View Full Version : cheapest way to try osx on a notebook?
What's the cheapest way to give OSX a spin on a notebook? Can an OSX notebook be had for <$500 that is worth having for general internet work? (browsing via wifi, ftp, email, web-sized raster graphics work)
kennylucius
05-12-2007, 07:43 PM
Probably not that cheap. That last bit that demands a bit more than the others: which raster graphic program are you going to use?
Check ebay. There are iBooks for under $500, and anything with a speed of around 1 GHz should run Photoshop well enough if you are not in a hurry. Tiger (http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/) requires a DVD player.
Randall
05-12-2007, 08:18 PM
Check ebay. There are iBooks for under $500, and anything with a speed of around 1 GHz should run Photoshop well enough if you are not in a hurry.
My first thought was a G3 PowerBook, but those sell for more than $500. Totally forgot about the iBooks.
Now I am reminded that there was a 12" G4 iBook. Mmmmm. :dopey: If I wasn't hankering for an Intel Mac, that would be very, very tempting.
Randall
kennylucius
05-12-2007, 09:48 PM
My wife has one. Now I'm her 2nd love. Think twice about messing with serious mojo like that :dopey:
Personally, I prefer the iMac. I like a desk and a big screen and a mouse and keyboard that I can push hither and thither. And a virtual MS Windows machine that I can delete and replace with a virgin installation within minutes! :whistle:
Looking at the ebay iBooks, I see many note that they do not include the restore media for OSX. How does OSX licensing work? Would this cose me hundreds more if I needed or wanted to reinstall OSX to start fresh not knowing what the previous owner did with it? Or can I reinstall OSX without too much grief based on the license key already on the ibook I purchased? Or is replacement media available (for dells for example, I found that you can buy a genuine dell XP disk quite cheaply that you can then use to install XP on any dell notebook since the license grabs the serial number of the notebook for activation -- with the mac OS + hardware integration are they doing something similar?)
sheila
05-13-2007, 01:00 AM
Looking at the ebay iBooks, I see many note that they do not include the restore media for OSX. How does OSX licensing work? Would this cose me hundreds more if I needed or wanted to reinstall OSX to start fresh not knowing what the previous owner did with it? Or can I reinstall OSX without too much grief based on the license key already on the ibook I purchased? Or is replacement media available (for dells for example, I found that you can buy a genuine dell XP disk quite cheaply that you can then use to install XP on any dell notebook since the license grabs the serial number of the notebook for activation -- with the mac OS + hardware integration are they doing something similar?)
I don't know the answer to your questions about whether the install disks can grab the serial numbers from the hardware, etc...
However I did find on eBay that
Mac OS X OSX Tiger 10.4 - iBook G4 Full Install - New! (http://cgi.ebay.com/Mac-OS-X-OSX-Tiger-10-4-iBook-G4-Full-Install-New_W0QQitemZ230129302409QQihZ013QQcategoryZ80258QQrdZ1QQcmdZView Item)
the above item has a "Buy Now" price of $50 and it includes (according to the listing) the restore media as well.
Tiger (http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/) requires a DVD player.
Actually, you can (or used to be able to?) mail the DVDs to Apple and they will send you back CDs as replacement, if your computer does not have a DVD player.
Personally, I prefer the iMac. I like a desk and a big screen and a mouse and keyboard that I can push hither and thither. And a virtual MS Windows machine that I can delete and replace with a virgin installation within minutes! :whistle:
I love my iMac G5. Wish I had the Intel one. Would love to run Windows on it. Oh well. Some day... Can't really justify the expense when this machine works very well as it is...
Thanks sheila - that's about what I paid for a dell-only XP disk so if those are floating around it won't be a big issue.
Tiger requires a DVD player.
Couldn't I just connect a USB2 DVD drive to install the DVD OSX, or no?
kennylucius
05-13-2007, 01:40 AM
OS X doesn't require a key, or activation. Apple uses the honor system. A new OS--the full and only version--costs $129 from Apple. It's $199 for the family pack of 5 licenses, but it's licenses you are buying, not activation codes. If you are a student or teacher, the online Apple Store sells one license for $69 (on the honor system--no application or student ID required).
I think an external DVD player will work fine, as long as you can boot from it.
If I buy a used ibook with OS installed, does the license transfer meaning I would just need media to reinstall, or is it non-transferable in apple's eyes?
sheila
05-13-2007, 01:57 AM
There are times when you need the "original" restore disks that "come with" the computer. Believe me. BTDT. Usually it is not a happy day when that happens.
Applecare: OK, then you should insert the original disk that came with your computer into your drive...
kennylucius
05-13-2007, 10:53 AM
Don't worry about the license--Apple assumes their customers are honest, so I guess you can assume the seller is honest with respect to the license. Worry about having a disk when you need one. While OS X is cheap, the diagnostic tools for that particular computer are on the original disk, along with bundled apps.
If there is an Apple Store near you, you should just wander in and ask them if they can provide a restore disk for a particular older computer. Heck, the genius bar will probably run diagnostics on it for free.
kennylucius
05-13-2007, 12:33 PM
BTW, read the legalese (http://www.apple.com/legal/) to see that exactly one transfer of license is allowed, and must include disks and such.
Randall
05-14-2007, 06:15 PM
OS X doesn't require a key, or activation. Apple uses the honor system. A new OS--the full and only version--costs $129 from Apple. It's $199 for the family pack of 5 licenses, but it's licenses you are buying, not activation codes. Such a nice change for those of us coming from the Windows world ... not that @#$% Adobe has let that vibe interfere with their business practices. :hrmm: My CS3 upgrade is on its way from Amazon, another $400. But they do allow you to install it on two computers.
I didn't know that the family license costs extra. But for that price you get exactly one full copy of Vista Basic, or a Vista Business upgrade. (Don't even get me started about "Premiums" and "Ultimates.") BTW, read the legalese to see that exactly one transfer of license is allowed, and must include disks and such. Hmm, that paragraph is lacking the usual blah-blah about not transferring the OS after an upgrade. Since they don't sell an OS X "upgrade," I guess the issue never comes up -- the new version is fully licensed in and of itself.
What really surprises me is that there's no language in there distinguishing retail copies from the OS that came installed on the computer. Apple doesn't believe in the "OEM" software concept either?
Randall
Apple doesn't believe in the "OEM" software concept either?
Wouldn't they all be OEM? ... unless you can sneak it onto other hardware ;)
that exactly one transfer of license is allowed
That's what I needed to know - thanks!
Apple assumes their customers are honest, so I guess you can assume the seller is honest with respect to the license.
That is a refreshing attitude. I'm a bit tired of downloading and running windows' XP Genuine Advantage updates... yup, still genuine :argue:
Worry about having a disk when you need one. While OS X is cheap, the diagnostic tools for that particular computer are on the original disk, along with bundled apps.
You can't just download the diagnostic tools / drivers for the particular ibook if you don't have the original disc?
Randall
05-15-2007, 08:14 AM
Wouldn't they all be OEM? ... unless you can sneak it onto other hardware ;) I know, the term doesn't quite fit right. But it was easier to type than "For distribution with a new PC only." :rasberry:
And it is true that you can sneak OS X onto other hardware ... just so long as the other hardware is made by Apple. :wink:
Randall
Evoir
05-20-2007, 11:30 PM
I'm not sure that I would buy a used apple off of ebay without the installation disks... it makes me think it could be stolen... most people who bought a computer new have the install disks. Anyway, it is a marker that makes me question the computer. I personally like t o have the install disks so I can make sure I am starting off fresh if I am buying a used computer.
But, buying locally from Craigslist is a good idea. But, my recommendation is to only purchase a computer if they have the install disks. :)
sheila
05-21-2007, 01:12 AM
I'm not sure that I would buy a used apple off of ebay without the installation disks... it makes me think it could be stolen... most people who bought a computer new have the install disks.
Yeah, I had been thinking about that. Why sell the computer without the disks? Where do these disks come from that don't have a corresponding computer?
So then I was thinking... whoever it is who has them for sale purposefully sells them separately because they think they can get more money for the whole package that way by selling the laptop separate and the disks separarate.
Maybe not. It was just an idea that wandered through my head...
Evoir
05-21-2007, 02:56 AM
I have extra disks from computers that have died. Or were not worth the cost of the repair. I have a g3 ibook sitting on my desk that fits that category. I really should sell the disk, ram and installation disks, but can't find the time.
It's the cheap computer sold without the disks that raises a red flag for me.
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