Should I buy this Powermac G4?

[newomij]

I ran across this machine from a company that builds servers and machines for companies. It's a former business machine from one of their clients.

Dual G4 Processors@800MHz
1.5GB RAM
120GB Hard Drive
Apple Keyboard and Mouse
Powercord
DVD/CDRW Burner Drive

MAC OSX Tiger 10.4
iLife08 which includes GarageBand, iWeb, iPhoto, iTunes, and a whole lot more
It even comes with a 60 day warranty on the hardware! All for $120.

My wife has been wanting a Mac for years. This seems like a good opportunity to pick one up cheap and learn the system. She works with Excell, does a lot of webmail, and pokes around the internet. Any thoughts???

[Force Flow]

The one bad thing about apples is that backwards compatibility for the O/S and software is fairly nonexistent.

Which means, if you're not running the latest software, you won't be getting security or compatibility updates. And that will lead to a number of headaches.

10.4 hasn't been updated since November 2007.

If it's going to just be a machine to mess around on, I'd keep it off the internet.

[newomij]

What is the minimum OS compatible with this machine you would suggest? Does Apple do this with all their operating systems: 'you won't be getting security or compatibility updates'

[Force Flow]

As soon as a new version is released, that's pretty much what apple does. Apple only tends to support *current* software and hardware. This is how things start getting expensive rather quickly in the Mac world.

Short term, 10.5 is still viable, however, it hasn't been updated since August 2009--that's when current version of OS X, 10.6, was released.

[mrtube]

I'm a bit confused. See i'm a PC guy but occasionally will mess with a mac just because.

I was running a few G4's with Tiger and Leopard. I'm not sure about right now But I know last summer I was receiving occasional security updates on 10.4 as well as 10.5.

I'm pretty sure I am remembering correctly. Is there something i'm missing?

I was running tiger on a Yikes 400MHz powermac and Leopard on a mystic dual 400 with a hacked power supply in it.

Now the two computers sit in storage as I have no use for them.

[inflames988]

I'd say a mac mini would be a better more modern solution - though more expensive for sure. They seem to be getting progressively more pricey but I'd say you should take a look at the apple refurb prices - supposedly they are great.