Help me make a decision: buy New or used?

Hello there AIers,

I'm a student (low cash flow) but need to replace my ailing powerbook 540c that I use to complement my iMac DVSE400.

The powerbook is used during the whole weekend, as I am working and not at home, and i basically use it as a wordprocessing (Wordperfect) and internet station (iCab), since i've got access to the place's network.

The powerbook is dying, would need some power thingy resoldering if I am right and maybe a keyboard replacement. Now, I paid 400$ close to 3 years ago for it (along with a stupid 300$ for 2 new batteries). This leaves me with:

Options:

1) pay something like 100-150$ to have the PB repaired, hope it keeps running reliably.

2)get a used powerbook (maybe a PPC 2400) for about 300$, hope it runs reliably.

3)get a new ibook for about 1500$

I could (maybe should) sell my iMac for this but (feeling real ridiculous about this) I just love it so much! It's been to most reliable machine i've ever used and It still feels fresh and new to me...

Any insight ?

What are your views on used machines? My powerbook was great, and if I hadn't bought those batteries, would be a great deal...

Thanks

Just to add in:

Doesn't anyone else feel uncomfortable with a laptop as your only computer?

Maybe I'm too used to having a desktop, but I don't like the idea of having "my whole life to go" close to being "my whole life gone 'cause i've been unlucky (or stupid)"...

Having such a powerfull laptop (actually faster that my desktop) would throw me off a bit, what is the use of the desktop then?

I should gather the strength to sell the iMac then?

It feels like selling a child! (That's so geeky...)

Anyone with ideas about justifying the iMac in this situation? aside from backup...

I'm not a gamer at all (although CIV3 wil probably change this...).

Anyone going the dual desktop-laptop route?

Students, what's your setup?

Help me justify keeping the iMac...

Decisions, decisions...

Matvei

BTW: thanks to all who replied.

That's just the thing... It's still such a great machine that I'd never get what it's worth for it. Not what I paid, but what I feel it's worth.
If it was slow or unreliable, i'd have no problem selling it, but it's just a perfect desktop for me... I know I need a portable but I was always able to rationalize it by having the powerbook be an "antique".
If I bought a 2400c, i'd never feel so distressed about wasting an iMac on my desk... It would truly be a companion.
God! I never had this feeling about my PCs (i'm a mac convert 1999). After 2 years, I was looking forward to getting rid of them!
Damn you Apple for building such great machines...

I'd love a tangerine iBook! The price is a bit too close to the new ones though...

How would you feel about using a 2400 today? I keep hearing about GLOD problems, trackpad problems, IO problems, etc...

How reliable are they?

Are airport cards cardbus only? Can ou find a 16bit one?

What was your setup Escher? Didn't you have an iMac and a comet?

I need to decide this week...

Hew: Why aren't you considering the 2400? I think it would be the best non-ibook(dual) fit as a companion computer. You do have a desktop, right?

As for the airport, I was just talking about the 802.11b technology. The orinoco or other lucenty type cards were what I meant. Are those cardbus as far a you can tell? I should check their website...

Thanks fran, I'd only consider the Tangerine or Keylime iBooks... hehe.

How well does AppleWorks 6 run on a 80MB PB2400c? Is it fast and responsive? How about Office 2001(euuw!)?

As for selling both, I'd probably need to get the 540c repaired before that. Selling for parts is not so attractive. It works ok, when plugged in and with an external keyboard...

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:
<strong>Matvei huh?

Seperatist? Or Albanian refugee?</strong>

soft nationalist with an eastern european affection...

<strong>
A quick, but not too attentive, survey of ebay says that you can get about 1000 canadian for a DVSE 400 with few/no extras.</strong>

Mine is equipped with 640MB or CL2 ram and an iSub. What do you think would be a fair price for that?

I could add a 'Macs for dummies book', a 'who wants to be a millionaire cdrom game'.

Does the Pro mouse cord really too short for the iBook? I should really try it on the left side (I'm a lefty who uses the mouse on his right...). If it is not good for the ibook, i could sell it with it.

<strong>
How much can you get for a 540 in working order? And how much does it cost to fix it? If you can get another 200, it's time to sell both machines and go for a nice new iBook 600.
</strong>

I don't know how much it would cost. 70$CAN an hour I think. So 140$-180$ Canadian maybe?

<strong>
For another 1000 Canadian, you could get the DVD model. It's faster than your desktop and it has a nicer display, so you'll really only need the one machine.</strong>

But what about having a backup machine? One of the reasons I like having a desktop-laptop combo is that if one fails, i've got the other to pick up the slack while the other is ailling...

Also, if I end up being cramped in my 12 inch screen, I'll need to get a monitor. That monitor will be about 300-400$CAN. Isn't having the iMac a way to get the monitor, the backup and security all in a nice package?

<strong>
Now is the time to sell -- after January the lower end Macs will probably seem a whole lot slower, and you won't get as much for them. Also, the iBook probably won't get updated for a while yet (making i the safest resale value bet, for now)</strong><hr></blockquote>

I know. This is definatly the best time to sell my iMac... How does murbot do it? doesn't he get attached to his machines?

I just don't know anymore. I'll get a quote on the 540c tomorow. that should be a start.

Thanks for all your help, all comments are extremely welcome.

I'd like Escher's opinion. Doesn't he have an iMac alongside his portables (first a 2400 then a ibook dual)...

I should have put 2400 in the title...

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:
<strong>From most accounts the iBook sounds plenty reliable. A small, perhaps second hand, USB or firewire (better the firewire) HDD seems like a really good idea though. </strong>

Don't these HD's cost something like 299-399$US? This would cancel out the money made from the iMac, no?

Anyone want to try to guess how much a system like mine could be worth?

<strong>
You could:

A.) sell the iMac and 540 now as discussed and get a new iBook. Then, later on, if you're still worried about a back-up machine, re-buy a used iMac on the cheap. Think of it as leasing out your iMac for two or three months.
</strong>

That's pretty nifty. Thing is I hardly ever see Macs for sale in montreal... I'd wait a while.

<strong>
or,

B.) Do you plan on buying a faster desktop machine 12-18 months after you buy the iBook? In that case you might consider selling both machines and picking up something a little more humble. Maybe even the Rev A iBook. That might be an even split for you. It'll be slower than your iMac, can you live with the speed difference? However, without investing any extra money in your iBook, you can start putting all your spare computer funds against a new machine sometime in 2002. </strong>

I really don't need a new machine, per se. I just need portability. If I didn't I expect my iMac would be fine until it dies or Mac OS XX won't run on it

I'd like to try the idea of the 2400 and iMac for a while but the 150$ the iBooks is a deal maker.

How is working on the 10.4 800x600 screen?

<strong>
But isn't that all a little complicated? Why not just wait to see what 2002 brings and then decide. Fix the 540 if it doesn't cost too much, and just keep plugging away as before.
</strong>

That's an option. I'd lose the 150$CAN rebate though...

<strong>
The next 6 months are kinda a weird time to buy a Mac. There isn't any real guarantee that OSX will get any faster -- personally, I'd bet against it -- so if you plan to use the machine for some of the yet to arrive, and more demanding OSX apps, the wisest choice may be to soldier along with your OS9 machines for another 3-4 months.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm already running X full time on my iMac. It runs real well for my tastes. I'm a little afraid that the slower laptop Hard drives will cripple the experience though...

I could wait for the iBook G5!

Interesting take on the iBook rebate. The only thing that would make me think otherwise is the fact that iBooks are flying off the shelf at the previous price...

Update on my situation: It would be prohibitive to try and fix my powerbook. It would be about 150$ Canadian + any charge for parts. Since the power manager seems toast, they said it would be fairly expensive. Anyway, a checkup and estimate is 86$CAN... err...

I think i'll just let it die... Maybe sell the batteries or the carcass...

I checked the iBook today, :eek: What great machines!!!

It was running 10.1 and was really just as fast as my iMac. Thing is, it only had 128mb of ram and was the 500mhz version!!! Wow! I opened Appleworks, EI, Apple System profiler, played with the dock and menus... and it was just great. Whoever thinks OS X is slow on these machines has a low latency tolerance...

I even tried using a pro mouse with it. It can be usable with the cord passing between the screen and the book. Not great, but not impossible either.

I saw the ipod too... Mmmm... One day, one day...

Now I just have to decide if I will sell my iMac now...

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:
<strong>What else could you do with the 540?</strong><hr></blockquote>

learn to solder and fix it myself!

UPDATE: Looks like the decision has been made for me. I just learned that my parents got me the iBook for x-mas . I still think I should sell the iMac so i've put it up for sale.

Anyone want an iMac in Montréal?

too bad for the comet...

I know. I already ordered a 512MB dim and a slipcase (Sportfolio II)!

Still sad thinkin' I'll lose my beautiful iMac...