Post your oldest "living" PowerPC Mac!

Corbin052198 said:
My dad owns all of the New World PowerMacs (G3, G4, G5). He was going to get the Mac Pro, but holy crap it's expensive. He got a 27' iMac instead. :)
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I have a handful of G3s and 2 G4 Macs, but I don't think I'll ever own a G5.

Hilariously, the fastest CPU I've ever owned is the little 1.6Ghz Atom in my EeePC netbook. My next machine will be a new Mac of some sort, so I will have finally graduated from the PowerPC over half a decade after Apple did.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I have a handful of G3s and 2 G4 Macs, but I don't think I'll ever own a G5.
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Heh, I thought that, until I realised that in a couple more months (maybe a year), G5s will be incredibly cheap, then I think I may get one as a Server (incredibly powerful for a server for files - the only thing Im not going to have on it and have to get an Intel Server for is Final Cut Server.... (That and the design matches my Pro nicely).
 
Perhaps, after a couple of months I could get my dream machine, PowerMac G5 2.3Ghz Dual Core, then by that time my hunger for PPC Macs will be satisfied. Hopefully... :D
 
I've owned all kinds of PowerPC machines. My very first Mac ever was a little Bondi Blue iMac which I loved, but was so slow that I never had the chance to really use it. I followed that up with my first OS X Mac, a 1.25GHz eMac. I used that machine for 4 years with no problems at all and it was one of best Mac's I've owned to date. Some people criticized the design but I thought it was quite nice and right before I sold it I loaded it up with 768MB RAM and Leopard. I followed that up with an iBook G4 which was nice but the screen was too small for my liking. Sold that after a few months and haven't owned a PowerPC Mac since... until now. Saw an auction on eBay for a very nice looking 17" 800MHz iMac G4 and I picked it up for $100. Came loaded with Tiger and 256MB RAM, which I'm upgrading ASAP. It's a great machine, though slow compared to my last Mac, a 2GHz Aluminum MacBook. Once I upgrade the RAM it's gonna be a great internet browsing, iTunes, iPhoto, etc. machine. I have always wanted the iMac G4, and it was my best chance to get one for a great price. It had some issues (a few marks on the screen, dirty, etc.) but I still love it more than any computer i've ever owned... and I've owned more than 10.
 

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ryannel2003 said:
but I still love it more than any computer i've ever owned... and I've owned more than 10.
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Im looking to get a 20" iMac G4 myself eventually, I think it will look nice as a iTunes playback machine (Im planning on a G5 or late PMG4 as a server).. still wont be as old as my PowerMac 8100 however...
 
chrismacguy said:
Heh, I thought that, until I realised that in a couple more months (maybe a year), G5s will be incredibly cheap, then I think I may get one as a Server...
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See, the idea sounds tempting, but I already have so many old Apple computers (between my Apple IIxx-es, 68k Macs and old PPCs) that if I accumulated any more, my domestic situation would probably deteriorate. ;)
 
At the moment that's all my iMac is useful for because it has such a low amount of RAM. With more than one program open the computer really isn't usable. Other than that, it's a gorgeous machine that does everything I want with no fuss. I plan on upgrading to Leopard one day because there are very few programs that support Tiger, let alone PowerPC in general.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
See, the idea sounds tempting, but I already have so many old Apple computers (between my Apple IIxx-es, 68k Macs and old PPCs) that if I accumulated any more, my domestic situation would probably deteriorate. ;)
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hahahaha - I think thats the problem well all face. Just remember, if you can get them to use it, even if its just "Oh iTunes and iPods will be so much faster than this" occasionally you can blag yourself "just 1 more" :p
 
chrismacguy said:
hahahaha - I think thats the problem well all face. Just remember, if you can get them to use it, even if its just "Oh iTunes and iPods will be so much faster than this" occasionally you can blag yourself "just 1 more" :p
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We are such hoarders!!

I have a 233mhz rev A Bondi Blue iMac, the first mac I owned, but it hasn't been powered up since November 2005, when it was used as the music provider for my wedding reception!! Loaded up with iTunes and a nice pair of speakers and a sub and it worked a treat.
 
trickyred said:
We are such hoarders!!

I have a 233mhz rev A Bondi Blue iMac, the first mac I owned, but it hasn't been powered up since November 2005, when it was used as the music provider for my wedding reception!! Loaded up with iTunes and a nice pair of speakers and a sub and it worked a treat.
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I definitely am.... im gonna get to like 40 before realising Im pushing it and scaling it back xD - and thats awesome that your G3 had a massive last hurrah :D
 
I'm tempted to sell my G4's and get a dual 2.5 or 2.7 PM G5. Just a little more functionality than a G4 these days.
 
macgeek18 said:
I'm tempted to sell my G4's and get a dual 2.5 or 2.7 PM G5. Just a little more functionality than a G4 these days.
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If you are really thinking about it, do it NOW - the value of the G4 is dropping like a stone these days, because it is unable to use the latest OS. Best to make a little money while you still can.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
If you are really thinking about it, do it NOW - the value of the G4 is dropping like a stone these days, because it is unable to use the latest OS. Best to make a little money while you still can.
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AS is the G5. Since it too, cant run the latest OS - personally Im waiting to snag a G5 for 100 quid or so.
 
chrismacguy said:
AS is the G5. Since it too, cant run the latest OS - personally Im waiting to snag a G5 for 100 quid or so.
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True, though most of the G5s can at least handle HD content. The G4's limitations have really increased in the last couple years.

Back in 2005ish when I bought and upgraded a used G4 tower, you could still do just about everything the latest Macs could do, albeit slower. Nowadays that is no nonger the case. And, as you say, the G5s are beginning to hit that same stage. The Intel switch certainly reduced the potential longevity of the G5.

IF I had the space for it (and that's a big if these days) I wouldn't mind having a G5 tower.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
True, though most of the G5s can at least handle HD content. The G4's limitations have really increased in the last couple years.

Back in 2005ish when I bought and upgraded a used G4 tower, you could still do just about everything the latest Macs could do, albeit slower. Nowadays that is no nonger the case. And, as you say, the G5s are beginning to hit that same stage. The Intel switch certainly reduced the potential longevity of the G5.

IF I had the space for it (and that's a big if these days) I wouldn't mind having a G5 tower.
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Heh, Im currently in the process of getting a fast Dual G4 purely to run Mac OS 9 (I have a massive amount of classic software) and the price drops recently have really helped (I only got one to replace my G4/450 as its getting rather tired for anything at all... my current plan is a Dual, 10.5 capable MDD - and then a G5 in the future to sit next to my Pro and look cool.... :cool:
 
chrismacguy said:
Heh, Im currently in the process of getting a fast Dual G4 purely to run Mac OS 9 (I have a massive amount of classic software) and the price drops recently have really helped (I only got one to replace my G4/450 as its getting rather tired for anything at all... my current plan is a Dual, 10.5 capable MDD - and then a G5 in the future to sit next to my Pro and look cool.... :cool:
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I still have the G4 in my sig, it was originally a dual 533. I have considered removing the upgrades (including the CPU upgrade) and making it an OS 9 machine as well, though that would mean I'd lose SATA capability, the GeForce 6800 would have to go, and no more USB 2.0. :eek:
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I still have the G4 in my sig, it was originally a dual 533. I have considered removing the upgrades (including the CPU upgrade) and making it an OS 9 machine as well, though that would mean I'd lose SATA capability, the GeForce 6800 would have to go, and no more USB 2.0. :eek:
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My G4/450 is staying in original CPU config just as I have more modern Macs for speed (Mac Pro, MacBook and Intel iMac), and its my OS X Torture machine, as well as for Classic Stuff.
 
My dad's office is running a G3 tower as a server, his secretary is on a g5 imac, and his secondary machine is a 2003 17" powerbook. Until may I was running an '05 ibook 1.4 ghz. in design school. much happier now on my 15" i7 that's for sure!
 
The iMac G4's really are the most amazing computers apple ever designed... I have one that I still use routinely, the only thing that brings it to it's knees is flash... other than that it's an amazing computer that is very much still useable over 8 years later!

As far as linux... I messed with Debian on my iBook once and never got that far haha... it was a massive headache, I'm sure Ubuntu would be much easier, but for now Tiger seems to be doing pretty well...

If G5's drop to $100 bucks that is definitely a steal, regardless if they run the newest OS or not... G5's are still extremely powerful... especially the Dual and Quad Core PowerMacs... I too, like many of you need to stop grabbing every old mac I see... haha
 
crammedberry said:
The iMac G4's really are the most amazing computers apple ever designed... I have one that I still use routinely, the only thing that brings it to it's knees is flash... other than that it's an amazing computer that is very much still useable over 8 years later!
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Death to PPC Flash....


crammedberry said:
As far as linux... I messed with Debian on my iBook once and never got that far haha... it was a massive headache, I'm sure Ubuntu would be much easier, but for now Tiger seems to be doing pretty well...
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I use Ubuntu 10.10 on my iBook G3 and it works like a charm, minus wifi. :p

crammedberry said:
If G5's drop to $100 bucks that is definitely a steal, regardless if they run the newest OS or not... G5's are still extremely powerful... especially the Dual and Quad Core PowerMacs... I too, like many of you need to stop grabbing every old mac I see... haha
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I have said this before and I will say it again:

There will always be PPC Linux...
 
Ah, good times! Threads like this take me back to the beginning of the WWW, the wild west days, etc.

My oldest living Mac is a PowerMac 8600 tower. 225 Mhz 604e processor, 160 MB interleaved RAM, 4 GB SCSI hard drive, ZIP drive built in, 3.5" floppy Drive, 24X CD-ROM drive, aftermarket ATI 7300 32 MB PCI video card (got it for Quake III Arena), Soundblaster LIVE! Mac Edition sound card (got it for Deus Ex 5.1 Surround mix). I added a 4-port IUSB PCI card to it, because it predates USB. still use it for doing Illustrator art. The Mac is temporarily put away for desk space reasons, but she still boots up. I used a hack to make OS X install on her, and I have lived in OS X ever since.
 
Irishman said:
Ah, good times! Threads like this take me back to the beginning of the WWW, the wild west days, etc.

My oldest living Mac is a PowerMac 8600 tower. 225 Mhz 604e processor, 160 MB interleaved RAM, 4 GB SCSI hard drive, ZIP drive built in, 3.5" floppy Drive, 24X CD-ROM drive, aftermarket ATI 7300 32 MB PCI video card (got it for Quake III Arena), Soundblaster LIVE! Mac Edition sound card (got it for Deus Ex 5.1 Surround mix). I added a 4-port IUSB PCI card to it, because it predates USB. still use it for doing Illustrator art. The Mac is temporarily put away for desk space reasons, but she still boots up. I used a hack to make OS X install on her, and I have lived in OS X ever since.
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Nice 8600 :D - My poor 8100 and 8200 both currently have no HDs - damn the scarcity of SCSI HDs... Eventually the 8200 will get a PCI IDE card and then hopefully I can get it all to work hunkydory (120Mhz Internet Browsing anybody?_, but since the 8100 is NuBus I suspect it shall remain HDless till I find another old Mac I can take a SCSI HD out of.... :( - anyone know any good International/UK sources for 50-pin SCSI drives?
 
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