New Mac user

Greetings,
I just got a "new" computer. I was looking for a netbook do do some email, browsing, productivity and research work on the field. A friend of mine had this iBook G4 @ 900, Mac OS Tiger, 256Mb Ram, 30Gb HD, No Wireless card , and the battery holds charge for about 1.30h. He asked 100Eur for it and I couldn't resist.
Allways wanted to enter the world of OSX but never had enough money to get a new Mac.
- I would like some advice over here. I have a airport card from a Powerbook 12". Would this card work on this iBook?

- I have 2 DIMM DDR PC2700 from a HP notebook. Would this Ram work on the iBook?

- Because It's everything new to me, some people advise me to upgrade to Leopard. But wouldn't this slow the machine down?

Any good tips from you guys for a new switcher?
Best regards

Is that the 14" screen iBook G4 with 900Mhz G4? Trying to be sure I know which one you have before I recommend things to you.

14" iBook G4/933, 1 GHz (2003)


If that is your machine then there is 256MB RAM soldered to the Logic board and one slot for a PC2100 DDR but it will work with PC2700 also. The slot will accept up to a 1GB PC-2100/2700 DDR SoDimm module. I personally on that system would stick with Tiger but if you put in the 1GB module you will have 1.25GB RAM and Leopard will run pretty well.

The 900Mhz G4 14" iBook in that URL above takes an Airport Extreme card and not the older plain Airport card. What are the specs on the 12" powerbook so I can see which Airport card it comes with.

I'm sorry I forgot to mention. I have the iBook G4 12" @ 900Mhz.

I don't remember the specs of the Powerbook, but I have the card at home and I can check it in a couple minutes. In the same Powerbook there was a U01M210 modem.

I don't see a 12" with a 900Mhz G4. Only a 800 and 1Ghz in the 12" iBook. There is a 900Mhz G3 12" ibook. You sure on the clock speed and G4?

These are all the iBooks.

Apple iBook Specs (All iBook Technical Specs) @ EveryMac.com

I was confused. I'm sorry. It's a iBook G4 @ 1GHz

Apple iBook G4/1.0 12-Inch (Early 2004 - Op) Specs (iBook G4 - Early 2004 - M9426LL/A) @ EveryMac.com

Everything I said above still applies to that iBook 1Ghz 12". Find out if that Powerbooks card is an Airport or Airport Extreme.

What size are your PC2700 RAM modules? 512Meg? 1GB. Since there is only one slot for expansion a single 1GB module would max out your iBook at 1.25GB.

Here is another URL for your machine.

12" iBook G4/1 GHz (Early 2004)

Also since this is a 1Ghz iBook, if you max out the RAM Leopard would be fairly useable but Tiger would be a bit snappier. I have 10.5.6 Leopard on my iBook G4 12" with a 1.33Ghz G4 and 1.5GB RAM and it's very useable overall.

At home now.
I went to check the card. It's a Apple A1126. Searching the internet it says that it's a Bluetooth / Wifi combo card. Would this work on the G4?
Regarding the Ram, I have two 512Mb PC2700 sticks Max ram I can get would be 768Mb (unless I spot some good price 1x1Gb DDR1)

Ok guys, update on the situation.
I now have the G4 and I'm installing OS X Tiger.
After all it's a G4 @ 800. When I bought it the seller said it was 1.00Ghz
I feel a bit ripped off. Am I going to notice a lot of difference?
PS: allready with 512Mb + 128 Onboard