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Jim Paradise · Nov 25, 2003, 04:37 AM

I've been looking as a possibility of buying an older iMac (gumdrop design) as a Christmas gift, but older iMacs are so bloody expensive. You'd think with eMacs being priced as they are now and what you can get for them that old iMacs could be gotten for somewhat cheap, but I've seen 600mhz iMacs going for as much as a low-end eMac. What's with this? Am I doomed to not be able to find a decent older iMac for under $500 Canadian?

slider · Nov 25, 2003, 05:27 AM

Because most people don't know any better and other are willing to take atvantage of that fact. I've looked on eBay for an older eMac for my sister. Like you I thought with the $800 eMac from Apple I could get an older eMac for like $400 with some extras, nope.

Centris650 · Nov 25, 2003, 06:56 AM

This is the good/bad thing about macs. They hold their value for a long time. It's good if you're selling bad if buying. You might want to try looking at Apples Hot deals site (refurbs) and also if there are Apple stores (or resellers) around ask them about "Refreshed" and "Refurbed" products.

NYCFarmboy · Nov 25, 2003, 08:20 AM

The gumdrop imacs are viewed as classics of design.. just this year I purchased 2 green imacs (they are my favorite color)...on ebay..300 bucks each...both in brand new hardly used condition.

Set them both up on Jaguar..they both only have 6 gig hard drives, but are just fantastic all-in-one machines.

I set the first one up on my desk and ended up selling it to a friend who just had to have it. So then I got another one..and another friend wanted it.

You can see pics of the green imac at:
http://www.nycfarmboy.com/lime.jpg

My only complaint..these first generation iMacs were very noisey.. when in sleep mode the fans still ran..so were not quiet at all...thats the main reason I decided to sell both of them.... I understand the bubblegum imacs that came with a firewire port don't have fans though so perhaps when they are in sleep mode they are silent..can someone confirm this?

markhart · Nov 25, 2003, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by NYCFarmboy:
The gumdrop imacs are viewed as classics of design.. just this year I purchased 2 green imacs (they are my favorite color)...on ebay..300 bucks each...both in brand new hardly used condition.

Set them both up on Jaguar..they both only have 6 gig hard drives, but are just fantastic all-in-one machines.

I set the first one up on my desk and ended up selling it to a friend who just had to have it. So then I got another one..and another friend wanted it.

You can see pics of the green imac at:
http://www.nycfarmboy.com/lime.jpg

My only complaint..these first generation iMacs were very noisey.. when in sleep mode the fans still ran..so were not quiet at all...thats the main reason I decided to sell both of them.... I understand the bubblegum imacs that came with a firewire port don't have fans though so perhaps when they are in sleep mode they are silent..can someone confirm this?

I have the imac 600 and it doesn't have any fan at all, the only noise I hear is the hard drive and that goes silent when it sleeps, Mark

varob · Nov 25, 2003, 03:27 PM

@ Blueberry iMac 350 [the first "slot-loading" & "non-fan (natural convection) cooled"] = absolutely no noise w/in Sleep Mode....

Krusty · Nov 25, 2003, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by markhart:
I have the imac 600 and it doesn't have any fan at all, the only noise I hear is the hard drive and that goes silent when it sleeps, Mark

mine too ... and I have replaced the stock HD with a nearly silent Seagate so its hardly audible when awake and dead silent at sleep.

The the DV series iMac really is a "classic" is so many ways ... silent, forward-thinking connectivity (firewire, 100bt), easily luggable, and the first few revs (like mine) have the ability to play DVDs from the internal slot-loading drive which was notably absent from the CD-RW models that came later.

Its true that they are strangely expensive given the cost of a new eMac. I'd be willing to sell mine for ~400 canandian + shipping but can't afford to let it go before Christmas, I'm afraid

G3/450/DV+/20gb/384mb/OS 10.3.1

mitchell_pgh · Nov 25, 2003, 04:11 PM

I picked up a system 3 years ago for $1299 (edu. price)...

I saw it on eBay for $700 (yes, a crazy price)

Makes me feel warm inside...

subego · Nov 25, 2003, 07:06 PM

They're that good.

Perfect little web/email/music server. Mine is three years old and I expect at least a couple more years out of it. I figure the video will fry before it stops being genuinely useful.

My favorite computer of all time, bar none.

Mr.Clicky · Nov 25, 2003, 08:37 PM

...
My only complaint..these first generation iMacs were very noisey.. when in sleep mode the fans still ran..so were not quiet at all...thats the main reason I decided to sell both of them.... I understand the bubblegum imacs that came with a firewire port don't have fans though so perhaps when they are in sleep mode they are silent..can someone confirm this?

[/B]

Yup, up to Rev D. (the 333 model) fans were used to cool the system, after that convection cooling was employed and iMac DV models ran almost silently. I have both a 333 and a DV400 purchased 2nd hand and hardly used for AU600 (they're even cheaper now :-0) and have just purchased a 1Ghz eMac also with fan. The 333 is a little louder than the eMac, perhaps becase it's older, but both are more than tolerable and both are great machines for the money. Be interesting to see how the next gen iMacs are cooled given the scuttlebutt about them being G5 cube look-a-likes. Might have to buy one to really find out though

Rev-O · Nov 25, 2003, 08:47 PM

I s'pose I'm shocked at how much these beasties hold their value. I bought my 600Mhz G3 around march of '01 as a close out at Computer City for around $750 (My First Mac! Wahoo!). It is still a perfect computer. Have it set up in the kitchen to do email, internet, iTunes, and games for my 2 yr old daughter. Other than an occasionally flakey cdrw (gets stubburn about ejecting from time to time), it's been bullet proof. Even survived a root beer bath on the keyboard!
Thinking about it... I wouldn't sell it for $500. Might consider replacing it if they made Blue Dalmation flat screen iMacs, tho...

Centris650 · Nov 25, 2003, 08:51 PM

Might consider replacing it if they made Blue Dalmation flat screen iMacs, tho... [/B]

shudder....

bradoesch · Nov 26, 2003, 11:28 AM

Look at the back of a PC magazine and see how many ads there are for used PCs. Look at the value of used PCs. No one wants them anymore, they are usually pretty useless after 4-5 years. My iMac DV (fanless blueberry gumdrop) is still going strong for almost 4 years now. It's still my main computer, and the only thing it can't do for me is play modern games. That's why I bought a $200 PC for.

Jim Paradise · Nov 28, 2003, 02:42 AM

I suspected as much that was the answer: that they retain their value for use/looks just that much.

Well, does anyone know where one can buy used iMacs online that'll either ship to Canada or companies that are based in Canada that sell used iMacs? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to find a decent Canadian reseller.

bradoesch · Nov 28, 2003, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by Jim Paradise:
I suspected as much that was the answer: that they retain their value for use/looks just that much.

Well, does anyone know where one can buy used iMacs online that'll either ship to Canada or companies that are based in Canada that sell used iMacs? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to find a decent Canadian reseller.

There's a Mac shop in Kitchener, isn't there? I only know of places in London. I'd check Mostly Mac and 123 Compute. Hrm, Mac Outpost used to be around, but now it gives an error. See if that link will work for you. They usually have the largest selection of used Macs.

edit: Yikes! 123 Compute is selling an iMac DV 400 for $949 CAD! That's great if I wanted to sell mine, since it only cost $2000 CAD almost 4 years ago!!!

Jim Paradise · Nov 28, 2003, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
There's a Mac shop in Kitchener, isn't there? I only know of places in London. I'd check Mostly Mac and 123 Compute. Hrm, Mac Outpost used to be around, but now it gives an error. See if that link will work for you. They usually have the largest selection of used Macs.

edit: Yikes! 123 Compute is selling an iMac DV 400 for $949 CAD! That's great if I wanted to sell mine, since it only cost $2000 CAD almost 4 years ago!!!

There's FirstAve which is in Waterloo (so basically Kitchener ;p), but it doesn't sell used Macs. Actually, it's kinda sad because they used to have a lot larger selection of peripherals, a better online site, and, well, the store itself was better. A better location would go along way in helping their business, I think, as it's way out in Waterloo. There's an Apple reseller right uptown in the university area, and I suppose I should check that out. I know of a few of the London places, but thank you for the suggestions! I'll definitely check them out.

bradoesch · Nov 30, 2003, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Jim Paradise:
There's FirstAve which is in Waterloo (so basically Kitchener ;p), but it doesn't sell used Macs. Actually, it's kinda sad because they used to have a lot larger selection of peripherals, a better online site, and, well, the store itself was better. A better location would go along way in helping their business, I think, as it's way out in Waterloo. There's an Apple reseller right uptown in the university area, and I suppose I should check that out. I know of a few of the London places, but thank you for the suggestions! I'll definitely check them out.

I can't believe I missed the Apple reseller in the University area. I used to go to Wilf, and I thought I had found all the computer shops within walking distance of the campus (Computer XS, the one at University and King, PC Waterloo, the little shop on Phillip street, and the electronics place down Phillips I think.) How did I miss an Apple shop? Where bouts is it?

Jim Paradise · Nov 30, 2003, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
I can't believe I missed the Apple reseller in the University area. I used to go to Wilf, and I thought I had found all the computer shops within walking distance of the campus (Computer XS, the one at University and King, PC Waterloo, the little shop on Phillip street, and the electronics place down Phillips I think.) How did I miss an Apple shop? Where bouts is it?

You went to Laurier? Cool.

I go to school and work at Waterloo. Well, you know that building right beside the 7-11 on the corner of King and University that has a few different shops, businesses, etc.,? Not the one across the street with Gus Maue and Scotia Bank, but beside it there's a reseller up on the top floor of that building. I haven't been into it, and it only caught my eye the other year. But yeah, there is apparently a reseller in the middle of the university area.

WizOSX · Nov 30, 2003, 06:41 PM

A place here in London has been advertising used iMacs, G3, 350, 192mb, 6gb, cd, keyboard and mouse for $445. I have no idea the condition. Of course, by the time you got it shipped to the KW area and paid GST and PST you'd be about $535. I've never been into the store but if you're interested I could take a look at them.

WizOSX · Nov 30, 2003, 06:56 PM

Actually MostlyMac has quite a few in the $300-$600 range:

http://www.mostlymac.com

or, to go straight to the used ones:

https://mostlymac.com/search.lasso?-...token=12646214|mac|1|2&-maxrecords=15&p.internet=yes&p.category=Us ed%20Computers&-sortfield=p.description&-search

WizOSX · Nov 30, 2003, 08:57 PM

Just to clarify:

The $445 price was at "Computer Liquidators." They don't have a website as far as I can tell.

The $300-$600 prices were at MostlyMac's website.

Jim Paradise · Dec 1, 2003, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by WizOSX:
Just to clarify:

The $445 price was at "Computer Liquidators." They don't have a website as far as I can tell.

The $300-$600 prices were at MostlyMac's website.

Next time I'm in London, I'll check it out. I have a lot of friends that used to live up here that have been going to Fanshaw for a few years, so I try and make it up a few times a month to jam and hang out.

Thanks for the info!

bradoesch · 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Jim Paradise:
You went to Laurier? Cool. I go to school and work at Waterloo. Well, you know that building right beside the 7-11 on the corner of King and University that has a few different shops, businesses, etc.,? Not the one across the street with Gus Maue and Scotia Bank, but beside it there's a reseller up on the top floor of that building. I haven't been into it, and it only caught my eye the other year. But yeah, there is apparently a reseller in the middle of the university area.

It's the building that has VIG computers at the bottom floor, isn't it? They've got the parking at the back at that place, I think that's the right one. They mustn't have a very big sign. Next time I'm in the area again I'll have to check the place out. Thanks!

Jim Paradise · Dec 4, 2003, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
It's the building that has VIG computers at the bottom floor, isn't it? They've got the parking at the back at that place, I think that's the right one. They mustn't have a very big sign. Next time I'm in the area again I'll have to check the place out. Thanks!

Yup, that's the building where it's at. I can't remember if it's VIG computers or not, though. I might check it out this weekend.

The sign is rather small and I doubt too many people notice. Considering how many times I had gone by it since I go to Morty's usually at least once a week, I was surprised I hadn't noticed it sooner.

bradoesch · Dec 5, 2003, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by Jim Paradise:
Yup, that's the building where it's at. I can't remember if it's VIG computers or not, though. I might check it out this weekend. The sign is rather small and I doubt too many people notice. Considering how many times I had gone by it since I go to Morty's usually at least once a week, I was surprised I hadn't noticed it sooner.

Yup, it's VIG. Bought a couple used system there last year. I was doing my programming assignments on a 486 system with Windows 98. It was painful.

Picked up a used Dell Pentium 2 233 for $125. Then I picked up a Pentium 233 for my cousin for $85. Seems like a good place to go if you need a used PC. Actually there are a lot of good places in Waterloo for used (and new) computer. I was impressed. Very cheap new system at Computer XS.
Anyway...Morty's is pretty good, and I'll be sure to check out that Mac shop next time I'm in the city.