[slingshot]

I am a journalist student that is considering getting a Mac for desktop publishing, photoediting and music production. I have wanted to get a Mac for years but could never afford it. Now I am thinking I can't afford not to make the switch.

I have been offered the following: (excuse my lack of proper Mac nomenclature)

G4 Single processor
933 ghz clock speed
dual 80 gig harddrives
1.2 gig of ram (sd I think)
DVD burner
Lots of pre-installed music software
no monitor or sound card included

Asking price in Candian dollars - $1200 (approx $1000 U.S)

Is this a resonable deal?

Thanks for an advice.

ss

[reader50]

That system is not a steal, it's fair price is somewhere close to the price you quote. You'll have to spend at least US$100 for a new video card, the system does not have onboard video. You might be able to get a used video card cheaper. You do not need a sound card unless you want to go beyond stereo output.

For reference, your system is:
Order# M8666LL/A
PowerMac G4 (Quicksilver 2002) 933 MHz, single processor
1.25 GB PC133 (factory 256 + 512 + 512). 3 RAM slots, all full.
Originally shipped with a 60 GB HD in standard configuration. Apparently changed out for dual 80, or custom configured. This model supports drives larger than 128/137 GB.
AGP 4x slot, originally had a GF4MX 64 MB as the standard card.
Superdrive optical drive DVD-RW/CD-RW
4 PCI 33MHz slots.

specifications sheet

[OreoCookie]

How about saving some more and getting an iMac G5? Or buy a souped-up Mac mini for probably less?

[chris v]

Depends on what the pre-installed software is. Logic by itself is a grand, so it might be worth it.

[mitchell_pgh]

I would say it's not a great deal. Unless the software is worth at least $300 (check the version... and make sure it's LEGAL!) You should be able to pick up such a system for a bit less. I would rather spend another $200-4300 and pick up a new iMac.

If the used Mac dies in 6 months... good luck getting any money back. At leasy you would have a year on the iMac. Plus a nice 17" screen, Tiger, etc. etc. etc.

[NeoEsper]

Since he is a student he can get logic 7 for only $300 can, Also I agree with the rest of the people go get a new imac instead. Right now there are [pretty good deals at my school Imac 17 inch 1.8 G5 about $1299 can, also get free upgrade to Tiger and ilife.

[polendo]

I would say to skip it and save a bit for an iMac. It's new, is faster and now with 512 RAM base can work right out of the box.

[OreoCookie]

Well, usually, if a person sells a Mac, they just keep the software on the harddrive (as opposed to wiping it), but they don't `give you' their licenses. In this case, you just have a harddrive with a lot of unlicensed software ...

[Randman]

I hope the person is a French-speaking journalism student because the grammar is horrible. Sorry for the off-topic comment but no journalism student should admit that and then write like that.
For about the same price you can get a brand-new iBook, which could serve a J student even better than a desktop, with warranty. Or go cheaper and get a Mac mini since you'll need a monitor as well.

[nycdunz]

scsds