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mauly

macrumors 6502
Original poster
What would be a good price to pay for:

This is a Brand New iBook and has a 3 year manufacturuers warranty.

1.42 Ghz Power PC G4 processor.
512 Mb DDR266 SDRAM.
60GB Hard Drive.
14.1" TFT screen.
Slot loading Super drive. DVD +/-RW / CDRW
ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 with 32mb of video memory.
10/100Base-T Ethernet and 56K Modem
Airport Extreme networking and Bluetooth 2.0
VGA video output, S-video and composite output.
 
The iBooks were great machines. They didn't suddenly become crap when the MacBooks came out six months ago.
 
Apple sells that very machine for $999, refurbished. Why anyone would pay that much when you can get a Macbook on the same site for 950 is beyond me.
 
Apple sells that very machine for $999, refurbished. Why anyone would pay that much when you can get a Macbook on the same site for 950 is beyond me.

It's a matter of priorities. The iBook has a SuperDrive. You have to pay more to get a MacBook with that. The iBook doesn't have integrated graphics. It's not trying to run PPC software through Rosetta. Sure, it doesn't have a built-in iSight and it has a lower-resolution screen, but it's got some things the entry-level MacBook doesn't have.
 
I would personally only bite if its £200-£250, only looking for something which I could take with me anywhere without worrying about it every minute.... I'm amazed at some of the prices some of you have quoted!! 😱

Also, If it comes with a 3 year warranty! (i assume its an apple warranty) and it turns out to be a turkey! do apple have the right not to repair/replace!? 😕
 
local microcenter is selling it for $608, coz warranty is running out (6 months left), so you will have to buy an applecare together with it, still, around $800 in total.
 
It's a matter of priorities. The iBook has a SuperDrive. You have to pay more to get a MacBook with that. The iBook doesn't have integrated graphics. It's not trying to run PPC software through Rosetta. Sure, it doesn't have a built-in iSight and it has a lower-resolution screen, but it's got some things the entry-level MacBook doesn't have.

I personally don't have a problem with the iBook. Prior to owning my Macbook, I had a 12" G3, myself, and thought it was a great machine. But, at this point, it doesn't make much sense to purchase one, unless you're getting one for a heck of a price. No, way I'd pay 800 to 1000 bucks for one.

The hardware itself is good, but anyone who thinks support for the PPC will continue is kidding himself. If you're going to spend that kind of money, spending it on a dead end doesn't make much sense.
 
I sold my iBook with similar specs except 1GB RAM and no SuperDrive just Combo this past summer for $750 on Ebay.
 
i just sold an ibook last week.


it sold for £475 ,it was a 12" 1.2G4, 768mb, 30GB, and 2 years old.

it is going to be replaced with the overdue C2D macbook for my wife.

the funny thing is it only cost £520 new from the soho store in NYC. 😀
 
I JUST bought the iBook in my sig for 550 shipped. tho there isn't a warranty. i love it to death tho. amazing computer. [it's really just around to hold me over until the c2d macbooks come out tho.]
 
I JUST bought the iBook in my sig for 550 shipped. tho there isn't a warranty. i love it to death tho. amazing computer. [it's really just around to hold me over until the c2d macbooks come out tho.]

Did you pay $550 for that computer *with* the 160GB Seagate Momentus in it? If so, that's an amazing deal, as that drive costs ... $350 by itself, if I'm not mistaken. BTW, how do you like that drive?
 
Did you pay $550 for that computer *with* the 160GB Seagate Momentus in it? If so, that's an amazing deal, as that drive costs ... $350 by itself, if I'm not mistaken. BTW, how do you like that drive?

The 160 GB drives (Hitachi and Seagate) run about $200. Still a good deal though.
 
What would be a good price to pay for:

Well, you can get the equivalent MB with SuperDrive refurb for $1099. I guess the question is how long you can live with a G4? If you can get this for $750-800 or less, I'd consider it. Much more than that and I'd have to think long and hard about it.

Do you want/need a superdrive? Otherwise a base model MB might do you well.

Oh, one other point, I believe the drives in the iBooks are 4200 rpm VS 5400 in the MB's. That will make a significant performance difference right there.

Either way, you are buying a Mac which is a great thing!! 😀
 
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