Old iBook or PC?

[macbookairman]

Hey everyone,

So awhile ago I jumped into the world of macs with a new macbook. I love it. Now, the time has come where my mom needs a new laptop. The problem is, she only wants to put $400 or so into it. I've been trying to help her find a good laptop, but I have some questions.

So far what I have found (that I like) is this. Can somebody tell me if PowerMax is a good site to buy used macs from? The mac i'm looking at (as linked to) is a used iBook G4

128 MB of RAM, 40 GB internal drive, internal Combo Drive, internal 56k modem, 14" display, Used Mac with 90 day warranty, OS CD is not included, OS 10.4.11 installed, Classic Installed, Airport Extreme and Bluetooth slots.

All my mom would use the iBook (or any laptop) for is email, web browsing, general word processing, and watching some youtube videos.

Would 128 MB's of RAM be suitable for that? I'd just like to hear your thoughts on whether or not i should go with the used iBook or a new PC with a more decent amount of RAM. (which my mom is used to. she just knows how to use macs, she doesn't use macs very often)

thanks!

Also, is iWork '08 compatible with that iBook? (Would that amount of RAM be sufficient for iWork?

 

[dontwalkhand]

I say go for the iBook.

 

[alphaod]

For $400, get a decent and usage PC.

 

[marioblackman23]

Pc

Doesn't make much sense to get a really old ibook and you can get a decent pc laptop. Go for the windows laptop

 

[macbookairman]

For $400, get a decent and usage PC.

the problem with that is that I'm having a hard time finding a pc (laptop) for that price. Also if I/she did get a pc instead of the iBook, I would prefer a new one. For some reason i don't feel comfortable with a used pc.

 

[11800506]

Acer Aspire Latop for $399 at Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9052945&type=product&id=1218012528210

And if you do end up getting the iBook you would likely want to max out the Ram or put in at least 1 Gb Ram (I don't know which is greater because I'm not sure of this iBook model). A little less would be fine but there is no way it would run well with 128 MB.

 

[macbookairman]

Acer Aspire Latop for $399 at Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9052945&type=product&id=1218012528210

And if you do end up getting the iBook you would likely want to max out the Ram or put in at least 1 Gb Ram (I don't know which is greater because I'm not sure of this iBook model). A little less would be fine but there is no way it would run well with 128 MB.

Holy Crap! Thanks! I can't believe i missed that! I think I'll go with that.

 

[California]

I am outraged at the price for that old iBook.

For that price you be able to find a 14" iBook 1.42ghz on Craigslist or Ebay that holds 1.5 gigs of ram, comes with a superdrive, has bluetooth 2.0 and sudden motion sensor and airport built in. It has 512mb ram soldered onto its logic board. It is the last revision and best iBook made.

How do I know that is too high of a price on that site you linked? I bought this same 1.42 ghz iBook a year ago on Craigslist for 450 and today it is worth about 400.

I wouldn't pay 200 for that old 933mhz G4 ibook. Problems with it, too.

 

[Mr Earl]

Acer Aspire Latop for $399 at Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9052945&type=product&id=1218012528210

And if you do end up getting the iBook you would likely want to max out the Ram or put in at least 1 Gb Ram (I don't know which is greater because I'm not sure of this iBook model). A little less would be fine but there is no way it would run well with 128 MB.

That's a good deal for the acer. 128mb ram isn't enough.

 

[polaris20]

Get a Dell (not the best, but t'll do) and immediately wipe it and put Ubuntu Hardy Heron on it. E-mail, Open Office, Internet, works with iPods, Quicktime, etc.

The average home user doesn't need anything else.

Dell does sell a limited number of laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed, but the cheapest ones have Vista, for some reason.