Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Best PPC laptop for simple work from home?

D

davidg4781

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Oct 28, 2006
2,973
476
Alice, TX
I moved back in January and how my setup is, I have a desktop in my bedroom and I really don't like being in there unless I'm sleeping (cramped, hot, etc.). Right now, I don't have anywhere else to put the desktop.

Previously I had MBP that I'd use to do some quick work from home, Word, Pages, Excel, email.

I wanted to get a new MBP but some financial issues came up and I'm putting that on hold.... but I do have a bit of want for a PPC laptop. Now, which would be best for this?

For email, I use outlook webmail, so it would need to run on compatible browsers.

If possible, I'd want something that can run OS 9, mainly for nostalgia purposes later on (dual boot would be best) and maybe some retro gaming, if that would be possible.
 
davidg4781 said:
If possible, I'd want something that can run OS 9, mainly for nostalgia purposes later on (dual boot would be best) and maybe some retro gaming, if that would be possible.
Click to expand...

Oooh... this pretty much confirmed the suggestion I was going to make.

It's gotta be the TiBook. God that thing is still absolutely gorgeous.
 
Yep, if you want OS9 and be able to boot into it, instead of the Classic Environment, it's a TiBook you want to look for. The G3 machines are probably a bit too much of a struggle, and all the other G4 notebooks won't boot into OS9.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MysticCow
I'll have to check eBay. Local Craigslist only has a Macintosh PowerBook 180c, and a bunch of iPhones.

Is there a particular model I should look for or stay away from? Wikipedia has a few years and models listed.
 
Right, forget the TiBook. Hard to find any right now in decent condition and price. Any other suggestions? Gaming isn't that big of a priority. If I want to do some I have my other 2 PPCs, just not set up right now. It would be nice to have a decently powered laptop though.
 
davidg4781 said:
Right, forget the TiBook. Hard to find any right now in decent condition and price. Any other suggestions? Gaming isn't that big of a priority. If I want to do some I have my other 2 PPCs, just not set up right now. It would be nice to have a decently powered laptop though.
Click to expand...
I would say a mid-range Alu-PBG4, like a 1.5GHz model. The DLSDs are the nicest, but happen to be the most expensive
 
12" PowerBook. The last 1.5GHz runs beautifully and they're surprisingly cheap. Personally its my favorite Mac laptop of all time.
 
Unless the retro gaming really is important, I'd go for a 12" or 15" Aluminium Powerbook. Unless you have money to spend on upgrades, don't buy something with less than 1 gig Ram...
 
the 15" DLSD with an SSD + 2GB of DDR RAM is my choice of machine. I really enjoy mine!
 
At my place the 12" iBook G4 1.2GHz are the cheapest to find (40-60EUR/USD)
Concerning iBookG4 12" 1.33GHz / 14" 1.44GHz are the fastest models - I'd go for a 12" 1.2GHz model. 1.5GB RAM and mSATA. I prefere the 1.2GHz over the 1.33GHz one - especially if you take a look under the hood...
The PowerBooks are also of a special kind: keyboard a bit smelly; the 12"PB 1.33GHz sports only 1.25GB of RAM. Anyway, it's a nice machine. Nothing better on the 12" side...
If you think about a 15" PB make sure both RAM-slots are working! A lot of machines suffer from an upper-RAM-slot-failure and you' re stuck with a maximum of 1GB RAM. 1.5-1.64GHz are the fastest and the DLSD additionally offer a higher resolution which doesn't matter really much, if you suffer from visual impairment.
I'd set a limit of 60$ and then I'd choose the best option: small-size book 12"/1.2GHz or more, large book:1.5GHz or more. Cheap 1GB RAM can be purchased at about 8$.
 
Last edited:
If it can run in Classic, you can use any PowerBook and run it. Granted, it isn't 100% what you want, but it could prove quite valuable. especially since TenFourFox is quite a bit more updated than Classilla.
 
One thing to note is that almost all of the suggested PowerBooks cannot boot into OS 9, bu they can run the Classic Environment if you install Tiger, so they cab run OS 9 applications.
 
HFTaylor12 said:
One thing to note is that almost all of the suggested PowerBooks cannot boot into OS 9, bu they can run the Classic Environment if you install Tiger, so they cab run OS 9 applications.
Click to expand...

Didn't OS9Lives make the universal installer for just this? Or is it desktop only?
 
I might go with a later iBook. PowerBooks, at least what I found, are in pretty rough shape on eBay. I don't want a project PPC. Already have 2 and no room for them, and I've never really felt a draw to PPC laptops. Desktops are a different story.
 
I must be using a different eBay than you guys. I took a quick look around and there are several nice late model PowerBooks under $50 in full working order. Not in bad shape (they're at LEAST 11 years old) and certainly not what I would consider expensive.
 
I guess I should be more specific. The 12" Powerbooks are not only trashed, but way overpriced for their condition. There are sellers asking $50+ for dead pieces of crap. A beat-up, working 1.5 is selling for over $100 on there now. Maybe it's just me, but I find that patently ridiculous.

I can see asking for a price like that IF the piece being sold is in good condition- the usual usage scratches; maybe a ding or two. Bent frames and bezels, warped keyboards, and large dents... no way. I keep checking, but I've been watching for over a year now with no luck.

I won't even get into the padded shipping costs...
 
Last edited:
I have a near perfect ibook g4 14" top model with brand new (old stock) HDD fitted.

and a scrap lesser model i'm selling as a bundle but you are in USA so no good to the OP.

Good luck with the hunting.
I like the ibooks but just not up to running stuff I need for work.
 
davidg4781 said:
I might go with a later iBook. PowerBooks, at least what I found, are in pretty rough shape on eBay. I don't want a project PPC. Already have 2 and no room for them, and I've never really felt a draw to PPC laptops. Desktops are a different story.
Click to expand...

iBook G4s have the "graphic card of death" issue. You either get to bake the motherboard to get it working again or drown in solder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back