No practical advice to offer you in regards to reviving your old friend the
iMac, but I'll venture an opinion.
If you're that attached to it, keep it at least for the memories. I recently
bought a G3 600 mhz, knowing full well that it will have performance limits
and will become increasingly obsolete with every stride that Apple makes
from better graphics to Bluetooth innovations, etc. But I will cherish it
for the design and will most likely keep it after I decide to get a more
cutting edge mac. I still have a 1920s Underwood typewriter prominently
placed in my study. Even if you don't manage to immediately repair it to
working order, it will have value as an antique and down the road you might
be able to repair it at a more reasonable price or at least, at a time when
you have the discretionary income to investing in it.
Having said that, you no doubt want a functional machine. If that screen and
processor fufilled your computing demands, a G3 600mhz from our sponsor can
be picked up for $815 as a "remanufactured" unit. You'll have some AppleCare
and the option of extended AppleCare if that matters to you. Three years
down the road, the flat panels will most likely be EVEN better in form and
function and maybe "wireless" ready in ways we don't anticipate today. At
least that was my reasoning for not opting for the Flat Panel for now.
It is hard to argue against the fp ergonomics. If that screen and the
adjustability would help your physical health in any way, it's worth
considering. I debated fitfully for a while between G3 600 Flower Power and
G4 FP and went with a compromise between the collector in my head ("Get the
strangest/phreakiest iMac/objet d'art industriel you can find with
acceptable functionality/performance for posterity's sake!") and my optimism
that by the time I've mastered OS X and software skills that will make it
imperative for me to go Power Mac or fp iMac, the fp imacs will
"super-iMacs". A similarly well designed, ergonomic beauty with
improvements. I think the GUI may improve and , being optimistic, three
years from now, some of the innovations being marketed in China by MicroSoft
et al concerning voice recognition and the growing interest in humane
computing will inspire Apple to innovate further. So I'm saying wait if you
don't need the current innovation in ergonomics or the superdrive.
Right now, you could also position yourself, although a little
nervewracking, to bid or "buy now" a Graphite or Snow G3 700 mhz with a 60
gb hard drive. If you're willing to pay $999 for a G3 600...wait! Check out
MacZone. I think they still had the 700mhz G3s at 1049. That's well worth
the extra $50 for a 60 gb harddrive and 700mhz. Plus , they throw in RAM!
Also, if not already, you'd really be able to throw yourself into the OSX
environment. It will be better to do that. I have no investment in OS 9
since i just decided 4 months ago to go Apple. I don't even like having to
partition to make a place for it on my iMac. I want Jaguar...NOW and wonder
if this means Classic can be left behind for those who don't use OS 9
software.
At any rate, to recap, I think you could well benefit by taking the $500 or
more dollars and buy yourself another G3 NOW. It's a great time to do so.
Even some of those on eBay have AppleCare left, so if it comes into your
hands with "issues" , you've got some warranty to cover the trials of
working out the kinks.
If your old Rev is in good cosmetic condition, I'd say keep it as a keepsake
and revive it at your leisure while you'r breaking in a new G3. On a
perverse note, the Blue Dalmatians are $815. I'd love to have even a dead
one to complete my Tokyo MacWorld 2001 design hubris collection. (Anyway out
there that can't focus anymore when looking at theirs, just let me know if
you want to unload it!) When my fix for another mac hits, hopefully not
until 2005 when my AppleCare expires, I'll have even better options to
ascend to a whole new level of Apple computing. I consciously put myself
behind the curve, knowing that when I buy to upgrade, Ill be way above the
curve I'd be at now, had I'd gone with generation 1 flat panel. Now if I
could find the room next to my Underwood for a Kanga and Cube!
Keep your friend and get a Apple workhorse. If your Rev A met your needs, a
G3 new, remanufactured (Smalldog) cold do the same. If you go this route,
the prices on the G3s might drop further. Mine was listed at $899 and i got
it at $849. It sold out, but others are now $815 and if inventory stabilizes
over the next month, maybe another modest price drop will be offered. I was
lucky to get a $14 discount on extended AppleCare when i bought mine.
Good luck. I know the bond one can develop with a mac.
Regards,
Donald>> Folks, >> I went to turn the power on for my Rev A iMac last night and ... -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/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/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
