Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is a Powebook G4 12" for $635 worth it?

zer0tails said:
@drummerlondonw3: are you serious? I've heard several people remark that in the past, but never thought to ask. Why did you start using the MBA more often than your MBP? It's not a bad thing, but my Big Mac might get jealous of the new kid on the block :p
Click to expand...

Yeah that wasn't even meant to sound like a joke although I could understand that you might think its one ..... now! The thing about it is you start to use it all the time and without even considering should you use it, if that makes sense?

The weight is so minimal that there is no situation where you can't use it. The couch, bed, coffee shop etc and the screen is so good, on par with the MBP (think of it as a 13" pro screen) that you end up using it everywhere. Also I don't know how you use your computer, but for me having the SSD version (which I know you are not getting) meant that surfing the net and word processing were faster and more comfortable on the MBA. Its a companion machine I think, and the thing I found is it fits into ALL the gaps that you might have especially having a "Big Mac" like that!

I suppose to sum up my ownership ( and you know that I have had my problems) but I am now probably going to sell my MBP and get a Big Mac :D because the MBA fits all the notebook needs

I'm not sure if that all makes sense but I think :rolleyes: that is how :apple: intended it and if it is the case then its succeeded and if its not well if fits in VERY well in my life :D:D;)

D:apple:
 
Ahhh, the 12" PowerBook, arguably the finest portable Apple ever made.
Just imagine what it could be with today's technology....
 
it seems like that's what they're going for nowadays, huh?

I thought about putting mine on ebay before i just gave it to my fiance and that was basically the range (was going to put a reserve out there of $500 and see what happened.

Anyhow, mine (though TODAY it had a recent minor glitch... grr!) is still lightning fast. It just did something weird today where it reset all of the settings to factory.

That aside, my specs are/were:
1.5GHz powerPC G4 w/ 512MB/80GB
 
Horst said:
Ahhh, the 12" PowerBook, arguably the finest portable Apple ever made.
Just imagine what it could be with today's technology....
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the helpful thread and forum, everyone - I've been actually quite reluctant to move on from my 12" powerbook g4 (mine is even older than the OP's potential buy: 1GHz, 60GB 4200-rpm ATA, 1.25GB memory) because of its ideal (to me anyways) size and design. As slow as it is compared to everything out now and despite the fact that it cannot be upgraded to snow leopard, it is a fairly durable little piece of equipment considering my clumsiness and my dragging it around the world with me. I have waited 5 years to upgrade it because nothing in the current mac laptop line has caught my eye. Unfortunately, my powerbook's DC-in board has finally died on me last Monday. Although I too just purchased the $999 refurbished 1.6ghz macbook air--though I bought it before I read these forums--for travel reasons, I also bought a replacement for the dc-in board because I really love this powerbook and want to keep it going for a bit longer.
 
I have a very similar question.

My wife needs a laptop and was offered the same for around $275. We can't afford a new mac right now, but I'm worried about having to pay for a new logic board ($220 on ebay) if it breaks. (My macbook pro has had a lot of problems that have thankfully been covered under applecare, but I'm worried about repair costs stacking up) So it's either buy this one now, or wait a while 'til we can afford the more expensive refurbished macbook. Any advice?
 
I say go for it. I wouldn't be too concerned about the logic board. Just bear in mind that you'll probably have to shell out ~$130 for a new battery pretty quickly.
 
I second (or more like... 10th) most of the responses here.
If you're looking for a main computer to use a while, put the money towards a macbook or MBA.
If you're looking for a toy/collectors item, then grab it.
 
That's pretty damn expensive for a PB 12"...

I just simply consider PPC almost a dead technology in terms of macs :)
My Mac Mini G4 served me greatly and it was a fine machine, but I would never go back to that now...
 
I loved my 12" PB. It was only 1.0 GHz, though, and after five years of daily use the battery would only hold a charge for half an hour. Instead of spending $150 for a new battery, plus new ram, hard drive, new OS update, new iLife, etc., I put all that money together and bought a refurb MBP, and sold the 12" to a friend of mine. He loved it, too, and ultimately gave it to his girlfriend, and SHE loves it, and HER mom was so impressed that she went out and bought a MacBook for herself.

I like my MBP well and fine, but I kinda wish I had a 12" again. If they made a 12" laptop in that form factor, with the guts of a current Intel MacBook or MacBook Pro, I would be the first in line to order one!

Perhaps one day when they are dirt cheap I will buy a 12" PB again. If it has a decent battery, it might serve me well as a netbook.
 
I bought it, for $275. Came with a case and adapters, and the battery still lasts 3 hours. Not bad at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back