SOLD: 12" Apple PowerBook - Upgraded, super-nice - $300

[asiafish]

I have my 1.0 GHz Apple 12" PowerBook G4 that has been sitting in a drawer for the last year or so seeing little use, so I thought I would offer it up here to someone who wants an inexpensive entry to OS X and the Apple system.

The machine was purchased in late 2003 and came with OS X 10.3 Panther, and I will include the original installation DVD. Apple does not use any form of COA with OS X and there is no activation other than the install DVDs being machine-specific, meaning that this set will install OS X on a 12" PowerBook G4, but not on any other Mac or PC.

Currently the PowerBook is running OS X 10.5 Leopard as part of my "Family Pack" purchase, which entitled me to five machines installed at any given time per Apple's user license agreement. I am only using two of those licenses and once Snow Leopard ships in a few months will not be using any. I can leave 10.5 Leopard on the machine, or I can wipe it down to 10.3 Panther, and either way the Panther disks come in the box.

The 12" PowerBook is about the same size as a ThinkPad X31 and actually fits in the same cases. It runs for about 4 hours on a good battery charge, and generally equals a low-end X31 in most performance categories.

Its 1.0 GHz Power PCG4 processor is about equal to a 1.4GHz Banias in overall performance, faster at some things, slower at others. It has an nVidia GeForce Go FX5200 video card with 32 MB dedicated VRAM and full support for all of Apple's fancy eye-candy (Quartz Extreme, Core Image, etc). Leopard runs well and is fully supported on this machine, while Panther or Tiger positively fly.

The machine has been heavily upgraded. It has its original battery that is good for about 2.5 hours, and a 7-month-old battery that is good for just under 4 hours. The original AC adapter long-since died, but I will include a 3-way (AC, Auto, Air) Kensignton (same as iGo) that supports different tips and can power your ThinkPads as well.

The original 40 GB 4200 RPM hard drive has been replaced with a 120 GB 5400 RPM drive that is much faster and absolutely silent. The CDRW/DVD-ROM has also been replaced by a slot-loading dual-layer 8 X DVDRW drive that is fully supported in all versions of OS X. The machine has Bluetooth and Airport Extreme (Atheros G wireless) as well as 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 (6 pin, bus-powered).

I do not have a digital camera and cannot take pictures, but the only cosmetic issues are a missing rubber foot on the old battery (I put a generic black one on, works fine) and a scratch on the aluminum lid. There are no dents to speak of, though the aluminum sheet metal is a bit bent near the AC adapter. This is a miniscule defect that is just from age, not impact, and takes an extremely close look to notice. This machine looks practically new, and I've had many people ask me if its the new "Air model" or "the one that fits in an envelope". It is A LOT thicker than the MacBook Air at 1.2" (same thickness as T40), but very small.

I will also throw in an old but serviceable Brenthaven case fitted to this machine (also fits an X31 or X60 perfectly) with a broken zipper (Brenthaven has lifetime warranty, I'm just lazy) and my retail copy of Microsoft Office for Mac 2004 Student and Teacher Edition. The Office software is the original Microsoft CD and case with 3 COAs on the box (its a 3-user license). You can get a free Office 2007/2008 compatibility pack from Microsoft and unlike the 2008 version, MS Exchange is enabled with the Student and Teacher 2004 package.

$300 shipped in conus for a SUPER-NICE 12" PowerBook and a great intro to OS X. Sorry no pics and no warranty. Also, this is NOT an Intel Mac, and thus is not able to run Windows with Boot Camp or Parallels, but can using Virtual PC, which is not included and not compatible with Leopard (works with Panther or Tiger).


***I might consider a trade for an X32 or X41***

[dorronto]

Nice machine Andrew................Want to do a possible trade for a real nice z61t ??

Can't hurt to try..

Good luck,
Ron

[asiafish]

No thanks, I just bought a brand-new T400 so I really don't need a Z. I would trade it for an X32 or X41 though.

[Toine]

Do you want to trade with my X40? *have it for sale here too.

[asiafish]

No thanks, I'd really prefer money, but otherwise an X41, X31 or X32. X40 graphics are just too weak.

[miketoro]

PM sent

[asiafish]

The PowerBook is sold, please lock the thread.