[SQLDba]

I just bought a Powerbook 15" - 1.5 w/ all the bells and whistles. Absolutely love the thing - windows switcher - and am in heaven. So much so that I am dumping my Palm pilot and getting a low end 12" iBook to act as my PDA at work.

All I need is a unit w/ wireless, the iApps on it (calendar, addressbook etc) and will put a shareware editor on it (Mellel or something - will try TextEdit first) The machine will be my PDA so I don't need to do video editing, flash programming etc. Just need a basic system w/ the 4 hour battery life that the ibook will give me. Heck, I don't even need anything above a cd-rom.

I want to stay around $700 - 800 dollars.

My question is....I am seeing a couple of places selling new G3-800 ibooks for about $750 after tax / ship. Or I can get a refurb'd G4-800 at PowerMax / SmallDog for about the same. Same w/ an ebay system.

Just curious what the big difference is between the G3 and G4. I know about the altivec etc. - but for what I want to use it for, will I really notice a difference?

How about when Tiger comes out? Will it run on a G3?

Thanks for any advice

[drive-thru]

The G3 800 will more than staisfy your reqirements. I use one currently for graphic design, so running iApps won't be a problem. Make sure you put in extra RAM, it will take a 512MB chip to give 640MB total, although anything over 256MB total will be fine.
The important thing is to make sure that you get the Apple warranty with the iBook. The G3s sometimes have issues with the logic board, although this is covered out of warranty as well.
I would stay clear of eBay unless you can save $100 or more. If the prices for the G3 and G4 are similar then obviously go for the G4, either will be more than adequate.

The G4 can take an Airport Extreme card (54mbps) whereas the G3 is limited to Airport (11mbps and difficult to find a cheap card as Apple have stopped production). The G4 also takes DDR RAM (come with 256MB built-in instead of 128MB for the G3) and I think all of them have Combo drives (14" can have Superdrives), whereas the G3 may just have a CD-RW or DVD drive (something to note when buying).

I would be surprised if Tiger won't run in a G3, I don't know if Apple has officialy released a statement on this. None of the current iBooks will support CoreImage due to the graphics cards, but I'm told this is not a big deal unless you're a developer.
It would not be essential to upgrade the iBook to Tiger, but I can see that Dashboard would be useful for you.

Let us know if you have any other questions. Good Luck.

[bluedog]

I'm pretty sure tiger will run, but won't have enough of a video card to make all the eye candy go POP!

I have a G3-900mHz iBook and LOVED it. I still have it, and am going to sell it but prefer a local sale to eliminate shipping. It does EVERYTHING well, but may be a bit slow in the videoediting and processing of large graphics. It even plays most games fairly well.

For your uses it will be great and still hold up to the next revision of the OS fairly well. Be sure the model you get has the max. ram you can get. Also, the G3 models only support the 802.11b wireless which is a little slower. But for ALMOST ALL USES it is sufficient other than copying LARGE files from one computer to another.

Good luck and enjoy!

[iREZ]

Check out the deals section of vendors including Apple, you'd be surprised how low they sell some machines. I got a G4 iBook from ClubMac for 750 total after taxs and shipping. apple sells a G4 iBook with only a CD ROM as well for 50 less than an iBook with Combo, I'd rather keep the CDRW and extra 128MB for $50. Good luck.

[SQLDba]

Originally posted by iREZ:
Check out the deals section of vendors including Apple, you'd be surprised how low they sell some machines. I got a G4 iBook from ClubMac for 750 total after taxs and shipping. apple sells a G4 iBook with only a CD ROM as well for 50 less than an iBook with Combo, I'd rather keep the CDRW and extra 128MB for $50. Good luck.

I know - I saw that deal from ClubMac. All sold out now unfortunately. I placed the order and then they dinked around verifing my credit card - and then ran out of the units. All they have now are G3-800's.

Can I put an external USB wireless dongle on an ibook and use it? Since plain Airport cards are selling for $100+ - I would love a cheaper wireless solution.

Thanks

[drive-thru]

The Apple reseller here recommended the D-Link DWL-122 for USB wireless. They said it works perfectly with OS X.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=175

[Randman]

Why don't you take your PowerBook with you? Get an AirPort Express station, maybe an extra battery and use the money to improve what you already have (get more ram, a wireless keyboard/mouse, smartphone, iPod, etc).

[SQLDba]

I've thought about it - but I have a 15" PB - and it's still being babied. Plus I am using it for iPhoto / iMovie stuff so it's hooked to a firewire drive, burner etc.

Just figured it be easier to buy something a little more portable in a 12", plus get the better battery life of the ibook, and get a "daily driver" that I could carry around with me to different meetings etc. and not have to take quite the care that I do w/ my main brain. The PB doesn't go anywhere unless it's strapped into my laptop armor case. The only thin I don't do is handcuff it to my wrist

[Nodnarb]

Originally posted by SQLDba:
I've thought about it - but I have a 15" PB - and it's still being babied. Plus I am using it for iPhoto / iMovie stuff so it's hooked to a firewire drive, burner etc.

Just figured it be easier to buy something a little more portable in a 12", plus get the better battery life of the ibook, and get a "daily driver" that I could carry around with me to different meetings etc. and not have to take quite the care that I do w/ my main brain. The PB doesn't go anywhere unless it's strapped into my laptop armor case. The only thin I don't do is handcuff it to my wrist

I agree with the post above yours. A computer is made to be used as a PDA also, I don't see a need to buy a cheap computer just for that. All your contacts in address book and everything can be used on your powerbook. I know you are still babying your powerbook right now, but in the long run it will be cumbersome (sp?) to switch back and forth between computers. I say your best belt is to make your powerbook your everything. The thing I cannot stress enough though is to make CONSTANT BACKUPS!

But if you just need to use the iBook for that stuff, I think it's a waste. You have a powerbook?!?!? I say just use that and you should be straight.