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Apple offers new 190/5300 trade-up program
updated 10:15 am EST, Tue March 6, 2001
Apple is once again offering a PowerBook 190/5300 trade-up program, allowing owners of any version of either PowerBook to purchase a FireWire PowerBook G3/400 for $1,599. In August of 2000, Apple offered a similar offer but with a $1,799 price tag. The PowerBook 190/5300 series have been plagued by a number of problems that first prompted Apple to offer owners of the systems $1,000 off the purchase of a PowerBook G3 in April of 1999.
A Steal.
03/06, 11:15am reply delete
That's a steal. If I had a 5300 (or knew where I could pick one up), I'd be all over that deal.
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Kudos to Apple
03/06, 11:20am reply delete
The PC pundits are so quick to bring up the 'flaming 5300' at every opportunity, but you never see them mention anything about Apple offering these trade-ins to do right by owners of the 5300 series.
Of course, since the 5300 Repair Extension Program will be running until (based on apple-history.com's 'manufacturing ceased' date and Apple TIL article #30427) late 2003, it's in Apple's interest to encourage people to ditch their 5300 in favor of something new sooner rather than later. I suppose it's also a nice way to clear out the remaining G3 PowerBook inventory.
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eBay has a couple
03/06, 11:26am reply delete
Both are listed for around $50 right now. I believe the trade-in provides about a savings of $350. Even if the 5300s go for about $100, that's still $250 off the price of a G3. Not too bad.
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Not much savings.
03/06, 11:30am reply delete
Most 5300s still go for $500 on eBay and the newsgroups. Plus refurb PB G3/400s have been selling new for 1599 with no trade in required. Not much of a savings. Sounds more like a rip-off for gullible consumers who were gullible enough to buy a 5300 in the first place, not Apple righting a wrong.
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Hey "Not much"
03/06, 11:49am reply delete
Refurbs are always cheaper, DUH! But a new one sells for about $2099.99 and THAt is what you get, not a refurb, so it IS a good deal. Quit whining.
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last time
03/06, 11:49am reply delete
I cashed in on this last time around, when it was more expensive. I Guess I'll shut up though, because it could be worse. If they were giving the G4 'book at... oh... $2000, then I'd be miffed.
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Whiners
03/06, 12:05pm reply delete
Quit whining. Name other companies that publicly let users upgrade to a more current machine at will.
Maybe our standards are higher than PC users' because they are used to faulty, buggy software and hardware. Remember, if you have the latest version of system software and your hardware isn't working right Apple can't point the finger to anyone, in sharp contrast to the PC world where they ALWAYS tell you to call microsoft, or you have to downgrade to this or it's not our fault, etc.. another example - why is my company still running NT and not 2000? Because after a year after its been out we're still waiting for bugs to be hammered out of it and the higher-ups don't want to spend MORE money on makeing a buggy OS stable as they've poured so much into the NT desktops already (not that it's stable by any means). How long do you think it will take companies to switch from Mac OS 9.0.4 to 9.1??? and then to OSX?
-Raman
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I've got one
03/06, 12:06pm reply delete
I have a 5300ce that I picked up from a relative a few months ago and spent $40 to fix up:new trackpad button, battery, and modem dongle. I thought that the deal was worth it last time around, but not this time, unless Apple will take back a non-functional stripped down machine. It doesn't say in the terms whether the machine has to be $100 in tact. I guess I'll be keeping this machine for a little while. It sits nicely on my midi keyboard since it's the only machine that works with my serial midi interface.
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pay again
03/06, 12:09pm reply delete
Why would I want to pay again to get a machine that works? If apple cant fix the problems with either unit FOR FREE how can charging to get a good one be a deal? If you bout a new car and it was lemon would you pay even 90% of the price tag for a new model that worked or would you require the mfg. to fix it AND reimburse you for all the hassles and down time?
Lets get our priorities straight. Next you'll tell me Windoze 2K is great because its stable, why did it take 15 years for that to happen (same with OS-X)
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not a good deal
03/06, 12:58pm reply delete
Ya know, this is not really a good deal imho. I would be willing to trade in my PB5300 for a G4 Ti Book 400 if it only cost me $2k, but to pay $1,600 for last years PowerBook when I can get one for that same amount is not a good deal at all.
I don't know about anyone else, but truely I am sick of Apple's shafting me on price. I have been using Linux one a Wintel Machine and it is much better than Windows and from what I have seen is MUCH more efficient than Mac OS X.
Get a grip Apple, you might have customer loyaty. And I am still probably the most loyal that can be found in my region, but your constant s******* me over, charging to much and treating me bad is getting to me more than I can handle. In fact, now that I think of it, I dumped my last girlfriend for the same reasons.
Hmmm.... maybe I should do the same with you, after all a very nice wintel portable can be had for the same price and twice the power.
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