Ibook G3 versus G4?

Basically a better CPU, better speed, and likely increased hard drive space. Otherwise, the differences are negligible, but I'd personally go for the G4 but that's your call of course!

-Ryan

But down the road ( I mean life after 10.4). I mean G3 is already outdated despite all the hacks going around to install 10.4 onto outdated systems.

Apple has not sold a Mac with a G3 processor for quite some time, it's clear they changed their focus to the G4 processor two and a half years ago. However, Mac OS X 10.4 is supported on all the white "Dual USB" iBooks. No one here knows what the system requirements of the next version of Mac OS X might be.

So G4 will nere really be outdated right?

I'm not sure what you mean by "outdated". Apple will surely continue to support computers with G4 and G5 processors for some time, but they are switching the entire line of Macs over to the Intel processor right now. By the end of the year, Apple won't be selling any computers with G4 or G5 processors...

Keep in mind, the G3 iBook could be almost five years old. If you want to get a wireless card for it, that will cost you well over $100. It has a 10GB hard drive. Mac OS X 10.4 takes up about 3GB all by itself. That won't leave you much room for installing applications or saving many MP3s or photos. And you'll have to buy a copy of Mac OS X 10.4 for $129 to install on it. That iBook comes with NO Mac OS or system install CDs. It says it has 256MB of RAM, and one 128MB chip is soldered in, so you'll have to remove 128MB to add any more and you'll surely want to add at least 512MB if you want to run Mac OS X 10.4. So, you may save a few bucks up front but you'll have to spend another $300-$400 to make sure it's up-to-date, wireless and has enough RAM. If I were you, I'd definitely pay a little more upfront for a newer iBook.

-Doug

It's against the Terms of Use of the Apple Discussions to talk about unannounced products. We're all just users and we have no idea what kinds of plans Apple has for their software or hardware. But I can't believe Apple would shoot themselves in the foot by releasing a major Mac OS update, like 10.5, that wouldn't be compatible with 97% of the Macs that are already out there. But we don't know what the system requirements are now. We may learn more in August after Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference where they're going to give the developers a preview of Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard).

-Doug

The late model G4 ibooks are already "long in the tooth".....but work great with 10.4.5.....get one and max out the RAM (add a 1G stick yourself) if you want to save some money (Apple Refurb).......don't go with an older machine.....not cost effective

If I were you, I'd go for the one in link #2. A 1GHz G4 and that one will have all 256MB of RAM built-in. The 800MHz one will have 128MB of RAM built-in and a 128MB chip added. It may be a little more expensive, but I think it will be worth it in the end. Neither of the G3 iBooks have a CD burner built-in (one has a CD-ROM and one has a DVD-ROM). For me, that would be a deal-breaker.

-Doug

Any iBook will have one soldered-in RAM chip and one open slot. The 800MHz G4 iBook will have one 128MB chip soldered in and you can add up to 1GB more RAM (although Apple never certified 1GB chips with that model, so they'll say the total possible is 640MB with an additional 512MB chip). That advertised model will have the 128MB built-in chip and one additional 128MB chip that you'll have to remove to add more. The 1.07GHz model will have 256MB soldered in and a single available slot that you could add 1GB of RAM to.

-Doug

Kavan,

I wouldn't say all the drives are delicate or break easily. I can't even think of any optical drive in my machines or those of anybody I know breaking. Although if I was buying a really used machine and wanted a burner I'd probably weigh the price and then install one myself if needed.

The g3 machines are fine for most things, but they just don't have the guts to keep up w/ a lot of video. I would really go w/ a decent g4 machine. Apple kept adding value to the ibook as they revised it and the pricepoint didn't ramp up so I would say this is a real case of you getting what you pay for.

A small drive can be changed, and optical drive can be swapped, maxing out the memory on any white ibook will work fine for most things. You can't change the graphics chip. You may be able to change the processor...but...

You cannot guarantee an old machine has a battery that is in any way serviceable. Give a battery three years max shelf life from the day it was produced when looking at an old, used, or refurbished machine.

Good Luck, hope you find a deal (dealmac etc)
-j

No, that RAM will not work in a G4 iBook. That's the correct type for a G3 iBook. You'll want PC2100 or PC2700 RAM like this:

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KTA-PBG4266 /256

-Doug

http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/

The above link will give you the specifics on the G3 logic board repair extension program.