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Some advice on what to use.

B

breakfict

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 29, 2015
1
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I'm debating with myself over what to use.

Basically, I have a PowerBook G4 12" 1.5GHz with the expanded 1.25GB of RAM, but its in need of some parts. It'll cost me about $30-$40 to fix it up, but once it's fixed up it'll look and run great.

I need a laptop for both home and school. I'll be programming in Java for my classes, and I'll want older gaming and decent web browsing. I figured with some work that I could get my PowerBook doing most of these things, but then came to mind the idea of instead of investing more into the PowerBook, I could buy a MacBook Air instead.

Now, I only have around $200 right now, but I could sell one of my computers I have laying around for about $100. I could probably work out something for an older MacBook Air.

What would you do? I absolutely love the PowerBook, and it'd cheaper, and I also like the MacBook Air, but there's unsurites about both of them.
 
If you are doing programming in Javascript then the money is on the MBA.

I love PowerPC but even with the best optimizations it's likely to be slow when dealing with JS.
 
Unfortunately, any Intel MacBook is going to be the better option when it comes to programming these days. Almost all of the IDEs and other development tools for most languages have no PowerPC support in current releases.
 
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My son is currently in the local STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program and is learning Javascript. The program has loaned him an HP Elitebook for the entire class year (everything he does for the class is done digitally on the Elitebook). That laptop has the ability to handle this. I can't imagine trying it with his Titanium DVI.
 
You could make websites, just basic ones, with Coda (Panic, Inc). Great piece of software.
I edit my website sometimes with my powerbook with Coda on it.
 
PowerPC Macs are beholden to Apple for Java updates, and they never issued any version of Java past SE 6, which was current as of late 2006!

An Intel Mac would be a much better choice, preferably 2009 onwards as most will run the current versions of OS X.
 
If that's your budget you should get a 2010 white unibody Macbook.

You can buy an SSD and upgrade the RAM when you have the money but in the meantime it will serve you very well. They're still great laptops.
 
Javascript will be a challenge on a PowerPC Mac. You're probably best picking up a newish Intel model.
 
Aika said:
If that's your budget you should get a 2010 white unibody Macbook.

You can buy an SSD and upgrade the RAM when you have the money but in the meantime it will serve you very well. They're still great laptops.
Click to expand...

Have you seen the price of unibody Plasticbooks recently?

macbook.png
 
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eyoungren said:
If you are doing programming in Javascript then the money is on the MBA.

I love PowerPC but even with the best optimizations it's likely to be slow when dealing with JS.
Click to expand...

roadbloc said:
Javascript will be a challenge on a PowerPC Mac. You're probably best picking up a newish Intel model.
Click to expand...

Just as a point of order, OP said he is doing Java, not Javascript. They are not really related at all. Other posters are correct when they suggest getting the most recent Intel Mac as you can afford so you will be able to run a more recent Java JDK. Maybe you could find a nice Black Macbook. A Macbook Air would be a tremendous buy if you could swing it.
 
barbu said:
Just as a point of order, OP said he is doing Java, not Javascript. They are not really related at all.
Click to expand...
You're right.

Shame on me for not paying attention to the original post. As you indicate though, the advice is still valid in light of the fact that Apple stopped Java updates at a certain point for PowerPC/Leopard.
 
eyoungren said:
You're right.

Shame on me for not paying attention to the original post. As you indicate though, the advice is still valid in light of the fact that Apple stopped Java updates at a certain point for PowerPC/Leopard.
Click to expand...
No shame intended! I just mention it since the difference might affect the advice we give OP.
 
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Just to note too with a PPC the latest JDK you'll have is 1.5, at minimum for Java development you would want the 1.6 JDK if not the 1.7, I use a late 2006 macbook pro every day if that's any good there cheap to pick up these days
 
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Another thing to consider is that you might run into trouble with some websites you're required to go to in classes, even with TenFourFox. For school, it would be better to have a more modern computer just so you don't have any problems with websites or hooking up to the school's network.
 
Your CS department may specify a minimum JDK version. I would find out what that is and if will work on PPC first.

I use a PowerBook regularly for school, though not for Java and not with OS X. You'll likely need to make a few compromises. For example, collaborating on a document in Google Docs in Firefox is a painful experience because the page tries to refresh so often, to the point of being unusable. You may not need to do this of course (and it will likely work better in TenFourFox anyway), but I had no choice. I don't use Skype, but some professors may expect you to. I don't know the state of Skype on PPC OS X, but it could be a problem.
 
@breakfict The older Airs are still nice, and if you can, go for one. I recommend the late 2008/mid 2009 2,1 at a minimum, and make sure it has an SSD or put one in yourself.

It will certainly offer advantages over a PowerBook, such as smoother web browsing and current OS/app support. It will also run newer versions of Java, as the PPC version is quite old.
 
@breakfict, you can pick up an 2008 Apple MacBook Black 13.3"A1181 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz,4GB RAM,160GB HDD for under $300. It is more current than the G4 laptop you now have, not that it is a bad laptop (I have two of them in my collection) but as other's have said, you may need something more current for what you need to do regarding programming in Java. I would guess this laptop would be able to handle your upcoming work load.

Here is the link to that auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-Apple-...M-160GB-HDD-/201415635105?hash=item2ee54eb0a1
 

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Macdctr said:
t is more current than the G4 laptop you now have, not that it is a bad laptop (I have two of them in my collection) but as other's have said, you may need something more current for what you need to do regarding programming in Java. I would guess this laptop would be able to handle your upcoming work load.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that later versions of OS X (10.8+) only support the late 2008 Aluminum MacBook or later.
 
If you want to go through the hassle of installing a Linux distro on PPC (I would recommend Debian), and you don't want to buy the MBA, I think the latest Java is supported for Linux on PPC. I just don't think it'll be fast enough, though.
 
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