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ClaraT · Jan 22, 2008, 07:39 PM

I'm wondering what you would do with an older PB G4 that is quite dead?

It was given to me about two years ago at which time it did start but made a lot of fan noise. (The prior owner was easy on it.) Then suddenly it didn't start at all so I parked it in my cupboard where it has sat ever since.

I've called around to see if it's worth getting it to work, but two different opinions say no. Cost would be $500-$700 and advise I just get a new Macbook or ???

It seems such a shame to not be able to bring it back to life as it was over $2k in it's day:
Powerbook G4, 17"
500 Mhz, 1MB256MB
256MB/30GB/8MB Video DVD

So any suggestions? I wouldn't mind tinkering with it if someone can send me some instructions.

But what should be done with these out-dated, still good-looking laptops? Donate or cremate? Curious to hear how others recycle or find uses besides using as paperweights or starting my personal Mac Museum. (Also own a dead Pismo.)

mad cow disease · Jan 22, 2008, 08:06 PM

It really doesn't matter what price electronics...or ANYTHING were purchased for back in the day. All that matters is their value now, and the specs on that are not that all impressive.

I would personally part it out for parts or sell the entire thing as-is for someone else to cannibalize.

Ozmodiar · Jan 22, 2008, 08:34 PM

Are you sure on those specs? The processor speed in the 17" started at 1 GHz.

Kyros · Jan 23, 2008, 04:24 PM

I wouldn't bother fixing it, It would be barely worth more than the cost of the repair, assuming it's a 1 gHz machine.

anthology123 · Jan 23, 2008, 04:34 PM

Based on those specs, it sounds like you have a Powerbook G4 (Titanium) 15", not 17".
The worth salvaging is the Airport Card, you could sell it on eBay. Provided it has an Airport Card.

Stizo99 · Jan 23, 2008, 05:47 PM

Or since it's titanium you could use it to stop bullets?

olePigeon · Jan 23, 2008, 06:18 PM

The keys from the Titanium work on the newer PowerBooks & MacBooks. You can replace the keys on the newer laptops and have black, transparent keys.

acorder · Jan 23, 2008, 06:22 PM

That's a pretty neat trick, I must say, though probably a good bit of work, no?

olePigeon · Jan 23, 2008, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by acorder

That's a pretty neat trick, I must say, though probably a good bit of work, no?

A little, but the keys just pop off, then you snap em back in. It is missing one key, though, the "eject" key. You could put two F12s on.

chipchen · Jan 23, 2008, 09:10 PM

You've most likely got a PowerBook Titanium... probably one of the originals. They started at 400MHz and 500MHz. And it sounds like you have a bad logic board if it's not powering on... but, "suddenly it didn't start at all" could mean a lot of different things.

Does it power on at all? Screen turn on? Errors messages? Noises? Etc? Those would all be things that would make a difference in a possible diagnosis.

If you take it to an Apple Store... barring any obvious physical damage, you can send it in for a flat rate repair at about $325. They will replace whatever is wrong, so long as it wasn't caused by any sort of abuse (drops, cracked screens, dents, spilled liquids... those are considered abuse).

You can donate it... it will probably go to a Goodwill Computer Store.. where some Mac tinkerer will buy it to tinker with perhaps... or you can fix it and use it as a backup machine... or give it to someone on these forums (I'm sure there would be many takers... including me).

chipchen · Jan 23, 2008, 09:11 PM

Oh, BTW, it's only worth $300 at the most in my opinion... but to some, it's worth that to get it fixed...

Macola · Jan 24, 2008, 11:47 AM

I'd dump it on eBay...that's your best option for getting some money back.

scottiB · Jan 24, 2008, 11:56 AM

If you're buying a new Mac, Apple will recycle one old one for free. Apple will also recycle computers for a fee if not purchasing a Mac.

Apple - Environment - Recycle

peeb · Jan 24, 2008, 12:53 PM

Give it to FreeGeek.org?

ClaraT · Jan 24, 2008, 05:06 PM

Hey,

Thanks for all the great ideas. I like olePigeon's suggestion for using the keyboard on the Macbook should I ever purchase one. One of the things I'm not liking about the newer machines is the keyboard--I love how my old ibook feels.

And yep, I was wrong. It's a 15" Titanium NOT 17".

It's really bullet proof?

peeb · Jan 24, 2008, 05:22 PM

Erm, no.

acorder · Jan 24, 2008, 05:51 PM

Sounds like a Mythbusters experiment in the making...

jamil5454 · Jan 24, 2008, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by ClaraT

Hey,

Thanks for all the great ideas. I like olePigeon's suggestion for using the keyboard on the Macbook should I ever purchase one. One of the things I'm not liking about the newer machines is the keyboard--I love how my old ibook feels.

And yep, I was wrong. It's a 15" Titanium NOT 17".

It's really bullet proof?

The keys are interchangeable, not the keyboard itself. Changing the keys won't change the feel of the keyboard (mostly).

msuper69 · Jan 24, 2008, 09:09 PM

If it powers on and thus generates some heat, my cat would love to have it as a bed.

JKT · Jan 25, 2008, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by jamil5454

The keys are interchangeable, not the keyboard itself. Changing the keys won't change the feel of the keyboard (mostly).

...and you can't change them on the MacBook like this anyway, only the MacBook Pro

Could it be a hard drive failure? If so, then it would be very cheap to replace the HD if you don't mind disassembling the Powerbook yourself.

SierraDragon · Jan 25, 2008, 12:53 PM

Take it to an Apple store or ship it to Apple and pay to get it diagnosed. In any event let us know what happens because I too have at least one dead TiBook in a closet somewhere.

-Allen Wicks

krillbee · Jan 26, 2008, 01:53 AM

I would definately try to sell it either on craigslist or on ebay. That laptop still has plenty of value to it.

For example: Our school ditched a PB with about the same specs as yours, but it had a bad motherboard. I bought a motherboard off of ebay for $50, installed it in less than an hour, and ended up selling it for $260 on craigslist (I could have gotten more for it but I wanted to sell it fast)

Whatever you do, don't just give it to someone without realizing that its not worth anything. If you give it away to someone, please realize that its a gift, and that they are getting something valuable.

romeosc · Jan 26, 2008, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by ClaraT

I'm wondering what you would do with an older PB G4 that is quite dead?

It was given to me about two years ago at which time it did start but made a lot of fan noise. (The prior owner was easy on it.) Then suddenly it didn't start at all so I parked it in my cupboard where it has sat ever since.

I've called around to see if it's worth getting it to work, but two different opinions say no. Cost would be $500-$700 and advise I just get a new Macbook or ???

It seems such a shame to not be able to bring it back to life as it was over $2k in it's day:
Powerbook G4, 17"
500 Mhz, 1MB256MB
256MB/30GB/8MB Video DVD

So any suggestions? I wouldn't mind tinkering with it if someone can send me some instructions.

But what should be done with these out-dated, still good-looking laptops? Donate or cremate? Curious to hear how others recycle or find uses besides using as paperweights or starting my personal Mac Museum. (Also own a dead Pismo.)

Before you try everything expensive!

Is the power light coming on when plugged in? In storage battery could have drained completely. Power adapter may be bad and not recharging! If you have another PB try its power supply!
Good luck!

If that doesn't work part out for Airport card, HD, Keyboard, power supply, Battery, ....
the sum of the parts is much more than resale price of computer!