[jstad]

I have recently become obsessed with the iMac's at my school library and I need to get a laptop so I figured it would be a good mac switch. Even if I do not like the mac to use as a main OS, I will have my Windows desktop. Anyway, I want to get an iBook that will do my basic tasks (wireless, email, web browsing, music) with 2-3 hours of battery life. I want a 12" iBook since I like it small smile.gif But what specs do I want as far as the CPU, RAM etc. I am hopefully looking to get a used one for around $300-500. Alot of G3 800MHz iBooks sell on eBay for about $400, would these work? I want this thing to run OSX that is really my only requirement. I am used to speed, but a 800MHz iMac with 256MB RAM @ school runs fine, but I dunno.

[ghporter]

An 800MHZ or faster iBook G4 is a great choice. They go up to about 1GB of RAM (depending on the revision) and you'll want plenty of RAM because things go much faster with more RAM.

You'll be looking at more than $400, but not too much if you look hard. Since you're a student, you qualify for Apple's student pricing-and you can get a NEW 12 inch iBook for less than $1000.

[jaydon34]

Use my ibook every day since its purchase. Trust me you wont look back at the windows box unless your a gamer. Mines is still away in storage and the ibook suits my every need.

[radarbob]

I just bought a 900MHz iBook from techrestore.com yesterday. It's replacing my current 300MHz iBook.

I spent about $450 less than a new 12'' iBook and the only thing I would get for $450 is more speed - that I don't really need if I'm brutally honest with myself. I'm not buying a gaming machine after all. Please, I don't want to argue about the fine point differences with the new iBook; everyone has to decide what important to them personally.

In other words for $450 less I still get the same USB 2.0, firewire, CD burning, DVD reading, same screen resolution, same HD, same 32MB video memory (but newer video chip in the new iBook).

The new G4 iBook can handle much more memory than the G3 iBooks, but IMHO 640MB is enough. I have 544MB (for about 2 years now) in my current iBook and I've been satisfied with that.

Finally, look carefully at what you get with a used iBook. It won't be much of a bargain if you have to buy memory, airport card, OS upgrade...

[iDaver]

I'm still using my four year old iBook G3 600 for all of the purposes you mentioned. Works great! Mine has 384MB RAM, and is running OS 10.4. It's a little slow importing CDs but I have a faster desktop for that.

You said you need wireless. Note that it's no longer possible to buy a new Airport card for a G3 iBook so you must find one that already has it.

G3 iBooks had pretty small hard drives. I was able to crack mine open to upgrade the HD but wouldn't recommend it, unless you're courageous. I see that as the only major drawback to your plans.