actually been fairly lucky with my G4-era finds over the years. I used to work for a small local computer shop that offered recycling services. People would bring all kinds of things to recycle. From there I've gotten several old Tandy machines that I've restored, as well as a complete G4 Cube setup (Cube, PSU, speakers, ACD), a 15" 800MHz iMac G4, and a 17" 800MHz iMac G4 along with the speakers for each. The two iMacs needed a little bit of cleaning, but they both work perfectly well and look amazing. I use the 17" in my living room as a home stereo, and the 15" is on a shelf in my office as a display piece. The Cube was used for a time as my home server, but now lives on a shelf in my living room as a display piece. I do pull both of the display pieces down every month or so, boot them up, and ensure that everything is still working properly.

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I also got a boxed 14" 1.42GHz iBook G4 from the shop that someone dropped off for recycling.
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Point being, they're still out there at non-stupid prices if one know where to look!
 
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Hughmac said:
Yeah, I tried that a month or so ago, and look what just happened :D
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I saw that, sometimes it can be difficult to resist buying one which is a good deal.

I am not a big PPC collector, I only have (had) four. The three I am giving away were obtained with other purchases, had they not been included in those purchases I would never have acquired them. At one point I thought I would do something with them but, years later, I've come to realize that's not going to happen. I'd rather find them good homes so others can benefit from them.
 
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I've been following systems from this era on eBay for a while, and the prices are all over the place. People seem to just pull numbers out of thin air and hope somebody bites. But when they are actual auctions, they tend not to go all that high. I won a 15" iMac G4 a couple of months ago for $16.50 (plus around $40 shipping) and it works great. I've also managed to get all of the colors of iBook for $50 or less (except for Key Lime). You just have to be patient.
 
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defjam said:
I saw that, sometimes it can be difficult to resist buying one which is a good deal.

I am not a big PPC collector, I only have (had) four. The three I am giving away were obtained with other purchases, had they not been included in those purchases I would never have acquired them. At one point I thought I would do something with them but, years later, I've come to realize that's not going to happen. I'd rather find them good homes so others can benefit from them.
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I like to think of it as like saving a rare species from extinction ;)

Cheers :)

Hugh
 
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Well I’m not sure this is allowed, but I strayed from beige macs tonight,

P.s need a classic (all in one crt) that needs a logic board....

I found this and it is lovely, someone save it!

The best colour , one of steve’s Legacy ☺

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You pay for the collectability. Most people who buy these machines don't even use them, they just want something that looks good on their desk top and can afford it.
 
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