Macintosh Mac folks: upgrade or replace the 'Rents computer?

[KickTheBobo]

Heya: The parents have an iMac G4 800mhz 512mb RAM that they use for web surfing, email, looking at pictures and the like. I have been getting complaints for the past year that the machine is "too slow". I upgraded the thing to Tiger, which made a tiny difference in performance, and installed some cleanup/optimization tools, but keep getting told that it's still too slow.

The only option at this point is to max out the RAM to 1GB, which would run about 100 bucks. I have told them that they probably won't see much of an improvement.

I really don't want to waste any $ if the fact is that it's time to get a new machine. IF that's the case, does anyone have any suggestions for a new Mac that's not gonna break the bank? The one requirement is that it has a "big" screen (15" or larger). I expect to get at least 3-4 years of life out if it.



I've been thinking maybe something like this: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac-core-2-duo-2.4-20-inch-aluminum-specs.html

thanks!

[colonel panic]

iMac! it's fast.

i recommended that my in-laws get the imac and they absolutely love it. the screen is magnificent so my nieces watch DVD's on it when gramps is watching the twins play.

best of all: leopard. ichat has the "share my screen" option so when they are in a pickle (like they can't find the internet; or the email isn't working) they call me and i talk them through accepting my ichat invitation. then i can control their mouse and fix everything remotely. the hard part is getting my mother-in-law to release the mouse when i have control. i don't think she understands that someone else is driving.

in any case; my wife and i went round and round because she thought they should get a cheap PC. but they have had no issues with file formats etc w/ the mac. i set up firefox to startup on login so if it ever crashes (or the minimize the window) they can do a hard reboot and the email is back! or call me. 

also; i had them purchase 'ilife' for the word processing stuff and so they could open word documents. this was unnecessary and in hindsight i should have installed open office and called it a day.

we also use the webcam for family ichat sessions; that was also a perk that we didn't really consider.

[yesno]

Doubling RAM really does cause a significant speed boost, but PPC chips are pretty much at the end of the line.  Next version of OS X doesn't even support them. Also, the speed jump from a G4 to a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo will make your head spin.  The G5 was competitive with x86 chips when it came out but the x86 chips got real fast real quick, and an Intel Macbook trounces even a G5 Power Mac.

So yeah, upgrade.

Buying a big external monitor to go with a souped-up Mac mini would be as or more expensive than an iMac.

My recommended setup is an iMac with the maximum possible amount of RAM and a cheap-o second monitor.  Live it up with two monitors, I say.

You can sometimes buy cheap at www.macofalltrades.com or similar places.

Did I mention max out the RAM?  Do that.  But buy the extra RAM from Crucial and save hundreds, and make sure that the RAM you get from Apple won't need to be thrown away (get the largest single chip you can).  While you're at it, by the way, max out the RAM.

[Oogie]

I'd replace the rents and keep the computer.

Old people are really cheap these days.

[KickTheBobo]

thanks for the input, folks!

I am lobbying right now for one of nem refurbished Imacs with some extra RAM, which will hopefully keep them satiated.

[yesno]

You're probably on top of this, but

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/9074000/wo/g33Ol5nNBFQ02sydct61DHXs5lq/2.0.0.26.9.5.7.1.1.1.1

is where I'd check before the third party websites, for refurb.