Thinking about buying a mac...

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I was thinking about buying a mac at some point but I don't really know too much about them. I just found this on ebay and was wondering if it's any good?

iMac 350 (Slot Loading CD-ROM)
code name: Kihei

CPU: 350 MHz PPC 750
bus: 100 MHz
RAM: 256MB (upgraded from 64 MB PC100 SDRAM
VRAM: 8 MB SGRAM
Video: supports resolutions of 640 x 480, 800 x 600, and 1024 x 768 using ATI RAGE 128 VR chip set and 2X AGP
monitor: 15" (13.8" viewable) multiscan to 1024 x 768
L2 cache: 512 KB 140 MHz (5:2) backside cache
hard drive: 6 GB EIDE drive. Maximum IDE drive size is 128 GB without third-party support.
CD-ROM: 24x maximum throughput
USB ports: 2 separate USB 1.1 ports and controllers
integrated 56 kbps modem supports v.90 standard
10/100Base-T ethernet connector
AirPort: Requires AirPort Card Adapter
Microphone: internal

height: 15.0 in/38.1 cm
width: 15.0 in/38.1 cm
depth: 17.1 in/43.5 cm
weight: 34.7 lb/15.8 kg

Chroma

No idea but I also might be buying a Mac since GA always seems to be on his. =p

Grey Alien

I gotta say this, the last Mac I used was 10+ years ago and I forgot about it. Then I got the MacBook Pro and I gotta say it's the best thing I've bought in ages. Everything about it seems so well designed and it boots up and closes quickly and the you can just shut the lid and it suspends instantly and resumes instantly later which I love.

MrTAToad

Dont bother with any PowerPC Macs - more and more games (and utilities) will start to become Intel only.

The details seem to suggest its a rather old machine too...

Game Boy

Looks like one of the original iMacs that came out in 1997 and has a G3; wont run most of todays software.

You should be looking for at least a 1.4Ghz G4 machine to run a wider variety of software.

D4NM4N

I want a powerbook of my very own too, then i would have the full set... A NUXWINMAC collection :)
I am after a silent laptop and have herd mac laptops are real quiet. (my girlfriend hates the sound of the fan in bed and gets moody about it :(

Is it true some of the older PPC versions have no fan? (because i can imagine intel based would be the same as a PC.. fanwise)

Grey Alien

Yeah my Macbook is REALLY quiet unless you play games that tax it. But it quiet for browsing and movies.

Game Boy

My Intel MacBook is very quiet.

John Galt

I second MrTaToad - only go for an Intel Mac, or if you do look at PPC don't pay much for it.

xlsior

#10

this seems a bad choice on two points:

1) It's powerPC rather than Intel-based. Pretty much all new development is geared towards the intel-based machines -- I don't think they even make the PowerPC models anymore.

2) It's ancient -- 350MHz is pretty underpowered for any modern software

So... While this particular one might be nice to look around and experience a Mac if you've never used one, I doubt that it has many real-world use left in it.