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Would an iBook Work?

GimmeSlack12, I have alerady found a place where I can buy one cheap.
The recycler guy will probably sell one to me for about $25 because he buys them for that much.bozz2006, I checked low end mac's ram prices and a 256
stick costs within $15 dollars. Are clamshells good for kids?
 
I'm just looking at the prices on the website that you provided. the 256 mb stick is $42 and shipping is $10. Same thing for the computer. granted it's not a clamshell like you were after, but a G3 ibook goes for $280 plus $30 shipping. If he buys the computer for $25, why would he sell it for $25? He makes no money on that deal.
 
LordOfTheMacs said:
GimmeSlack12, I have alerady found a place where I can buy one cheap.
The recycler guy will probably sell one to me for about $25 because he buys them for that much.bozz2006, I checked low end mac's ram prices and a 256
stick costs within $15 dollars. Are clamshells good for kids?
Click to expand...

If you can get one for that price, then I'd say go for it. The clamshells are really great for kids because they're pretty rugged.

The only caveat is that it is an old laptop and who knows how well the video system will work. The clamshells weren't known for glitchy video problems like the iceBooks were, so in that aspect, you're better off with the clamshell.

One other issue I had forgotten about is that the clamshells are limited to 800x600 resolution. It could be an issue (or at least an annoyance) when surfing and word processing.

If you can do so, I would run OS 9 on the clamshell since it would be really fast. Many older games (mostly the kiddie stuff) are available for OS 9 at really cheap prices. At the very least, you could dual-boot it if you run OS X 10.3 (I think this was the last one that offered Classic compatibility).

Just make sure what you're getting for the $25. Airport cards are expensive, but you might be able to get away with a USB adapter.

ft
 
ftaok,
You seem to get where i'm coming from.:) How much Ram would you reccomend for os9 or maybe 10.3 so that I could use my e-mail , surf and
maybe some word processing:confused:Reminder, my G5 is my workhorse, so this is my own ''Low End Mac''. Also, where else besides a recycler could I find a clamshell for under $60 within New Jersey
 
LordOfTheMacs said:
ftaok,
You seem to get where i'm coming from.:) How much Ram would you reccomend for os9 or maybe 10.3 so that I could use my e-mail , surf and
maybe some word processing:confused:Reminder, my G5 is my workhorse, so this is my own ''Low End Mac''. Also, where else besides a recycler could I find a clamshell for under $60 within New Jersey
Click to expand...
I would always recommend maxing out the RAM. The clamshells use PC100 SODIMM 144-pin RAM. The biggest you can use is 256MB for a total of 320MB. If you can afford it, go with it. 1800-4-MEMORY has them for $14 and OWC has them for $18. I typically buy Crucial, but they're priced high right now.

RAMSEEKER List

As for where to find them, I have no idea. I would try the usual suspects (eBay, craigslist, etc). Maybe a school might be getting rid of their old Macs and are willing to give them away.

As Han Solo says, "Good luck, you're gonna need it."
 
Actually, the max RAM is 576 megabytes, but when clamshells were
introduced, apple didn't want to admit that macs made in 1999 could hold that much memory, cause even the most expensive b&w g3 wasn't shipped with that much! Also, are hard drive upgrades hard to install, or will a 3gb Hd actually work for my needs?:):confused::apple: If a kid was doing the same things I would be doing with a clamshell would it work for them? It always seems like we use our computers so much more intensively then kids.:D:apple:
 
LordOfTheMacs said:
Actually, the max RAM is 576 megabytes, but when clamshells were introduced, apple didn't want to admit that macs made in 1999 could hold that much memory, cause even the most expensive b&w g3 wasn't shipped with that much!
Click to expand...
I didn't know that. I figured there was a firmware limitation. I guess the prices on 512MB vary a little. $28 isn't too bad.

Also, are hard drive upgrades hard to install, or will a 3gb Hd actually work for my needs?:):confused::apple:
Click to expand...

I don't know how difficult chaning the HDD on a clamshell is, but I tell you what ... chaning the HDD on an iceBook is a big PITA. Takes about two hours if you're handy ... and you run the risk of f'ing it up like I did (I ripped the trackpad connector piece off of the motherboard). Try and read some tutorials on swapping HDDs on a clamshell to see if you're up to it.

If a kid was doing the same things I would be doing with a clamshell would it work for them? It always seems like we use our computers so much more intensively then kids.:D:apple:
Click to expand...
It depends on the kids. Are we talking toddlers or teenagers or somewhere in between? I'd say for toddlers to 2nd graders, the clamshell would be fine. Play some Dora or Little People and they're happy. Kids older than 7 might want to play some newer games and a clamshell would choke on those.

As for web surfing, forget about myspace on the clamshell. For one, the pages take forever to load on a newer computer, let alone an 8 year old one. Stick to stuff like PBS Kids and I suppose they'd be OK ... but then again, some of the Flash games might not run so well.

ft
 
Good sporadic motion! They rock and as a second or third(or 4th, 5th ,or6th)mac they are upgradeable! Plus, how often does a laptop come in colored translucent plastic with a carrying handle?;):D:apple:
 
LordOfTheMacs said:
Besides airport, how do I connect to the net. Someone told me about Ethernet, but what the heck is that?:confused:
Click to expand...

Ethernet is the big "phone" line that plugs in to the Mac from the router or cable modem. The plug looks just like a phone plug, only wider.

You can get to the internet using either Airport (wifi) or Ethernet. Ethernet is typically faster and more reliable, but obviously it's not portable.

ft
 
How much does an Airport card cost? The recycler pays $25 for them, think I should try to get one?;) Overall, should I buy this thing?
 
It took me a while, but I realize that it will be impossible to find a good working clamshell with airport for 50 bucks.:( How much should I spend on eBay for one?

Must haves are:
Airport card installed or included but not installed
Some version of OSX (maybe 10.2 or higher)
Enough memory to surf email and mess around with other apps(128 megs or higher)
Working battery and a charger
Maybe an upgraded hard drive:)
 
Ebay is not what it used to be, but the prices are still the best. You just have to be ebay-savvy, not in a hurry, and complete in the scrutinizing of the potential seller. over 6 months ago I picked up a 12 inch ibook G3 for less than $200. 900mhz, 384 mg ram, 40 gig HDD, combo-drive (no airport card included) and the battery seems to not have been used much as it holds a charge for well over 2 hours running at maximum performance. Well-made product, a sturdy beater.
 
doug in albq said:
Ebay is not what it used to be, but the prices are still the best. You just have to be ebay-savvy, not in a hurry, and complete in the scrutinizing of the potential seller.
Click to expand...

Good advice. Also see if you can use BIN/Live Cashback where you can to reduce costs. (see this thread).

eBay in general is reliable, it's just that some things are almost inevitably fake. One should exercise extreme caution buying certain categories of things on eBay (designer clothes, shoes, or accessories, flash memory cards or memory modules, etc), but most other things are safe as long as you don't choose a disreputable seller. Stick with people who have a lot of feedback (and well over 99% positive, or else look at why the negatives were foisted), have been on eBay for a good amount of time, etc, and you'll be fine.

I've bought several things there recently, and I did have one bad egg seller. I paid her immediately for a BIN Logitech Mediaboard Pro, waited patiently for two weeks, and then e-mailed her politely asking for tracking / shipping information. Whereupon, she responded to me that she had trouble with another seller, claimed her account was frozen (although this certainly happened after I paid her), and that she had not shipped anything to me, would not ship anything to me, and could not specify a timeframe to give me a refund. So I had to use a dispute against her, and it took 10 additional days for dispute resolution, but I finally did get my refund in full.
 
Heyyyyyyyyyy, i'm back.:D This may be a christmas gift,sso my big question is this: Will I be able to use a clamshell with upgraded memory(128-576 megs of RAM) and probably a 10-30 gig hard drive be enough for e-mail, surfing and maybe syncing my ipod mini one year from now? HELLLLLPPP!:confused::D;):apple::apple::apple:
 
This is not advice I just want to say, to the ones who have posted on here that they're looking into getting a clamshell iBook... I envy you. I've lusted over those for a looonngggg time but been to sheepish to actually take the plunge!
 
LordOfTheMacs said:
Heyyyyyyyyyy, i'm back.:D This may be a christmas gift,sso my big question is this: Will I be able to use a clamshell with upgraded memory(128-576 megs of RAM) and probably a 10-30 gig hard drive be enough for e-mail, surfing and maybe syncing my ipod mini one year from now? HELLLLLPPP!:confused::D;):apple::apple::apple:
Click to expand...


e-mail and surfing... probably...
syncing your iPod? I don't think iPods are compatible with the older OS anymore. :(
 
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