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Trying to justify keeping my Powerbook G4

LordeOurMother

LordeOurMother

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 10, 2014
397
122
My G4 powerbook (1.67 ghz hi-res) got me through High School, and has served as a back up laptop when my 2008 macbook died suddenly halfway through the start of my first year at Uni, until I got my Air for Christmas that year. It's a fantastic machine, and I love it to death and would hate to part with it.

Ergo, I've reached an impasse that I believe many a PPC owner who upgrade to intel has to face:

What do I do with the old machine?

I've contemplated these ideas:

1. File server.
Sounds nice in theory, but everything I need shared access between my 1,1, iOS devices, and Air for, I simply use iCloud for anyway. I suppose it's possible I could write a small script to have it automatically upload/download files from iCloud.com.

Also, in terms of redundancy, the Mac Pro can take up to 4 hard drives and I use 3. (Small SSD as start up disk, larger HDD as scratch, and a Windows install.) I could fill the last bay with a 3-4 tb hard drive and get the same effect.

This is the 'traditional' use of old hardware, but I'm just not sure I have a need for it.

2. Second monitor with ScreenRecycler
I won't have a lot of desk space soon, after I get a set of reference monitors for my desk, since I'll have a monitor, a PS4, a Mac Pro, and two reference speakers all sharing the same desk, so I don't really have room for a larger monitor. (I would love to get a cinema display in addition to my small Dell Monitor, but simply don't have the desk real estate this year.)

But, a small 15 inch laptop that can be put away when not needed that I can have at the side of my desk while I work in R Studio, write an essay, or make music in Garageband would be great.

I think this might be the most reasonable use case.

3. Distraction free writing machine
When I have essays do at University, I could lug this thing to the library and not deal with modern distractions (texting social media etc.).

Only issue is sometimes I need to statistical analysis in R, and I'm unsure of what IDEs are available for PPC, because RStudio doesn't seem to have an old UB version based on a cursory google search.

4. Expensive digital photo frame
Self explanatory.

So two questions then:
A. Which of these seem most reasonable to you?

and

B. Are there any other use cases I haven't considered? I'm not a big watcher of movies so using it for anything media doesn't really appeal to me - I use apple music for my music listening needs.
 
Personally, I would use it for all those tasks, since if you have a need and it fills them. Some don't necessarily coexist (file server AND portable writing) but can be made to work since you're moving and probably don't need the server available at home when you're out anyway.

If you set it up accordingly, is there any reason it can't do everything you've already listed?
 
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L Oquence said:
1. File server.
Click to expand...

Is your Mac Pro already running 24 hours a day? If it is, you might as well use it as a file server if you've decided that you need one. If it's not, having the PowerBook run 24 hours a day is going to be quite a bit cheaper in terms of electricity costs than the Mac Pro.

L Oquence said:
2. Second monitor with ScreenRecycler
Click to expand...

This sounds like a great use case. I'd ensure the two machines are connected with gigabit ethernet for best performance. When I played around with ScreenRecycler using a 12in PowerBook as the host (i.e. the one that the application was running on), I noticed that e.g. using iWork '09 on the second screen and dragging its windows around caused WindowServer to kinda hog the CPU. The impact is probably much lower on a Mac Pro but I'd give the app a try with your specific use case before purchasing.

L Oquence said:
3. Distraction free writing machine
Click to expand...

I'm facing the same problem finding an UB of RStudio. However, just for writing it will be great.


L Oquence said:
4. Expensive digital photo frame
Click to expand...

Personally I find this to be a bit of a waste of a notebook but it would still be better than having it sit there just collecting dust. However, having the backlight on all the time would wear it out in the long run.
 
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My own PowerBook G4 gets the honor of being the machine I take with me when I go out to coffee shops.

Maybe that's not a use case for you, but I find that in these trips all I need is a web browser and Office 2008. I can access my server from outside the house so saving files I generate on this Mac isn't an issue. And Time Machine will still backup over the internet to my server too.

I also use it whenever I need period design programs. I've got Adobe CS2 on it and Acrobat 8, along with QuarkXPress 6.

Other than that, I really don't need to justify keeping it. :)
 
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eyoungren said:
My own PowerBook G4 gets the honor of being the machine I take with me when I go out to coffee shops.

Maybe that's not a use case for you, but I find that in these trips all I need is a web browser and Office 2008. I can access my server from outside the house so saving files I generate on this Mac isn't an issue. And Time Machine will still backup over the internet to my server too.

I also use it whenever I need period design programs. I've got Adobe CS2 on it and Acrobat 8, along with QuarkXPress 6.

Other than that, I really don't need to justify keeping it. :)
Click to expand...
I think as a general idea, this is valid. Keeping it as a second monitor/distraction free writing machine is probably my personal most relevant use case. I can't see myself really needing a file server currently.

Also... OSX Tiger. Completely forgot about that. OS9 games!
 
Jubadub said:
If you ever do decide to get rid of it, please please make sure it gets into good hands that will always take care of it well.
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you do choose to sell it, offer it here. I’m sure somebody would give it a good home.

Anyhoo, all I’m saying is that I’ve gotten rid of on a number of cool things over the past 20 years that in hindsight, I didn’t really need to & would like to have now as a 41yo, so think hard about whether the inconvenience of a laptop (mind you it’s exact design is for mobility - ohhh the irony :D ) is so much that you need to get rid of it. You can get creative - stash it at mom n dads house in their garage. My commodore64 lived at pops garage in a box literally for 20+ years before I retrieved it.

Either way, best of luck to you.
 
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RhianB said:
Agreed. If you do choose to sell it, offer it here. I’m sure somebody would give it a good home.

Anyhoo, all I’m saying is that I’ve gotten rid of on a number of items over the past 20 years that in hindsight, I didn’t really need to & would like to have now as a 41yo, so think hard about whether the inconvenience of a laptop (mind you it’s exact design is for mobility - ohhh the irony :D ) is so much that you need to get rid of it. You can get creative - stash it at mom n dads house in their garage. My commodore64 lived at pops garage in a box literally for 20+ years before I retrieved it.

Either way, best of luck to you.
Click to expand...
I've let an Amiga 1000 with 1mb sidecar and games (original boxed Lemmings) go because I decided I didn't 'need' it anymore. This was before I ever signed on to this forum. Someone at the Goodwill got a deal.

And my Commodore 128 and 64 with three 1541 drives and two 1581 drives were given away by my parents to a church.

All stuff I wish I could get back.
 
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The only reason I use an Intel PC is to, sadly, run newer versions of Adobe Flash in a web browser. Otherwise...
  • The PowerBook G4 has the best keyboard.
  • The 12" PowerBook G4 is the perfect size. New 12" PCs are underpowered, and any new PC coming close to my spec requirement for a new PC, is a bulky 15" to 17" behemoth -- no thanks. If I am going to buy new, the new shiny needs to be 13 years ahead of the PowerBook G4 and it's 2019, and I have yet to see anything.
  • The PowerBook G4 does not have something like the Intel Management Engine (ME) running all the time with complete control over the PC.
  • The PowerBook G4 has Open Firmware. It does not have EUFI, or other annoying legacy hard-coded firmware.
  • When I connect monitors, the PowerBook G4 does the right thing. It's a crap shoot with a PC.
  • I can plug an Ethernet cable into the PowerBook G4. No dongles.
  • I can run old software that can do everything that I need to do. And, I find it easier on the PowerBook G4.
  • I can compile new software (if the source code is available.) Anyone have the Adobe Flash source code?

But you are right. The PowerBook G4 is unjustified, and I have a good home for it.
 
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L Oquence said:
My G4 powerbook (1.67 ghz hi-res) got me through High School, and has served as a back up laptop when my 2008 macbook died suddenly halfway through the start of my first year at Uni, until I got my Air for Christmas that year. It's a fantastic machine, and I love it to death and would hate to part with it.

Ergo, I've reached an impasse that I believe many a PPC owner who upgrade to intel has to face:

What do I do with the old machine?

I've contemplated these ideas:

1. File server.
Sounds nice in theory, but everything I need shared access between my 1,1, iOS devices, and Air for, I simply use iCloud for anyway. I suppose it's possible I could write a small script to have it automatically upload/download files from iCloud.com.

Also, in terms of redundancy, the Mac Pro can take up to 4 hard drives and I use 3. (Small SSD as start up disk, larger HDD as scratch, and a Windows install.) I could fill the last bay with a 3-4 tb hard drive and get the same effect.

This is the 'traditional' use of old hardware, but I'm just not sure I have a need for it.

2. Second monitor with ScreenRecycler
I won't have a lot of desk space soon, after I get a set of reference monitors for my desk, since I'll have a monitor, a PS4, a Mac Pro, and two reference speakers all sharing the same desk, so I don't really have room for a larger monitor. (I would love to get a cinema display in addition to my small Dell Monitor, but simply don't have the desk real estate this year.)

But, a small 15 inch laptop that can be put away when not needed that I can have at the side of my desk while I work in R Studio, write an essay, or make music in Garageband would be great.

I think this might be the most reasonable use case.

3. Distraction free writing machine
When I have essays do at University, I could lug this thing to the library and not deal with modern distractions (texting social media etc.).

Only issue is sometimes I need to statistical analysis in R, and I'm unsure of what IDEs are available for PPC, because RStudio doesn't seem to have an old UB version based on a cursory google search.

4. Expensive digital photo frame
Self explanatory.

So two questions then:
A. Which of these seem most reasonable to you?

and

B. Are there any other use cases I haven't considered? I'm not a big watcher of movies so using it for anything media doesn't really appeal to me - I use apple music for my music listening needs.
Click to expand...

Install TenForFox.
 
I ended up taking the PowerBook G4 back to the USA to leave with my family over last Christmas. :) It died - likely due to some issue in the logic board - so I'm going to have a look at fixing it up when I'm back later this year to visit. Once I get it up and running again - it was working great with ScreenRecycler.
 
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Amethyst1 said:
I assume you were using it with the Mac Pro as the host? Was there any noticeable lag/high CPU usage?
Click to expand...
I had some legacy music apps from my G5 that I was using in 10.6 at the time on my 1,1 yes. It all worked fine. You couldn’t really watch YouTube for example on it and there was a tiny bit of lag but as a second screen for “useless” stuff and secondary info it was fantastic. Once I upgraded to El Capitan I started using Duet Display with my iPad instead due to incompatibilit.
 
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L Oquence said:
Once I upgraded to El Capitan I started using Duet Display with my iPad instead due to incompatibilit.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's a shame SR doesn't work with EC or later versions because it's the only solution that can use basically any machine as second screen. Others all require an Intel Mac running 10.8+ as secondary.
 
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