Thanks Bruce, Reading some of the upgraded posts here, I honestly feel that I might also be getting in over my head in terms of the actual *doing*. Most of this is gibberish to me.
What is a G4 Yikes machine? or Sawtooth? (As you can probably tell, while I am a Mac lover, I am in the point and click category! (well a bit above that, but not much!!) Thanks for your help! Nina > From: "G-List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2004 22:34:53 -0400 > To: "G-List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: G-List Digest #1495 > > On Sep 1, 2004, at 9:50 AM, Nina Sutcliffe wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> I'm new to the list here. I have a Beige G3/266Mhz with 320 megs ram >> and I'd >> like to upgrade it to a G4. I've heard that it can be upgraded to a >> G4/500 >> but the problem for running certain programs is that it lacks a USB >> port. My >> model also doesn't have an internal modem. My mac tech thinks it's a >> waste >> of time and money to do an upgrade, but I'm wondering. It's a solid >> machine >> other than the fact that it can't run some of the newer software that >> requires G4. > > My own home machine is a G4-450 upgraded G3 DT with 768 mb of RAM, an > 80 GB drive, a 40GB drive, a Toshiba DVD-R/RW CD-R/RW with a ATA133 > drive controller, a Radeon 7000 video card and a USB/Firewire combo > card. It runs OS X 10.2.8 quite well, but that's a total investment of > something like $700 over the three years I've owned it. There's no way > I could possibly recoup that if I sold it now. I'd do much better to > part it out. > > Your Mac tech is right. I've put this system together over time, but > still spent a lot of money on it over the years, and it's really only a > low end G4 system. The lowest original G4 from Apple the Yike is a > better system. > > If I were to start now, I'd save that money, and in all likelyhood just > buy a G5 iMac. (Lust Object #1 right now 8-) > > The beige G3 series has, imo, reached the end of it's economic > life-span...lavishing money on them now would be better spent buying an > upgraded system, not system upgrades. > > A minimal G4 upgrade is about $140, 800Mhz is $250, a USB card is > $10-$15, so if you're comfortable with that kind of expenditure, go for > it. If you're running programs that need a G4 you want to upgrade the > memory, too. That costs $126 for 3 256 MB DIMMS right now to max it > out. > > That puts you in the range of $275-$380... > > For that money you could probably score a G4 Yikes machine, or even a > G4 Sawtooth, which gets you built-in firewire, built-in USB, a faster > bus, better video and continued OS support, or even (if you're lucky) a > newer system than either of those. > > A few hundred bucks would upgrade a Sawtooth to a 800 or higher MHz G4, > and it'll keep up with that processor, or let you just buy a newer G4 > mac to start with. > > You don't mention the software you want to use, but if it requires a > G4, you don't want to try it with a minimal system I'll wager. > > The low price these systems get on e-bay is indicative of their value > right now. > > They're good solid computers, but it doesn't make economical sense to > spend a whole lot on upgrading them. > > -- > Bruce Johnson > > This is the sig who says 'Ni!' -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
