I'm contemplating purchasing an iMac G3 off eBay for around $60-$70 to try to see if I like the feel of OS X and also to upgrade the Ram and Hard drive. It would not be my main computer, more of something to mess around on. Do you think this is a good idea?
That is the best idea for someone like yourself.
If you are truly interested in getting a Mac, then getting an older one is the smartest, most economical way to go.
If you don't have any experience with the Mac OS, getting an older machine will still allow you to learn the basic flow of the operating system.
Of course it won't be on par with the latest and greatest. It isn't going to be a speed demon. However, you won't drop a ton of money on it. Speed is not necessarily an essential part to learning the operating system.
You may need to spend some on RAM and whatnot, but that is still a heckuva lot less than getting a brand-new one. You will still be able to get the hang of the OS and how things are done on a Mac.
If you don't like it, then you're not out that much cash. You could probably even "recycle" it on eBay and get most of what you paid for it back.
If you do, then it wouldn't have been that much more money spent to figure out if a Mac is a good thing for you. And nothing is stopping you from putting it up for sale when the new one comes.
In the long run, it is a far better option.