HDBoy

Apple Stores gradually have dropped the price of component repairs, which now are about 50% lower than they once were. This past summer, my sister replaced a cracked display and lid on her 2008 Intel MacBook Pro (15") for about $450 (It wouldn't have cost her that much if she had done the work soon after it happened, but she delayed after initially cracking just the upper housing. Eventually, her clumsy kid picked up the MacBook Pro by the lid and cracked the screen).

Just a couple of years ago, that repair would have cost about $900. Beside great tech support, Apple seems to be passing along to customers the manufacturing savings it's realizing from gangbuster sales. If your local Apple Store no longer works on the oldest machines, they'll direct you to a reliable, affiliate repair facility, as will the techs at Apple's 800 support number.

That said, if this Mac does not have an Intel Core2 Duo processor or better, it would be wise to direct the money toward the cost of a more modern MacBook Air (under $1,000) or an iPad (@$499-$800), or a refurbished deal at the online Apple Store. Modern Macs offer a lot of benefits. I know money is tight for the 99%, but be careful not to throw good money after bad when it's really time to upgrade. I have another friend on a budget who gradually spent nearly $1,100 reparing and upgrading a used, 2007 MacBook Pro a friend gave her last year. One thing after another went wrong and a repair tech really hosed her. She could have bought a new machine with that much money.