$699 for Refreshed ibook G4

[graylocks]

okay, local apple store has refreshed G4 12" for $699. i think the least i've seen this for is $719 refurbished.

should i jump on this? i would think the prices today wouldn't be the absolute best as the mac aficionado would be thinking of scoring an ibook now that macbook is out. but i'm also afraid that she who hesitates loses out?

whatdoyathink?

[Chupa Chupa]

I think it makes no sense to spend $699 on an obsolete machine. Spend the extra $300 and get the current machine. It will last you a couple years more than a G4. Owning a G4 next year is like owning a G3 today.

[mrbigstuff]

depends, really. i can see the resale value on those going no lower than about $500, so you can use it for a year or two and recoup most of your investment. personally, i'm waiting for the refurb macbooks to come along for a $100 or so less ;->

[ssledoux]

Can someone give me the lowdown on why the new MacBooks are going to be so much more desireable than the iBooks?? My daughter has just purchased an iBook (we haven't even received it yet) and now the MacBooks are on the site. I just need to know if it's worth it for her to spend the extra money (what winds up being about $400 over a refurbed g4). If so, why??

[graylocks]

Chupa Chupa Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think it makes no sense to spend $699 on an
> obsolete machine. Spend the extra $300 and get the
> current machine. It will last you a couple years
> more than a G4. Owning a G4 next year is like
> owning a G3 today.
>
>

it does make sense if your priority is to meet your needs and live within your budget.

my G3 ibook is dead. i need a laptop mostly for checking email when i travel and surfing the web around the house when i'm home. it would be nice to have a MacBook (especially the black one!) but i have no real 'need' for the new technology. when i do, i'll replace one of the desktops.

[Sam3]

I posted on your topic, but I have some additional thoughts, ssledoux. Since it's a used machine that apparently you paid $699 for, then I'm thinking for the time being the 12" iBook will do fine. If she later finds that her need change, the iBook can always be resold.

Wile I think the MacBook is a better long-term solution, I can see the economic reality of saving about 1/3 the cost of the newly released machine.

[mrbigstuff]

my rule is always buy the cheapest machine you can get away with. no one "needs" the latest and greatest, they just convince themselves they do.

[elmo3]

I got a 12" iBook G4 a couple months ago for $699; it was the Apple Store demo unit. 1.33, 512MB, AE, BT.

I *love* that machine. It's great.

[Jimmypoo]

That's a great price. And about right too for a machine like that.

I think anyone who is going to be able to get by (as we did with OS 9 for
quite a while after it was halted) - then the G4 at that kind of price is a
great idea.

I'm not talking about upgrades, but rather, this crop of iBooks. If, for whatever
reason, your needs will take you beyond the static software that ships with it
as well as Office and Adobe CS (not even CS 2), then it might be right to think about
the new unit.

I've argued this point for a while - since the first CoreDuo hit the market, that
anything less than the deal I got on the Mini (percentage wise) - which was $323,
for a new G4 ANYTHING, would be throwing money away.

But to get the top end iBook, and have it serve its purpose for 3 years or more?
That's great. Hell -- I'm typing on a 6 year old Pismo, factory spec, except for HD,
and it still runs Tiger great - and has 512mb of RAM.

That doesn't mean that I don't want that new machine. In fact, I want that new
machine so I can retire everything else I have, and perhaps even make some decisions
about the Mini.

I've always been a laptop guy - since I bought the 520c. That was 11 years ago. They
suit my purpose for almost everything, and when I need the screen, I plug it in.

I don't think that paying what amounts to 50% more than you paid (if you got
the machine for $699 or so) is a good investment, if you have no intention or
resources to start buying NATIVE software.

If all you are going to do is run PowerPC based software, why not just own the G4?
That makes more financial sense. "Just $400" on a percentage basis is a substantial
amount of money, relatively speaking.

.

[DRR]

mrbigstuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> my rule is always buy the cheapest machine you can
> get away with. no one "needs" the latest and
> greatest, they just convince themselves they do.


For a personal machine, yes. For a professional machine, you're out of your mind.