[P1] iBook Dilemma

[Mike Wallinga]

Before I would consider upgrading the Tangerine iBook, I would look 
hard at how much it would cost.  A quick look on eBay shows clamshell 
iBook keyboards for about $50, but it would need to be installed (more 
$$ if you don't do it yourself).  The RAM would cost about $125 (for 
512 MB), and a new hard drive might cost in the neighborhood of $150, 
depending upon size (and again, do you need to pay someone to install 
it?).  That's about $325 + labor for the hardware, and another $129 for 
Panther.  All of a sudden, you're getting close to five hundred 
dollars!

I have a 14 inch G4 iBook with a Combo Drive and Airport Extreme, and I 
think the machine is great.  I would highly recommend it.  However, I 
realize that the difference between $500 for upgrades and $1200-1300 
for a new computer is pretty substantial.  You might want to shop 
around for used or refurbished G3 model iBooks instead.  If the 
Tangerine iBook has been getting the job done satisfactorily for you, 
then upgrading to, say, a 500, 600, or 700 MHz G3 model might be more 
than sufficient.   Such machines could probably be had for somewhere in 
between $600-$800, which is a lot closer to the cost of upgrading your 
Tangerine.

There was a recent thread on this list comparing the merits of a recent 
G3 model and the new G4 models, the general consensus was the G4 is 
noticeably faster for most things, but again, if you've been happy with 
the Tangerine you might not need the top of the line and could save 
some cash that way.

Anyway, just some thoughts for you to consider.
- Mike W.

On Mar 17, 2004, at 7:10 AM, May Hall wrote:
> As you will see in this email, my keyboard appears to be failing. the
> shift and command key work sporadically.
>
> I have a Tangerine ibook with 300 mhz, 288 RAM and a 3 Gg hard drive
> and the original Airport basestation and card. I use my ibook every
> day, all day for work and it is my main computer for home.
>
> I had thought of getting a new keyboard put in, maxing out the RAM
> and getting a bigger hard drive put in (my work files are filling up
> my current drive) and getting panther.
>
> my other option is to plunge into further debt and  go for a new G4
> iBook. Thinking of the 14" screen. Any thoughts on the upgrading of
> my Tangerine or on a new ibook would be appreciated. Combo drive or
> not? Hard drive size?
>
> May