Wireless, Powerbook G4 and Upgrading/Migrating

[karmicdogmom]

We just got cable access and are setting up a wireless network. I'm more of a PC person, but my brother has an older g4 powerbook, with the titanium cover. I also just purchased a Netgear Rangemax and Aerocard Extreme at Fry's. So, here are my questions, and thanks for all your help!

1. Connecting from cable directly to the powerbook was no problem. Once I hooked up the router, the connection to the powerbook was a bit slower (My wireless connect via PC was great). Would this also happen on an Airport Base? Could the slowness (it's minor) be a result of the programs I tried to download to upgrade his system (more on that in a minute)?

2. Under "About This Mac," his O.S. says it is 10.1.5. Under the Airport Utility Program, the version is two point something. Under system preferences, the icon for OS 9.0 is there, but no icon for 10.1.5. The Aerocard literature says he needs OS 10.2.8 and Airport 3.1 minimum. So...

How do I trust what program is actually running? 10.1.5 v. 9.0?

How do I upgrade/migrate? I've downloaded the programs, but they don't seem to "take effect," on the Powerbook. Do I need to go step by step, or can I just upgrade to 10.2.8. Should I upgrade higher? Am I better off just taking the Powerbook in to a specialist and letting them upgrade it?

3. Does anyone perceive any problems down the line, using netgear vs. apple equipment, such as the router, print server, etc.?

Thanks for your help!

 

[jalagl]

1. Are you sure about the slowdown? There's no reason for that to happen.
The same thing would happen with an apple router - there's really no difference, except maybe for the Admin Utility that Apple includes with its equipment, and that's only for setting it up.

2. The PB is running 10.1.5. The icon for OS 9 is for configuring Classic to run inside 10.1.5, which allows apps written for OS 9 to run.
If you want to upgrade, I would recommend going all the way to Tiger. This upgrade costs $129, an I'm not aware of the budget you have, but AT LEAST upgrade to Panther (10.3) and then download the patches to 10.3.9. You'll notice a speed up - I did going from 10.2.8 to 10.3.X, so I can only imagine the speed up going from 10.1.X. Now that Tiger is out, you should be able to find Panther deeply discounted online.
I guess you downloaded the upgrades to 10.2, but you have 10.1... this is akin to trying to run an update for Windows XP on Windows 2000. You need to purchase 10.2, it is considered a mayor new version of the OS.

3. No. Everyone I know with a Mac has non-Apple network equipment, and there's no problems with that. That's the beauty of standards...

I hope that can get you on the right track

 

[karmicdogmom]

Thanks so much. That is such a big help. I was beginning to think I was a bumble head.

I spoke to a local repair place, and got the impression that 2.8. was as high as this machine could handle. Is that true?

And yes ... definitely slower.

 

[sacear]

Thanks so much. That is such a big help. I was beginning to think I was a bumble head.

I spoke to a local repair place, and got the impression that 2.8. was as high as this machine could handle. Is that true?

And yes ... definitely slower.

No, your machine will handle the latest Mac OS X (10.4.x, Tiger). Upgrading ought to speed things up.