(2) Apple G4 CPUs- 450mhz, 1mb cache per cpu
768mb SDRAM (256,128,256,128)
30gb Hard drive running OSX 10.4.9 with all updates

includes final cut pro HD. Would be using mostly for internet, IMing, and video editing.

Any advice or tips? What price would you expect for just the tower?

7/15/2007 5:47:52 PM

I personally wouldn't pay more than $50-70 for that, but really, you'd be better off saving up your money and buying a Mac Mini.

7/15/2007 6:01:59 PM

also includes software w/o install disks... I'm thinking software alone would be worth around $100 added to the price of just tower? If I bought the mini I'd still have to add on office and video editing software.

Software:
Standard OSX Tiger Programs
Adobe Photoshop CS2 Suite
Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Pro
Microsoft Office X
Cubase SE
MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger
Windows Media Player
Stuffit 11
Final Cut Pro HD
Roxio Toast 8 Titanium
& much more...

[Edited on July 15, 2007 at 6:06 PM. Reason : software]

7/15/2007 6:04:26 PM

Assuming it's in really good condition and it has licensed versions of all that, I still wouldn't put it value at more than $125 or so.

7/15/2007 6:08:59 PM

im willing to bet it isnt licensed though

7/15/2007 6:15:34 PM

Not knowing much about macs how could I get on the computer and tell if the software is licensed or not? What benefit is licensed vs unlicesned?

also, 2 years ago I bought a lite-on DVD-R/W drive. Would this even begin to be compatable in a mac G4, thanks you guys for all the help!

7/15/2007 6:19:02 PM

If the SW is unlicensed which is probably isn't since there's no install disks then it doesn't add any value to the computer, because you could just download them for free anyway. If they are licensed to you then it means you legally could use the software for business work (which it doesn't seem like you are anyway, unless you're selling the videos you make). Plus, those programs will run relatively slowly anyway.

The DVD drive will probably work.

7/15/2007 6:53:37 PM

This computer is going to run like absolute garbage. It's 5 or 6 years old at least. Even dual G5 Mac's with 4 times the memory have a hard time with Final Cut.

Seriously, it's going to be completely unusable for Final Cut Pro, and an absolute butter churn for Creative Suite.

Oh btw, if there's no install disks ans no manuals, all the software on it is illegal.

This means you can't use it for commercial purposes, and if you get caught with it, you are going to get the shit sued out of you.

The way you know is that if there's no license/manual/box, it's not legit. Plain and simple. If it were, people would pay THOUSANDS for this JUST to get the legal licenses, and then likely blow up the computer.

[Edited on July 15, 2007 at 11:06 PM. Reason : .]

7/15/2007 11:04:19 PM

its probably worth about 100 at most. that thing will be way slow for FCP. the first version is okay, but FCP2 is way better.

also be aware that 10.5 will the the last PPC version of the OS.

768mb of RAM is way to low for FCP. 10.4 takes up 512, FCP requires at least 1 gb on its own to run good.

you will need to get 4x512 PC100(or PC133) ram, and a OWC Mercury Dual G4 upgrade, and a bigger hard drive.

Dual G4 2 ghz- $400
4x512- $360
=not worth it, get a iMac Core 2 Duo. Mac mini won't run FCP2 without a hack.

7/15/2007 11:20:48 PM