Advice on ibook

After years off putting up with the incompetence of my windows based machine i have finally set out to taking the first steps to switching to mac. However my knowledge on Macintosh technology is limited and I was wondering if anyone out there can help me make a decision.

I'm saving up to buy an ibook but because money is quiet tight at the moment i will have to buy a second hand one from ebay. I've noticed that the new style ibook G3 is going around for a reasonable price. However I was wondering if it is wish to buy a product that has a processor that is obsolete twice over. How well does the G3 processor work with panther and can it operate tiger when i decide to upgrade.

Do you think it is wise to buy one of these old ibooks or should i try to stretch a little further and aim for the G4. Any help anyone has on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You.

#250211

I'd would suggest stretching for the g4... youll be happier in the long run. like... an extra 2-400 dollars could potentially get you another year or so out of your machine (just in terms of what it's compatible with).

Trust me.. if you're wanting to get ANY computer, and you have any thoughts about saving a little bit more just to upgrade it? do it.. because if you're thinking about it, it's prolly worth it.

#250216

unless u need the portability, nothing can beat the Mac mini in price/performance department

#250218

I was afraid that you were going to say go for the G4. lol. It makes sense though, i wouldn't buy an older windows based pc. I've just had a look at the apple store and there going there for 699 GBP for a 12" screen. I don't know what that is in dollars but it's not awfully expensive over here really. I also noticed that they do a finance plan of only £14.00 a month which i find to be really tempting but I haven't looked into the interest yet. This had caught my eye now and that usually means that's what i will be doing, im dangerous with money.

I could buy a mac mini 'unbelievable' because they are surprisingly cheep plus it will run with the monitor I have already got. However dragging the monitor with me everywhere isn't really an ideal option. lol. Plus there is something i find boring about the mac mini especially when you see how eye pleasing its brothers are. What i would really want is a Powermac G5 with a 30" display or a stunning Imac G5 but for the moment they a little out of my price range.

Thanks for your help. That's really what i expected you to say but i just needed an opinion.

#250224

i said UNLESS <_

#250231

I know, i noticed after I posted. Sorry for the confussion.

#250232

How well does the G3 processor work with panther and can it operate tiger when i decide to upgrade.

Do you think it is wise to buy one of these old ibooks or should i try to stretch a little further and aim for the G4. Any help anyone has on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You.

My 500MHz G3 Pismo PowerBook runs Panther like a champ. From what I've read so far it will also run Tiger. However, my advice is to get a G4 if you can, you'll be happier in the long run.

#250312

ibook g4 man. the price cuts and stuff makes it worthwhile for me....you won't be dissapointed with it. it looks cooler, and it's quite fast, and it's really up to date. i recommend you buy it unless you want to wait for the next update on ibooks like a g5, or you just can't earn any more money.

g3's not bad either but buy a computer that suits your needs. some only does homework, others do photoshop and hd movie editing. your computer your style. ibook's quite flexible in this kind of situation. it can hold it's ground on performance and is reasonably cheap. actually, it's one of the cheapest ultraportable notebooks out there (not considering the one or two pounds extra heaviness to the other 500 dollors more expensive pc versions)

#250332

If I were you, I would wait until Apple releases the iBook G5 and see whether they are affordable or not. If they are, go for the G5, if they aren't go for the G4 and by then G4's prices should be dropped significantly ;)

#250336

If I were you, I would wait until Apple releases the iBook G5 and see whether they are affordable or not. If they are, go for the G5, if they aren't go for the G4 and by then G4's prices should be dropped significantly ;)

How long do you wanna wait for a G5 iBook ?

#250340

'steelfist' I fully intend on getting an ibook G4 now, a new one from apple and not one from Ebay. I was actually very surprised of how cheap it is because when i cast my mind back to when the Imac G3 came out they were quiet expensive. I don't really have any real reason why i need an ibook but if i buy another windows machine again ill smash it up with a brick, plus they are more attractive. I know the processor speeds aren't up to scratch as other laptops but they say the OS is designed that well it just works.

'duyvan82' Waiting for an iBook G5 would be great but im afraid my impatience would get the better of me. Just think how amazing that machine would be though, how eye pleasing. I should imagine that it will have a brushed aluminium look to it but then it will probably be more like the I mac.

Thank you all for your help.

#250348

If I were you, I would wait until Apple releases the iBook G5 and see whether they are affordable or not. If they are, go for the G5, if they aren't go for the G4 and by then G4's prices should be dropped significantly ;)

well if he wants to wait to mid 2006, i`m sure waiting for an iBook G5 is a smart thing to do

however Apple may (and i hope it does), prove me wrong and release iBooks and PowerBooks with G5 at the same time.

#250384

If I were you, I would wait until Apple releases the iBook G5 and see whether they are affordable or not. If they are, go for the G5, if they aren't go for the G4 and by then G4's prices should be dropped significantly ;)

I have to agree with Unbe on this one, you'd be killing a lot of valuable time waiting for an unknown machine. G4s exist right now, they work great, and they are pretty cheap now days. Could be six months or more before G5 PowerBooks come out and probably another six months or more for G5 iBooks.

#250641

yea. by then all my fishes would be next-generation lol.

#250658

I have to agree with Unbe on this one, you'd be killing a lot of valuable time waiting for an unknown machine. G4s exist right now, they work great, and they are pretty cheap now days. Could be six months or more before G5 PowerBooks come out and probably another six months or more for G5 iBooks.

A few more months before the G5 PBs are released, because Apple's just announced the new PBs, and they are still G4s. But better value for money though.

#250698