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  1. 27th February 2008, 12:36 PM #1
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    speedway boy
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    Default thinking of buying second hand iMac

    Hi all,

    After my iMac spat the dummy and is now estimated at $1300 to fix...

    http://forums.mactalk.com.au/showthread.php?t=44907

    I'm looking at buying a second hand version of my 20" G5 iMac.
    it really is just a email, web surfer, family photos machine. So buying the latest iMac seems abit ove r the top. Particularly as we are on a tight budget at the moment.

    Any thoughts good or bad about delving into the world of second hand computers? I'm looking primarily at eBay. some ex-govt lease iMacs available.
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  2. 27th February 2008, 01:34 PM #2
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    My advice is only buy Intel and try for Core2Duo. I know your budget is tight, so try to find the cheapest second hand iMac with SuperDrive you can. They should be only a few hundred dollars more than the iMac G5 from eBay. Or, finance a new $1698 model on 12 months (or longer) interest free.
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  3. 27th February 2008, 01:46 PM #3
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    If that really is all you want it for...

    A G4 iMac for $500 will do the job fine. Only moderately slower than what you're used to really.

    With eBay, just make sure the feedback is good, and recent. Try look for "pick up only" ones in your area, as at least that kind of gaurentees that the product is real. Ask questions.
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  4. 27th February 2008, 04:04 PM #4
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    Or get a Mac Mini and use an older CRT / LCD. Even Intel Mac Minis aren't particularly expensive.
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  5. 27th February 2008, 05:00 PM #5
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    i picked up a 17" G5 iMac from Mac1 for $500 (firesale) - it was a refurb, though it's gone back to them to "sort out" since it actually hadn't been refurbed yet. Not sure how often they have these firesales, but the machine had come out of a school. it will only be used for email, internet, video conf/skyping, low level stuff.
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  6. 27th February 2008, 06:01 PM #6
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    What about a nice eMac? They can be had for a couple hundred dollars. eg

    http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DESKTOP-APPLE...QQcmdZViewItem
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  7. 27th February 2008, 06:09 PM #7
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    i definitely think a mac mini is the way to go. still good old Apple, but you can use your own display. CRT someone could GIVE to you

    LCD im sure you could get for around $100 (maybe less? not sure)

    you're best option would probably be get a decent mac mini ($800 on Edu prices or about $900) and that display. easy

    the mini you can happily keep for a few years
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  8. 27th February 2008, 06:11 PM #8
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    Default

    If it's only for that, and ONLY for that...

    A G4 iMac WITHOUT Leopard would be great.

    Unless you love being up-to-date, you'll have to go with Leopard.
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  9. 27th February 2008, 06:29 PM #9
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    yeah I'm hoping for pre leopard. (10.4.11) To keep it the same as my other macs. Its funny, I just gave away and old g4 tower about 3months ago. I'll bet that would have been fine. DOH!
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  10. 29th February 2008, 02:26 PM #10
    gianni
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    I bought my Dual 2GHz Power PC 2005 with 200GB SATA (I slotted in a 500GB drive below it for video editing). see the specs : http://www.apple-history.com/?page=g...mily&order=ASC
    Cost me $1800.00 a year and a half ago and has been brilliant for anything I can throw at it. I believe that you can get bargains like this and probably all a fair bit cheaper now with everyone going Intel...

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  11. 5th January 2009, 01:05 AM #11
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    Hi guys, I too am after a second hand mac. The problem I'm facing is that there is almost no second hand market in Adelaide S.A. If anyone knows of a secret source, or if anyone on this forum wants to sell their machine I would be interested to know.
    I am after a relatively recent desktop machine, preferably an Intel iMac.
    Thanks.
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  12. 5th January 2009, 01:21 AM #12
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    Best option is probably going for "pick up" eBay items... that way at least you know you're getting the goods, and if it goes bad, they know you know where they live.

    There was/is? local computer markets here in Brisbane... but when I went (in 2005) they really had next to nothing Mac-wise, and what was there was very old, and very expensive...

    You could also try calling local Apple resellers to see if they have any 2nd hand machines for sale... could be some repair jobs that weren't picked up... old stock... etc.
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  13. 20th January 2009, 01:22 PM #13
    moody
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    Quote Originally Posted by speedway boy View Post
    Hi all,

    After my iMac spat the dummy and is now estimated at $1300 to fix...

    iMac shuts down when I try to wake it from sleep - MacTalk Forums

    I'm looking at buying a second hand version of my 20" G5 iMac.
    it really is just a email, web surfer, family photos machine. So buying the latest iMac seems abit ove r the top. Particularly as we are on a tight budget at the moment.

    Any thoughts good or bad about delving into the world of second hand computers? I'm looking primarily at eBay. some ex-govt lease iMacs available.
    Got one of those ex lease imac G5 1.8 17" screen for $560 a couple of days ago. (replacing a dual 500 G4) Spent an extra $75 to get to full memory. Good machine without really much in the way of investment. The 1.6 versions were at about $500 (my fiance saw what I got and instantly said she wanted one )

    Definately go for local pickup though, that way you can see that it is there, starts up and isn't missing anything important.
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