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
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
Comments
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?
<strong>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?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Before I got my iBook in JUne my main computer was an iBook. Now my only computer (gave my iMac to my brother inlaw) is my iBook and I don't regret getting it one bit. It really is a great machine and will serve you very well and now that the iBooks are 100 MHz faster and have a faster system bus than mine they're even a better buy. Go for the iBook and you'll never look back.
It feels like selling a child! (That's so geeky...)
Anyone with ideas about justifying the iMac in this situation? aside from backup...
<strong>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...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sell the iBook unless you have the money to afford the iBook without selling the iMac. I think it's always good to have a spare machine around.
You'll probably want an external monitor, you can probably pick up a used 17" one in good shape for around $100. Additionally I'd suggest a backup external Firewire drive. It'll provide you with a way to backup your data & be used as a quick boot disk if something were to happen to your internal drive. Additionally it's possible that you could loose (unlikely) or have the ibook stolen (unlikely if your careful) & so it'd be a life saver to have all your data backed up onto your Fire Wire drive siting back at home (of course you'd have to get a new computer but ... at least you wouldn't have lost all your documents/settings/apps).
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.
i am in college.
i love this machine, and it pains me when i start checking out similar machines to find a price to sell it for, why? because after 1 quarter of college i can see how much an ibook would help me. taking notes in class, writing papers wherever i am whenever i want, being able to get out of the loudass dorms to find a place to write, write papers or do research while at my girlfriends house, when i go home for a weekend or break, airport!! slap a base station in my room and type while in bed, leech off the mac airport networks around campus - your life to go.
after i got my hands on one at our campus apple store i just realized how much sense it made.
i'd say sell what you got and buy an ibook - i've heard nothing but good things, people love these little books-and for a student it makes perfect sense, at least for me.
but with all these lcd imac rumors i've been torn! yeah, i'd like a g5 ghz- but me thinks it'd be outta my price range. . .
I got a DP G4/500 a year ago last July (right when they came out). I loaded it up with RAM, put another 30 GB drive in it, got an AGP Radeon and PCI Rage Pro for dual 17" monitors. I put in an UltraSCSI card for a backup hard drive and a burner I had lying around (from the old 604e days).
After I got everything set up and going, it was great. However, I was still missing something. I am away from home frequently, traveling a lot. Both driving and flying. I often was in a hotel with an internet connection, but no machine. I too am a college student (I don't live in the dorms) and we have a wireless network in the buildings where the classes are held. My computer science (Java 2 programming) class was being taught in a lab of Pentium II 300s, and I couldn't stand it.
I got a Ti PB G4 500 last January and it has seen equal use as my desktop. (incidentally, it had a cosmetic defect and Apple just replaced it with a Ti PB 667. Thanks Apple.)
I am frequently thankful that I have a capable desktop AND a capable laptop. They really aren't substitutes for each other. Both have very excellent and specialized uses.
I guess if it is possible, you should keep both the iMac and the iBook (you'll probably get shafted if you sell the iMac anyway). You will not regret it.
-Ender
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'm looking into getting one, because the prices are not bad at all.
i have a G3 300 powerbook , he is quite fine i paid it some 5000$ three years ago, and do you know what ? for 1500 $ the new i book is far better in any tasks, at the exception fo the screen wich is a little smaller
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...
1. Buy an iBook 600/128/15/DVD for £1200 after discounts (I am a student too)
2. Buy a second hand powerbook (3400 or 1400) for £200-£300
3. Buy a PC laptop for about £800 (I know, I know!)
4. Do nothing.
Now, money is very tight, but having a laptop would help me do my research (I am a MSc. student writing my thesis), so it is almost impossible to survive without a laptop. I need to get something. My girlfriend keeps pushing me to get the iBook because she knows it would make me happy, but it is all about the money.
I haven't made up my mind yet.
Hewligan
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...