Both my machines are clean and well- maintained. Mac is running OS X and P3 is running NT (but not on a network). Both OS's are the latest version, as are web browsers, etc. Those folks who said a G4 1 gh barely keeps up with a P3 1gh are testing functions that do not reflect the actual way most consumers use their computers: email, internet, Word and so on. The only significant difference I see is that the P3 launches programs about 3 seconds faster than my G3 600. If I had a G3 800 I wonder if that would close the gap? My conclusion is that for non-technical usage a G3 at 800 to 1000 would be just fine.
iMac 600 PIII 800
Startup 1:20 1:22
Shutdown 0:05 1:02
Launch Mail - Outlook 0:09 0:05
Close - Relaunch 0:03 0:01
Launch OmniWeb - IE 0:07 0:04
Close - relaunch 0:04 0:01
Go to MSNBC 0:10 0:10
Close - re Go 0:08 0:08
Go to Apple 0:06 0:06
Launch Word X - Word 2000 0:09 0:05
Close - relaunch 0:03 0:02
Launch iPhoto 0:08 counting...
iMac 600 PIII 800
Startup 1:20 1:22
Shutdown 0:05 1:02
Launch Mail - Outlook 0:09 0:05
Close - Relaunch 0:03 0:01
Launch OmniWeb - IE 0:07 0:04
Close - relaunch 0:04 0:01
Go to MSNBC 0:10 0:10
Close - re Go 0:08 0:08
Go to Apple 0:06 0:06
Launch Word X - Word 2000 0:09 0:05
Close - relaunch 0:03 0:02
Launch iPhoto 0:08 counting...