I was offered this...

#1 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 19:46 68kMLA

"I have a working- not perfect Ibook G3 with Older OS. White.

how much would you pay for it?"

I don't know the answer (I can't afford much anyway).

By not perfect I assume it can either mean that it has a cosmetic issue or that it is faulty, electronically.

#2 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 20:17 68kMLA

Be careful. There is somehing on the board that goes on ibooks.

#3 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 20:19 68kMLA

Be careful. There is somehing on the board that goes on ibooks.

#4 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 20:49 68kMLA

$20 if it doesn't boot and you like to tinker on long term projects.

#5 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 21:28 68kMLA

As Maconthemove hinted, these models have a congenital defect. The ball-grid array on the video/graphics chip tends to make poor contact with the motherboard. Instability, failure to boot, and a sensitivity to pressure on the left side of the unit are all common manifestations of this problem. The only true cure is to reflow the BGA joints. Some folks have managed a temporary workaround by jamming a number of business cards between the bottom case and the logic board, but it's definitely not a reliable fix. So, if this sounds like the problem with that iBook, I'd pass on it unless you are up for a fairly major project. Save your money for something more promising.

#6 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 21:51 68kMLA

Okay, I think I'll save my money. Thanks!

#7 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 - 22:24 68kMLA

The same fault is known to affect the white iBooks between 500 and 900MHz and as I understand it some of the early G4 iBooks.

#8 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 - 19:51 68kMLA

I know a dude with a solder rework station that fixes those. He strips, fluxes and resolders the BGA parts using nice machinery and offers warranty.

Although $150 is a bit much to pay for a BGA reflow, you do get the warranty.

Just throwing it out there...

#9 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 - 21:11 68kMLA

Not the 500MHz, it's the iBook's between 600MHz (16MB of VRAM) and early G4 iBooks.

#10 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 - 22:22 68kMLA

Not the 500MHz, it's the iBook's between 600MHz (16MB of VRAM) and early G4 iBooks.

The 500MHz iBooks certainly suffer from this problem, too (and it's not unheard of in other models, including early G4 Powerbooks). The first icebook I owned was a 500MHz model that was given to me because Apple (at that time) refused to fix it. With nothing to lose, I tried the "home workbench heat-gun desperation reflow" procedure, and it's been working great ever since.

#11 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 - 00:04 68kMLA

Hmm, thats interesting because I have yet to get this issue and I have never heard this issue in the 500MHz models.

BTW can someone please help me find dual screening in OS X on my 500MHz? It is certainly possible with that video card.

#12 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 - 00:52 68kMLA

I had this happen with a Pismo. The ATI Rage chip came loose causing the screen to get garbled. Applying pressure to the bottom would make it better. When I got the logic board out, I noticed even the little heat sink had popped off. I thought maybe the sink came off first, causing it to get hot and subsequently weaken the solder joints.

A mislabeled eBay auction and $14 dollars (shipped) later, I was back in business. This was in 2003!

I bought the Pismo in this condition and ended up with a complete setup (battery, power adapter, discs, DVD-ROM, etc) for $400, in 2003.