PowerPC Challenge - COVID-19 2020

[RogerWilco6502]

Because I am stuck in my house for the time being, I thought this week would be the perfect time to do a little PowerPC challenge where I try to use only PowerPC machines as much as possible (but am not prohibited from using my MacBook when absolutely necessary). I am five days into the challenge and am loving it! Today I had the idea to try to extend it to as long as I can manage as well as the idea to extend the offer out to others to participate too.

Anyone want to join me on this?

Edit:
List of participants:

• @RogerWilco6502
• @Hughmac
• @556fmjoe
• @fourbirds
• @AL1630
• @iluvmacs99
• @Lastic
• @jacksonmf
• @Alexis Trinquet

 

[eyoungren]

I won't join you, but as with all the challenges of this type just observe. Don't take that to mean that I object to the idea or that I have a problem with it.

I don't join these challenges simply because it's not necessary for me. My PowerPC Macs are being used everyday as primary machines. The challenge has been my reality since around 2003.

And for those that have heard this same spiel every time there is a challenge thread, sorry!

 

[Hughmac]

Strangely I was only thinking to myself earlier on it would be a good time to start a PPC challenge!

They've been done before with some success but using PPC exclusively rather than having an Intel in reserve.

Are you specifying OS X or can we use Linux as well?

Cheers

Hugh

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I won't join you, but as with all the challenges of this type just observe. Don't take that to mean that I object to the idea or that I have a problem with it.

I don't join these challenges simply because it's not necessary for me. My PowerPC Macs are being used everyday as primary machines. The challenge has been my reality since around 2003.

And for those that have heard this same spiel every time there is a challenge thread, sorry!

No worries! I get what you mean, this challenge really isn't that big of a stretch for me because I use my PPC Macs daily, just not as much as my MacBook, so it was really just dividing labor between the computers differently
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Strangely I was only thinking to myself earlier on it would be a good time to start a PPC challenge!

They've been done before with some success but using PPC exclusively rather than having an Intel in reserve.

Are you specifying OS X or can we use Linux as well?

Cheers

Hugh

I'd say go for whatever OS you feel at-home with!

The only reson why I have Intel in reserve is because I do a few things that I know won't work on PPC machines that I "need" (as in not essential, but not non-essential) to do

 

[Dronecatcher]

I'm in the middle of a stretch of work that requires my Mac Pro to do heavy lifting...but I will try to do another video for my occasional PPC Youtube Channel soon.

 

[Hughmac]

Well in that case sign me up and I will have a go at PPC exclusively.

How about making a start (and end) date once we know how many are taking part, at which point I will dig my iMac G5 from the loft and shut all my Intels down for the duration.

I do my banking from an iPhone app so will continue to do so in that way, but otherwise will rely on the PPC PowerBooks and iMac for everything else.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I'm in the middle of a stretch of work that requires my Mac Pro to do heavy lifting...but I will try to do another video for my occasional PPC Youtube Channel soon.

Cool! Be sure to post the link here when you make the video

@eyoungren if you feel like it, feel free to post what you do with your Macs here! I’d love to hear about it

 

[eyoungren]

Cool! Be sure to post the link here when you make the video

@eyoungren if you feel like it, feel free to post what you do with your Macs here! I’d love to hear about it

LOL. Sure. Pretty boring though. Mainly just web browsing, word processing, etc.

In the case of my G3 server and my G4 NAS it's sitting there waiting for backups to fire off and complete.

But if I do anything else I'll post it here.

 

[eyoungren]

Got Teleport working between Youngren7 (17" PowerBook) and Youngren 14 (G5 Quad). Controlling the PB with the Quad.

The other Mac you see with Teleport active (Youngren3) is my 17" MBP running Snow Leopard. That's in the garage.



PS. Photo was attached on my Quad G5 from Dropbox. How? Because my Mac Mini is running Dropbox on a 2TB RAID drive and is sharing the folder via AFP. I open, close and use files just like I normally would. I can also do the same from the drive shared by my Thinkpad.

If you've spent some time around here you already know that's my solution for Dropbox, but since this is a challenge post I'm mentioning it.

 

[1042686]

My DD needs are all on old intel boxes at this point. I typically have one of my PPC boxes on or am fiddling with one but DD needs are covered with a MP1,1 & 08 unibody alu MB running El Cap & an iphone6s.

That and I’ve been working FT through this as I’m part of the essential services folks.

 

[2984839]

I’ll do it. I use my Tibook at least 80% of the time anyway. It’s my only work laptop.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Well in that case sign me up and I will have a go at PPC exclusively.

How about making a start (and end) date once we know how many are taking part, at which point I will dig my iMac G5 from the loft and shut all my Intels down for the duration.

I do my banking from an iPhone app so will continue to do so in that way, but otherwise will rely on the PPC PowerBooks and iMac for everything else.

Cheers

Hugh

Awesome! I like the idea of having an endpoint.

Got Teleport working between Youngren7 (17" PowerBook) and Youngren 14 (G5 Quad). Controlling the PB with the Quad.

The other Mac you see with Teleport active (Youngren3) is my 17" MBP running Snow Leopard. That's in the garage.

View attachment 901586

PS. Photo was attached on my Quad G5 from Dropbox. How? Because my Mac Mini is running Dropbox on a 2TB RAID drive and is sharing the folder via AFP. I open, close and use files just like I normally would. I can also do the same from the drive shared by my Thinkpad.

If you've spent some time around here you already know that's my solution for Dropbox, but since this is a challenge post I'm mentioning it.

Awesome!

I need to get Teleport working so I can use my Mac Mini and Power Mac without having to switch which computer the keyboard and mouse is plugged into

My DD needs are all on old intel boxes at this point. I typically have one of my PPC boxes on or am fiddling with one but DD needs are covered with a MP1,1 & 08 unibody alu MB running El Cap.

Awesome! It's fun to see everyone's setup!

I’ll do it. I use my Tibook at least 80% of the time anyway. It’s my only work laptop.

Epic!

Maybe we should all post pictures of our setups once the challenge starts

 

[eyoungren]

Awesome!

I need to get Teleport working so I can use my Mac Mini and Power Mac without having to switch which computer the keyboard and mouse is plugged into

Just keep in mind that past a certain OS Teleport stops working. I think the last version it works on is High Sierra. It works on my work MBP running High Sierra, but not my MBP and Mini running Mojave.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Just keep in mind that past a certain OS Teleport stops working. I think the last version it works on is High Sierra. It works on my work MBP running High Sierra, but not my MBP and Mini running Mojave.

Ok, thanks for the heads up!

 

[fourbirds]

Can I cheat a bit?

I use a Quad G5 in the winter time and a 15" DLSD powerbook in the summer time. They are both my primary computers however I VNC into a cheap xeon based linux box to browse javascript heavy sites. Does that count?

 

[1042686]

Hmm, this IS a great excuse to break out my DC PMg5. Aside from my QS, it’s Probably my fav ppc box - depends on the day
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Can I cheat a bit?

I use a Quad G5 in the winter time and a 15" DLSD powerbook in the summer time. They are both my primary computers however I VNC into a cheap xeon based linux box to browse javascript heavy sites. Does that count?

That’s being resourceful IMO. I would be AOK with it.

 

[bobesch]

I'd rather like to chime in ... previous challenges, help and discussion were quite an enlightment!
But this season I have to focus on keeping things going - and PPC unfortunately can't cope with the task ...
Nevertheless I'm grateful for all the inspiration I've got from this forum and all work with PPC, that made me learn to keep simple things simple and set-up stuff sleepwalking.
Due to the demands of the pandemic and illness- and pregnancy related lack of co-workers I had to rearrange a lot of workflows in my pediatric-office ...
1) VPN-clients: a few old core2duo Macbooks (early 2008 15"MBP and 2008 13"MB) for home-office(s) and communication via WhatsApp (Mac App), email, notes etc. One machine had to be properly set-up and then cloned to the others (VPN has to be set up on each machine individually). Drives encrypted with FileVault2. Basic installation of ElCapitan is happy with less than 64GB and a spinning-drive. (When it comes to the MBPs-A1260: a little bit bakery-work was involved too and then I was happy to discover a "green-dot-of-refurbishment" inside of the otherwise mostly worn-up unit I own ... )
2) three 2nd-hand iPhone 6(s) with AllNetFlat-Prepaid-cards for receiving and responding to calls and communicate via WhatsApp (and connected WhatsApp-Mac), FaceTime etc.
Macs and Phones share the same (new) iCloud account, so they're able to share iCloud related email, notes etc.
But I have to admit: the backbone for mission-critical communication is WhatsApp by receiving incoming audio/video-attachments in addition to text-messages and to establish video-communication with patients, since WA IS on every Smartphone, easy to use and IMHO currently the most time-effective way to stay in touch.
The Powerbooks unfortunately would not cope with this kind of challenge ...
So I'm out, when it comes to the challenge as of using solely PPC, but I'd like to chime in from time to time "to add my mustard" (ha, that's a local saying).
Wish you all the best and stay healthy!
Bob 😷

 

[RogerWilco6502]

That’s being resourceful IMO. I would be AOK with it.

I concur, @fourbirds

I'd rather like to chime in ... previous challenges, help and discussion were quite an enlightment!
But this season I have to focus on keeping things going - and PPC unfortunately can't cope with the task ...
Nevertheless I'm grateful for all the inspiration I've got from this forum and all work with PPC, that made me learn to keep simple things simple and set-up stuff sleepwalking.
Due to the demands of the pandemic and illness- and pregnancy related lack of co-workers I had to rearrange a lot of workflows in my pediatric-office ...
1) VPN-clients: a few old core2duo Macbooks (early 2008 15"MBP and 2008 13"MB) for home-office(s) and communication via WhatsApp, email, notes etc. One machine had to be properly set-up and then cloned to the others (VPN has to be set up on each machine individually). Drives encrypted with FileVault2. Basic installation of ElCapitan is happy with less than 64GB and a spinning-drive.
2) three 2nd-hand iPhone 6(s) with AllNetFlat-Prepaid-cards for receiving and responding to calls and communicate via WhatsApp, FaceTime etc.
Macs and Phones share the same (new) iCloud account, so they're able to share iCloud related email, notes etc.
But I have to admit: the backbone for mission-critical communication is WhatsApp by receiving incoming audio/video-attachments in addition to text-messages and to establish video-communication to patients, since WA IS on every Smartphone, easy to use and IMHO currently the most time-effective way to stay in touch.
The Powerbooks unfortunately would not cope with this kind of challenge ...
So I'm out, when it comes to the challenge as of using solely PPC, but I'd like to chime in from time to time "to add my mustard" (ha, that's a local saying).
Cheers and stay healthy!
Bob

That's a cool setup you have, and also understandable. I wish you good health as well! Looking forward to hearing from you

 

[z970]

Like @eyoungren, I already employ at least one PowerPC-based Mac every day... But it may be interesting to see the special tools everyone's using to assist accomplishing the task of exclusive reliance on a PowerPC machine.

For one, we have already established that uMatrix is a cornerstone of Web browsing, especially when doing so on the famously gimped TenFourFox - but it would also be interesting to see how many people still use Leopard WebKit, with its increasing age and instability...

Of course, that's to say nothing of Linux and its current PowerPC userbase compared to one, two years ago. Which would be even more interesting to expand on, should more people choose that as their weapon of choice than otherwise.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Like @eyoungren, I already employ at least one PowerPC-based Mac every day... But it may be interesting to see the special tools everyone's using to assist accomplishing the task of exclusive reliance on a PowerPC machine.

For one, we have already established that uMatrix is a cornerstone of Web browsing, especially when doing so on the famously gimped TenFourFox - but it would also be interesting to see how many people still use Leopard WebKit, with its increasing age and instability...

Of course, that's to say nothing of Linux and its current PowerPC userbase compared to one, two years ago. Which would be even more interesting to expand on, should more people choose that as their weapon of choice than otherwise.

I'd love to try Linux on one of my PPC Macs, but I can't say I've ever had luck with it on my systems

 

[wicknix]

I'd do it, as my powerbook (typing from living room now on it) and my DP G5 are already used daily, as is one of my G4 mini's for that matter, but i as well am still working through this pandemic. However if i was able to find more time to do it, it'd be with Linux, which all my ppc macs run (dual boot with leopard, or the only OS). I'll keep an eye on this thread though.

Cheers

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I'd do it, as my powerbook (typing from living room now on it) and my DP G5 are already used daily, as is one of my G4 mini's for that matter, but i as well am still working through this pandemic. However if i was able to find more time to do it, it'd be with Linux, which all my ppc macs run (dual boot with leopard, or the only OS). I'll keep an eye on this thread though.

Cheers

Cool! Feel free to chime in at any time

 

[AL1630]

I'll give it a shot, my school starts online classes Monday, so we'll see how well PPC can cope with whatever platform they use. Hopefully at least my G4 Powerbooks will be able to handle it.

 

[skinniezinho]

Well, guess I was not the only one thinking that this times could be great for Powerpc usage.
Unfortunately moved abroad and my PB G4 stayed at my parents house.
For this times I guess my main concern would be: is skype still working? Does udemy videos work?
The majority of other stuff I know I can do on a Powerpc.
Stay safe and enjoy

 

[Amethyst1]

my 17" MBP running Snow Leopard. That's in the garage.

Why has it been exiled? 🤣