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View Full Version : Looking to replace my iBuddie.

Michelle Lyon
12th August 2008, 04:12 PM
Does anyone out there have unwanted laptops they can donate? I'm looking to either repair the issues on my current machine or replace it altogether.

It's an iBuddie A900 circa 1998. It freezes up alot when running photo editors, anything on the internet especially if Flash or Javascript is involved (which is everywhere on the internet now), or running Office programs, and will not play CD's or DVD's at all. When it freezes the only remedy is to unplug and reboot, which erases all my work.

I've tried everything I can imagine to repair this, and have come to the conclusion that this machine is just old, doesn't keep up with modern media, and its hardware might be trying to break due to age. I've also been unable to find parts for this system. They aren't manufactured anymore.

Please let me know if you have an unwanted system you can spare, and I can PM my address.

Edit: I do not have internet access at home at this time. So don't sweat if I don't reply right away. :)
Michelle Lyon
19th August 2008, 04:10 PM
Bump! Still looking...

ETA: A local friend suggested finding another iBuddie that does not have the mainboard issue, and swapping out the parts. Does anyone out there have one?
elgarak
19th August 2008, 07:12 PM
Are you sure your iBuddie has a hardware problem? Because your problems sound more like the usual messed-up, old Windows system. That could be easily fixed by backing up your data and re-installing. Or switching to Ubuntu.
Wowbagger
19th August 2008, 09:09 PM
(She DID switch to Ubuntu, if I remember correctly.)
Michelle Lyon
22nd August 2008, 07:18 PM
Are you sure your iBuddie has a hardware problem? Because your problems sound more like the usual messed-up, old Windows system. That could be easily fixed by backing up your data and re-installing. Or switching to Ubuntu.

Hi elgarak! :) I don't use Windows, I have Ubuntu 7. Windows NT was on this machine before that, and there's speculation that the machine is actually a Macintosh (iPhone, iPod, iBuddie...) because the Windows didn't work well at all. Changing to Ubuntu solved a lot of issues, but not the freezing up. A techie in my neighborhood diagnosed the problem as being the disk controller, which is a part of the mainboard. Sometimes, when I'm not on the internet but running other programs, the mouse or keyboard or DVD player will just stop working, or the program will freeze for a moment, or there's a very slow redraw. We've done all the tests already - this problem is almost a year old now. We agreed that the thing is just too old and wearing out.
elgarak
22nd August 2008, 11:26 PM
:)

Good to know. Just clearing that up; after all, without prior knowledge, there's a 90% success rate of getting a Windows user ;). (well, here on JREF, I hope the percentage is significantly lower)
Michelle Lyon
24th August 2008, 01:18 PM
:)

Good to know. Just clearing that up; after all, without prior knowledge, there's a 90% success rate of getting a Windows user ;). (well, here on JREF, I hope the percentage is significantly lower)

It makes no difference to me. I like them all. :)
Michelle Lyon
6th September 2008, 11:49 PM
Bumparama!
Michelle Lyon
8th September 2008, 07:55 PM
My classes begin next week. I've been shopping around for a freebie computer for quite a while and have not found one. I'm wondering if I can ask the Forum for contributions towards the purchase of a new one? Nothing fancy, I just need something that won't crash in the middle of my coursework.

Can I hold a fundraiser here?

Edit: I'm thinking of starting an Etsy page. Can I link to it?