Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Laminar · Oct 25, 2007, 02:25 PM

I was talking to a friend of mine today, and a friend of hers recently had her MBP (2.0GHz CD, 80GB, 512MB, 128MB, 15") dropped and the screen cracked. Apparently it still works, but the screen is just messed up. She talked to me about what it would cost to get it fixed. The on-campus mac place quoted her $700 and she wanted to know where she could get a new screen. I looked around on eBay and saw screens typically go for $200-300 and I offered to install it for a plate of cookies.

So now her friend is trying to decide whether to get this fixed, or just sell it and buy a new laptop. She said if she does buy a new one, she'd sell this to me. I looked around on eBay and said it's probably worth $700-800 as is.

I'm currently using an iBook G4 I bought new in fall of '04. In fall of '06, I got in a bike accident and cracked the screen:

I used it connected to my TV for a while, but missed the portability, so in spring of '07, I bought a new screen for $150 and installed it myself:

It's now my main machine, used for Mail, Adium, Safari, iTunes (live on-stage stuff), connected to a 22" LCD when it's at home, but it's definitely showing its age. Although it's fine for basic web browsing and Office, flash kind of sucks, and I have trouble watching any TV shows online...I have to use my roommate's MBP for that.

It's also been useful to me to have a Windows machine around in the past for my engineering work and other random stuff, but I sold my PC to get some money for an iPod touch (which ended up going into my car...long story), so having an Intel Mac would be a good thing.

So my question is whether or not I should go for this (assuming the screen is the only thing wrong with it). Obviously, I'd have to upgrade the RAM immediately, but I think I could use it as a desktop unit connected to my LCD until I have enough spare cash lying around to get a screen for it. At that point, I wouldn't need the iBook anymore, so I could sell it off. Any suggestions?

wallinbl · Oct 25, 2007, 02:31 PM

Buy it and sell the iBook to offset the cost.

Eug · Oct 25, 2007, 02:32 PM

Is she hot?

Laminar · Oct 25, 2007, 02:33 PM

My friend? Yes. Her friend? No clue.

imitchellg5 · Oct 25, 2007, 02:49 PM

Just do it®

Rumor · Oct 25, 2007, 03:27 PM

Is cookies a new code word I am unaware?

besson3c · Oct 25, 2007, 03:34 PM

Who is that guy on your screen?

Laminar · Oct 25, 2007, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Is cookies a new code word I am unaware?

Nope. I'm willing to fix the screen for food.

Originally Posted by besson3c

Who is that guy on your screen?

That's a picture of me that my roommate pulled off of Facebook and Photoshopped onto the iBook. Plenty more can be seen in the original thread.

iMOTOR · Oct 25, 2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Nope. I'm willing to fix the screen for food.

So you youngsters are calling it "food" these days?

Laminar · Oct 25, 2007, 06:56 PM

I work for sex.

There. No more euphemisms.
Uh...not really

iMOTOR · Oct 25, 2007, 07:06 PM

Well, at least "cookies" isn't slang for meth or something.

- - e r i k - - · Oct 25, 2007, 07:17 PM

iMOTOR · Oct 25, 2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

will-work-for-food.jpg

So, erik, did you give the nice young lady the food she needed?

- - e r i k - - · Oct 25, 2007, 07:41 PM

There's just no comeback I could think of that would not get me banned...

abbaZaba · Oct 25, 2007, 08:11 PM

Go 4 It!

TyPod · Oct 25, 2007, 10:07 PM

I say take a stab at it. You've done it before, so at least you have some experience.

pinenuts · Oct 25, 2007, 11:14 PM

Why I buy safeware for all of my computers.

Laminar · Oct 26, 2007, 12:14 AM

Well I'd like to jump at the chance, but money's kind of tight right now. I'm putting a bunch into my car (3.0, headers, udp, intake, etc) and I'm not sure if I should overspend myself. I'll be on an internship next semester so I'll have plenty of cash then, I might just wait and pick up a C2D MacBook then.

IceEnclosure · Oct 26, 2007, 01:27 AM

Aren't basic white refurb MacBook C2Duos going for like $899 on apple.com?

I'd do that unless she were going to charge you under $700 or so. Even then, if you can't get an LCD for $200, then you're still best going with a new refurb.

IceEnclosure · Oct 26, 2007, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Well I'd like to jump at the chance, but money's kind of tight right now. I'm putting a bunch into my car (3.0, headers, udp, intake, etc) and I'm not sure if I should overspend myself. I'll be on an internship next semester so I'll have plenty of cash then, I might just wait and pick up a C2D MacBook then.

doesn't the contour svt already have a 3.0L?

imitchellg5 · Oct 26, 2007, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

doesn't the contour svt already have a 3.0L?

No, it's a 2.5L V6.

Laminar · Oct 26, 2007, 09:58 AM

Stock 2.5L: 200hp/169lb-ft
Stock 3.0L: 201hp/207lb-ft

Plus I'm adding a bunch of goodies. I wouldn't be surprised to see 200 at the wheels, probably more. Plus I got a Quaife LSD, and I'm also one of the first people to get an XCal3.

Laminar · Oct 30, 2007, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Is she hot?

Further research says yes.

I recommended she have me repair her laptop and use Boot Camp to run Windows so she can do AutoCAD stuff instead of ditching the Mac to get a PC.

I have a complete repair manual so replacing the screen shouldn't be an issue, but how can I be sure I'm getting a compatible replacement? Were there any changes from model to model (besides the LED displays, of course)?

Laminar · Nov 9, 2007, 08:32 PM

I replaced the screen and upgraded her RAM to 2GB, and she paid me $350 for parts and labor. The screen was $225 and the RAM was $65, so I made about $60 on the deal.

iM@k · Nov 9, 2007, 11:58 PM

(This is probably lame on many levels but after reading this thread here is what popped into my head)

*SINGS* HE DID ALL FOR THE COOKIE (COM' ON) THE COOKIE (COM' ON) SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT NOOKIE AND STICK IT UP YOUR YA! STICK IT UP YOUR YA!*

OK, I'm done now