Hi Laura part 2
To continue my earlier post, time is money, and if it is your friend's
only computer, and if and when she becomes dependent on it, and if it
acts up or quits at a time she needs to do something critical (like a
term paper or a job application or business cards), the choice that she
makes now will take on added meaning. Trust me, I've just recently been
there, and am continuing to work out of a hole. My saving grace has been
my wife's computer that runs (almost) flawlessly on the other (un-named)
platform because her work requires it.
If she's able to survive without this computer should she need to
regroup after a problem, the problem is not as great.
I am in the process of rebuilding a G4 450 AGP which is intended to be
my main means of communication with the world. It is verging on becoming
a money pit, because I had a vision of the G4 having the same abilities
as the G3 tower it replaced (only faster), and I didn't understand the
scope of what I was getting into. The rebuild has been virtually a
ground up rebuild, including a 1 GHz processor, a meg of RAM (not
inexpensive for this model), two new OS's (9 & 10.3), a new video card
to be able to run a reasonable monitor (and I still need a second), a
Tempo Trio card for USB2, dependable Firewire and additional drive
capacity, an additional HD, an upgrade to TechTool 4. With all this it
still doesn't run seamlessly, refusing to copy from disk to disk and to
complete burns, and it still needs a DVD to replace the CD it came with.
(I use an external burner to read/write DVD) And I started all this when
the current OS was 10.3, and now it appears that 10.4 is what I should
be running, so this has become the highest priority next replacement.
And you need to realize that this is dead-end money - as most of what
you will purchase is specific to your machine will have very little
value unless you can get another similar and rebuild the other skeleton
should you encounter major problems you can't easily fix.
The G5 will "age" as new models come out, but by purchasing new, you get
the advantage of the new OS and software bundle, a year's warranty and
the option to purchase extended warranty, and a potentially longer life,
as replacement parts for older machines are getting harder to source and
therefore more expensive to buy.
These posts are not meant to discourage you or your friend from
refurbishing the G4, but to give you (in as few words as possible) the
adventures I've had working on this project.
Good luck in whatever decision you choose to make
Glen
Laura Drew wrote:
My neighbor has a g4 tower.
I don't have all the specs in front of me but
--
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:g-list@mail.maclaunch.com>
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/>
iPod Accessories for Less
at 1-800-iPOD.COM
Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal
www.1800ipod.com
