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Granite's iBook G3 Clamshells

Now my only problem is finding a version of skype for tiger.

All the older versions I am forced to sign out and told I MUST upgrade to use skype even though it signs in and i can clearly see my buddy list in the background. This update service didnt work in Panther.

All the newer versions wont work on tiger running on a G3 cpu. The program just opens and closes instantly.
 
You won't be able to use Skype at all, even if you do use the latest PowerPC version. Microsoft will be or has discontinued support for all older versions of Skype.
 
Intell said:
You won't be able to use Skype at all, even if you do use the latest PowerPC version. Microsoft will be or has discontinued support for all older versions of Skype.
Click to expand...

I thought about this, then I promptly turned on my iMac g4 and Skype logged in and worked perfectly on there still. So thats not the case, not yet anyway.
 
So, I just found out how to do it. Did a little research and found someone who simply changed all the version numbers in the info.plist (inside the contents of the skype install) file to the newest G4 version. It fricken worked! Modified the install of 2.6.0.151 info.plist and it worked!

Reference: http://community.skype.com/t5/Mac/E...0-4-11-Tiger/m-p/968988/highlight/true#M31353

I wonder if this trick would work into making it think its the newest version when they try to fully shut down all ppc skype access? Hmmm
 
GraniteTheWolf said:
So, I just found out how to do it. Did a little research and found someone who simply changed all the version numbers in the info.plist (inside the contents of the skype install) file to the newest G4 version. It fricken worked! Modified the install of 2.6.0.151 info.plist and it worked!

Reference: http://community.skype.com/t5/Mac/E...0-4-11-Tiger/m-p/968988/highlight/true#M31353

I wonder if this trick would work into making it think its the newest version when they try to fully shut down all ppc skype access? Hmmm
Click to expand...

I doubt it since it sounds like the changes Microsoft are making will be on the server end...
 
GraniteTheWolf said:
So, I just found out how to do it. Did a little research and found someone who simply changed all the version numbers in the info.plist (inside the contents of the skype install) file to the newest G4 version. It fricken worked! Modified the install of 2.6.0.151 info.plist and it worked!

Reference: http://community.skype.com/t5/Mac/E...0-4-11-Tiger/m-p/968988/highlight/true#M31353

I wonder if this trick would work into making it think its the newest version when they try to fully shut down all ppc skype access? Hmmm
Click to expand...

No, as Altemose stated MS will actually be taking the PowerPC Skype servers off line. No more servers = absolutely no Skype on PPC.
 
jrsx said:
No, as Altemose stated MS will actually be taking the PowerPC Skype servers off line. No more servers = absolutely no Skype on PPC.
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I do not believe they are taking the servers offline but rather just blocking sign in from anything but the latest client. That has yet to happen so we are just waiting to get slammed by good old Microsoft.
 
Altemose said:
I do not believe they are taking the servers offline but rather just blocking sign in from anything but the latest client. That has yet to happen so we are just waiting to get slammed by good old Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Yeah, they are just shutting off access. So we might be able to get something working again by editing plists, just depends on how MS does their version check.
 
jrsx said:
Hmm, interesting. I guess I didn't quite understand it! :eek:
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Yeah, it wouldn't make sense for Microsoft to physically shut down servers. I wish it was possible for us to get the source code for the servers so we can use our hosts file to redirect outgoing Skype connections to someones home-brew server.
 
128keaton said:
Yeah, it wouldn't make sense for Microsoft to physically shut down servers. I wish it was possible for us to get the source code for the servers so we can use our hosts file to redirect outgoing Skype connections to someones home-brew server.
Click to expand...

The problem with that is probably money. Building a server to support that big of a load will require quite a bit of dough even if the code could be done.
 
If I recall correctly, older versions of Skype are largely decentralized with various "supernodes" hosting most of the platform, with the actual Skype servers mostly doing logins and profile hosting. When Microsoft bought it, they transition it to be more like a generic instant message system where there are central servers.
 
So the new battery came in today, talk about fast shipping!

It seems rather amazing to see this giving out 6-7 hour estimates from near idle. Even with my wifi dongle attached to it.

As for when i poke around browsing the web on it it goes down to 4H 45m to around 5 hours. Still really really impressive.

Right now I am only questioning the strength of the hinges on this iBook. The screen is INCREDIBLY stiff to move about. I seriously feel like I am going to break the screen when I move it. It causes a little flex of the bottom of the screen where the handle is but it doesnt appear like it will break.

Are stiff hinges a common thing on these old iBooks?

*typed this message from this iBook*
 
GraniteTheWolf said:
So the new battery came in today, talk about fast shipping!

It seems rather amazing to see this giving out 6-7 hour estimates from near idle. Even with my wifi dongle attached to it.

As for when i poke around browsing the web on it it goes down to 4H 45m to around 5 hours. Still really really impressive.

*typed this message from this iBook*
Click to expand...

How much was the battery?
 
So I just fixed the extremely tight screen hinges. I simply took some machine oil from my electric razor and dribbled it down the cracks between the hinges and worked it in with a little screen movement. Wiped any excess off when I was done.

Now it feels proper. Screen moves easily with a little friction and stays perfectly in place. The old grease must have dried up over time in this old machine.
 
I really love my old original clamshell. Now that I have it all setup and working as I want, I have a major itch to upgrade. I plan to buy a 466mhz special edition model for sure.

When I buy the 466, this very orange one you guys see might be for sale. Part of me wants to keep it because i have the original box and everything but then I don't see any reason why I need to have 2 classic ibooks other then to keep the orange one around for parts.
 
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GraniteTheWolf said:
I really love my old original clamshell. Now that I have it all setup and working as I want, I have a major itch to upgrade. I plan to buy a 466mhz special edition model for sure.
Click to expand...

Take it from someone who got one yesterday that you will still be replacing the hard drive. 10GB is not enough even for OS9 and that high pitched whirring grinds anyone's gears. Seems like Apple got a lock on noisy hard drives at the turn of the century.

Mine is not playing nicely. I cannot access OF at all. I suspect the PMU capacitor is at fault since this iBook has lain dormant for the last decade at the back of a musty cupboard somewhere. AHT seemed to think everything was hunky dory.
 
maybe swap the orange parts of the case to the new one? Possibly bad idea, might end up with cracks?
 
weckart said:
Take it from someone who got one yesterday that you will still be replacing the hard drive. 10GB is not enough even for OS9 and that high pitched whirring grinds anyone's gears. Seems like Apple got a lock on noisy hard drives at the turn of the century.

Mine is not playing nicely. I cannot access OF at all. I suspect the PMU capacitor is at fault since this iBook has lain dormant for the last decade at the back of a musty cupboard somewhere. AHT seemed to think everything was hunky dory.
Click to expand...

I plan to buy a 466 with an already upgraded hard drive. While I am able to do it myself no problem, I found it to be a bit of a pain in the ass.... id rather pay the extra $10-20 and have it already done for me!

The 6gb drive in my old orange ibook had a whirr so loud it sounded like an rc car going full speed all the time! It also was a painfully slow drive compared to the 60gb one i put in.

Unless i find a steal of a deal on a good stock one, then I'll buy a pata SSD with it too.
 
I pulled mine apart and threw an 80GB drive in it. Problem is that I cannot install any OS to it or even restore from the restore disks. The installation always craps out right at the very end with some random error and while I can see a blessed System Folder, the clamshell refuses to boot from it. It has also developed an error where the system does not recognise double clicks so I have to open apps from the menu.

Also when ripping it apart I noticed for the first time the lack of fans and the thinnest of heatsinks for the three chips. That did surprise me. If I can sort out the OF issue and get an install going I shall invest in an SSD and have a silent notebook.

On the plus side, the battery charged right up. Not bad for an original.

[edit] I think I have cracked the OF problem. Seems like the keyboard membrane needs a good spring clean. I popped the upper cover off and used external peripherals. OF accessed, OS9.2 installed, albeit not without complaining, and firmware updated - I had to replace the cover for that. Could not get the iBook to access the firmware updater from pressing on the contacts and an external keyboard.

Cannot do too much until I get more RAM for this. Will leave the keyboard clean for a very rainy day. Looks like a very fiddly and delicate job. I have managed to get double clicks recognised again but I reckon it is still sending ghost keypresses to the system. Sleep isn't working - it seems as if the optical drive is waking it immediately or it may be the dirty keyboard. That is for later to sort out.

Naked clamshell below. Those of a nervous disposition may wish to look away.
 

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