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First Mac Ever (iBook G4)

MysticCow said:
Yes, it can affect us, but the likelihood is small enough to not really worry. Again, I still use ClickToFlash and ClickToPlugin on Leopard WebKit so nothing runs without my clicking on it to give permission. I use TFF, which disables Flash 100%. And on my really old systems (the ones that use OS 9 exclusively) Classilla kills Flash by default, since it registers as a mobile browser.

Even on my i5 mini, I hardly, if ever, use Flash (there is a very rare exception like local news sites that use Flash). Flash is almost a non-concern to me anymore.
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Oh, I know. I'm not advocating anything as drastic as pulling out the ethernet cable to your Mac, shutting off Airport and gluing your optical drive and USB ports shut or something. My response above was simply towards an attitude that has been present in Mac fans for a very long time.

"Macs don't get viruses. We don't have to worry about any of that stuff!" And so on. Well, it doesn't hurt now to just do your due diligence and show some caution rather than operating on this assumption. Because it's always when you are paying the least attention because you think you're "safe" that something happens.
 
eyoungren said:
Oh, I know. I'm not advocating anything as drastic as pulling out the ethernet cable to your Mac, shutting off Airport and gluing your optical drive and USB ports shut or something. My response above was simply towards an attitude that has been present in Mac fans for a very long time.

"Macs don't get viruses. We don't have to worry about any of that stuff!" And so on. Well, it doesn't hurt now to just do your due diligence and show some caution rather than operating on this assumption. Because it's always when you are paying the least attention because you think you're "safe" that something happens.
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Yup. Plus, much more caution is needed when the OS in question has been unsupported for 3 years and most of the applications are no longer updated either.
 
Looky looky, Ofiice 2004 arrived today! :D

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Has Outlook replaced Entourage? Should I install it with Office 2004?
 
I'm more of an Office 2008 fan, but I did use Office 2004 for several years. Good version!

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nineteen73 said:
Looky looky, Ofiice 2004 arrived today! :D

URL]


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Has Outlook replaced Entourage? Should I install it with Office 2004?
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Outlook replaced Entourage when MS came out with Office 2011. Before Office 2011, it was Outlook for PC and Entourage for Mac. Both being email apps.

If you use a different app or even webmail for email there is no need to install Entourage unless you want to.
 
eyoungren said:
I would tend to agree with you. However, you have to consider the unconventional.

There has lately been one or two pieces of malware that have been JAVA-based. The first one was written in Intel code and affected Intel Mac users of Firefox. But the JAVA-based code meant that the payload of the malware got delivered to PowerPC Macs as well. It's only because the payload was Intel only that no PowerPC Macs were affected.

The second piece of malware was based off of Flash. Adobe patched it quickly, but guess what? There's no patch for PowerPC Macs. So, this can affect us.
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I had no idea PowerPC Macs were vulnerable. :eek:
Always learning… ;)

eyoungren said:
It's a new game now. It's not like it used to be where you got something from a download or an infected disk. This is one of the reasons that Cameron Kaiser has disabled plugins on TenFourFox and highly recommends that none of us use JAVA or Flash.
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I agree with you.
Things changed a bit in recent years.

One of the things I do is to keep Mac OS and all plugins updated, including OS security updates. I do need Java and flash to work. I'm also more careful with my internet navigation and I keep regular backups.

Unavoidably, the risk is still there.

Since the University I'm working in has an expensive protocol with… Microsoft and the few people like me who work with Macs (we are regarded as costly people with expensive toys) are pretty much on their own, even in terms of technical assistance, there is no room in the budget for Mac anti-everything (virus, malware, …). :(

So we try to be extra careful.
Fortunately, so far, we been successful, much more successful than our colleagues using Windows.
As I said we've already dodge some bullets despite the fact that we're unprotected.

But you never know…
 
nineteen73 said:
Deferring to your knowledge and advice, Office 2004 is prompting me to install Microsoft AutoUpdate 1.1.2. My gut feeling says not to. Advice?
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You have a LOT of updates to go through. Unless you just want to head to MSs site and download the latest. Even then you probably still need to update.

My advice is to do so. MS tends to patch well and the updates fill a lot of security holes. There has also been changes over time between 2004 and 2008. The specific update in question applies just to the updater itself (yes, the updater has to be updated so it can update everything else!).

If you decide to walk through the updates, just keep going until AutoUpdate tells you there are no more updates period. Be aware, some of the updates are 100+ MB!

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Miguel Cunha said:
I had no idea PowerPC Macs were vulnerable. :eek:
Always learning… ;)



I agree with you.
Things changed a bit in recent years.

One of the things I do is to keep Mac OS and all plugins updated, including OS security updates. I do need Java and flash to work. I'm also more careful with my internet navigation and I keep regular backups.

Unavoidably, the risk is still there.

Since the University I'm working in has an expensive protocol with… Microsoft and the few people like me who work with Macs (we are regarded as costly people with expensive toys) are pretty much on their own, even in terms of technical assistance, there is no room in the budget for Mac anti-everything (virus, malware, …). :(

So we try to be extra careful.
Fortunately, so far, we been successful, much more successful than our colleagues using Windows.
As I said we've already dodge some bullets despite the fact that we're unprotected.

But you never know…
Click to expand...
It's good to know you're being vigilant. I don't always succeed myself, but I try to keep an eye out as well. It's one of the reasons that on my personal Macs I browse with the extensions for Firefox/TenFourFox that I do (NoScript, RequestPolicy).
 
nineteen73 said:
No, I wasn't given the disks. Are those worth getting?

This is my first official post on my iBook using TenFourFox, Webkit for Leopard is currently downloading, and my wireless Logitech mouse works!
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Most typical USB devices will work plug and play out of the box. There may be some software for your mouse that you need in order to access additional buttons and features if your mouse supports it.

nineteen73 said:
This leads me to some follow up questions then. Where can I find the information needed to secure my PC and also disable features not needed to help it run quicker and smoothly?
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eyoungren, Intell, and I wrote a guide on speeding up performance on Leopard here. I recommend reading the whole thread so you can fully understand what each change does and what is supported for your iBook.

nineteen73 said:
I really appreciate the warm reception and help you and everyone have given me.



I look forward to this link!

Another question came to mind, I installed MacTubes on my daughters iBook. But when we did searches through Mactubes and tried to play the results, they wouldn't play due to Flash and Java. I'm aware that these lil laptops are limited, so I wont be disappointed if I don't visit these sites, but if there are ways around it, I'm interested. Lastly, is Netflix a possibility? One way or the other, my daughter's iBooks meant for homework, not a distraction! LOL! :p
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Netflix most likely will not work at all unless you follow extreme workarounds. Intell is experienced in the area and it involves hosting off of a Core 2 Duo or better machine. As for MacTubes, click "MacTubes" next to the :apple: --> Preferences --> Player --> QuickTime Player. Another option for YouTube playback is YouView. It uses a different system to play the videos (which may or may not run well on a G4) and supports commenting and official music videos. I recommend you avoid installing Adobe Flash at all. There is a serious vulnerability in it that can affect PowerPC Macs.
 
PowerMac G4 MDD said:
I would NOT use Safari 5. That is the version where many reported issues of it being extremely slow, and more so on older machines. I have it on my iMac G5 because it was an accidental upgrade to it, and it is very messed up. Safari 4 is fine, but outdated. I would look at TenFourFox or Webkit for sure.
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Doesn't Webkit upgrade your browser to Safari 5.0.6?
 
nineteen73 said:
Doesn't Webkit upgrade your browser to Safari 5.0.6?
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Not without linking against it. Without linking, Safari still uses the out dated stock Webkit. Linking is not recommended unless you know exactly what you're doing. Best to just use the WebKit app. It looks just like Safari.
 
So, if I download Leopard Webkit, how do I exactly NOT link it? I'm sorry for my ignorance, but I need a lil hand-holding till I understand terms and procedures in a Mac environment. Thanks! :)
 
nineteen73 said:
So, if I download Leopard Webkit, how do I exactly NOT link it? I'm sorry for my ignorance, but I need a lil hand-holding till I understand terms and procedures in a Mac environment. Thanks! :)
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Just download it and use only the app itself. Everything else included is for linking. Just leave that other stuff alone and you won't have to worry about anything.
 
Okay, so I open up Webkit-537-Leopard.dmg and it opened 8 files:

  • Webkit (app)
  • Relink against Leopard Webkit (aap)
  • Readme (text)
  • Enable advance features (script)
  • Install (script)
  • Revert advanced features to default (script)
  • Uninstall (script)
  • Update systems certificates (script)

So I ignore all the files but the Webkit app?

Do I just drag and drop this one file into my Applications Folder?
 
Okay okay I get!!!

I dragged and dropped Webkit (app) into the Application Folder. Then I ran the application and checked About Safari in Webkit and displays Safari 4.0.5.
 
nineteen73 said:
Okay, so I open up Webkit-537-Leopard.dmg and it opened 8 files:

  • Webkit (app)
  • Relink against Leopard Webkit (aap)
  • Readme (text)
  • Enable advance features (script)
  • Install (script)
  • Revert advanced features to default (script)
  • Uninstall (script)
  • Update systems certificates (script)

So I ignore all the files but the Webkit app?

Do I just drag and drop this one file into my Applications Folder?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
nineteen73 said:
So I ignore all the files but the Webkit app?
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Correct.
nineteen73 said:
Do I just drag and drop this one file into my Applications Folder?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Technically, the way Macs work, you can place the app anywhere you want and run it from there. But the Applications folder is a good place to keep apps so most people put apps there.

I tend to place apps that I percieve as more utilitarian in nature in the Utilities folder, which is inside the Applications folder. But, it's entirely up to you where to place your apps.
 
eyoungren said:
Correct.

Yes.

Technically, the way Macs work, you can place the app anywhere you want and run it from there. But the Applications folder is a good place to keep apps so most people put apps there.

I tend to place apps that I percieve as more utilitarian in nature in the Utilities folder, which is inside the Applications folder. But, it's entirely up to you where to place your apps.
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You view your web browser as "utilitarian"?
 
Installed Calibre 0.7.28 - I don't like it. It takes a long time to load an .epub files. The .mobi file wouldn't load. But the .pdf loaded fine.

I also installed FBReader-PPC-QT-0.8.17 - it loads every file quickly, but it's all converted text. No pictures are shown.

Any suggestions for an ebook reader?

Also, I was able to add my hotmail accounts in Mail. :)
 
Hi there!
This thread makes me happy and I have to say i feel the urge to pull out my old machine again :D I had one just like the ones you bought.

Do you know if the batteries are in good condition on yours?
I think mine i completely empty needing the plugg in at all times.

I wish you the very best with these machines!

Cheers from Sweden!
 
ZLurker said:
Hi there!
This thread makes me happy and I have to say i feel the urge to pull out my old machine again :D I had one just like the ones you bought.

Do you know if the batteries are in good condition on yours?
I think mine i completely empty needing the plugg in at all times.

I wish you the very best with these machines!

Cheers from Sweden!
Click to expand...

Yes, the batteries are working great!

I've been having a lot fun these past few days. I'm amazed how relevant and functional the iBook G4 is in 2014, even though at times it slows down to a crawl. But nothing beats that feeling of new discoveries as I delve deep into this machine and operating system. This experience has made me consider getting an iPhone next year. I've always been solely an Android user. What a conversion I've made! :eek:
 
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