Is it worth it to fix my iBook G4 or Macbook?

Both machines are aging. The G4 is rapidly approaching the obsolete list where it will be considered a legacy machine. These machines are not necessarily unuseful: it depends on your needs and the tasks of your day-to-day computing. For things like text editing, browsing email they can still be adequate. The problems arise when you wnat to use up-to-date software which is not supported on the newer hardware or by the newer software. Current versions of peripherals will create anguish: smartphones, wireless printers, DSLR cameras and so on. The biggest concern is that a future hardware failure could render them useless if parts cannot be found. [Don't expect your Ford dealer to carry parts for a Model "A"!] The Intel Mac (MacBook from 2006) has a longer life expectancy based on the CPU, but it too will fall short since it is not a Core 2 Duo processor. If you don't need to stay up to the minute with Lion then they both could give more service. Shop the G4 around on Craigslist or eBay since there are many hobbyists who like older Macs and there are some die-hard IBM/Motorola users since some apps won't run on current OSX (for example, some accounting and bookkeeping apps that are difficult to give up based on decades worth of files that need to be accessed).

You might even spend the "repair" money by putting it toward the purchase of a newer Core 2 Duo (Unibody MacBook) or i-series CPU MacBook Air or the like.

You will get more longevity out of the MacBook because of the Intel processor. It can run up to 10.6 (Snow Leopard). If "The G4 is painfully slow" as you state, it could be a result of a low-power CPU (under 867 MHz), and in that case it would not be able to run 10.5 (Leopard). The most up-to-date machine is the MacBook. Since your tasks put low demands on the CPU, then the MacBook sounds like a good option. Be careful not to make the decision about 'MacBook vs less-expensive Windows machine' solely on the basis of price. It certainly is possible to buy a cheaper PC, but that is usually because the hardware specs are not as high as those of the Macs. You can almost take that as a rule of thumb. Price out a comparably-equipped PC (Win7) and you will discover that the price points are also very close.

Hi Veggiegal,

>I have an iBook G4 that I bought used 3 years ago for 300.00. Recently it started with the "kernal panic" stuff

Depending on the model you should first try turning off the Airport and see if that stops the kernal panics.

Otherwise post the size and cpu speed; either in "about this Mac" or lift the keyboard and read the barcoded label at the top.

>non-working Macbook for an estimate (late 2006)...it was diagnosed with needing a new hard drive, optical drive, and battery, for 600.00.

That seems really high. If I were repairing it I'd just replace the HD if that's really the problem. Does it not start up at all? No screen?

Richard

I know it's painful to let a computer go, but neither of those repairs is worth it. Those estimates sounds fair, but that doesn't make them a good way to drop your hard-earned money.

You can purchase a PowerBook G4 in good condition for $250 or less. You can purchase a 2006-2007 MacBook/MacBook Pro in good condition for $600 and much less if you have patience, know where to look, and get a little lucky. You'd be better off purchasing working replacements and selling the ones you have for parts to recoup some of the costs.

If you are using one of these machines just for email and web browsing while sitting in your living room or in an easy chair in front of the TV, get an iPad. Refurbished iPads in the Apple Store (basically, as good as new) start at only $400:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

Then buy your son a refurbished current-model MacBook Pro, which start at $1019:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro

Just insist that your son allow you to create your own user account on his nice new Mac so that you can sync and update your iPad every now and then. This is especially useful if you don't have another computer to use with the iPad.

The $250 is a fair price for the logic board repair. That price should include at least a 90-day warranty.

The $600 is too high. The hard drive on the MacBook is actually a do-it-yourself repair (as is the battery, of course).

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Toshiba/MK5076GSX/

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple/Laptop/Batteries

I don't know about you, but I could go a long time without needing an optical drive.

Check out the prices on the MacBook repairs here:

http://www.dttservice.com/macbook.html

veggie,

>Before I gave it to him tho, it said I had no Airport (which I did coz it was wireless) and by then it wouldn't boot without the panic grey box, unless I started it in safe mode, then eventually it would error.

So that sounds like an Airport Card faillure. Either shut Airport off or pull the card. If that solves the problem then you saved $250.

>I had to use the ethernet to connect.

Would it panic while you were doing that?

>Maybe I should just have the guy just fix the HD for now.

That's a possibility. When I've repaired these in Chicago I was hard pressed to charge more than $150 for a new hard drive and reinstall.

>My son said nothing about the cd not working, but I guess that was out too.

Well maybe but not necessary for a reinstall if you have a FireWire external.

> As for the battery, it was turned off for months so if it's connected to the ac adapter, will it charge back up??

It should. Depends on the overall age of the machine.

What I didn't like about your "Mac Guy" was the gouging on the MB repair and not trying the iBook without Airport. Hard drive problems have also been known to cause these panics.

As to the speed of these machines I use an 1.2 GHz 14" G4 iBook every day but only for e-mail and surfing. I'm the Technology Specialist at a charter school and maintain 60 PCs and a few Macs. I find the iBook much easier to diagnose Ethernet or wireless problems on the network. So upshot is it's a solid working machine as far as I'm concerned. I was totally jealous of my Son's year old Mac Book Pro however. Screen brightness and streaming videos all the time. Not sure about the choice of Heavy Metal.

Richard

veggie,

>HD replacement on the MB...I've never done anything like that before, but if it's something I could do, I'd love to try! There must be a tutorial somewhere...

If I knew the exact model, I could supply you with a tutorial. Get that info from your Mac guy. It's usually in the battery bay.

Then email me (click on "spudnuty").

Richard

Yep. There is. As spudnuty has indicated, it differs from model to model, but this is likely the one you need:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/MacBook_13inch_HardDrive_DIY.pdf

Karin,

>I couldn't get that link to open up..

If you email me I can shoot it to you that way. It would be best if we knew the exact model.

>if I do take out the airport card on the iBook to see if it's the kernel panic culprit, how do I know if that was the problem?

Kernel panics go away.

Richard