So I bought a Mac > my first one


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Well after seeing Xer's iBook for sale, I really started considering buying one. I was going to get a new 12" iBook really cheap, but due to me being impatient I ended up looking on eBay.

I wasn't sure if I really wanted a 12" screen after looking at one of our smaller laptops at work with a 13.1" screen and it was just so freeking small...

Also because of this thing for not having bottom of the line electronics unless I really have to, I started looking at the PowerBooks. So here is what I ended up getting...

I hope I didn't get ripped off...

15" PowerBook G4

1GHz ( is there any difference between this processor and the 1GHz that would come in the new 12" iBook? )

Combo Drive

512MB RAM

60GB HDD

Air Port Extreme ( Are they all 802.11g? How do I find out if not cause it doesn't say in the auction )

Bluetooth

It only comes with the power cable, OS/Restore DVD ( I think it's a copy...oh well ). No paperwork or anything ( could care less )

Auction says overall condition is 98/100 so I'm assuming it's in pretty good condition.

I ended up getting it for $1370 shipped. Good deal or no? A comparable PowerBook brand new cost $1900 with my educational discount or $2100 without. And the only difference I see between the one I bought and the new ones are they have 1.33GHz processors. Is that the only difference? Enlighten me here, I'm sure I will have tons of questions when I get it too, hah...

So let me know what you think about it all. Thanks

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Personally I'm paranoid when it comes to OS cds (cuz they're so damn expencive) can I just throw the OSX cds in my burner and make a copy or do I need to do some fancy work (ala windowsXP cd copies?)

Yep, you can easily copy them using Disk Utility or any other burning program on the Mac.

edit: What "fancy work" are you talking about with XP CD's? I've never had any trouble making a copy of them with any burning program.

You did get a pretty good deal on it. Airport Extreme is always 802.11g but is of course compatible with b networks.

Gary Player:

Copying a Panther CD is as simple as doing a disc copy in ghost. Mac OS doesn't even require a serial number, let alone have CD copy protection. (And that's good, because I wouldn't want a Mac OS product key sticker on the bottom of my Powerbook) Powerbook's do come with DVD restore discs, so if you want to make a backup you will require a superdrive.

There is no serial for the osx? Thats really weird, but cool at the same time...

I believe that I am getting a copy of the dvd restore disc with this, so thats good...

Glad to hear I didn't get ripped off, hah...

They don't have serial because you cannot build a macintosh computer yourself and every macintosh computer comes with the latest OS - Which means no one really needs to pirate it. only people who do are people who wont pay to upgrade to the next version but then apple make like 95% of there profit from hardware sales.

i bet there's a few dead pixels on the screen...
Well here is their description:
PowerBook is in perfect working condition. There are no dead pixels or loose connection. Over all cosmetic condition is about 98% out of possible 100. There are 4 white dots visible on the screen. There are less visible against color back ground. It on Bid with confidence, everything that we sell comes with 3 days DOA warranty. What you are bidding on is what you see in the pictures. We?re selling the PowerBook because we?re a reseller.

I don't know what they mean by 4 white dots though...

Those are stuck pixels. Sometimes you can carefully massage them back to life by rubbing the area with your finger. Don't do it too hard though. Many LCD's come with a few dead pixels. The stuck kind (non-black) can sometimes be revived.

I was luck to not have any on my 12" pBook.

Yea, I think I should. Pretty much all the people do that I bought it off of is sell macs...so I'm thinking it should be fine...

We shall see though. It was supposed to be here tomrrow, but due to a bad barcode on the box I guess it was delayed for a day. So now I have to wait till monday :( I hate fedex...ups all the way

I have worse luck with ups then fedex. FedEx even delivered on a saturday for me. But yea.. I ordered some ram for my iBook, and the shipping was 2nd day air... I ordered on wednesday night. Its coming on monday. It was in my state at 6:45 am today... but somehow they could not get it here in 2 days... grrr... yea anyway.

Josh

Regarding the screen, it might be white stress spots that were more than uncommon on the previous revision of the PB. I've seen it first hand on my friend's PB but he had the screen replaced for free because it was under warranty.

thats exactly what they are, and honestly it's not that bad...

still gonna try and see if I can get apple to do anything about it...lol

never hurts to try...

but yea, so it came today. and it's freeking beautiful. I'm not really too sure what to do with it as of now though. I kinda like to just stare at it...

and for some reason I cant get it to connect with my netgear wireless router, but it connected right away with my friends linksys...hmm

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