Mac Laptop

[speedymarie]

OK. so I want to look into getting a mac laptop. I have a desktop PC right now.

What're the ibook G4s like, if I bought one refurbished or something? I don't really have over a grand to shell out right now on a Macbook. Am I wasting my money on a G4?

Like, maybe:
http://www.gainsaver.com/bNetStore/Templates/Site/Template1_BCA/TplDefault.aspx?TCode=57&FCode=15&Param1=3&Param2=1022&Param3=iBooks&Param9=1&Param10=15749&Param5=0

or

http://www.gainsaver.com/bNetStore/Templates/Site/Template1_BCA/TplDefault.aspx?&FCode=15&Param1=3&Param2=1022&Param3=iBooks&Param9=1&Param10=15207&Param5=0

If I'm not playing a lot of games, mostly for music, internet, email, and maybe editing video a little bit, what do I need for RAM and GB? is 40GB and 512 enough? What the F is a superdrive? Should I shell out for a new battery?

Would it be cheaper to upgrade the RAM myself, or is $75 to go from 256 to 512 reasonable?

How noticable is the difference between at 1.2 GHz and a 1.0 Ghz?

[Hamer]

If you are going to play even ANY games, I would not get a G4. 40GB and 512 is fine for music, internet, email, but if you want to edit video - get yourself a 7200rpm drive (external is fine) and I'd say at least 1GB of RAM.

A superdrive can burn both CDs and DVDs. A must if you want to do anything with video you edit, aside from JewTube.

Aftermarket RAM is almost ALWAYS cheaper. I recommend it. Most models are user-installable. If you don't feel comfortable with it, find yourself an Apple Certified Technician (hint: me) to install it for you for free.

1.2GHz and 1GHz would be almost indistinguishable. Sort of like Coke and Pepsi. Wait, no. That's a bad analogy. And it made me thirsty. Fuck.

[Hendo]

"JewTube"?

uh, yeah...

[speedymarie]

I'd like to be able to edit video, but at this juncture, it's not happening any time soon (since I can't afford a laptop and a good camera) - I could get an external drive later if I needed it?

A G4, 1.0 Ghz, 256 RAM and 60 GB hard drive would be about $600. What would upgrading the RAM to 512 or 786 cost me, after market? Another $50-75?

Apple has a refurbished MacBook for $849- http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nplm=FA699LL/A
1.83Ghz, 60 GB memory, 512 RAM

The MacBook is a better investment, right? last longer?

[Saff]

Definitely a better investment. Not that the G4 isn't any good. That is what I have. And it runs the same software right now. But it is about the software they are coming out with 2 years from now which only runs on the intel processors. That is why you put in the extra $ now, so that it isn't obsolete in 2 years.

Either way, great purchases. You will not be disappointed. These things last so long and work so well.

[Hamer]

ABSOLUTELY go for the refurb. They're covered under the same Apple warranty, and still eligible for AppleCare Protection for three years.

Plus, those Macbooks could not be easier to upgrade the RAM and hard drive (if and when you decide to).

Only down side is graphic performance because it shares the RAM. Though, I have 2GB on a Macbook and it runs World of Warcraft beautifully...

Saff is right though. Definitely better investment on the Intel.

[speedymarie]

Thanks for the help, you guys. I appreciate the advice!

[Telfer]

What Hamer and Saff said.

They're great little workhorses. However, I have a G4 Powerbook, and storing any video on there AT ALL takes up a shitload of space. Even if you don't really care about how fast it processes the files, you need more than 40gigs for that shit. I just have a few dinky little videos over the course of a couple months on my machine and it takes up 10 gigs easy.

[mulhern]

Yeah, I think I'd save up for the MacBook. There will be more flexibility with them down the road. And there will be more of them refurbished down the road.