Inaugural Winter PowerPC Challenge! January 1-7, 2017

[eyoungren]

You're all good! I tend to quote a lot of stuff between readme files and the blog post.

So, here we go then…


[doublepost=1483401354][/doublepost]Hmmm…think I like the other one better.

Turned off the animation though. Don't need CPU cycles.

 

[Altemose]

Biggest pain by far - the web. Everything is terribly slow, many glitches, I dunno. And TFF has 16GB of ram it could use but with 5 tabs open the G5 is using less than 2GB in total. This machine is the best PowerPC someone could own, if I'm having a disappointing experience with a Quad, I'm wondering how you G4 guys are doing!

My PowerBook G4 is keeping up just fine, which is quite perplexing how your G5 is having so many issues. I have heard that certain images of Leopard that have been found on the web have been loaded with performance issues for some reason, so perhaps a fresh install off a retail disk image would help.

As far as the internet thing goes, I'm torn if TFF is just making everything load slow or if the speeds are so low it's taking forever to load pages. Who knows. At this point I'm leaning towards TFF, but I'll test some other browsers and figure it out.

I am currently using three browsers: TenFourFox, Roccat 6.9 (linked with Leopard WebKit), and Leopard WebKit. None of them seem "slow", but obviously TFF is going to lag behind WebKit browsers.

For decent playback, abandon HTML5 - for TFF install Greasemonkey/Viewtube or in Webkit/Leopard go with CTP or Ninjakit/Viewtube (if you can still find it anywhere).
Of course, PPC Media Center works great too.

I have tried running the PPC Media Center installer, but it does nothing more than put an app in my /Applications folder. How is the PPC Media Center supposed to work?

A jailbroken iPhone with the Remote Messages tweak installed solves this for me (a long time ago as I was doing this on the G4 when I got it).

Now that is pretty neat!

 

[redheeler]

Sniffing around the PPC forums again, just to see what's up. I'm now in college, and abruptly dropped PPC altogether during my later high school years. That being said, if I hadn't received my 1,1 Mac Pro (and later a free 4,1 Mac Pro), I'd either be using my PMG5/iMac G5 alongside my 2009 MacBook Pro, or I'd have the MacBook Pro be a "desktop" machine (with attached monitor) and use some PPC notebook on the side.

Three things accelerated my unwillingness to continue using PPC products (which I actually used mainly, even after my first Intel machine was introduced to me in 2012).

1. I was focussing on college-related material and had to stop distracting myself with vintage tech equipment
2. I started using iMessage/Messages more (on desktop) and currently have to rely on it for all my instant messaging, save for Facebook Messenger. I couldn't even stay on Snow Leopard on my Intel machine, since it would mean no Messages.
3. My 2003 PowerMac G5 was noisy and sucked a lot of our expensive electricity, and it felt weird using it when my silent laptop would do everything I was doing and more. I switched back to my iMac G5 as my main desktop, but it slow browsing speeds altered my timeliness on completing homework assignments; and the sheer noise of that desktop started to drive me insane. (Typing papers on it was fine, though). Seriously, 2015 was a BAD year for the integrity of PowerPC Macs. After around 2012, things fell apart because many websites began filling themselves with utter B.S., like integrated media content and such. The Web is a pain even on a new computer...

I COULD probably do the challenge, but I'm on break and have no school work. I'm barely doing anything on normal machines as it is; and most of it is Web-based stuff that the PPC Mac would have a hard time dealing with. I could try it back at college, but college sites and such, which I often visit, would probably be a total pain on a PPC Mac - and I'd have to transport something weak, such as a PowerBook, all the way to my university.

Like I've said, if I were a grown adult with a job and predictable path, I could probably have a PowerMac G5 or some PPC Mac set up on my desk, to perform tasks that I already am aware of. I mean, if someone's job is making spreadsheets, they already know what every day of their career is gonna look like and what exact piece of technology they need to get them through their job. Schoolwork isn't too demanding for many computers, but life isn't too predictable at the stage of being a student.

So, at the most, I could have possibly had a PowerMac on the side or something (along with my MacBook), but I came upon Mac Pros and such. Much better computers to use as daily drivers. Heck, I am wondering if I would have still completely given up PPC, regardless of whether or not I had received those Mac Pros. I'm sure I would have gravitated closer to the MacBook Pro. I just can't imagine what I would still do on a PowerPC Mac these days, besides typing papers and reading the e-mails (and I barely use e-mail anymore). My needs have changed.

Nice to see you randomly show up in here from time to time.

It's better to try the challenge and fail because PowerPC doesn't meet your needs than to not try at all. Looking back at how things can change in a couple years, yet also stay the same:

Hmm... currently things are a little difficult.

I unexpectedly got a "new" Mac Pro recently, which really made things difficult. This isn't my first time getting an Intel Mac; my first Intel Mac was an '09 MBP, which I got in around 2012. At that point, I wasn't a PowerPC fanatic, even though I collected Macs---I was just getting an upgrade and was happy about it. I kept my iMac G5 on the side (which was my main Mac before getting the MBP) to use in our "computer room"/for general tasks, as I still liked using it. Later on I realized that my MBP didn't work well on my work desk, and I just didn't like using a laptop as a desktop. I ended up moving my iMac G5 to my main work desk, and henceforth I began drifting into using it as a main machine. I started to become more fond of the iMac, as well as the other cool PowerPC Macs I was adding to my collection. My entering into the PPC community here really did it, and I ended up neglecting my MacBook Pro almost fully... so, I sort of went BACK to PowerPC.

However, this unexpected edition of a Mac Pro shook things up. Now, I was sort of longing to use a faster computer, and I DID considering using my MBP again since it uses less power than the PowerMac G5 I was using, yet is much faster. Since my attachment to PowerPC Macs is pretty great, I have been devising a plan to be able to use my awesome Mac Pro, yet not ditch PPC Macs... I just feel some sort of sadness from the thought of it.

SO, I have decided to move my iMac G5 back at my work desk, casting-aside the power-hungry PowerMac G5. I have created a nice set-up for my Mac Pro, in the "computer room" rather than on my work desk. I have decided to use the iMac G5 as a simple work computer at my work desk, and save my Mac Pro for heavy-duty work, recreation, etc. (it's also good to have my best computer be in the "computer room"). And although I have sort-of been drawn back to my MBP, I will continue to enjoy using my PPC laptops, such as my iBook G4, which I sometimes bring to school. So in conclusion, I am planning to use Intel and PPC Macs side-by-side, as I really like my PPC Macs and don't want to ditch the fight, but also take pleasure in using my nice Mac Pro. I don't know how everything will work-out yet, as I am on winter break, which is obviously a break from the normal workflow. Hopefully I can enjoy my Intel Mac sometimes, yet also still be involved with PPC Macs and the community for them.

It DOES feel defeating to not keep my streak of using PPC as a main platform, and giving the finger the Apple, but hopefully I can comfortably go back to the time where I used Intel and PPC side-by-side! Here's to the new year . Happy 2015!

 

[eyoungren]

Now that is pretty neat!

It is. Then you also realize that with a Fluid or TFB app you can split conversations to different windows or tabs. And that through your phone you can also send SMS and not just iMessage.

The JB tweak combined with either of these gives you much more functionality than the Messages app alone.

That said, it's dependent on your device - because everything is funneled through it.

 

[1042686]

So I started the PPC challenge on my DP 2.0 PMG5-4GB ram-10.5.8 without any problems. The only glitch so far and is one I don't really care at all about is I could not get ichat to synch with my gmail/google+ account. Again, I could care less really. Aside from that, youtube is working great and surfing with TFF+BHF is what I expect on the PMG5.

My test today was to throw together a quick 1 minute tune on GB08 which worked just fine. 9 tracks, 3 real instrument, 3 software and 3 loops & took about 50 seconds to finalize and export in mp3 to itunes and then another 45 seconds to sign in and upload to soundcloud. No issues at all so far. I'm enjoying myself actually.

https://soundcloud.com/rhian-batson/ppc-song-1

I'll switch over to my QuicksilverG4 in a few days and do the same.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

My second day is complete. Outside of the iOS screensaver and working on the theme pack I didn't really use the G5 much today (I was away from the house for a good portion of my day!).

https://powerpccentre.wordpress.com/2017/01/02/ppcc-2017-day-2/

 

[tibilon]

can you give us link where to download this beautiful pack? please

 

[WeFixMacs]

Ended up spending two days trying to pimp out my MDD. Had to first fix the machine. Modded ATX power supply to replace bad power supply. Then tried to get Sata PCI card to work and after hours that failed. Then spent hours trying to load Leopard OS without a DVD and without a DVD drive. Then after finding no power on firewire ports found it near impossible to load os from second internal drive. Finally loaded OS. Bought ADC to DVI adapter to have dual screens. So after many many hours i created a very fast near perfect machine that fit all most computing needs EXCEPT speed. Being a power user i actually do care about having 50 tabs open and not waiting 5-10 seconds for apps to open. POWERPC challenge failure.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

can you give us link where to download this beautiful pack? please

You'll see it by the end of the week!

 

[tibilon]

Great news. Have you planned anything for Tiger?

 

[Altemose]

It is. Then you also realize that with a Fluid or TFB app you can split conversations to different windows or tabs. And that through your phone you can also send SMS and not just iMessage.

So it works just like Messages on OS X 10.10+ with full SMS integration. Do other apps work through that tweak?

The only glitch so far and is one I don't really care at all about is I could not get ichat to synch with my gmail/google+ account. Again, I could care less really.

From what I have been able to gather in my testing, Google accounts work in iChat so long as you are only sending to one person. Therefore, sadly our group chat does not work properly in iChat or Adium. I have been using iChat to PM some users however.

My second day is complete. Outside of the iOS screensaver and working on the theme pack I didn't really use the G5 much today (I was away from the house for a good portion of my day!).

I sincerely hope that you will be posting that wonderful wallpaper in full resolution for the rest of us to use...

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

I failed.

The first day was amazing. Watched YouTube videos, played halo CE, simple stuff. Day two, the ppc saved my ass by being the only computer that would hook to my printer for whatever reason. I printed my stuff for college and am now ready to go.

Day three, you cruel mistress.

I went to edit days 1 and 2 and iMovie HD (which is all I have at the moment) simply wouldn't respond. The videos from my iPhone proved too much. So alas, I'm on my dual Xeon hackintosh rendering. I think instead of uploading these, I'm going to do a compilation video talking about the best use for a PowerPC in 2017. They still have a lot of use, just not as a daily driver. Remember when I did this for 3 months, I had my mid 09 iMac editing videos and such. Sorry guys.

 

[MagicBoy]

A few days in and I'm doing OK.

We'll start with the G5. Running Leopard and setup on my desk as the main rig. WebKit is reasonably fast so I'm using that for most internet usage. A couple of sites have moaned about an old version of Safari, so I'm using TFF for those. YouTube I'm viewing via QuickTime using the QTE extension for TFF. iTunes is fulfilling my music needs just fine, happily using the shared library stored on the NAS server.

The TiBook is running Tiger and is struggling a bit unfortunately. Most apps are using every MHz they can get hold of. I've got a couple of email accounts I usually access via Mail using IMAP. Took 46 hours running flat out for the TiBook to sync the couple of hundred thousand messages! Once open Mail performance is OK, but it takes a couple of minutes to get in and check the mailbox sync, something my rMBP does in the blink of an eye, and the G5 in a few seconds. It's fine for running Office, Photoshopetc though. Online I'm limiting it's use to a bit of email and IRC chat at the moment. I unfortunately misplaced my USB Wi-Fi adapter, so I've had to set an old router up as an AP with "old" WPS and use that with the built in 802.11b Airport.

More updates later in the week...

 

[eyoungren]

So it works just like Messages on OS X 10.10+ with full SMS integration. Do other apps work through that tweak?

The tweak is just for the Messages app. If you're meaning any of the new app like stuff in iOS 10.x, then I wouldn't know. I'm on iOS 9.0.2. The new jailbreak for iOS 10 is very unstable at the moment and my understanding is that it's semi-tethered.

There's nothing in iOS 10 that would motivate me to leave an untethered jailbreak in iOS 9 for a semi-tethered jailbreak in iOS 10.

 

[1042686]

I failed.

I went to edit days 1 and 2 and iMovie HD (which is all I have at the moment) simply wouldn't respond. The videos from my iPhone proved too much. So alas, I'm on my dual Xeon hackintosh rendering. I think instead of uploading these, I'm going to do a compilation video talking about the best use for a PowerPC in 2017. They still have a lot of use, just not as a daily driver. Remember when I did this for 3 months, I had my mid 09 iMac editing videos and such. Sorry guys.

This brings up a good point. In the spirit of full disclosure, if I was to take a video on my iphone6s, I would not be able to import it directly to this G5 because my itunes version is too old thus preventing it from connecting. All videos I make, I typically do on the phone itself because of this.

Out of curiosity, does anyone have a work around for this that does not entail doing anything to the phone?

 

[mmphosis]

I'm in! During work, I need to use the latest version of Adobe Flash Player -- a piece of software far more outdated than the PowerPC. Otherwise, I am committed to using PowerPC Macs.

mmphosis

Anyone have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player running on a PowerPC Mac?

 

[Lastic]

For fb messenger try use this:
http://shand0w.github.io/messenger0/

There is also tutorual for ppc skype modification:
http://lowendmac.com/2016/using-skype-on-your-ppc-macintosh-in-2016/

I had a look at that messenger0 app but it doesn't do anything ?
Judging from it's size and package contents it's TenFourBox ?

 

[bobesch]

This brings up a good point. In the spirit of full disclosure, if I was to take a video on my iphone6s, I would not be able to import it directly to this G5 because my itunes version is too old thus preventing it from connecting. All videos I make, I typically do on the phone itself because of this.
Out of curiosity, does anyone have a work around for this that does not entail doing anything to the phone?

Oommmm, didn't you get aware of my mantra about "iFiles" for iOS?
Oh man, I 'm already afraid of straining everyones nerves with this ...
But obviously you make me happy and I can sing this song again
Just load "iFiles", create an AFP-connection to your G5 and voila: you can move everything from everywhere to your G5 and back again...
"Give me a point and i will move the earth!"
[doublepost=1483473196][/doublepost]

I failed.
I went to edit days 1 and 2 and iMovie HD (which is all I have at the moment) simply wouldn't respond. The videos from my iPhone proved too much. So alas, I'm on my dual Xeon hackintosh rendering. I think instead of uploading these, I'm going to do a compilation video talking about the best use for a PowerPC in 2017. They still have a lot of use, just not as a daily driver. Remember when I did this for 3 months, I had my mid 09 iMac editing videos and such. Sorry guys.

First: better get an mSATA with mSATA-IDE-converter instead of that SD-Card hack (if I remember well you use an SD card as your PowerBook's main drive ... )
Second: I would edit the iPhone-video on the iPhone and send it via WhatsApp to myself and it will be downsized within seconds. (Or use the downsized version for iMovie - otherwise it will be overkill)
Third: I would use email or iFile to send the movie to my PowerBook.
I believe, this challenge is going to make the best out of our PPC-experience. A lot of fun to see, whatever works. Not a fence, that keeps us away from thinking beyond the limits of 2009...

This is about the "iFiles" thing... https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-anyone-here-solely-on-powerpc.2021771/page-2#post-24079834

 

[dustinschings]

While I am just now hearing about this challenge this year, I have been using my PowerBook DLHR model, and 20" iMac G4 since I got them last week non-stop. Only use a normal PC for work. I will upload a photo or two later of my systems and setup for the week.

 

[durika175]

Im really enjoying PowerPC era
Day 2:
I had couple issues with my iBook G4 12" and i have to remove AirPort card because i had too much kernel panics..
Currently im on cable and everything else works fine
Tommorow i will pick up a cheap USB wifi stick..

Day 3:
I purchased a "D-Link 802.11 b/g/n USB stick.." and i have some issues with installation.. I cant find any driver to support OS X 10.5.. Also i Did find it but that was Intel only..
I returned to the shop and i found wifi USB stick that supports OS X 10.4 and above
When i came to home i found something interesting.. My iBook cant start up.. So i dissasembled and i had issues with IC DUAL REGULATOR chip.. I tryed to repair but all i did it "resolder".. Then it worked 2hours and again.. iBook doesnt want to turn on..
Later it turned on and my SSD couldnt be recognised.. I connected to G3 iBook and works fine..
I found on Craiglist new mainboard for iBook G4 1.33GHz with AirPort and bla bla.. for 30€
So i went to the city meet with the guy who was selling the mainboard and we agreed with price 25€
When i came to home.. i dissasembled iBook G4 and swap the mainboards..
Surprise surprise... everything works fine for now.. Oh God Day 3 is the worst day, that can happen to me :/
Sorry for english im from Slovakia so... that makes sense..

 

[bobesch]

Im really enjoying PowerPC era
Day 2:
I had couple issues with my iBook G4 12" and i have to remove AirPort card because i had too much kernel panics..
Currently im on cable and everything else works fine
Tommorow i will pick up a cheap USB wifi stick..

Day 3:
I purchased a "D-Link 802.11 b/g/n USB stick.." and i have some issues with installation.. I cant find any driver to support OS X 10.5.. Also i Did find it but that was Intel only..
I returned to the shop and i found wifi USB stick that supports OS X 10.4 and above
When i came to home i found something interesting.. My iBook cant start up.. So i dissasembled and i had issues with IC DUAL REGULATOR chip.. I tryed to repair but all i did it "resolder".. Then it worked 2hours and again.. iBook doesnt want to turn on..
Later it turned on and my SSD couldnt be recognised.. I connected to G3 iBook and works fine..
I found on Craiglist new mainboard for iBook G4 1.33GHz with AirPort and bla bla.. for 30€
So i went to the city meet with the guy who was selling the mainboard and we agreed with price 25€
When i came to home.. i dissasembled iBook G4 and swap the mainboards..
Surprise surprise... everything works fine for now.. Oh God Day 3 is the worst day, that can happen to me :/
Sorry for english im from Slovakia so... that makes sense..

Beam me up Scotty - you did an outstanding job!
Chapeau!!!

 

[1042686]

Im really enjoying PowerPC era
Day 2:
I had couple issues with my iBook G4 12" and i have to remove AirPort card because i had too much kernel panics..
Currently im on cable and everything else works fine
Tommorow i will pick up a cheap USB wifi stick..

Day 3:
I purchased a "D-Link 802.11 b/g/n USB stick.." and i have some issues with installation.. I cant find any driver to support OS X 10.5.. Also i Did find it but that was Intel only..
I returned to the shop and i found wifi USB stick that supports OS X 10.4 and above
When i came to home i found something interesting.. My iBook cant start up.. So i dissasembled and i had issues with IC DUAL REGULATOR chip.. I tryed to repair but all i did it "resolder".. Then it worked 2hours and again.. iBook doesnt want to turn on..
Later it turned on and my SSD couldnt be recognised.. I connected to G3 iBook and works fine..
I found on Craiglist new mainboard for iBook G4 1.33GHz with AirPort and bla bla.. for 30€
So i went to the city meet with the guy who was selling the mainboard and we agreed with price 25€
When i came to home.. i dissasembled iBook G4 and swap the mainboards..
Surprise surprise... everything works fine for now.. Oh God Day 3 is the worst day, that can happen to me :/
Sorry for english im from Slovakia so... that makes sense..

Yea great job on keeping it going. Your English is quite good actually. It's better than my Spanish anyhow

 

[pochopsp]

Yea great job on keeping it going. Your English is quite good actually. It's better than my Spanish anyhow

Spanish? He is from Slovakia!

 

[1042686]

Spanish? He is from Slovakia!

Well Duh I know that I was (attempting to anyhow lol) state that his English as a 2nd language is WAY better than my Spanish as a second language.

I need to learn Italian so I can curse at you guys in your own language!

Just kidding of course, Pasquale

 

[eyoungren]

Yea great job on keeping it going. Your English is quite good actually. It's better than my Spanish anyhow

My wife's Spanish is better than my English.

But she's Mexican, so there you go.
[doublepost=1483481264][/doublepost]

Spanish? He is from Slovakia!

He was making a joke.