Powerbook G4 Aluminum 17"

[EwanMcTeagle]

Hi,

I have a question for you guys.

My company is having an auction for old computers and there is a 2004 Powerbook G4 on sale - right now it stands at about $40. Hard to say what the final price will be, but assuming it will be around $100... is it worth it?

Here are the specs:
Processor: 1.5GHz G4 (PowerPC 7457B)
Display:
Size: 17"
Finish: Matte
Resolution: 1440x900
Backlight: CCFL
Base Memory: 512MB PC2700 SODIMM
Wireless: 802.11b/g
Original OS: Mac OS X 10.3.3
Battery: 58-watt-hour removable lithium-ion battery
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64MB)
Base Storage: 80GB 4200RPM EIDE 2.5"
Optical Drive: 4x Superdrive

I was wondering if there's a way and how much could it cost to:
• upgrade RAM - I assume it's a matter of buying the RAM, couple of minutes for unscrewing and inserting it and that's it. Or am I wrong?
• upgrade to Leopard - read somewhere that it's possible, but how to do it? Where can I get a full Leopard install disc? I only came across updates on Apple's support. I'm afraid that will be the biggest issue.

So, it is worth the trouble?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

About

 

[AQUADock]

Well do you need the laptop, that is one of the most powerful powerbooks made so it should be good for light computer usage. Upgrading the ram and OS is easy and not too expensive.

 

[Goftrey]

It'd be a steal at around $100. Even if you don't need it yourself, you could easily sell it on & make money on it guaranteed. These can take up to 2gb DDR RAM which is great amount to run under Leopard. 10.5.8 is the latest version available on PowerPC as you may know.

Here's just a few that have sold on eBay recently in the US (varying specs to the one you're looking at)

1 2 3 4

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

Thanks for the replies

I was thinking that I'll try to sell if that doesn't work then I'll stick with it.
And if the upgrading works out fine then I'm pretty sure I'll keep it and give it to my girlfriend to replace her "15 Acer notebook that she uses as a desktop replacement.
I already have a 17 Macbook Pro (the older version that looks as the Powerbook G4 but has Intel inside from my company and I'm planning to buy the current MBP 13 (or the one to come) for my private use.

So as I've said, the Powerbook would be either for selling or for keeping as a kind of opportunity to replace the old and slow Acer.

Once again thanks - I'll do my best to win the auction

 

[eyoungren]

Definetely worth it. I got my first 17" for $150 and the second for $252. That was two years ago. Both PBs were written off, but both are going strong. I have cosmetic damage on both. but not too bad.

They are fast and powerful for what I do (graphic design) and there is a steady supply of spare parts for them on eBay at low prices (got a screen once for $80).