MetaChat - What should I do with a free iMac?

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14 July 2006

What should I do with a free iMac? →[More:]The IT guy at work has phased out the last of the iMacs we had around. He offered them to us for free, and for some reason I said I'd take one. Now, what, if anything, should I do with it?

My specs: I used to Mac it, but I have a PC now. I use it for this (obviously), writing, and storing lots and lots of music files and some pictures, and that's about it. I experimented with iTunes for awhile and I don't like it, so I don't really want my music on it.

One thought I had was to use it for recording music -- a lot of artists have some sort of Mac setup at home.

I'm a total doofus on the computer and need simple, monosyllabic layperson's directions in order to do anything.

Another goal would be to spend little to no money at the moment. But if someone paints a wonderful picture of something I could do with it, I might make it a higher priority budget item.

So what would you suggest? What would you do with a spare if you were me? Oh, and it runs Mac OS 9.2.2, internet ready, and has keyboard and mouse.

post by: Miko at: 11:05 | 12 comments

Well, if nothing else, I'll take it. :)

posted by JanetLand 14 July | 11:11

If you figure it out, please let me know. I have two in the closet and one more up at my house and I fear if I leave them alone for too long they will breed little Maclets. (yeah if anyone wants one and wants to come get it ping me)

I guess the first thing I'd do is see if you could get OSX on it (see if its even OSX compatible, the early iMacs aren't, most later ones are) which you can probably do for free, knowing the brain trust around here.

There are some good programs that are easy on the Mac. iTunes may not be how you want to organize your music but you could use it as a radio, mp3 streamer, podcast collector or music sharer if you put it on a home network. Many iMacs also come with DVD players so depending on the set-up you could use it as a mini-TV. Alternately you could find some older person who is thinking of making the "my first computer" leap and seeing if you can sell them on a Mac which I think, given the sorry state of low-end Dells lately (full of pesty software and out-of-the-box hard to use) would be doing them a favor.

posted by jessamyn 14 July | 11:15

Maybe you could donate it to some non-profit organization? or a disadvantaged kid?

posted by greasy_skillet 14 July | 11:17

I have a beige tower G3 that I still run OS 8.6 on and it performs most word processing and internet browsing adequately. But I'll be getting rid of it this fall when I get a new Mac.

posted by ColdChef 14 July | 11:30

Using it as a great big multitrack recording device would be a good option. Get a used audio breakout box off of E-Bay and go to town.

Otherwise, I'm sure a non-profit would enjoy having it.

posted by cmonkey 14 July | 11:42

When I took my garbage out the other day, there was a beige tower resting in the dumpster. Ideally I would have rescued it and stripped it for parts, or at least taken it to Re-PC so it could be disposed of properly (although I would have had to pay them a recycling fee). But then I thought about how it probably had slime on it and left it there.

posted by matildaben 14 July | 12:35

I have a beige tower G3 that I still run OS 8.6

8.6!! How old is that????

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 14 July | 13:50

*sigh* I miss System 6.

posted by JanetLand 14 July | 14:00

i want one!

posted by Mrs.Pants 14 July | 15:34

I want one too, especially if the RAM and VRAM have been upgraded.

Beyond everything other folks have mentioned, an iMac makes a great second (or third, or fourth) computer--say, in the kitchen, or a guest room or a kids room or something. iMacs, even the oldest ones, are reasonably capable of word-processing, web browsing and mp3 playing.

posted by box 14 July | 16:33

8.6 was the best! i still miss it. : >

You can most definitely go to OS X on that imac i bet. I wouldn't do Tiger (10.4), but 10.3 or less should work.

posted by amberglow 14 July | 17:26

this will tell you for sure--lowendmac

posted by amberglow 14 July | 17:27

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