need advise whether to buy 2nd hand ibook

Nikita · 06-19-2004, 01:22 AM

Hi guys!

I've always been a Mac fan ever since but I could never afford to buy one and can only drool from afar. Everything Mac was beautiful to me and I hated the Microsoft / Windows monopoly so much! Finally, after years of hard work I've finally slaved enough to buy my own Mac! Am thrilled beyond believe and surfing all the Mac sites but I need some advice from senior Mac users. Can you guys help me?

1. Am being sold an aqua iBook for Php 35,000 (it was upgraded). It's the kind that Reese used in Legally Blonde. According to websites it was discontinued in 2001 but the owner says that it's only 1-2 years old. Is this a good buy or too expensive? What's the going rate for a second hand circa year 2000 iBook?

2. There's no 3 1/2 floppy disk drive but I need to bring home work, can I buy an external disk drive? Where? How much?

3. Any tips for the newbie? Where's the Mac stores in Manila, where to go for Mac emergencies? What toys to buy? (iPod I will DEFINITELY buy maybe for Christmas when have cash again)

Am so excited to finally be a Mac user! Thanks in advance!

**Sponsor** · 06-19-2004 01:22 AM

**Arel** · 06-19-2004, 01:41 AM

Hi Nikita!

Welcome to PhilMUG!

Re: getting a 2nd hand iBook, I've no better advice for you than to look up PhilMUG's Buy & Sell King, Ditoy Aguila aka ditoy_eagle.

Just U2U him or e-mail him at ditoy_eagle@mac.com. Check out the satisfied Ditoy testimonials thread.

If you have P35k, off the bat, I'd suggest that you already get the chiclet iBook (white), w/c is the successor of the clamshell iBook. Ditoy would be the best person to ask about the current prices of the 2nd hand iBooks, PowerBooks, etc.

If you'll be using the iBook at work, what would you need the floppy disk for? Just do your work on the iBook.

Nikita · 06-19-2004, 02:21 AM

Originally posted by Arel
Hi Nikita!

Welcome to PhilMUG!

Re: getting a 2nd hand iBook, I've no better advice for you than to look up PhilMUG's Buy & Sell King, Ditoy Aguila aka ditoy_eagle.

Just U2U him or e-mail him at ditoy_eagle@mac.com. Check out the satisfied Ditoy testimonials thread.

If you have P35k, off the bat, I'd suggest that you already get the chiclet iBook (white), w/c is the successor of the clamshell iBook. Ditoy would be the best person to ask about the current prices of the 2nd hand iBooks, PowerBooks, etc.

If you'll be using the iBook at work, what would you need the floppy disk for? Just do your work on the iBook.

ok thanks will go look for that guy. I'll hold off the seller muna while I consult with the King.

No, the iBook is for my personal use at home. But my office pc is a regular PC and I can't install anything so am reduced to saving files to the old floppy disks that's why I need to know if there's a way that I can still open old floppy disks on a Mac laptop.

thanks for all your help!

**Kenneth** · 06-19-2004, 02:36 AM

Hello Nikita! Welcome to Philmug.

Its a bit expensive. I'd estimate it to be around 25k at best. What upgrades are included? HD? RAM? Also, since its already 2 years old, the battery must be close to death's door. And finding a replacement for it is hard (or so I'm told). Like Arel said, for that price, go for the chiclet. Consult Ditoy first for a better deal

Since you're going to buy an iPod soon, you can use that as an external drive. In the meantime, if you plan on bring home only a few MB of data, and if your office PC has USB, you can buy a small USB Flash drive, or even a CF Card reader and CF cards. I'd recommend the latter. Don't use diskettes anymore, di na uso yun

Plus they're very unreliable.

As to buying macs locally, call up the local resellers to canvas prices.

If you're really forced to use diskettes, I saw an Imation USB disk drive just tonight at Shangri-la Mall for around P1,900.

[Edited on 6-18-2004 by Yagballs]

**Henjie** · 06-19-2004, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by Nikita
1. Am being sold an aqua iBook for Php 35,000 (it was upgraded). It's the kind that Reese used in Legally Blonde. According to websites it was discontinued in 2001 but the owner says that it's only 1-2 years old. Is this a good buy or too expensive? What's the going rate for a second hand circa year 2000 iBook?

I'm with Arel and Yagballs on this one. P35K is too expensive for that particular iBook, even if it's "upgraded" (most probably just extra RAM). Warranty's another issue for such a relatively old iBook. Unless it's got AppleCare (doubtful), then the warranty's already out. This is an important issue because laptop repairs are generally expensive (especially if something goes wrong with the LCD). :-)

Contact Ditoy first. If you can push your budget to around P45K, I reckon you'll be able to buy a nice 700MHz iBook G3. Much better than the 1st gen. iBooks. Less for the slower 500MHz or 600MHz model. Member right_stuff has one for sale here.

3. Any tips for the newbie? Where's the Mac stores in Manila, where to go for Mac emergencies? What toys to buy? (iPod I will DEFINITELY buy maybe for Christmas when have cash again)

Check out the link Yagballs provided above. LMK, Ynzal, Senco Link, Power Mac/Apple Center, Liteware, etc. etc. are all good. They also sell pre-owned Macs from time to time. As for Mac emergencies, that's what we're here for. ;-)

~Henjie

**maryannemoll** · 06-20-2004, 03:36 PM

that iBook i think should cost only 25 thousand pesos. 40 thousand for the lime, since it's a collector's edition now (too few items produced then). i think i read this somewhere. if you have 35 thousand, you could already by a second hand ibook g3 800mhz (the pure white one). that's ynzal price na.

**maryannemoll** · 06-20-2004, 03:37 PM

ay, wait lang. 35 thousand pala for the white ibook G3 800 is the buying price of ynzal for a seven or eight month old ibook G3 800, not their reselling price. my mistake.

**penmanila** · 06-20-2004, 08:36 PM

sometimes you get lucky. i got a 500 mhz chiclet ibook (DVD-CD), almost brand-new, a little over a month ago for P26K. (actually, my friend carla got lucky, because i got it for her.) i just advertised my need in this forum, and got a phone call soon afterwards from someone who just didn't like macs and was buying a pc laptop. adel and elbert have also found dual-usb ibooks (though not as new) for less than 25K. if you have a budget of 35K, you should be able to get one at some point soon. but have your cash ready, because these things get snapped up in a day or two.

extremyks · 06-20-2004, 09:23 PM

The guys are right... the price is a little high for a clamshell ibook. I remember I sold a 15k clamshell ibook almost a year ago. And another snow 14" ibook with airport for 35k also.