The iBook g3

Hello, William.

It really all depends on what your friend will be doing on the iBook, really. I still get some great use out of my iBook 600 mhz for routine things such as net (but not for video media on the net), word processing, email, iTunes jukebox, but not for anything graphics intensive (the VRAM isn't powerful enough--but in my iBook that's only 8 MB and the iBook 800 has 32 MB).

There have been logic board issues (see here), and this model would be beyond the logic board replacement program.

The G3 series doesn't use Airport Extreme. The original Airport card is still available out there, is a bit pricey, though.

In addition to what Maxit has said, you will not see the performance from Tiger that you see with a G4 processor. If it doesn't already have an AirPort card installed, you are looking at a major expenditure on it:

http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type= sku&sku=10061
http://store.macsolutions.com/airportad.html
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/apaicau.html
http://memorysolutions.com/memorysolutions/orapaica1.html

If it has the CD burner as a factory-installed option, it is the first version of the 800 MHz iBook (like mine). A 30 GB hard drive was standard in all versions of the 800 MHz iBook (including the 800 MHz iBook G4), but I'm sure a 40 GB hard drive was a build-to-order option.

I love my G3 iBook, but I'm looking hard at those new G4's. $999 buys you Tiger, 512 MB of RAM (which I would upgrade), the G4 processor, built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth (not to mention the warranty and the opportunity to buy AppleCare). It's just such a great buy that I would do that rather than buy a G3 if I were buying right now and had the means.

Just a thought there is A LOT of speculation that the intel ibooks will be coming out april 1st. If the trend continues such has it did with the imac, you should see a price decrease on the g4 ibook, so pehaps waiting a couple weeks to see if the price drops might not be a bad idea.
Mike

Yes, I've thought about that, too. But when the iMacintel came out, there was no decrease in price on the iMac G5 (at least initially).

I'm waiting to see what comes before I buy, whenever that may be. But if I really needed one right now, I'd go ahead and buy one.

when the iMacintel came out, there was no decrease in price on the iMac G5 (at least initially)

Nor the Powerbook, which is no longer available from Apple.

Maxit

Miss Ronda, I'm glad you brought this up. We had this discussion a few weeks ago and I would like to add to it. It has to do with "deep pockets" and a new iBook. You expressed an affinity for the 12" G4 and it sounds like you have not changed your mind. Were does the new Intel MacBook fit into your plans, or not, remember, in this fairy tale YOU have the deep pockets? Apple's "Store" page indicates they are "shipping now", is there another Mac laptop expected in April? I don't think we really have a need for a Mac as sophisticated as the Intel model, but I would value your opinion anyway. Personally, I am not inclined to buy something so new because of potential "bugs" in the product. Thank you, Wayne Loney

I am waiting until the Intel equivalent of the iBook comes out (whenever that happens). In other words, the Mac consumer portable with the Intel processor. (I like the sound of "MacinBook," but expect them to be called simply "MacBook" to go along with the "MacBook Pro," the one that is "shipping now" and is the replacement for the 15-inch PowerBook.)

I still like OS 9 for quite a few things, and these new Intel models are said to not support OS 9 in any way, shape, or form. Therefore, I will be looking at the last of the iBook G4 line, probably, in order to use Classic. The only thing that could sway me is if the new MacBooks have a built-in card reader that will work with my camera's SD cards. Then I would have a serious problem deciding which to buy.

I'm so happy with my G3, that it may well be a fairy tale, all right. It's pretty hard to dislodge $1,000 from my pocket.

is this a good deal?
$370 for a ibook G3 700mhz, 600+ ram. no airport included. only missing one rubber feet and only a few scratches. no dents and runs great with tigers latest version 10.4 so far. will use it for school reports and internet. what do you think?

If you don't want to connect wirelessly then not having Airport isn't a big deal. You would want the system restore disks plus the OS installation disk included in the deal. You would also want to see if the optical drive is CD ROM (read-only) or whether it is a "Combo" read/write CD drive.

Remember, too, that it is not a question of if a computer will fail, but when it will fail, so you should have a backup strategy for those school reports.

There aren't really any "limitations" so to say... The G3 will of course be a little slower than the G4. Tiger will run on it but Panther would probably be a little faster. Also there is no Airport Extreme card, it is just the original Airport card. It is 802.11 b instead of the 802.11 g card. But a 900 mhz G3 ibook is stil going to be plenty fast for everyday stuff and even some games.