Power Mac G3 Blue & White

[joewhk]

I had been wishing for a Blue & White G3 for awhile because it's one of the coolest Mac to me. Not to mention the great compatibility to different hardware (USB/FireWire/SCSI/ADB) and software (Mac OS 8.5.1 till 10.5.8 with CPU upgrade). 

However the G3s are getting rare in where I live (Hong Kong). I did think of getting one from eBay but it just doesn't make sense because of the shipping. 

So I had my normal Sunday today and walk around the computer arcade near my church, which usually sell used computers. I saw a stack of Power Mac G3s before I left the arcade. 



It reads: HKD 99 G3 Full Set

(approx USD 12.77)

Of course that's not a "Full set with box and display" but I'm happy enough to get a G3 with Keyboard and Mouse. 

(and now I realised that they didn't give me the power cord and USB extension cord, which they should have!)

I was too excited to see the G3s so I quickly grabbed one and go home. 

The shop owner says they will send them to landfill if no one buys them in the coming few days. So I was thinking if I should get two but at the end I walked out of the shop with only one.



I picked the one with Zip 100 drive as I think that it should be the fastest one. Well, hmm... that's a pretty fast model.

Checked the specs when I got home and found that it was exactly the same as stock config:

G3 350MHz/1M Cache/128MB SDRAM/12GB HD/CD-ROM/ZIP

Not bad... except it's a Rev A model. 

Maybe I should go back tomorrow and rescue one more, if not all?

 

[G4 MDD]

Congrats!!

I have one, a 350 MHz Rev B model and with Zip 100 too! Mac OS 9 flies on it while 10.4.11 not so much.

 

[G4 MDD]

Rescue them all !!  :beige:

 

[joewhk]

I'd love to rescue them all (after all HKD 99 isn't much) but my room is running out of space. 

Maybe rescue them all and sell them afterwards...

 

[CC_333]

I have a nice looking Rev. "C" (Yikes G4 LB) G3, but I have yet to use it, because I just feel like I haven't had the time/motivation.

I plan to find a nice spot for it eventually, where it can be used, but for now, it serves as a small table at the top of our staircase [] ]'>

c

 

[tanuki65]

Rescue then sell all but the best revision.

 

[joewhk]

The catch here is that I'm not even allowed to inspect the machines.

I spotted there's a little bit cracks on the case when I bought mine so I want to pick another one. The guy says

"Bro, it's dirt cheap and we will trash them if no one buys them. Don't be so picky"

I was only allowed to power on and make sure it's functional. So buying the rest might be a bet unless they let me check the labels... Or I buy them all. LOL

 

[CC_333]

I noticed there are some Mac Pros there as well. Those might definitely be worth looking at as well, especially if any of them are the Early 2008 models (that model, I feel, is probably one of the most versatile of the original Mac Pros, as it can run every OS from Tiger (with ATI Radeon HD 2600 and some hacking to the drivers) all the way through the current OS, and it can support 64 GB RAM, fast-enough SATAII (or SATAIII via PCI-Express), AND a modern video card!)

c

 

[rsolberg]

I'm with CC.  That top right Mac Pro for HK $2980 looks like a good buy, particularly if it's an 8-core model.

 

[joewhk]

Just checked and all the G3s are gone. Hope they have found a new home

For the Mac Pro, I'm a little bit hesitate as I don't want to spend too much on old(er) hardware. I'm using a Mac mini 2012 with Core i7, 16GB RAM and Fusion Drive, which shouldn't be too far from the Mac Pro. Instead, the Mac Pro is going to consume a lot of electricity and noisy.

I might get the Mac Pro if I don't have an original G5 and HP xw6400 (which makes a good Hackintosh) stuffed under my desk.

 

[waynestewart]

That Mac mini is pretty fast. You'd probably have to find a 2010 Mac Pro to beat your mini.