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What iMac G4 to Purchase? Quick Help!

Eric Lewis

Eric Lewis

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Feb 4, 2007
2,380
1
CANADA? eh?
Specifications : $499 + 13% TAX CND
• Model & CPU Speed - iMac G4 17” LCD 1.25GHz
• RAM - 768 MB DDR PC2700/333
• Main Hard Drive - 80 GB IDE 5400 RPM
• Optical Drive - SuperDrive
• Video - Built-In GeForceMX 5200 64 MB
• Sound - Built-In
• USB - 3 Ports v2.0 Hi-Speed
• FireWire - 2 x 400 Mbs
• Ethernet - Built-In 10/100
• Wireless - Airport Extreme 802.11g Ready (optional)
• Modem - Internal 56K V.92
• BlueTooth - Ready (Optional)
• Display Size -
• OS - Mac OS X 10.4 + 9.2.2 software included
• Keyboard & Mouse Included
• Warranty - Used 30-Day

Specifications : $399 + 13% TAX CND
• Model & CPU Speed - iMac 17” G4 800 MHz
• RAM - 512 MB PC100
• Main Hard Drive - 80 MB IDE 5400 RPM error on website
• Optical Drive - SuperDrive
• Video - Built-In GeForce4 MX 32 MB
• Sound - Built-In
• USB - 3 Ports v1.0
• FireWire - 2 x 400 Mbs
• Ethernet - Built-In 10/100
• Wireless - Airport 802.11b Ready (optional)
• Modem - Internal 56K V.92
• OS - Mac OS X 10.4 + 9.2.2 software included
• Keyboard & Mouse Included
• Warranty - Used 30-Day

1) Is the extra processor and ram and video card going to make a huge difference?

2) and it it work the 100 dollars?

3)and is the price good?

4) Could it run leopard?

5) how much for more ram? and whats the max

Which one should i get? I already have a 20'' iMac in my kitchen (my parents computer not mine) but this one is for me just to use Flash MX CS2 and kinda fool around and play! and do school work!
(plus be a 17'' dvd player for my room...i only have a TV)
 
I would say the 1.25GHz model. It has USB 2.0, an upgraded graphics card, faster processor along with a faster FSB, and would run Leopard better than the 800MHz model. Along with that, the 1.25GHz would support all of Leopard's fancy Core Animation and the transparent menu bar and the splash of the widgets on Dashboard... all of that add up to a better machine for not much more $$$.

I also forgot to mention that the 800MHz model only has Airport. The 1.25GHz has Airport Extreme which will have much faster download and internet browsing speeds as long as your router is compatible.
 
I'd get the $499 one because Leopard requires an 867Mhz processor. I'm not sure how strict it is on that extra 67, so I don't know if it will install.

Regardless, I'd try to get some more RAM for either one.

Edit: Yep, USB 2.0 is a big one. I didn't notice that.
Edit2: It looks like the RAM can be expanded to 2Gb, though only 1Gb is officially supported by Apple. I'm not sure, though, because Crucial only offers a 512Mb stick as the max... And the iMac only has one slot that is user accessible.
 
i didint even notice the usb 2 and 1? thanks

ill get the 499

and the mac store(i got an email back)

will put in a airport card for 49.99 plus tax


so ill go for it!

The whole machine with tax is like $620 bucks? with airport card!


Is it worth it for a G4?
 
Eric Lewis said:
i didint even notice the usb 2 and 1? thanks

ill get the 499

and the mac store(i got an email back)

will put in a airport card for 49.99 plus tax


so ill go for it!

The whole machine with tax is like $620 bucks? with airport card!


Is it worth it for a G4?
Click to expand...

Before you buy, do a quick search on Craigslist in your area for an iMac G5. I just did it and I found a 17'', 1.8Ghz, 2Gb RAM, & an 80Gb HD for $625. I also found a 17'', 1.8Ghz, 1Gb RAM, & a 180Gb HD for $500.
 
Eric Lewis said:
i didint even notice the usb 2 and 1? thanks

ill get the 499

and the mac store(i got an email back)

will put in a airport card for 49.99 plus tax


so ill go for it!

The whole machine with tax is like $620 bucks? with airport card!


Is it worth it for a G4?
Click to expand...

That seems a little high for a G4. I have seen the Rev. A G5 iMac's going for a price similar to that. It really depends on what you want... The G4 has more character, but the G5 has more power.
 
ryannel2003 said:
That seems a little high for a G4. I have seen the Rev. A G5 iMac's going for a price similar to that. It really depends on what you want... The G4 has more character, but the G5 has more power.
Click to expand...

Yep, thats exactly right. If you're going to be doing flash, I'd probably have to say go with an early G5. (Even though the G4 is my favorite Mac design ever)

Edit: By the way, you say the 20'' iMac is your parents? What about the Macbook Pro listed in your sig?
 
I agree. You are paying rev A. iMac G5 prices for a G4. Unless the form factor means that much to you, you can get a better price elsewhere.
 
Aperture said:
Yep, thats exactly right. If you're going to be doing flash, I'd probably have to say go with an early G5. (Even though the G4 is my favorite Mac design ever)
Click to expand...

i like the G4 for the LAMP

and its better for movies in bed

you can move the screen arround vs the whole thing
 
Eric Lewis said:
i like the G4 for the LAMP

and its better for movies in bed

you can move the screen arround vs the whole thing
Click to expand...

I agree.. I wish Apple would continue the G4 design. I guess you have to determine what is more important to you.. the power or the design.

Also, if you want to run Leopard then the G5 is probably your best bet. & If you really like the ability to rotate the machine, you can get a turntable stand especially made for the iMac G5.
 
Aperture said:
I agree.. I wish Apple would continue the G4 design. I guess you have to determine what is more important to you.. the power or the design.

Also, if you want to run Leopard then the G5 is probably your best bet. & If you really like the ability to rotate the machine, you can get a turntable stand especially made for the iMac G5.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Apple's iMac G4 is the most elegant machine to date. I would love to own one just to say I did... I never got the chance.

As for Leopard, I have it on my 1.25GHz eMac G4 and it's sluggish at best, and it has 768MB RAM. As it turns out, the eMac has a faster L2 Cache than the iMac G4, so the iMac will actually be slower than the eMac. If you got the G4, stick with Tiger. As for the G5, I wouldn't hesitate at upgrading to Leopard.
 
Aperture said:
There aren't any really amazing deals... In fact, some of them are particularly bad deals. Who would pay $799 for an iBook when you can get a Macbook for just under $700.
Click to expand...

better then the other mac store in my city

http://216.183.28.101:8080/FMPro?-d...mactype=usedandspecials&-max=4&-skip=0&-find=

Powerbook G4/1.5Ghz - 15.1”
512Mb SDRAM / 80Gb HDD / Combo
Airport Extreme Card Included
Used with 30 Day Warranty
0 in Stock
$1299.99


Power Mac G5 / 1.6Ghz
256Mb RAM / 80Gb HD / SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra Graphics
Used with 30 Day Warranty
6 in Stock
$1099.99


Power Mac G4 - Dual 800 Mhz
256Mb / 40Gb HD / CD-RW / Kbd / Mouse
MacOS 10.3.5 Installed
Used with 30 Day Warranty
1 in Stock
$949.99


Apple eMac - 1.25 Ghz - 17” CRT
512Mb SDRAM / 40Gb / Combo
Used with 30 Day Warranty
0 in Stock
$699.99

Powerbook G4/667 - 15.1” Display
512Mb SDRAM / 30Gb HDD / Combo / Airport
Large Widescreen Display
Used with 30 Day Warranty
18 in Stock
$599.99


Apple iMac - 700Mhz - 15”
256Mb SDRAM / 40Gb HD / Combo
Thi system is perfect as the “extra” computer.
Upgrade the Ram, and run Tiger !!
Used with 30 Day Warranty
24 in Stock
$599.99


Power Mac G4 400Mhz
Various configurations available.
Used with 30 Day Warranty
3 in Stock
$399.99


PowerMac G3/300/350/400/450 Blue & White
Various configurations available.
Used with 30 Day Warranty
16 in Stock
$199.99
 
If you're torn between an iMac G5 Rev A and an iMac G4 1.25, i'd probably personally go with the G4 simply because the design is timeless. However, i rarely use power apps, and use classic a lot so the extra power doesn't really matter to me. I feel a looker is always better than a brawny fugly computer. I mean hey, I switched to Mac didn't I? :D
 
SuperCompu2 said:
If you're torn between an iMac G5 Rev A and an iMac G4 1.25, i'd probably personally go with the G4 simply because the design is timeless. However, i rarely use power apps, and use classic a lot so the extra power doesn't really matter to me. I feel a looker is always better than a brawny fugly computer. I mean hey, I switched to Mac didn't I? :D
Click to expand...

The iMac G4's design (as we have already discussed) is indeed excellent but the OP has mentioned Flash & Leopard and that says go for the G5 to me.

Either way, the G5's design is indeed not bad (in the least bit)...
 
Aperture said:
The iMac G4's design (as we have already discussed) is indeed excellent but the OP has mentioned Flash & Leopard and that says go for the G5 to me.

Either way, the G5's design is indeed not bad (in the least bit)...
Click to expand...

I really dont care about leopard really



The flash work is very light and basic! I'm in grade 11 here! Its basic flash videos really

Other then that the iMac is for my shuffle nano iPhone stuff

Music with iTunes! Downloading music with iTunes


Internet stuff


Basic garage band rintons


I work 08 and ms office for school work!


Anything really intense I'll use my parents iMac



Is just a computer to hold me over to use in my room till university in 2-3 years
 
its a computer to use in my room for 2-3 years till I go to university and get a macbook pro or something!!!

Plus getting a mbp wouldn't last 3 years and all through 4 years of university if u know whatim saying


I have a job! I work at best buy selling macs and iPods and that's how I have so many now
 
Craigslist ftw! I am picking up a C2D 2ghz 1GB ram 17" iMac for $650 tomorrow :D
 
so i went this morning

and he installed a airport card wireless thing

and gave it to me for 550 cash....

the reason why i got the deal is cause i showed him my unlocked iPhone which he had always wanted to see...lol

iphones pay off


yeah thats it

the 1.25ghz 768mb ram 10.4 tiger 80gig drive

runs tiger great....now im reinstalling it without all the printer drivers etc

thanks for the help
 
Eric Lewis said:
so i went this morning

and he installed a airport card wireless thing

and gave it to me for 550 cash....

the reason why i got the deal is cause i showed him my unlocked iPhone which he had always wanted to see...lol

iphones pay off


yeah thats it

the 1.25ghz 768mb ram 10.4 tiger 80gig drive

runs tiger great....now im reinstalling it without all the printer drivers etc

thanks for the help
Click to expand...


I'll sell you my 17" 1ghz 768 RAM G4 iMac (with Leopard already installed) for $475! Send me a Personal Message!
It's got an airport card, bluetooth adapter, USB hub, etc. that all come with it for free.


I need a new laptop.
 
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