[koshercuts]

I have to make a choice between a used,
good condition 800 MHz iBook, 8 months old
(so original warranty still good for 4 months)

30 gig HDD
256 megs RAM
OS 10.3.5
CD-RW/DVD combo drive
AirPort Extreme added

for $800

OR...

a new APPLESTORE iBook 1GHz Combo (12" TFT)
with 512MB DDR266 SDRAM (256MB built-in & 256MB SO-DIMM)
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card

for $1,285.43


The extra $500 isn't going to take food off
my family's table, but is there a compelling
reason to spend it on the new unit and extra
200MHz processor speed?

[warpedten]

Hi, wanted to let you know you could save a good amount of money by buying the minimum possible 256MB RAM from Apple and instead buying the ram somewhere else (I'd reccommend Kingston or Crucial brand). Installing the ram is pretty easy, but even if you're not comforable doing that it would probably still be cheaper to buy the ram from a third party and pay them to install it (instead of buying it from apple). Cheers!

[Randman]

I agree on the ram. And for a couple of hundred, you'll get a 1Ghz model which has good performance and a larger hard drive.

[nJm]

The 1Ghz model has a few improvements over the 800mhz G4. These include more ram built in (256 vs 128), more cache and a faster system bus. The current iBooks are essentially the previous Powerbook 12" now.

I agree on getting ram elsewhere though. I ordered my 12" 1Ghz with the standard 256mb and got an extra 256mb off eBay for $35. And this ram I got off eBay was actually Apple (Samsung) ram from a Powerbook! Works perfectly.

[koshercuts]

Thanks for the replies. I decided to go with the 1GHz but found an even better deal on a new-in-box unit that a student didn't want, so I've split the difference and now can spend some more $$ on RAM from Crucial.

[iREZ]

Check the Powerbook forum for a really great RAM offer from outpost.com. It's PC2700 RAM, which will work in your iBook and new model Powerbooks as well. You'll be doing yourself a favor by buying PC2700. The price for a one gig stick that outpost is offering is almost the same for a 512MB chip from crucial (or was).

[Chimpmaster]

I think you have made a good choice.

The extra bus speed and clock speed will make a significant difference in the performance of many apps, especially games.

Also, there may be a difference in video cards? They have a 32MB card, but I suspect that the newer model has a better card in it (ATI Radeon mobility 9200). Im not sure about this though...

[Lancer409]

i purchased ram elsewhere (twice) ... no problems thus far..

good luck on yoru decision