Lifespan of PowerPC

[Ariii]

I have been using my G4 PowerBook for a week as my main computer and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed by the speed of the machine, considering it is 8 years old. It is running 10.5.8 and has the maximum 1.25GB of RAM.

How many more years do people think the PowerPC platform will be supported for/last for basic tasks?

I use it to browse the internet, as well as Office 2008 and Logic 8 to record instruments and audio, although I edit my arrangements on my MacBook Pro where I can use effects etc.

Many thanks.

I think they'll have at least 7 years. There are netbooks today with less power than many G4's, and for more money as well. The only things I can see that would limit it's lifespan would be those new wireless encryption things (WPA, etc.), and viruses. eMail and IRC has been a part of the Web since it's start, and major social networks and search engines have recognized the wide range of computers that go on their sites. Mobile phones and tablets have begun to creep into the Internet, and now that more simple sites are emerging that are less resource-heavy, PowerPC machines seem like they'll probably last a lot longer.

Apple has been a company for the high-end user. That way, they can make great products and get a larger profit. In this case though, low-end users don't have to look for netbooks and cheap computers, but they can pay even less money for a computer that has similar specs and actually performs well.

 

[G51989]

I think they'll have at least 7 years. There are netbooks today with less power than many G4's, and for more money as well. The only things I can see that would limit it's lifespan would be those new wireless encryption things (WPA, etc.), and viruses. eMail and IRC has been a part of the Web since it's start, and major social networks and search engines have recognized the wide range of computers that go on their sites. Mobile phones and tablets have begun to creep into the Internet, and now that more simple sites are emerging that are less resource-heavy, PowerPC machines seem like they'll probably last a lot longer.

Apple has been a company for the high-end user. That way, they can make great products and get a larger profit. In this case though, low-end users don't have to look for netbooks and cheap computers, but they can pay even less money for a computer that has similar specs and actually performs well.

Agreed.

The only issue is, those netbooks normally run windows7/Windows XPSP3. ANd will be udpated with new software, and new updates. While PowerPC will not be.