I've used the lampshade iMac G4 a good amount at the office, and I like it. It fits neatly on a desk- small footprint, no clutter (except for the external speakers). I would get one, but most don't have usb 2 for faster loading of pictures from my camera. I don't think that you'll notice too much difference between 10.4 or 10.5 for a few years, but for 10.5 you need a G4 that runs at 867mhz or faster. My tiBook G4/867 runs 10.5 okay, though it triggers the fans fairly often. I don't know if it was youtube or the move to 10.5, but after installing 10.5, my tiBook had more hiccups when viewing youtube videos.
However, for $500, you are in used intel Mini land, which would be my choice for many more years of light use. A G4 mini should work fine for you. On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 10:59 PM, kimtoufectis <kimtoufec...@gmail.com>wrote: > I'd like help in choosing an older Mac. I entered Macdom six months > ago via an original blueberry clamshell iBook G3. Beyond an iconic > product design, I've appreciated the simplicity and reliability of > freedom from Micro$oft (I use a PC at work). I've enjoyed stretching > it about as far as a 300 MHz processor can go (maxed out RAM and > upgraded to OS X 10.2.8) but I'd like to be able to streaming low-fi > video and use current web browser features; seems like time for > something more. > > A bit about my computer usage: I am fairly non-tech; when my work > Wintel machine fails an expert comes to fix it. At home I'm on my > own; I like simple. My iBook serves mainly as a netbook: I use Gmail, > Google Docs, and Google Reader for productivity and news, and Pandora, > GrooveShark, LaLa, and Playlist to stream music. I don't make much > use of social media, and real-time isn't a trend I have not had much > interest in or need for (so far). I've tried Chrome with extensions > on a Windows machine and think it could meet virtually all my routine > computing needs. I even contemplate getting a netbook and migrating it > to ChromeOS as a next step (maybe using JoliCloud and EyeOS until > that's easy to do). > > Searching online showed me that for the $250-500 cost of a netbook I > could step well forward in power with a used iMac (functioning > MacBooks seem out of that pricerange). The architect in me > appreciates the compact, elegant designs of both the G4 and G5 iMacs, > and depending on age and screen size I find both in a tolerable > $250-500 price range. Whatever I buy, I'd like to use it for a long, > long time (this iBook turned 10 recently, and as a complement to a > more capable desktop I want to continue to use it for light browsing > for more years). > > With that as background: > > (1) What should I expect as the performance delta between the G4 and > G5 in light usage, and does it justify the extra cost? Is the G4 > advanced enough to serve me for several years, or will I soon need to > step up again soon to keep up with internet trends? > > (2) I find OS X 10.4 on most G4s and 10.5 on more G5s; any guidance on > which OS is most useable with each processor? > > (3) I'll need wifi but it isn't always installed; is it hard for a non- > technical end user to install? Is a USB wifi router worth considering > instead? > > (4) Given that I'm mostly okay with the 12 inch iBook screen, a 17 > inch screen seems adequate; any great reason to go larger? > > (5) Wikipedia tells me there's variation in processor speed and > features even within the G4 and G5 lines; faster and newer generally > cost more. How important are the upgrades (700 v. 800 v. 1250 v. > 1600 v 1800 v 2000 MHz? webcam? ambient light sensor? iSight?) and > are they significant in choosing a machine I can use for the next > several years? > > (6) Are there other Macs I should consider, (I don't want a CRT eMac, > but maybe a Mini?) and if so why? > > I'm eager for your feedback-- > -- > > -- > You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for > those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power > Macs. > The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our > netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml > To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
