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Purchase recommendation?
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legacyb4
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Join Date: May 2001
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Jul 14, 2004, 10:03 AM
 
Thinking about replacing my old Sawtooth with a newer machine and tossing around the thought of buying a used machine with a reasonable chassis.

In my area, I can find:

a) Dual 867/2GB/60GB/Combo/32MB - $1,200 (used, delivered)
b) Dual1.42/768MB/120GB/Super/64MB - $1,725 (used, delivered)

from Apple Store Canada, including taxes, more or less similar systems are priced at:

c) single 1.25/512MB/80GB/Combo/64MB - $1,600
d) dual 1.25/512MB/80GB/Superdrive/64MB - $2,080
e) dual 1.8/512MB/80GB/Superdrive/64MB - $2,552

Usage patterns these days don't really justify a G5 but on the other hand, booting to OS 9 is pretty much a non-requirement. Gut feeling says that b) dual 1.42 is probably the best buy of the lot as I do have several 60GB+ drives sitting around which could be used immediately.

I'm judging from the life squeezed out of my current G4 that it should through Tiger at least which indicates that unless Apple does a major shift in hardware requirements, the 1.42 should handle at least another 3-4 major releases of software after 10.3 and still be a viable machine.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
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bighead
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Jul 14, 2004, 11:14 AM
 
I just recently encountered a similar situation, except I was replacing a GigE Dual 500 tower. I couldn't make room for a G5, nor did I need the speed. I also wanted more than two internal hard disks and only one internal optical drive. Here's what I did last month.

I bought from Apple a CTO Dual 1.25 GHz G4 tower. It was actually all stock, except for the DP module. Then, I bought a Pioneer DVR-107, an extra 512 MB RAM, and two WD2000JD 200 GB hard disks, all from NewEgg. It's now got 768 MB RAM, 1x80 and 2x200 hard disks, a 32x combo drive, an 8x superdrive, AirPort, dual processors, and most importantly, it takes up ZERO ADDITIONAL SPACE on my desk. I do not boot into OS 9 at all on this machine. I got a nice discount on the CPU, which made the whole setup cost under $2000 USD.

The dual 1.42 is a good machine, but it will most likely have no warranty. While FW800 and AirPort Extreme is handy, I do consider that a brand spanking new machine with a shiny new warranty and AppleCare is better than one marginally faster but with no support at all. I'd say go with one of the new Dual 1.25s, even though you don't boot into OS 9.
the bighead

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legacyb4  (op)
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Jul 14, 2004, 04:41 PM
 
Bighead,

Thanks for the input.

Just talked to the seller of the dual 1.42; it's still under 1 year warranty (about two weeks) to go and the Apple technician checking the machine out right now can offer me a 3 year extension for C$350 including tax.

That puts the total of a near-new machine with 3 year Applecare at:

$1,987 (dual 1.42, 768/120, Superdrive) versus
$2,449 (dual 1.25, 512/80, Superdrive)
$2,927 (dual 1.8 G5, 512/80, Superdrive)

So all in all, it's a $500 spread for the two G4s, both similarly equipped.

Man, whoever thought buying hardware would be THIS tough...

Cheers.

Originally posted by bighead:
I just recently encountered a similar situation, except I was replacing a GigE Dual 500 tower. I couldn't make room for a G5, nor did I need the speed. I also wanted more than two internal hard disks and only one internal optical drive. Here's what I did last month.

I bought from Apple a CTO Dual 1.25 GHz G4 tower. It was actually all stock, except for the DP module. Then, I bought a Pioneer DVR-107, an extra 512 MB RAM, and two WD2000JD 200 GB hard disks, all from NewEgg. It's now got 768 MB RAM, 1x80 and 2x200 hard disks, a 32x combo drive, an 8x superdrive, AirPort, dual processors, and most importantly, it takes up ZERO ADDITIONAL SPACE on my desk. I do not boot into OS 9 at all on this machine. I got a nice discount on the CPU, which made the whole setup cost under $2000 USD.

The dual 1.42 is a good machine, but it will most likely have no warranty. While FW800 and AirPort Extreme is handy, I do consider that a brand spanking new machine with a shiny new warranty and AppleCare is better than one marginally faster but with no support at all. I'd say go with one of the new Dual 1.25s, even though you don't boot into OS 9.
Macbook (Black) C2D/250GB/3GB | G5/1.6 250GBx2/2.0GB
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legacyb4  (op)
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Jul 15, 2004, 11:19 PM
 
Well, the market moved sooner than I could and all the used machines were taken.

Another one has rolled across my screen:

G5 1.6
- 1.25GB RAM
- 80GB HD
- Superdrive
- no Applecare

for about $1,500 even.

That sound about right?
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