Member Avatar for Bonnie Beale

Hi, I've been on Webtv for a few years and want to switch to an apple laptop. I don't really need a computer, just a way to access the internet and have e-mail. Webtv seems to be the only internet terminal around and it stinks. Can anyone tell me which model would give me at least 120 RAM, 4 to 8 gigs, a pentium processor, and the latest software? I've never used a computer so please feel free to straighten me out if I have asked for the impossible. I want to find a good used model. Thank you for helping.
Bonnie B

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by alc6379

Dani AI

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A few practical notes to complement ’s question and the replies by and :

iBooks of that era use PowerPC CPUs (G3 or G4), not Intel Pentium (x86). That means Windows-only programs won’t run natively on an iBook; Windows can be emulated (Microsoft Virtual PC existed for PowerPC Macs) but performance is limited compared with running software compiled for PowerPC. (en.wikipedia.org)

Expect operating‑system limits to drive the buying decision. Mac OS X Panther/Jaguar list 128 MB as the minimum; Tiger raises the bar to 256 MB and requires FireWire on many supported models. For a genuinely usable OS X surfing/email experience of the time, aim for at least 256 MB (512 MB is much better). Late G3 and early G4 iBooks shipped with Mac OS X 10.2–10.4 depending on the model. (apple.com)

A practical checklist for buying used: ask the seller to boot and show “About This Mac” (or open the battery bay to read the model/serial), confirm the AC adapter and battery condition, test keyboard/hinges and the optical drive, and verify whether an AirPort (Wi‑Fi) card is present. Note the RAM type before buying extra memory — G4 iBooks use PC2100 DDR SODIMMs while older G3 models use PC100/PC133 SODIMMs — and plan on upgrading RAM and the hard drive for smoother browsing. (ifixit.com)

Tying back to earlier posts: ’s eBay price range was realistic for the period, but the best value is a late G3 or early G4 with 256 MB (or more), working adapter, and install media — those three make a used buy far less trouble. Batteries and missing OS discs are the most common traps; they add cost or complicate setup.

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Member Avatar for MikeAR

You can't get a Pentium processor in an iBook. Pentiums run on the x86 architecture, where as Apples use PowerPC, thus your Powerbook would be a g3/g4. After some quick checking on E-Bay I've found this:

It's a little nicer than what you asked for, but I'm sure you'll love it. It's a great deal for the price. If you'd like, come on over to my site, AppleReport.com, and ask around. I know there are a few people looking to sell an Apple.

Member Avatar for alc6379

In the spec range that you're asking for, you could probably find a good configuration on eBay for $250-$300.

But MikeAR is right-- you couldn't get a Pentium processor in an iBook, but you can find a 300mhz iBook with 8GB hard drive and 128MB of RAM for about $300 plus shipping easily. However, you won't be able to get the "latest software" on it-- that's a little underpowered to run OS X, which is Apple's latest OS. However, you'd get a great experience running Mac OS 8.6, or even 9.1 on it, and running with the same tools from that "era" (like, Office 97, etc), you'll be in really good shape, and have a nice web browsing experience.

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