Getan old g4 and keep my IBM Thinkpad or sell the thinkpad and get a new iBook?

OK. Here is my problem:

I'm a Harvard student studying psychology. I currently have an IBM Thinkpad T23 (specs 1.13ghz proc, 256 ram, 30 GB HDD, 14 inch screen) which has seen its better days. Still functions well, though.

I need a new computer to view video files (realplayer). I don't like the way FreeBSD sometimes works, sometimes doesn't on my laptop. What I would be doing is researching, chatting, typing up papers, using mathematica (very infrequently), viewing pictures, watching movies and listening to iTunes (until I get an iPod).

So, my question is this: Should I go with a new iBook (stock 12 inch with 60gb HDD for 994 plus tax) or buy a used G4 tower, or a refurbished Mac Mini. Keep in mind, I don't have a monitor, keyboard or mouse laying around, and I'm not sure how much more that will cost and to ship.

Thanks in advance.

Best,
Chris

Bohemian said:

I need a new computer to view video files (realplayer). I don't like the way FreeBSD sometimes works, sometimes doesn't on my laptop. What I would be doing is researching, chatting, typing up papers, using mathematica (very infrequently), viewing pictures, watching movies and listening to iTunes (until I get an iPod).

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For all the uses you list an iBook would more than suffice but if you can afford it you would appreciate the PowerBook more.

Amen-Moses

Since you are a student, you might look at the eMac also.

eMac isn't available to individual students. But since you are a student, you're eligible for the student discount on the iBook, which will save you some moolah. For Mathematica, you may want to go ahead and upgrade the iBook with as much RAM as you can put into it, but it's your call; if you choose to upgrade the memory, do NOT buy it from Apple. MemoryToGo, Crucial, and Kingston have always seemed to work well.

i buy my ram from chiefvalue.com. really cheap.

I got a 1GB stick of crucial from newegg.com for 120.00 shipped.

I'd have a look into the PowerMac G4s that are around, some of them are dual processor, some aren't; but the upper end machines are powerful plus you get the benefit of thwm being expandable with better internal drives, PCI etc. eBay would give you some price indication.

I know the T23 well; it's a good solid laptop.

Here's a good example of a PowerMac G4:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APPLE-POWERMA...8712131768QQcategoryZ4607QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Sure it's a bit pricier than some go for, but bear in mind that will really hold its own compared to an iBook, since it's dual processor, superior graphics etc.

The question you need to ask is do you want portability or lots of power?

Either way you will be able to do all the computing you need to on a Macintosh. The only area where there is still a weakness (not as bad as it once was) is with the latest and greatest games, thougfh that situation is better than it has been.

Vicky