Is this a good deal for a Powermac?

[orange.exe]

Someone is locally selling a powermac g5 for $500 with the following specs:
Processor Speed: 1.8 GHz single
Memory: 512 MB RAM
Hard Drive: 80 GB
Graphics Card: 64 MB VRAM
Drive: Pioneer DVD-RW CD-RW
Operating System: Mac OS 10.3 Panther
and additional software.

Should I jump on this? This will be my first mac, so im pretty much in the dark. Its probably out of warranty with applecare, but do g5 powermacs have many problems? By comparison, I was previously looking at the intel mac mini line before I saw this.

 

[xfiftyfour]

I'd say it's definitely a good deal and worth the buy depending on what you're planning to do with it. It's probably 2 or 3 years old, so out of Applecare, but still - if you can try it out before (since it's local) to make sure everything is in good working order and find it works well, I'd jump on it - Some upgraded PowerMac G4s go for more than what you'll be paying.

All of the "smaller" specs can be upgraded, too, btw. You can add RAM, upgrade the HD or add others, get a new graphics card...

 

[davisjw]

I'd go for it seems like a good deal. If you can check it out to see if it works. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Oh and I'd upgrade the RAM as soon as possible- what other software is coming with it?

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

It sounds like a great deal and I would take it if I needed a desktop to keep files for me.

 

[orange.exe]

I plan on getting another gig of memory. It takes pc3200, but will any brand do?
It comes with the microsoft office suite, and photoshop, as well as some other adobe apps. Not sure about which versions though.

Do Powermacs have any notable problems I should worry about or check for? If it has problems, I won't be buying it, but if it develops problems down the line, how much would they cost to repair?

 

[jericho53]

I plan on getting another gig of memory. It takes pc3200, but will any brand do?
It comes with the microsoft office suite, and photoshop, as well as some other adobe apps. Not sure about which versions though.

Do Powermacs have any notable problems I should worry about or check for? If it has problems, I won't be buying it, but if it develops problems down the line, how much would they cost to repair?

The only side effect of owning your first PowerMac is a sudden bias towards windows pcs.

 

[Makosuke]

If it actually works and itsn't stolen, that's a great deal. Not the fastest G5 tower available, but plenty of room for expansion.

I plan on getting another gig of memory. It takes pc3200, but will any brand do?
It comes with the microsoft office suite, and photoshop, as well as some other adobe apps. Not sure about which versions though.

Any brand will *probably* work, but I say it's worth spending a tad extra to get good, guaranteed-to-work, lifetime warranty stuff from DMS (datamem.com) or OWC (macsales.com). There are a number of people here who will back me up on that, though if you really want to save the cash there are other options that're probably fine.

On the MS Office and Photoshop+Adobe Apps (I assume CS1 or CS2), either it's stolen, those aren't legal copies--the seller is just leaving them installed on the hard drive but not giving you the licenes--or the seller has no idea what he/she is doing. Even the older CS1 and Office v.X are worth at least $500 alone. If it's CS2 and/or Office 2004... well, the former sells for upwards of $1000 (Photoshop alone, non-academic, is $600), and the latter is over $300.

Just a warning.

 

[dpaanlka]

Thats not a good deal.

Thats an amazing deal. Check what the prices are for those on eBay.

 

[orange.exe]

If it actually works and itsn't stolen, that's a great deal....
On the MS Office and Photoshop+Adobe Apps (I assume CS1 or CS2), either it's stolen, those aren't legal copies--the seller is just leaving them installed on the hard drive but not giving you the licenes--or the seller has no idea what he/she is doing. Even the older CS1 and Office v.X are worth at least $500 alone.
Just a warning.

I'm definitely not buying anything if I can't see it first hand first. This is the sales listing:

Power Mac G5 / 20" Display - $1000.

Looking to sell my Power Mac G5 and 20" LCD Display. Can sell separately for $500 a piece. Very good condition, rarely used. I wouldn't get rid of it but I am moving out of the country and I don't have room for it.

Techinical Info
Product: Power Mac G5
Processor Speed: 1.8 GHz
Memory: 512 MB RAM
Hard Drive: 80 GB
Graphics Card: 64 MB VRAM
Drive: Pioneer DVD-RW CD-RW
Operating System: Mac OS 10.3 Panther

Additional Software
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Entourage
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop

When I read that they wanted $1000 for the combo, but would also just sell each for $500, I thought that they just didn't no what they were doing. Most 20" displays only cost about $340.

 

[Makosuke]

Based on that listing, maybe you're right and they just really don't have any idea at all what that stuff is worth. If they're really throwing all that software in--boxes, serials, and all--it's a STEAL.

If it's CS2 (probably not), not only is it a steal, the seller has the busines sense of a brick. Or they're leaving the country because they're running from the law...