Advise please? 17" PowerBook G4 purchase......
I have a friend selling a 17" PowerBook G4 in very good condition, asking only $400... Should I jump on this? Is it a steal at that price?
Here's some basic specs:
17" PowerBook G4
Currently running OS X 10.5.7
Processor: PowerPC / 1.67GHz
Memory: 1GB RAM (2RAM slots, upgradable to 2GB)
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (4X AGP) with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM
Hard Drive: 100GB
at everymac.com it lists the current estimated retail value as $800-$1,000
(Original Price: US$2699 Est. Current Retail: US$800-US$1000)
I dont need this, I currently have a 24" iMac and 13" MacBook Pro (both 09 purchases) but for only $400 it seems like a deal (even if I just re-sell it on my own).
Also Im a little nervous about the "PowerPC"..... can it even run Snow Leopard? My only experience with Macs are the 2 current ones I own so I am not familiar with older models. Any and all advise is greatly appreciated! 🙂
thanks!
FYI - copy & pasted below are the everymac.com details:
Introduction Date: January 31, 2005 Discontinued Date: October 19, 2005
Processor Type: PowerPC 7447a (G4) Processor Speed: 1.67 GHz
Details: The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor.
Processor Upgrade: Soldered FPU: Integrated
System Bus Speed: 167 MHz Cache Bus Speed: 1.67 GHz (Built-in)
ROM/Firmware Type: Open Firmware ROM/Firmware Size: 1 MB
L1 Cache: 64k L2/L3 Cache: 512k (on chip)
RAM Type: PC2700 DDR SDRAM Min. RAM Speed: 333 MHz
Details: Supports two 200-pin PC2700 DDR SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules.
Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the PowerBook G4 models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support?
Standard RAM: 512 MB Maximum RAM: 2.0 GB
Details: Site sponsor Other World Computing sells PowerBook G4 memory, as well as hard drives, batteries, carrying cases, and accessories.
Motherboard RAM: None RAM Slots: 2
Video Card: Mobility Radeon 9700 VRAM Type: DDR SDRAM
Details: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (4X AGP) with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM.
Also see: What kind of video processor is provided by the PowerBook G4 models? What is the maximum resolution each can support on an external display?
Standard VRAM: 128 MB Maximum VRAM: 128 MB
Built-in Display: 17.0" Widescreen Native Resolution: 1440x900
2nd Display Support: Dual/Mirroring 2nd Max. Resolution: 2560x1600
Details: The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600 at millions of colors.
Standard Hard Drive: 100 GB (5400 RPM) Int. HD Interface: Ultra ATA/100
Standard Optical: 8X "SuperDrive" Standard Disk: None
Details: Apple reports that the slot-loading DVD±RW/CD-RW "SuperDrive" is capable of writing DVD-R at 8X, DVD-RW at 4X, DVD+R at 8X, DVD+RW at 4X, reading DVD at 8X, reading DVD-R,+R,-RW, and +RW at 6X, writing CD-R at 24X, writing CD-RW at 10X, and reading CD-ROM at 24X.
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the PowerBook G4 models? Can one upgrade the optical drive?
Standard Modem: 56k v.92 Standard Ethernet: 10/100/1000Base-T
Standard AirPort: 802.11b/g (Standard) Standard Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR
USB Ports: 2 (2.0) Firewire Ports: 1 (400), 1 (800)
Details: Two USB 2.0 ports. One Firewire "400" port and one Firewire "800" port.
Also see: Complete Ports.
Expansion Slots: Type I/II PC Card Expansion Bays: None
Details: Single PC Card slot supporting a Type I or Type II PC Card (CardBus compliant).
Also see: Is it possible to add external SATA to the PowerBook G4?
Incl. Keyboard: Full-size Incl. Input: Trackpad
Case Type: Notebook Form Factor: PowerBook G4 17"
Apple Model No: M9689LL/A Apple Subfamily: 17-Inch 1.67
Gestalt/Model ID: A1107 Machine Model: PowerBook5,7
Battery Type: 58 W/Hr LiIon Battery Life: 4.5 Hours
Pre-Installed MacOS: X 10.3.7 Maximum MacOS: X 10.5.8
MacOS 9 Support: Classic Mode Only* Windows Support: Emulation Only
Details: *This model is capable of using MacOS 9 applications within the MacOS X "Classic" environment provided with MacOS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and lower ("Classic" is not supported starting with MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard"). It cannot boot into MacOS 9.
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.
Dimensions: 1.0 x 15.4 x 10.2 Avg. Weight: 6.9 lbs (3.1 kg)
Original Price: US$2699 Est. Current Retail: US$800-US$1000
Here's some basic specs:
17" PowerBook G4
Currently running OS X 10.5.7
Processor: PowerPC / 1.67GHz
Memory: 1GB RAM (2RAM slots, upgradable to 2GB)
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (4X AGP) with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM
Hard Drive: 100GB
at everymac.com it lists the current estimated retail value as $800-$1,000
(Original Price: US$2699 Est. Current Retail: US$800-US$1000)
I dont need this, I currently have a 24" iMac and 13" MacBook Pro (both 09 purchases) but for only $400 it seems like a deal (even if I just re-sell it on my own).
Also Im a little nervous about the "PowerPC"..... can it even run Snow Leopard? My only experience with Macs are the 2 current ones I own so I am not familiar with older models. Any and all advise is greatly appreciated! 🙂
thanks!
FYI - copy & pasted below are the everymac.com details:
Introduction Date: January 31, 2005 Discontinued Date: October 19, 2005
Processor Type: PowerPC 7447a (G4) Processor Speed: 1.67 GHz
Details: The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processor.
Processor Upgrade: Soldered FPU: Integrated
System Bus Speed: 167 MHz Cache Bus Speed: 1.67 GHz (Built-in)
ROM/Firmware Type: Open Firmware ROM/Firmware Size: 1 MB
L1 Cache: 64k L2/L3 Cache: 512k (on chip)
RAM Type: PC2700 DDR SDRAM Min. RAM Speed: 333 MHz
Details: Supports two 200-pin PC2700 DDR SDRAM SO-DIMM memory modules.
Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the PowerBook G4 models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support?
Standard RAM: 512 MB Maximum RAM: 2.0 GB
Details: Site sponsor Other World Computing sells PowerBook G4 memory, as well as hard drives, batteries, carrying cases, and accessories.
Motherboard RAM: None RAM Slots: 2
Video Card: Mobility Radeon 9700 VRAM Type: DDR SDRAM
Details: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (4X AGP) with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM.
Also see: What kind of video processor is provided by the PowerBook G4 models? What is the maximum resolution each can support on an external display?
Standard VRAM: 128 MB Maximum VRAM: 128 MB
Built-in Display: 17.0" Widescreen Native Resolution: 1440x900
2nd Display Support: Dual/Mirroring 2nd Max. Resolution: 2560x1600
Details: The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600 at millions of colors.
Standard Hard Drive: 100 GB (5400 RPM) Int. HD Interface: Ultra ATA/100
Standard Optical: 8X "SuperDrive" Standard Disk: None
Details: Apple reports that the slot-loading DVD±RW/CD-RW "SuperDrive" is capable of writing DVD-R at 8X, DVD-RW at 4X, DVD+R at 8X, DVD+RW at 4X, reading DVD at 8X, reading DVD-R,+R,-RW, and +RW at 6X, writing CD-R at 24X, writing CD-RW at 10X, and reading CD-ROM at 24X.
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the PowerBook G4 models? Can one upgrade the optical drive?
Standard Modem: 56k v.92 Standard Ethernet: 10/100/1000Base-T
Standard AirPort: 802.11b/g (Standard) Standard Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR
USB Ports: 2 (2.0) Firewire Ports: 1 (400), 1 (800)
Details: Two USB 2.0 ports. One Firewire "400" port and one Firewire "800" port.
Also see: Complete Ports.
Expansion Slots: Type I/II PC Card Expansion Bays: None
Details: Single PC Card slot supporting a Type I or Type II PC Card (CardBus compliant).
Also see: Is it possible to add external SATA to the PowerBook G4?
Incl. Keyboard: Full-size Incl. Input: Trackpad
Case Type: Notebook Form Factor: PowerBook G4 17"
Apple Model No: M9689LL/A Apple Subfamily: 17-Inch 1.67
Gestalt/Model ID: A1107 Machine Model: PowerBook5,7
Battery Type: 58 W/Hr LiIon Battery Life: 4.5 Hours
Pre-Installed MacOS: X 10.3.7 Maximum MacOS: X 10.5.8
MacOS 9 Support: Classic Mode Only* Windows Support: Emulation Only
Details: *This model is capable of using MacOS 9 applications within the MacOS X "Classic" environment provided with MacOS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and lower ("Classic" is not supported starting with MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard"). It cannot boot into MacOS 9.
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.
Dimensions: 1.0 x 15.4 x 10.2 Avg. Weight: 6.9 lbs (3.1 kg)
Original Price: US$2699 Est. Current Retail: US$800-US$1000
24" iMac 2009 / 13" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6), iPhone 3G S 32gb / iPhone 3G 8gb / iPod Video 30gb / iPod Shuffle 1gb (2)
