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g4baker · 07:08 PM

I'm getting ready to purchase an Apple computer, but I'm having a bit of trouble deciding which one I should purchase. What would you do, and why? Listed below:

-Apple iBook 800 MHz G4. Because it's just barely within my price range, I can only afford that special educational one. It's an 800 MHz G4 with 128 MB DDR RAM (RAM would be upgraded later), and a CDROM.

-Apple iBook 900 MHz G3. 12-inch screen, 640 MB RAM, combo drive.

-Apple PowerBook G4 550 MHz. 384 MB SDRAM, combo drive, etc.

-Apple iMac 800 MHz G4/15-inch screen/256 MB RAM/60 GB HD

Which one would you go with, and why? Advice is greatly appreciated. Please let me know--thanks.

iREZ · Feb 22, 2004, 02:35 AM

I say you save up for a month more and spring for the 12" G4 iBook with the Combo. If you let us know what your going to use your 'book for, it will help us make a better decision on which would indeed be best for you. The G3 iBook aint too shabby either. Let us know, and we'll let you know.

FL!PNEUS · Feb 22, 2004, 02:44 AM

I don't know where you saw that iBook G4 800 MHz, but the stock iBook G4 800 MHz is ALWAYS with 256 MB RAM and a combo-drive, just look at the specs at the Apple website.

pat++ · 06:50 AM

Go for the G4 iBook, it will last much longer... The PowerBook G4 550mhz does not have the higher resolution of the lastest models (only 1152x768 for this model, and 1024x768 for the iBook). This PowerBook does not support Quartz Extreme. So I would say if you can't afford a newer PowerBook, just go with the G4 iBook. (not sure if the 128mb/CD model is for education only, but I would wait a bit and get the 256/combo model). Anyway, if you go with the 128mb model, you will NEED to get at least a 128mb stick, because 128mb is not enough to run OS X.

edit: just checked the prices with edu discount, and for $50 more you'll get 256mb of memory and a combo drive. It's really worth it.

pat++ · Feb 22, 2004, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by FL!PNEUS:
I don't know where you saw that iBook G4 800 MHz, but the stock iBook G4 800 MHz is ALWAYS with 256 MB RAM and a combo-drive, just look at the specs at the Apple website.

The 128mb/CD model is only available if you get an edu discount.

ghporter · Feb 22, 2004, 09:08 AM

If you qualify for the educational discount, you probably also qualify for Apple financing. With this program, you pay only the interest for the first two years (theoretically while you finish school), and then begin making principle and interest payments. That puts your monthly payments for a well-equipped 800MHz G4 ibook at less than $20. Of course you can always pay more each month to knock down the principle.

With that said, I completely agree with everyone else that you should get a G4, and you'll be much happier with a combo drive.

arclight · Feb 22, 2004, 09:46 AM

G4 and a combo definitely! ibook or powerbook is a personal choice for me. Oddly enough I had my hands on a 17 powerbook for a month and I preferred my ibook to it. I'm emotionally attached to this little white slab of plastic. With a span hack it's a great little portable desktop. Maybe a little underpowered for some but a workhorse nonetheless-

g4baker · Feb 22, 2004, 05:02 PM

Thank you all for the advice! I use it mostly for basic stuff, but I am planning on running some edition of VPC. Don't worry, I plan to upgrade the RAM to 640 MB as soon as I can. I'm leaning torwards the iBook G4...in response to some people's advice, unfortunately, I can't afford the regular education iBook (the $999 one). Let me know what you think!

Any good places to get open-box iBook G4's?

Aaron Baker

iREZ · Feb 22, 2004, 07:09 PM

Save up just a little longer, combo drive is totally worth it. I dont know why you would want the low-low end model anyway. Take it from me, in this day and age you need a combo drive at the least.

fibroptikl · Feb 23, 2004, 12:55 AM

I agree, get the iBook G4 800 with a Combo Drive.

Save up, it's totally worth it.

g4baker · Feb 25, 2004, 07:09 PM

Thank you all for the advice. I won't be able to save up for the iBook with the combo drive--it's between the computers listed above, or possibly a PC desktop. Let me know what you think.

Aaron

sniffer · Feb 25, 2004, 07:49 PM

What-ever you go for, just make sure you have enough ram. Wouldn't recommend anyone to go lower than 384 for daily use over an extended period. 256 might be ok for a short periode. 128 is barely enough to run the OS, but you can manage if you are desperate or if you are carefull with what you run. Just my tip.