Suggestions here for a G3 iMac

[MSIC]

I was given a 1999 iMac (with the classic 'TV' shell design), and expected it to be shagged but a toy to play with.
The case has tip-ex etc on it and generally needs a thorough cleaning, so i'll be taking the plastic surround off and putting it in the bath (the plastic, not the innards!).

To my surprise however, the machine actually boots, although the optical drive (unknown if CD or DVD) is shagged, having swallowed a test DVD and refusing to acknowledge it's there (i shall be trying the pin in the far side trick when i get home).

I find myself now with a number of options, and wanted to canvas opinions please:

1) Clean it up and sell it (after wiping the hard drive, NOT done so far LOL)
2) Take the bits apart and sell them on ebay (eg 2 x 128MB PC100)
3) Clean it up and keep it, although I have no other macs and am not familiar with Mac OS 9 (although i could learn). Maybe some sort of media streamer/reciever? Would need to add some sort of wireless connection i think.
4) Take the insides out, put them into a PC case and add a decent DVD drive (hopefully this could be done easily??)
5) Use the shell for some sort of mod or design thing. Like a rubbish bin

I haven't done any modding before, and also don't own much in the way of tools, but the idea of modding something into something else appeals. The girlfriend does not want me to spend any money on this.

All ideas are appreciated.

[Red10]

I was given a 1999 iMac (with the classic 'TV' shell design), and expected it to be shagged but a toy to play with.
The case has tip-ex etc on it and generally needs a thorough cleaning, so i'll be taking the plastic surround off and putting it in the bath (the plastic, not the innards!).

To my surprise however, the machine actually boots, although the optical drive (unknown if CD or DVD) is shagged, having swallowed a test DVD and refusing to acknowledge it's there (i shall be trying the pin in the far side trick when i get home).

I find myself now with a number of options, and wanted to canvas opinions please:

1) Clean it up and sell it (after wiping the hard drive, NOT done so far LOL)
2) Take the bits apart and sell them on ebay (eg 2 x 128MB PC100)
3) Clean it up and keep it, although I have no other macs and am not familiar with Mac OS 9 (although i could learn). Maybe some sort of media streamer/reciever? Would need to add some sort of wireless connection i think.
4) Take the insides out, put them into a PC case and add a decent DVD drive (hopefully this could be done easily??)
5) Use the shell for some sort of mod or design thing. Like a rubbish bin

I haven't done any modding before, and also don't own much in the way of tools, but the idea of modding something into something else appeals. The girlfriend does not want me to spend any money on this.

All ideas are appreciated.

can't see the point in any of the above, as they would require work of some description i would try and repair the DVD drive (surely, not that hard) and then bang Linux on it (Ubuntu runs well on the G3 iMac, i know someone who's done this) and then either use it as a linux box or sell it as a cheap linux box.

[CocoPops]

A G3 will still run OSX, 10.3 (Panther) so it could be a good way to learn it?

[BroadbandPlacey]

damn if it wasnt for the first gen imac's being a bit slow these days id buy it in a shot, soooo sexy!

repair it and sell it on eGay they go for a fair sum

[Lowe]

Also G3 iMacs didn't have DVD drives. At best it'll be a a CD burner. What colour is it?

[darrensen]

Also G3 iMacs didn't have DVD drives. At best it'll be a a CD burner. What colour is it?

Mine has a DVD drive. Only the Slot loading drives had the option of DVD ROM. Some of the G3's at work also have DVD drives. I've got mine running Tiger 10.4 and i've got mine hooked up to my tv just collecting mail, surfing the net and running iTunes.

Works a treat!

[Lowe]

Depends on the colour - ours are the blue ones, the very, very early ones. The white ones sometimes had them, but they weren't out for long since the eMac was released shortly after iirc.

[MSIC]

It's a greeny colour.
I still havent decided what to do with it.
Appreciate the ideas.

[muddyfox470]

If I was you; I would take it apart with care, and see whether I can get it to work, cleaning the inside, trying to sort out the cd drive etc.

If i break it would be a shame but at least you have got some hands on stuff. If you get it to work and everything works 100% then you have a fully working mac which is excellent

See if you can eject the DVD and see if it reads CDs.
Try find a free guide on line that will tell you how to take it apart - and follow it carefully!

Ian