A few questions about older macs?

[prostuff1]

Well, i am looking for about 3 older macs for a community outreach program that my church runs/helps out at.

I know my way around macs but am unsure as to what exactly i should be looking for.

What i need these macs to do:
1. I would like them to run at least Jaguar (preferably panther)
2. I would like them to run safari good, and word processing and maybe a few other things but nothing to intensive.
3. I would like to be able to put 512MB memory in just to make them run better (this is not neseccary just somthing i want to do).

So i guess what i am wondering what would be able to do this fairly well? These computers will be around kids so i was kinda looking at older iMacs (in the 400-500mhz range. I thought about a mac mini but then we would also have to buy displays and LCD are easier to break then AIO CRT machines (and minis are easier to steal since they are lighter). I use to have an old Beige G3 AIO and while it worked for me then i feel it would be to slow now. I would perfer to find some faster then 300mhz.

where are good places to buy used macs from??

If anyone has an iMac they would like to donate to the Delta community outreach program that would be great!! The specs dont have to be very high. You could use it as a tax writeoff or something if you like. The outreach is not complete broke and we have some money in the bank, but it would be. If anyone here is willing to help out and wants more information on the outreach program please PM me or e-mail kidstuff14@earthlink.net and i can give a full discription of exactly what the outreach program is and what it does.

On a side note, i am doing this for my father who is actually the treasurer of the outreach program. I figured i would ask here and see if anyone has any input and could help me out. He told me what he wants them to be able to do and i figured i would try to surprise him by finding some computers for him.

Thanks

 

[Eidorian]

Get some refurbished Mac Mini's from Apple and some CRT's. You'll have a longer life and more capabilities out of a G4 Mini over the old CRT iMac. It sounds like you have the budget for the Mini's anyways. You don't have to buy LCD's if you don't want to or can't afford it. CRT's are STILL great monitors.

They'll take up about the same space as just a G3 iMac.

 

[martin1000]

You could also check out Craigslist to see if anyone has any older macs.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

The first generation of 'slot load' iMac G3 would be a good bet. 350-450 MHz, can take 512 MB of RAM, fully supported video chip.

Look on your local craigslist.

 

[prostuff1]

The first generation of 'slot load' iMac G3 would be a good bet. 350-450 MHz, can take 512 MB of RAM, fully supported video chip.

Look on your local craigslist.

Thanks much for the two that suggested craigslist. I will look on there and see what i can find.

And for Eidorian i told my father this and he said he would think about it. I told him the only problem would be locking them down to make sure they would not get stolen. As of right now there are no mac mini's ont he referb site so i will just have to keep my eye open.

Thanks

 

[Eidorian]

Thanks much for the two that suggested craigslist. I will look on there and see what i can find.

And for Eidorian i told my father this and he said he would think about it. I told him the only problem would be locking them down to make sure they would not get stolen. As of right now there are no mac mini's ont he referb site so i will just have to keep my eye open.

Thanks

They're out of Mac Mini's right now. Yeah, don't spend too much on those iMac's. You can get a good one between $150-200. I wouldn't spend more than that. That or even some refurbished eMacs.

http://www.lowendmac.com/imac/edeals.html

http://www.lowendmac.com/imac/ideals.html

 

[kugino]

you can get some 400-500MHz imacs for pretty cheap, i think. they can all be upgraded to 512MB ram and can run panther pretty well. but, they won't last too long. if you can muster some donations, get some mac minis...or even some emacs, which should be pretty cheap, too.

 

[prostuff1]

yes, idealy i would like to get some emacs but i am not sure how much dad wants to spend. I figured imacs would work for the purpose so i figured i would start there.

Thanks for the links Eidorian. Those will come in very handy when i talk to my dad later tonight.

 

[Eidorian]

No problem at all. I'm always looking for used Macs. I have a Power Mac G3 450 and I love it to death for watching DVD's and web browsing. It does it just fine.

I'd like for you to keep your costs down but I want to see you to get some decent hardware. The G3 iMac's are getting a tad bit to old for my tastes.

 

[Macky-Mac]

you can get some 400-500MHz imacs for pretty cheap, i think. they can all be upgraded to 512MB ram and can run panther pretty well. but, they won't last too long. if you can muster some donations, get some mac minis...or even some emacs, which should be pretty cheap, too.

i had 768 ram in my old 400MHz iMac that I was running Panther on, if you really wanted to you could put 2 512s in them but I dont think you need to do that for what you are talking about. I think you should make sure you get the slot loading imacs or newer and also make sure they have firewire.