Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > What would you do with an 1GHz G4 AlBook?

What would you do with an 1GHz G4 AlBook?
Thread Tools
Dark Sailor
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 12:52 PM
 
I just got a new 15" MacBook Pro and am now typing my last words on my Aluminum G4 PowerBook that I've had for almost 7 years. It went with me through grad school, my first job, helped me start my freelance design career, and get my writing career underway. It'll always hold a special place in my heart, I guess you could say...

At any rate, moving on to the future now, I've got a sweet NEW Mac laptop with about 5x the hard drive space, a way better screen, tons of RAM, and about 10x the battery life, so I'm stoked. But the question is: what do I do with this old machine? Put it on the bookshelf? Sell it on eBay? Turn it into a media center? Recycle it? Play frisbee? What have you found to be the best thing to do with an old Apple laptop that works great but is just a little outdated?

Have fun with this one. All comments appreciated!
     
fisherKing
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: brooklyn ny
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 02:17 PM
 
give it to someone who could really use it (and is short on funds); sell it on craigslist; donate it to a public library...

lots of choices.
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
Chinasaur
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Out West Somewhere....
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 05:15 PM
 
Nostalgia keeper For Teh Win!
iMac - Late 2015 iMac, 32GB RAM
MacBook - 2010 MacBook, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM
     
-Q-
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 05:23 PM
 
Trade it for a Klondike bar?
     
Dark Sailor  (op)
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 06:00 PM
 
Maybe a box of Klondike bars!
     
abbaZaba
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Pittsburgh
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 06:03 PM
 
I'd definitely set it up as some sort of media center/central server for something
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 06:55 PM
 
Macquarium is out - too difficult to do with a notebook anyway.

Film an amateur movie. Have the secret documents that everyone is killing for on the AlBook. Let them walk past it several times earlier in the movie.
     
Tuoder
Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Here
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 07:59 PM
 
I'd use it for a file server/print server/stereo, if you don't already have an Airport Express.

Alternatively, with a new battery from Newertech:

Newer Technology, Inc.� NuPower� Laptop Batteries

You'd have a nice portable DVD player for $100 with a big screen.
     
Tuoder
Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Here
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 15, 2010, 08:00 PM
 
Doublepost deletion
( Last edited by Tuoder; Jun 15, 2010 at 08:01 PM. Reason: Doublepost delete)
     
Dark Sailor  (op)
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 16, 2010, 09:41 AM
 
I think we should talk more about the macquarium idea. I think I can see some potential for a ground-breaking project there!
     
SSharon
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Teaneck, NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 16, 2010, 10:51 AM
 
As shiny as the new computer is I always like to keep an old machine around in case the new one needs to be fixed under warranty. It also serves as a backup of your data until you create new data of course.
AT&T iPhone 5S and 6; 13" MBP; MDD G4.
     
The Godfather
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Tampa, Florida
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 16, 2010, 07:05 PM
 
Install PPC Fedora or Ubuntu in it. This is the only way to run modern software in a tired laptop with the power of a netbook.

Hint: Ubuntu has boatloads of software.
     
amazing
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 16, 2010, 07:46 PM
 
I'm in favor of the jukebox idea.

Alternatively, if you know someone in high-school that doesn't have a laptop, donating it would be an excellent use.
     
macaddict0001
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Edmonton, AB
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 16, 2010, 09:08 PM
 
If you can't use it it give it to someone who can, or sell it, might fetch up to $200 or more depending on condition.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:04 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,