Recycled Computing

Choosing My Next Low-end Desktop Mac

- 2009.05.19

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Now that my daughter's iBook G4 bit the dust, I must consider my options for replacing the desktop computer position that the iBook was going to take. After much hair pulling and nostalgia, I have narrowed down my choices in the used Mac field. They include:

17" iMac G4 I guess my mind does wander a bit among the faded flowers of yesterday's Mac computers. But I have my reasons for each choice - or perhaps weird aesthetic reasons.

The flat panel iMac has one of those weird nobody-but-Apple-would-design-this thing going for it. Not only that, but it offers an incredible range of monitor adjustment. This is something that only appeals to a bifocal wearing dweeb like me, but trust me, my neck would love me if I choose this option. But the major reason for using this sort of iMac is that it is just flat out cool looking. Power Mac G5

A Power Mac G5 would satisfy my lust for power - power that a G5 processor could give me at a much lower price than an Intel box. I could load up the G5 with several hard drives and gewgaws and feel like Mr. Power User. As far as buying the maximum pre-Intel Mac computer, the G5 is the way to go. It could be expensive if I wanted a dual processor model over 2 GHz, though.

Mirror Drive Door Power Mac G4 A cheaper direction would be to pick up a Mirrored Door FW800 G4. The G4 might not be as fast as a G5, but do I really need that much processing power? Yes, I could pretend to get a G5 tower and look like I need to move huge files and process fractals or something, but realistically, a G4 Mirror Drive Door could probably do what I wanted at a much lower price.

A PowerBook is not a desktop computer, you might say - and you'd be right! But I think that I have argued in the past that using a laptop as a desktop makes a certain sort of sense. No one would pretend that you can use a desktop as a portable computer, but a 17" PowerBook G4 17" PowerBook gives you a big enough screen (1440 x 900 resolution) and enough power (1.0 to 1.67 GHz) and connectivity to pass as an adequate desktop.

Besides, when I someday score that digital SLR, I will need a laptop with a big screen to edit images. I also have a 160 GB notebook drive that remains unused at this time.

Of course, all of this requires funding. I feel that the time has come for me to try out Leopard and see if the push feature of MobileMe is up to the task of keeping my iPod and a Leopard computer in sync all the time.

Decisions, decisions.

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Recent Recycled Computing Columns

Adventures in Intel Mac Land, Part 2, 2012.01.09. One big advantage of an Intel Mac is the ability to run Google's fast and easy Chrome browser.
Adventures in Intel Mac Land, Part 1, 2012.01.06. With its dual-core Intel processor, the MacBook rips music and video far faster than a G4 ever could.
Blackbird MacBook, 2012.01.03. The PowerBook G4 is dead. Time to go with a black 13.3" MacBook and enter the Mac's Intel Age.
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