01-16-2010, 01:39 AM
timg wrote:
I've seen the facts posted above, but I personally have a G3/800 that has had no problems and a G4/1.2 that has had the solder issue.
Guess I'm the exception to the rule, eh?
We have 5 G3 iBooks, three 600s and two 500s. The only one which has failed was mine (of course). I give some of the credit to changing cases from a relatively standard lay flat, zip open the top, case to using it in a sleeve in a larger case which put more stress on the edges of the laptop. I think this contributed to the video chip failing.
So based on our experience I wouldn't put the failure rate at 73%. The other two 600s were used by kids who kept them in good cases (most of the time) but used them in all sorts of situations. The 500s were used by my mother and my wife's mother, and were both less and more gently used.
That said, my impression is that the video cards on G3 iBooks will pretty much all fail eventually if they continue to be used. It was as much a design issue as anything else. Some computers probably got an infinitesimally greater amount of solder or cleaner bonds and will last longer.
Given that I never found much advantage to the G4 over the G3 processor, and I am typing this on a G4 TiBook, I'd probably still be using the iBook if it had not died on me. It had a better (if smaller) screen than my 15" TiBook, just as good a keyboard, and easier to reach ports. I have used the IrDA connection on the TiBook a few times with an old cellphone, and a couple of years ago I found the S-video jack handy. Reminds me that the new Mac laptops completely lack standard TV connections. The new laptops may be fast, but they are in some ways less flexible than older models.
Good luck.
- Winston