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An Amazing Find for My Next Project -- iMac G4 20"

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Hi everyone, I found something yesterday that I've been searching out for the better part of a year. Its a 1.25Ghz 20" iMac G4. The Craigslist Ad is shown below. I know there's plenty of these on eBay, but the 'try before you buy' element of a purchase like this is imperatively important to me. I ran a dead pixel test and did a thorough visual inspection before taking the item home. He accepted an offer less than the advertised price (Canadian Dollars), but this machine was well worth the full amount if I'd had to pay it. It even came with the original box, as he was the original purchaser of the system in 2003.



Craigslist Ad ---

screenshot_105.jpg



I got the machine home and cleaned up the exterior with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Wiped the HDD at the seller's premises so installed 10.5.8 on it straight away. There is not a single defect on this iMac. The transparent bezel is crystal clear, no scuffs. The LCD is mint, not a single dead pixel or pressure mark. The dome and backside of the LCD are brilliant white without any markings whatsoever.

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I'm going to take my time with this project. The goals are yet to be set, but it will be a Haswell NUC build of some description. I'm going to properly map out the power requirements and wiring first, while it is still in a running condition. I was really impressed with the way Kiwi has done this initial ground work with his G5 project, and wanted to do the same with this one.

The fun is yet to begin, but I am thrilled with the pristine iMac G4 20" that I now have in my stable. These units are definitely getting much more difficult to find in such condition as this one.


EDIT : The build log for this project begins at this link.


Cheers!

Ersterhernd
 
Cool, ersterhernd! :thumbup:

I wish you good luck with this one.

MacTester

BTW:
I'm writing this on my freshly hacked Acer Aspire One D255E Netbook... It's running Mavericks 10.9.0. :ugeek:
 
Congratulations on an impressive find. I can see are going to enjoy this one. BTW Still waiting on delivery of NUC from local supplier, not impressed :cry:
 
Which NUC did you buy, Kiwi? I see there's been success hacking the new i5 Haswell version.
 
Cool, ersterhernd! :thumbup:

I wish you good luck with this one.

MacTester

BTW:
I'm writing this on my freshly hacked Acer Aspire One D255E Netbook... It's running Mavericks 10.9.0. :ugeek:

Hi MacTester,

I still have my old Dell Mini 10V with 10.6.7 on it. Take it on vacations with us, very handy and very tiny. Dual boots Win7 too so versatile for any application. It'll always have a special place in my collection.

Oh and I hope I have good luck with this one, no mistakes, fingers crossed.


Cheers!
 
Which NUC did you buy, Kiwi? I see there's been success hacking the new i5 Haswell version.
Yes I purchased the Haswell i5 NUC (D54250WYK). I have been following the progress on those threads with great interest. Credit will have to go WonkyDonkey for bringing it all together.
 
I thought this was kind of a neat pic. A 20" Early 2006 Core Duo beside a 20" USB 2.0 G4. Both in spotless condition, not a sight you see very often. I grabbed the 2006 model off CL last week for our elderly neighbor. I put some extra RAM in it, updated it to Snow Leopard and am teaching her to use it. She's 76 and has never owned a computer in her life. Its amazing how easy the Apple OS is to navigate, this is living proof.


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Cheers!
 
WOW, looks good, but I'm afraid you will not have time do do your mods, if you do the support for your elderly neighbor.... :headbang:

MacTester
 
Wow those machines are super clean- great job with the magic eraser :D


Thanks Tonymacx86!

Great job with this site. None of my mods would've been possible for me without this invaluable resource you've created.


Happy New Year!


Ersterhernd
 
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