iBook G3 clamshell, iBook G4 or PowerBook G4?

garirry · May 25, 2013

I thought earlier that I will buy an iBook G3 Clamshell in June this year. However, now I'm thinking should I waste money for an old, obsolete and maybe useless computer? Beside, I am planning to install Jaguar on this thing. Now, I think maybe to buy an iBook or Powerbook G4 so I could have a fast computer and so I could put Tiger or Leopard. What do you think I should buy?

Lil Chillbil · May 25, 2013

garirry said:
I thought earlier that I will buy an iBook G3 Clamshell in June this year. However, now I'm thinking should I waste money for an old, obsolete and maybe useless computer? Beside, I am planning to install Jaguar on this thing. Now, I think maybe to buy an iBook or Powerbook G4 so I could have a fast computer and so I could put Tiger or Leopard. What do you think I should buy?

If you get a clam get os 9 on that thing and not os x, I would recommend a 17 inch powerbook g4 1.67ghz and run either tiger or leopard on it, Not panther or jaguar.

garirry · May 25, 2013

I would not buy a 17 inch, since it's too big and it will not even fit in my computer case. So a 12 or 15 inch Aluminum with Leopard would be OK?

justperry · May 25, 2013

Get the PB 1.67 15", it's a great machine but be aware to test the RAM on it, some PB do have the lower slot RAM problem.
The latest high res model is the best one.

(Powerbook 5.8 15" double layer sd)

garirry · May 25, 2013

justperry said:
Get the PB 1.67 15", it's a great machine but be aware to test the RAM on it, some PB do have the lower slot RAM problem.
The latest high res model is the best one.

Thanks, I'll search for one soon.

skateny · May 25, 2013

Either a PowerBook or iBook. Stay away from the G3.

garirry · May 25, 2013

skateny said:
Either a PowerBook or iBook. Stay away from the G3.

Good idea.

tom vilsack · May 25, 2013

justperry said:
Get the PB 1.67 15", it's a great machine but be aware to test the RAM on it, some PB do have the lower slot RAM problem.
The latest high res model is the best one.

second this...(check both ram slots)...the powerbook with a least a couple gigs of ram and leopard could even be used for daily use...

garirry · May 25, 2013

tom vilsack said:
second this...(check both ram slots)...the powerbook with a least a couple gigs of ram and leopard could even be used for daily use...

How can I CHECK the RAM slots?

666sheep · May 25, 2013

Screenshot from ASP with both slots populated would be kind of a proof.

garirry · May 25, 2013

666sheep said:
Screenshot from ASP with both slots populated would be kind of a proof.

I don't understand what you mean...

666sheep · May 25, 2013

garirry said:
I don't understand what you mean...

This, but in PB slots will be named J25UPPER and J25LOWER:

Screen+shot+2011-07-11+at+8.00.53+AM.png

garirry · May 25, 2013

666sheep said:
This, but in PB slots will be named J25UPPER and J25LOWER:

Image

OK, but what do I need to check with the RAM? What's the RAM problem that Justperry said to me?

666sheep · May 25, 2013

Perry meant this: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10328170-263.html

If RAM is recognized in lower slot (or both) you don't need to worry.

DaKKs · May 25, 2013

I recently bought a 15 inch Powerbook G4 (1.67) and I've yet to stop singing its praises. Nine years old and it still has what it takes.

Of course, you shouldn't expect 2013 speeds from it, but mine runs splendidly for basic work and some entertainment. I run DS CS4, Aperture 2, FCP 5 and MSO2008 on mine, and believe it or not, it runs quite well for its age. However it is equipped with 2gb ram and the fastest spinner on the market so dont expect the same from stock config.

My only complaint is that it does not play 720p. Otherwise, I might as well use the PB instead of my hackintoshed Lenovo.

I wonder how MintPPC would run on this thing. It sped up my Pismo enough to be usable, albeit for a patient user.

garirry · May 25, 2013

So, I will start searching for 12 and 15 inch PBG4 so I will finally have my first Mac portable. By the way, if I upgrade to 1.5 GB of RAM to my iMac and install Leopard on it, is that a good idea?

DaKKs · May 26, 2013

garirry said:
So, I will start searching for 12 and 15 inch PBG4 so I will finally have my first Mac portable. By the way, if I upgrade to 1.5 GB of RAM to my iMac and install Leopard on it, is that a good idea?

Which imac is it? IMHO, Leopard is unusable on anything below 1.25GHZ G4. Of course, it also requires a QE/CI compatible GPU.

That said, I've used leopard with 1GB ram and its not terrible. Wouldn't call it snappy, though.

garirry · May 26, 2013

DaKKs said:
Which imac is it? IMHO, Leopard is unusable on anything below 1.25GHZ G4. Of course, it also requires a QE/CI compatible GPU.

That said, I've used leopard with 1GB ram and its not terrible. Wouldn't call it snappy, though.

FAKE: Leopard requires 867MHZ G4. I have the latest iMac 1.25GHZ 17" with USB 2.0. It currently have 512 MB of RAM, but since Tiger is slow with that, I think upgrading to 1.5 GB will make my computer faster, even with Leopard.

Bug-Creator · May 26, 2013

I run OSX-leopard on a 1.33GHz/1.5GB iBook (well mostly I run a completly different OS that doesn't matter here) and it's o.k.

Your iMac would have a slighly slower CPU and a better GPU so you should be o.k.

Bout buying a PowerBook, the 2nd RAM-slot issue is only present in the older "lowres" 1.67GHz 15", if you buy the "highres" (1440x900) model you should be o.k.

garirry · May 26, 2013

Bug-Creator said:
I run OSX-leopard on a 1.33GHz/1.5GB iBook (well mostly I run a completly different OS that doesn't matter here) and it's o.k.

Your iMac would have a slighly slower CPU and a better GPU so you should be o.k.

Bout buying a PowerBook, the 2nd RAM-slot issue is only present in the older "lowres" 1.67GHz 15", if you buy the "highres" (1440x900) model you should be o.k.

The highres model, as I think you mean it, it's only available in 17". Only the 1.67GHz 15" model has 1440x960. Maybe it has nothing to do with screen resolutions, but I will not buy an 17" PBG4.

ihuman:D · May 26, 2013

garirry said:
The highres model, as I think you mean it, it's only available in 17". Only the 1.67GHz 15" model has 1440x960. Maybe it has nothing to do with screen resolutions, but I will not buy an 17" PBG4.

No, the last models of 15" and 17" Powerbooks, released on October 19 2005, are the Hi-Res models.

justperry · May 26, 2013

ihuman:D said:
No, the last models of 15" and 17" Powerbooks, released on October 19 2005, are the Hi-Res models.

This is true!

Bug-Creator · May 26, 2013

The 15" HighRes (PowerBook5.8) is indeed 1440x960, the 17" (5.9) has 1680x1050.

Older 17" (5.7 5.5 ...) had 1440x900 (hence my slight confusion) while older 15" (5.6 5.4 ...) only did 1280x854.

What you really want to want is a PowerBook 5.8 aka A1138

garirry · May 26, 2013

Bug-Creator said:
The 15" HighRes (PowerBook5.8) is indeed 1440x960, the 17" (5.9) has 1680x1050.

Older 17" (5.7 5.5 ...) had 1440x900 (hence my slight confusion) while older 15" (5.6 5.4 ...) only did 1280x854.

What you really want to want is a PowerBook 5.8 aka A1138

If I would be lucky. Basically, instead of searching on eBay, I prefer posting an ad, and everyone who wants to sell an PBG4 will send me a message. How about 50$ for an 12" and 60$ for an 15"? Is that good prices?

Bug-Creator · May 26, 2013

Is that canadian $ ?? That would be only 37/45Euro

For that kind of money I wouldn't expect anything but older models who had beaten most of their lives out of them

iBook G3 clamshell, iBook G4 or PowerBook G4?

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68000

macrumors G5

macrumors 68000

macrumors 6502

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68040

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68040

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502

macrumors 68000

macrumors 6502

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

macrumors 6502a

macrumors G5

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68000

Our Staff