price opinion...

[gallagb]

ok- i hate threads like this- but

what do you all think of this:

Specs:
Apple G4 1.25 Ghz Dual-Processor
1 GB RAM
2x 80GB (160GB) Harddrive
DVD-CDRW Combo Drive
Radeon 9000 Pro
17" Studio Display
Installation of the lastest OSX 10.4 Tiger w/updates.
disks: A restore disk, but a restore to 10.3, not 10.4.
inclds keyboard/mouse-

apparently the system has hardly been used @ all-
and he's asking $1250

it is through craigslist
so i'd go play w/ the machine before i paid...etc

(if anyone wants it- it is in boston area)
i'm thinking about it- what do you guys think on the price? too much?

 

[grapes911]

I think the price is too high. I think it's worth about $950.

 

[andrewheard]

For $50 more you could get a faster iMac with a better video card or for $150 less you could get a refurbished iMac.

 

[matticus008]

That's actually not a terrible price if it includes the display. I sold my G4 with almost identical specs a year ago for $1100 (with no display).

Yes, you can get an iMac for a little more, but an iMac is not a PowerMac.

 

[y0zza]

That's actually not a terrible price if it includes the display. I sold my G4 with almost identical specs a year ago for $1100 (with no display).

Yes, you can get an iMac for a little more, but an iMac is not a PowerMac.

True, but the iMac is faster in every respect, in addition to having a SuperDrive over a Combo.

If the OP isn't going to use much of the expansion offered by the PowerMac, there's little reason to go for it over a new iMac.

 

[matticus008]

True, but the iMac is faster in every respect, in addition to having a SuperDrive over a Combo.

If the OP isn't going to use much of the expansion offered by the PowerMac, there's little reason to go for it over a new iMac.

That expansion is a great leveler of the playing field, especially for non-universal apps, which I still use extensively and he may as well. A dual G4 will wipe the floor with the iMac in Photoshop and many other pro-level applications. The iMac's a great machine, but it's not necessarily the superior choice.

Expandability, including multiple internal hard drives, upgrading to a SuperDrive, upgrading graphics, and the ability to run SCSI, PATA, and SATA hardware are important options for the people who use them. Also, the monitor options are endless--you could run two 20 or 23" displays if you wanted, which you couldn't do with a 17" iMac.

 

[Peyton]

I think its terribly expensive. Its a G4 first of all, the G5 is much faster than that, and the $50 more 17 imacs are twice as fast as that. ALSO, you're getting the much brighter monitor, and probably the best mac ever made (stability, build quality wise) plus you get a mighty mouse the latest OSX with ilife 06 etc.

I'd say, unless its like 900, pass. If it were me I would spec out a nice mac mini duo with at least a gb of ram.

 

[matticus008]

I think its terribly expensive. Its a G4 first of all, the G5 is much faster than that, and the $50 more 17 imacs are twice as fast as that. ALSO, you're getting the much brighter monitor, and probably the best mac ever made (stability, build quality wise) plus you get a mighty mouse the latest OSX with ilife 06 etc.

I'd say, unless its like 900, pass. If it were me I would spec out a nice mac mini duo with at least a gb of ram.

It's maybe $100 high or so, but not outrageous...the PowerMac is worth a solid $850-900 alone if Tiger is legit and chuck in another $250 for the Studio Display.

 

[9Charms]

It's maybe $100 high or so, but not outrageous...the PowerMac is worth a solid $850-900 alone if Tiger is legit and chuck in another $250 for the Studio Display.

I can't see the Studio Display being worth $250 still. You can get some pretty darn good 19" or 20" wide screen displays with better specs than the Apple Studio Display for the money.

gallagb: I would try to buy it without the monitor, and then go and buy 2 Viewsonic 17" monitors for the difference.

 

[disconap]

It depends on what the original system is. Is it a beefed up Sawtooth, or an OEM dual 1.25? Is it 4X256 on the RAM or 2X512? Are the hdds identical (speed/latency)? Is the Radeon flashed or Apple produced? Is the display CRT or LCD? USB2.0 onboard? Bus speed? Lots of questions, really.

It may be a fair price, but it may also be a bad deal.

 

[matticus008]

I can't see the Studio Display being worth $250 still. You can get some pretty darn good 19" or 20" wide screen displays with better specs than the Apple Studio Display for the money.

gallagb: I would try to buy it without the monitor, and then go and buy 2 Viewsonic 17" monitors for the difference.

That's a good idea, except for the ADC connector on the video card (but upgrading the video card could easily be cheaper than getting an ADC adapter, so your idea still works). That's why the 17" Studio displays still go for ~$230-50 on eBay. My G4 tower had a DVI+VGA video card and a SuperDrive, so I didn't have that concern. But single 1.25's are going for 850-1000 on eBay, so this price (with no extra shipping charges) is a fair one. It's not a steal, but it's not a bad price. Meanwhile, I don't know of any 20" widescreen display for anywhere near $250. $350, yeah.

It depends on what the original system is. Is it a beefed up Sawtooth, or an OEM dual 1.25

Great point. I simply assumed it was an actual dual 1.25, in which case it'd have USB 2.0 and FW800 and two free RAM slots.