At the new Simply Computing at Willowbrook Mall they have some used iBook G4s; like mine, except for a faster processor. Last I saw they were asking around $500 for them.
This is just another sign that I do not get the whole Mac/Apple mentality. When I saw that I said “you could get a cheap Dell with a better chip, bigger harddrive, and a faster processor for only about a hundred buck more…” and Paul replied “but it wouldn’t be a Mac.”
I like Macs. I like how they look, and once I remember how to use their software I like it as well. But not enough to pay that much more for a computer or laptop.
I’m not really a fangirl of any computer manufacturer or operating system. Sure, I have problems with Microsoft and Windows, and I think more people should be open to the idea of trying out open source software. But I’m not going to get in a knock-down, drag out argument about it.
(In my head I might think unkind thoughts, but that’s a character flaw I will never fix!)
Anyways, the point of this post: $500 for a 5 year old, underpowered iBook is insane.
I’m a 30 year old woman living in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. I work as the manager of a veterinary clinic, where I’m also the ad-hoc IT/hardware administrator. I’ve never had any formal training in IT/hardware/software, but I pick things up easily.
This is an off-shoot of my regular blog, where I’m chronicling my adventures in the technological world. I am a proponent of open source software. I’m not quite your average computer geek, though. I know just enough about computers to be dangerous, and can often be heard yelling “argh! What the hell?!” during installations/learning processes. I’m helped through my misadventures by my husband, who is your average computer geek.
My foray into Linux started in 2001, when I tried out Red Hat. It was an unmitigated disaster. I had no prior experience with Unix or Linux, and found the whole thing extremely frustrating. The experiment came to an end when I downloaded a kernal upgrade that broke the OS. Windows was promptly re-installed.
In 2007 I installed Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (dual booting with Windows XP). Eventually I grew confident enough to install Gusty Gibbon and got rid of Windows altogether.
I started researching netbooks in 2007, and started learning about different Linux distros. I’ve tried out the Mandriva Live CD.
Giving up on the netbook, I turned my attention to a Dell XPS laptop. But there was no way I was going to run Windows Vista.I also wanted a trip to Maui, and other things, when I came across my husband’s unused iBook G4 12″. Not content to run OSX (which I’m not fond of) I started out on a journey to get Linux running on it.
I had never heard of a PowerPC before. I had no idea the world of hurt I was getting into.
Aside from Linux, other “geeky” pursuits I enjoy are my Nintendo DS & Wii and my PSP.
In 2009, I may even play my first game of D&D.