Used iBook I found on eBay: Good deal or not?

[Wyatt]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5768021805&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores

Let's say I was to buy this iBook for taking notes in class and doing homework on. Is it a decent deal?

iBook 12"
OSX Panther
G3 500
192 MB RAM
10 GB HDD
CD-ROM
Dual USB
No software included (I'm cool with taking notes in a basic text editor anyway)
$399, free shipping

I'm getting a Mac Mini, but I've seen these iBooks around on eBay for a while now, and I'm intrigued... I thought I'd see if it's a decent deal or not.

[Luca]

No, it doesn't seem like a very good deal. For a little more than $100 extra, you can get one that has a significantly faster processor (700 MHz w/ 100 MHz bus), a Quartz Extreme graphics card, and a Combo drive. Link (http://dealmac.com/articles/Refurbished+iBook+G3+700+12.1+for+525/83835.html).

And for about $100 more than that, you can get one with a still faster processor (900 MHz), a little bit better graphics, and a slightly larger hard drive. Link (http://dealmac.com/articles/Refurbished+iBook+G3+900+12.1+for+620/84743.html).

For an iBook G3/500, $400 isn't a great deal. It's not out of line, but it's just a fact that older machines tend to command more money than they're worth.

[Wyatt]

Thanks for the advice. I would have bought one if it had been a good deal, but now that I've seen the other one, I think I'll just save my money to pimp out my mini more when I get it.

Thanks again.