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TacticalDesire

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 19, 2012
2,286
23
Michigan
Lots of people have them. But I am just curious as to how many people actually use their PowerPC macs as their primary machine? If so what are the specs?
 
Well my "main" machine is a MacPro (see signature), but I rotate through various PowerPC laptops as my main portable. I'm currently typing this on a PowerBook G3 Pismo (400MHz, 1GB RAM, 40GB HDD, running OS 10.4.11).
 
I do. My other PCs are a Thinkpad X60 and a Portege R200. The X60 is on par in terms of speed (games excluded), but I just feel more comfortable with Mac OS.
 
I was using my 1.8 G5 Tower at home as my main computer until it died recently (thread in this forum). The biggest drawback to it was that I like Firefox and Firefox stopped supporting PPCs a long while back so I ran into issues with playing video online at times. If I can figure out if there is a simple fix inexpensive fix, like a power supply, I'd replace it and try to eek another couple of years out of it. Otherwise I'll be upgrading.
 
Well, I also use my PPC Dual 2.0GHz G5 tower as a main computer. I was planning to retire it, but i had to put it up again at the beginning of May, because my then main Mac - a 2010 MacBook Pro has been stolen. As I was used to Intel environment, switching back to PPC was not very convenient, but I am getting used to it pretty quickly. I'll just have to add some more RAM in the near future because with current 1.5GB it tends to be sluggish...
 
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All my family has are PowerPC Macs.

Me. Browsing and general stuff: 1 GHZ 17" PowerBook G4, 2GB ram.
Design/work: 1.67 Ghz 17" PowerBook G4 DLSD/HD, 2GB ram.

My wife, 12" 1 Ghz PowerBook G4 1.25GB ram.

My son, 15" 1Ghz PowerBook G4 (Titanium) DVI, 1GB ram

My daughter, iBook G3, Dual USB.

My work Mac is a PowerMac G5, 1.8Ghz, 4GB ram.
 
All my family has are PowerPC Macs.

Me. Browsing and general stuff: 1 GHZ 17" PowerBook G4, 2GB ram.
Design/work: 1.67 Ghz 17" PowerBook G4 DLSD/HD, 2GB ram.

My wife, 12" 1 Ghz PowerBook G4 1.25GB ram.

My son, 15" 1Ghz PowerBook G4 (Titanium) DVI, 1GB ram

My daughter, iBook G3, Dual USB.

My work Mac is a PowerMac G5, 1.8Ghz, 4GB ram.

Does your design/work PB ever get too hot?
 
My 12-inch PowerBook G4 is my main portable work machine, while I use an Intel iMac at home. It has its slowdowns occasionally, but I get by.
 
Does your design/work PB ever get too hot?

I've not had that experience and I have had several apps open at once. It's gotten hot enough to run the fan sometimes but that's usually because some app is spiking cpu to 100 percent (usually TenFourFox).

Generally it runs around 105-128 degrees. The fan only comes on around 140.

My other 17" Powerbook actually runs much hotter and it's only 1Ghz. Perhaps that's because it has a failed external cache and so the processor is more busy, IDK.
 
My quad core G5 is hands down my fastest computer so its my desktop machine. Coming in a close 2nd for the most use is my 12" Powerbook (what I'm using now). After that, its my MacBook Pro and thats more due to its battery life than anything else. I honestly don't have any desire for the newest and fastest anymore, so I'm sticking with what i've got until i have to upgrade.
 
PPC all the way!

Even though I have a nice home office with a 2011 i7 mini, hooked up to dual displays and all that, I find most of my computing time is here on my 15" 1.5 PB( Typing on it now ;) ). As a stay at home dad, trying to finish up a college degree, I rarely have time to actually sit down in front of my mini upstairs. So this beauty follows me all around the house to get it in studies, macrumors trooling, a bit of news and email no matter where I am at.
And I have to say for the most part, this laptop is truly a dream to use. I upgraded recently from an iBook G3/900 that finally died from the graphics issue. :( I ended up selling my dual 1.8 G5 and my quad 2.5 to raise some funds and with my student discount was able to get the mini, but could not afford a new MacBookPro. In retrospect I do not regret it in the least! :D I am actually in the market for a tricked out 1.67 17" PB, that I could see myself using for more than a few years down the road.

~Drake
 
I left Powerbook G4 1.5Ghz few months ago is because some certain apps will not work with external iSight webcam and new app will not work with Leopard :(

I am happy with MacBook Pro anyway :)
 
I have a total of four roles for the hardware I own and 3 of them are done 100% on the two Sawtooth in my sig.

The four roles are OS X user, OpenBSD user, PowerPC Open BSD development and x86 OpenBSD development. Obviously the x86 development is the one I do not use PowerPC for but I only code and test what I'm working on. Virtually all my BSD use as a user is on my 1 GHz tower along with PowerPC development. My 1.8 GHz is pretty much dedicated to Leopard.
 
My main desktop machine is a Quicksilver 933mHz with a 300GB HDD and 1.5GB ram rocking Leopard.

For mobile use I'm using a loan HP Elitebook until my (just bought on eBay today) Powerbook G4/1.67Ghz comes in :D coupled with 2GB RAM too. All for $165 :D

Though I wouldn't mind investing in a later model G5, preferably anything over Dual 2Ghz as the Quicksilver is seriously showing its age. Makes me miss my old Dual 1.8 G5. Man that thing screamed with RAID0 and 3GB RAM.
 
I am fully planning on using my g4 powerbook 1.33 ghz as my main laptop unless i am out chasing storms, then have to use my windows laptop since the radar programs are windows based only. otherwise i have a intel imac at home and fully planning on using my new g4 powerbook 1.33 as my main portable. need to find a 512 or 1 gb ddr 2700 ram chip for it since the lower slot appears dead and it is running tiger on 256k of memory right now, and it runs it suprisingly well.:) :apple:
 
Sort of, for the moment at least...

I'm currently studying in Italy, so I've got myself a cheap $100 iBook G4 800MHz version, with 640MB RAM and a hacked-on copy of Leopard. This is a computer that can be lost, stolen, dropped, broken, have cheap wine spilt all over it etc without me having to shed a tear.

The lack of RAM is annoying (I really should have chucked 1GB in before I left) but I'm pleasantly surprised at how versatile it is running TenFourFox, Office 2008 and Perian.
 
I use a single G5 1.8 Tower as my main machine. I have an expensive PCI soundcard that I use with Logic Pro 8 that I do a lot of home recording with. I can't afford to replace it and probably won't be able to for some years. I wish I could, but it's just not in the cards. The machine is fine for basic browsing and music, but comes to a crawl with even basic iPhoto browsing/editing.
 
I use a single G5 1.8 Tower as my main machine...The machine is fine for basic browsing and music, but comes to a crawl with even basic iPhoto browsing/editing.

Yeah, those single processor G5's really show their age when compared to the dual/quads. Off subject, are you a former 1st Infantry Division member? I'm guessing because of your username.
 
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