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Newb questions...

Ryanspowerbook

Ryanspowerbook

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 1, 2013
10
0
Orlando, FL
I have a 15" Powerbook G4 DLSD/HR 100G 7200 RPM 2G DDR2 and it is completely stock. I still use it daily, but it just seem so slow and won't play flash. It's too good of a machine to stop using so I am considering if it would be best to get Leopard so that I can update my iTunes, Flash, etc or can I tweak it on Tiger enough to feel updated.. Is it worth it?

I've read a lot of the forums on Flash and tried the download that makes my flash read as 11.5, but it doesn't seem to help my YouTube and it still won't play flash on Facebook.

I also looked at the Webkit, but that seems to be only for Leopard? Which again begs should I try that?

Further on that point, can I install Leopard from an old MB setup disk?

Sorry, I'm sure these topics have been covered somewhere and I have read a lot that seem to be close to what I'm asking, but nothing that is specific to my hardware.
 
Leopard or not…Facebook and Flash are still going to be underperformers. Upgrading to Leopard will improve things, but using YouTube will still be somewhat slow, unless you utilize workarounds such as Mactubes.

Facebook will still be slow. I'm on Leopard and using Aurorafox. It's still slow. The problem is not the browser or the OS. It's javascript. FB is a heavy user of javascript. All that processing of JS is what slows things down.

Here again is a workaround. Fluid 0.96 will allow you to make a browser app specific to a website. It's webkit and it's fast. I don't use mine much, but I do have a Fluid made instance for Facebook and it performs just fine.

Upgrading to Leopard is a good idea. Just keep in mind that it's only less old. What I mean by that is that while it's going to modernize you somewhat and there are still devs developing for Leopard and it gives you access to more apps that were made for it – it's still an old OS. It's not a silver bullet.
 
eyoungren said:
Leopard or not…Facebook and Flash are still going to be underperformers. Upgrading to Leopard will improve things, but using YouTube will still be somewhat slow, unless you utilize workarounds such as Mactubes.
Click to expand...

Youtube in Safari with ClickTo Plugin and HTML5 will do the job. It is fast and not heavy at all.

Facebook will still be slow. I'm on Leopard and using Aurorafox. It's still slow. The problem is not the browser or the OS. It's javascript. FB is a heavy user of javascript. All that processing of JS is what slows things down.

Here again is a workaround. Fluid 0.96 will allow you to make a browser app specific to a website. It's webkit and it's fast. I don't use mine much, but I do have a Fluid made instance for Facebook and it performs just fine.
Click to expand...

If you ever upgrade to Leopard, use Facebook with Safari or Fluid. On Fluid is fast and with Safari is super fast.

Upgrading to Leopard is a good idea. Just keep in mind that it's only less old. What I mean by that is that while it's going to modernize you somewhat and there are still devs developing for Leopard and it gives you access to more apps that were made for it – it's still an old OS. It's not a silver bullet.
Click to expand...


True.. Also there are plenty of blogs that will help you find software or any optimization :)
 
I have camino and it works GREAT for the browser on my ibook with tiger because it gives you the option to play the flash on the page instead of just loading it all,it really helps me because it speeds me up and I could care less about advertising.Leopard is a good upgrade since your machine will likely handle it with ease.My ibook and powerbooks are about to be 10 years old and that is truly amazing when you sit back and look at the big picture and the idea of keeping up with the latest tech,thankfully people are still out there helping the ol powerpc out.
 
I have something better than that... send him to me and he won't have to pay a dime since he is in DIRE straits on really needing it and I am assuming money is an object for the OP.

Davie and g4maniac benefited from me helping them out.. perhaps the OP will also.


Lil Chillbil said:
If the op could pm me I could get him one at a good price
Click to expand...
 
PowerPCMacMan said:
I have something better than that... send him to me and he won't have to pay a dime since he is in DIRE straits on really needing it and I am assuming money is an object for the OP.

Davie and g4maniac benefited from me helping them out.. perhaps the OP will also.
Click to expand...

jeese, I was just trying to be all oo7 about getting him it for free :p
 
I realize this will make me look more newb, but I don't know how to PM. Also, I have a friend who has a never used retail version of Snow Leopard I can have, but I'm assuming that it's only for Intel Macs...
 
Ryanspowerbook said:
I realize this will make me look more newb, but I don't know how to PM. Also, I have a friend who has a never used retail version of Snow Leopard I can have, but I'm assuming that it's only for Intel Macs...
Click to expand...

Well, it does look sort of "newb", but that's just because you aren't allowed to PM until you get 5 posts.

Snow Leopard will never work on PowerPC. There is a chance that this one guy will show and say that it would work if you emulate it, but that is only technically correct, as it would be unreasonably slow.
 
That makes me feel better. I looked all though the options and settings and couldn't find messaging, so now I just need a couple more posts.
 
Ryanspowerbook said:
Also, any suggestions for inexpensive external HDs?
Click to expand...
The best and cheapest is DIY.

Go to your local computer store and buy a cheap external case and a bare hard drive. Put the bare hard drive in the case and there you go. Cases can cost as little as $10. And buying a bare hard drive is much cheaper than forking over for manufactured external. In this instance, SATA or IDE won't matter because it's going in to an external case. So, buy as large a bare drive as you're willing to pay and match it with a case that supports the interface.

Most external cases will have USB 2.0 and Firewire 400. I expect newer cases will probably have USB 3.0 and Firewire 800. Some will probably have Thunderbolt, but our Macs can't support that.

Lastly, doing it this way, you'll get great satisfaction in knowing that you just beat the major external drive makers at their own game.
 
No, I don't think so. FW 400/800 is simply an interface. USB is the only one (other than Thunderbolt) I know of that will power a device. I may be wrong, but I've never had a FW capable external case/drive that didn't require external power.

There are certain devices though that I think do draw power such as the external iSight.

Except for some laptop drive cases most external cases you can buy will come with their own power source.
 
Ryanspowerbook said:
I have a 15" Powerbook G4 DLSD/HR 100G 7200 RPM 2G DDR2 and it is completely stock. I still use it daily, but it just seem so slow and won't play flash. It's too good of a machine to stop using so I am considering if it would be best to get Leopard so that I can update my iTunes, Flash, etc or can I tweak it on Tiger enough to feel updated.. Is it worth it?

I've read a lot of the forums on Flash and tried the download that makes my flash read as 11.5, but it doesn't seem to help my YouTube and it still won't play flash on Facebook.

I also looked at the Webkit, but that seems to be only for Leopard? Which again begs should I try that?

Further on that point, can I install Leopard from an old MB setup disk?

Sorry, I'm sure these topics have been covered somewhere and I have read a lot that seem to be close to what I'm asking, but nothing that is specific to my hardware.
Click to expand...
I recommend an overclock. Don't go overboard on the OC'ing. If there are heat issues underclock to stock, reapply thermal paste, and overclock again. If you run into stability issues you can always underclock to the base clock, as voltage bumps are not supported. Your powerbook is supported. Download ATIcelarator off of my link.
http://thomas.perrier.name/index.html
 
rabidz7 said:
I recommend an overclock. Don't go overboard on the OC'ing. If there are heat issues underclock to stock, reapply thermal paste, and overclock again. If you run into stability issues you can always underclock to the base clock, as voltage bumps are not supported. Your powerbook is supported. Download ATIcelarator off of my link.
http://thomas.perrier.name/index.html
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the over clock. So now you've recommended this to the user remind us how you're getting on with your 2ghz PowerBook...
 
rabidz7 said:
I recommend an overclock. Don't go overboard on the OC'ing. If there are heat issues underclock to stock, reapply thermal paste, and overclock again. If you run into stability issues you can always underclock to the base clock, as voltage bumps are not supported. Your powerbook is supported. Download ATIcelarator off of my link.
http://thomas.perrier.name/index.html
Click to expand...

Enough with the overclocking. I know that you're understanding of computers is limited, but please stick to useful advice.
 
rabidz7 said:
I recommend an overclock. Don't go overboard on the OC'ing. If there are heat issues underclock to stock, reapply thermal paste, and overclock again. If you run into stability issues you can always underclock to the base clock, as voltage bumps are not supported. Your powerbook is supported. Download ATIcelarator off of my link.
http://thomas.perrier.name/index.html
Click to expand...

This is terrible advice coming from a user with no technical knowledge who has tried unsuccessfully to overclock his PowerBook. He also has no knowledge of how to use the thermal paste he has suggested you use. Please ignore his post(s).

I don't believe he knows the difference between a graphics chip and a CPU either. His link is for the GPU.

Neilobrien said:
Ah yes, the over clock. So now you've recommended this to the user remind us how you're getting on with your 2ghz PowerBook...
Click to expand...
This is how:
attachment.php


Priceless...
 
Yeah, I'm new to the forum and haven't posted much, nor do I have much computer knowledge, but I've lurked this forum enough to see that I shouldn't follow any advice he offers.
 
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