I'm a recent mac convert (circa 2007) so I hope my advice will help. For the amount that this powerbook is going for you can purchase a new aluminum macbook for the same price. Since your only doing basic internet usage I don't think you need the powerbook. I'd also look on apple.com at their refurbished units. They have excellent deals. Hope it helps.
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Which Mac laptop for basic internet use?
- Thread starter bgbird
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I think the smallest screen size we would want is 15". The price seems a little steep to me, but I have really no Mac pricing experience.
robeddie
Suspended
$1200 is WAY WAY too much to pay for a g4 powerbook at this point.
That system is about 3 and a half years old, and several times slower than the current systems.
You should in fact be able to pick up an early model MacBook Pro for that price, which would be much faster, and able to run windows to boot. (just in case you needed an occasional visit to the dark side - since you are a switcher after all 🙂 )
I just emailed back and said we'll keep it in mind, but for that price we'd go with a used MBP.
thanks for the responses.
thanks for the responses.
ajohnson253
macrumors 68000
from my experience.
I do the same thing as you but might deal with Uploading and Downloading files and a little bit more photo editing, I went from the Macbook 2.4GHZ unibody to the unibody 15.4" MBP 2.4GHZ, I love it, The extra 2 inches is the main reason why I did it and the better screen. Depedends on the money you want to spend. I am a dependent of a military grandfather so I have access to purchase products on base. The price was 1,998.00 no tax and i have a star card. 60 bucks a month no interest, Had to go for it. The pricing was perfect for me and the computer matches exactly what I use it for and always will be using it for. I am going to be soon doing online courses etc etc for dentistry for my RDA then Dental hygienist classes and thats still no stimulation for this machine. Your More then good, with whatever mac you choose 😉
I do the same thing as you but might deal with Uploading and Downloading files and a little bit more photo editing, I went from the Macbook 2.4GHZ unibody to the unibody 15.4" MBP 2.4GHZ, I love it, The extra 2 inches is the main reason why I did it and the better screen. Depedends on the money you want to spend. I am a dependent of a military grandfather so I have access to purchase products on base. The price was 1,998.00 no tax and i have a star card. 60 bucks a month no interest, Had to go for it. The pricing was perfect for me and the computer matches exactly what I use it for and always will be using it for. I am going to be soon doing online courses etc etc for dentistry for my RDA then Dental hygienist classes and thats still no stimulation for this machine. Your More then good, with whatever mac you choose 😉
and that's still a silly price to pay. Let's be honest about this... someone who can spend $700 might as well go for the full price of the new computer and get a warranty. Those who cannot spend that kind of money can go to any PC shop spend less for a laptop that is new and 10x faster than 5 year old powerbooks.
If someone is serious about switching to Mac, just take the plunge and spend money on a proper Mac with an intel CPU and recent components... otherwise, just do what everyone else is doing when they need "basic internet access" and get a cheap laptop.
gan6660
macrumors 65816
I woud stay away from the powerbook since they run on G4 proccessors and snow leopard wont run on them. Also foe $400 more you could get a refurb macbook pro which is ten times better and is refurbished by apple themselves. I personally love glossy screens and would never get a matte one.
1rottenapple
macrumors 603
I'd definitely go with a refurbished unit over a used unit with zero warranty unless you are familiar with mac and can inspect the unit for some time. PPC really is not worth it. Yes, you are looking for basic internet but you will probably use the mac for the next 7 years. You are then looking at the laptop your getting to be a decade or more older if you go PPC route. I'd definitely go with a refurbished unit if I were you. You can price the general range in the refurbished section at apple.com or even amazon (if within a year of purchase, it still has a warranty under apple). Then just keep an eye out for a good deal. You can also go on apple.com and type in a serial number of any computer you want to buy to see if it still under warranty.
If anything, buy the core duo or core duo 2 mac and be set for the next decade of internet. But to be honest, there so much potential in the net these days... Pretty soon you'll be watching hulu or netflix movies and therefore the "newer" (i'm talking core duo here) the better.
If anything, buy the core duo or core duo 2 mac and be set for the next decade of internet. But to be honest, there so much potential in the net these days... Pretty soon you'll be watching hulu or netflix movies and therefore the "newer" (i'm talking core duo here) the better.
i bought a 15" MBP just over two years ago and it is still lightning fast, my best friend still has a 15" PB and the computer is so unbelievably slow. If i were you i would go and buy the 13" uni body macbook. I know that you do not want something that has that small of a screen, but the portability of it as well as the price beats out a MBP for your usage. If you really have a desire to have a larger screen you can go and drop 300 dollars and buy a 20-24" monitor from someone like dell, their "ultrasharp" monitors are actually really really cool.
anyways just a little food for thought
15" MBP 2.33ghz 4g RAM, 1g iPhone, 3G iPhone, 1st generation iPod, 3 generation 10g iPod, 3rd generation iPod Nano
anyways just a little food for thought
15" MBP 2.33ghz 4g RAM, 1g iPhone, 3G iPhone, 1st generation iPod, 3 generation 10g iPod, 3rd generation iPod Nano i didn't read through all the posts but to answer your original post:
refurbished 20" iMac if you don't mind a desktop
or
refurbished Aluminum Macbook if you want a laptop
you can't go wrong with either, they will perform everything the average computer user could want plus more, with the exception or modern games on the macbook because of the lack of a separate graphics card
refurbished 20" iMac if you don't mind a desktop
or
refurbished Aluminum Macbook if you want a laptop
you can't go wrong with either, they will perform everything the average computer user could want plus more, with the exception or modern games on the macbook because of the lack of a separate graphics card
I suggest you get the new unibody macbook and get one of those cinema display if u like a bigger screen at home!! I think it's better than the mac pro!!
The unibody macbook is very portable and when u get home u just hook it up with the cinema display and u have a huge screen to do whatever u want!!
And it's good value for your money!!
The unibody macbook is very portable and when u get home u just hook it up with the cinema display and u have a huge screen to do whatever u want!!
And it's good value for your money!!
macbook 2.0ghz + cinema display 24" =$ 2800 approx
macbook pro 17" = $2500 approx
http://www.apple.com/displays/features.html
macbook pro 17" = $2500 approx
http://www.apple.com/displays/features.html
Do you actually need a laptop? If the computer will be sitting at the desk all the time, get an iMac. Any refurb Intel iMac should suit your needs (just don't get the one with the intel GMA 950 graphics). I'd recommend upgrading the RAM yourself to at least 2GB if it doesn't come with that already - that will be a very cheap ($30?) upgrade.