You Can/Can't Still Use PowerPC Macs in 2020!

[eyoungren]

I guess I don’t understand how in today’s “Information Age” with tools like the internet, folks don’t have access to the information they need to better understand. The info is out there from raw data to formed opinions. Clarity of thought comes from the individual in how we digest & comprehend said info, through discussion/debate of differing perspective & ideas and varying levels of personal drive to attain it.

Because most people are lazy and choose to consume only the content that supports their beliefs and opinions. Anything that challenges those beliefs and opinions is discarded or attacked because people don't want to change. They find an 'authority' who legitimizes their thinking, even if it's flat out wrong. And the internet makes it very easy to do that.

You and I, and most everyone else on this forum may see things differently. But not the average person. Why else would we have anti-vaxxers, panic-buying, flat-earth believers and climate deniers?

 

[Amethyst1]

Because most people are lazy and choose to consume only the content that supports their beliefs and opinions. Anything that challenges those beliefs and opinions is discarded or attacked because people don't want to change. They find an 'authority' who legitimizes their thinking, even if it's flat out wrong. And the internet makes it very easy to do that.

Yes, but that's their problem, not ours. If people want to believe that 2 + 2 = 5, fine. Doesn't change the fact that it's false.

 

[eyoungren]

Yes, but that's their problem, not ours. If people want to believe that 2 + 2 = 5, fine. Doesn't change the fact that it's false.

Totally agree. I was just giving a response as to why, with all this information out there, some people will still choose to have others do their thinking for them.

 

[1042686]

Because most people are lazy and choose to consume only the content that supports their beliefs and opinions. Anything that challenges those beliefs and opinions is discarded or attacked because people don't want to change. They find an 'authority' who legitimizes their thinking, even if it's flat out wrong. And the internet makes it very easy to do that.

You and I, and most everyone else on this forum may see things differently. But not the average person. Why else would we have anti-vaxxers, panic-buying, flat-earth believers and climate deniers?

OK that was hilarious. BUT (there’s always a but, right? 😂) if we were/are so stupid as a species, wouldn’t we have died off long ago? I mean in context of education, cognitive understanding & productivity (much through technology) being at its apex with the Millennial generation, if we were a bunch of drooly ding dongs, wouldn’t we be doomed already?

Sure there’s some real dumb box o’ rocks folks out there (unfortunately, some in very high places) but there’s always been & always will be. Humanity as a whole is doing alright I think in the grand scheme of things. The internet is the first step in democratizing information & as much as it has become a tool to pedal products & a platform for stupidity, also still exists as this fantastic educational & connecting resource for thinkers, tinkerers & bright ideas. I think this forum is a perfect example of that - ppl coming together to better understand, debate & share ideas of PPC, OSX, & linux’s relevance in 2020. The end being a critically thought through exchange of ideas leading to clarity, relative consensus, and new ways (tweaks & apps) to improve usability.

The herd will always be around - it’s a natural expression of community & society. Without the herd you have anarchy which is flatly unacceptable. The herd as dumb & thoughtless as it may seem is the foundation holding our communities together, allowing thinkers to think. It’s the bright bulbs within the herd that drive understanding, clarity &thoughtful growth.

 

[Dronecatcher]

if we were/are so stupid as a species, wouldn’t we have died off long ago?

Short of some natural cataclysm, no I don't think our species will die out. Our culture however could be in the throes of it's last days and the history books are full of mighty civlisations that flourished, dominated and then waned.

 

[1042686]

Short of some natural cataclysm, no I don't think our species will die out. Our culture however could be in the throes of it's last days and the history books are full of mighty civlisations that flourished, dominated and then waned.

Certainly true, we are indeed mighty You bring up a great point - to not forget our history which is fundamental. Knowing that however does not predestine us to failure & demise. Conversely it gives us tools & understanding for continued success & growth. In an amazing world with its handful of stupid people doing & saying stupid stuff, it makes great sense to me to be positive, stay thinking, stay goal oriented & community minded in our actions & service to each other.

Do that & we can think our way through all the crap that inevitably will float our way at some point.

 

[eyoungren]

OK that was hilarious. BUT (there’s always a but, right? 😂) if we were/are so stupid as a species, wouldn’t we have died off long ago? I mean in context of education, cognitive understanding & productivity (much through technology) being at its apex with the Millennial generation, if we were a bunch of drooly ding dongs, wouldn’t we be doomed already?

Sure there’s some real dumb box o’ rocks folks out there (unfortunately, some in very high places) but there’s always been & always will be. Humanity as a whole is doing alright I think in the grand scheme of things. The internet is the first step in democratizing information & as much as it has become a tool to pedal products & a platform for stupidity, also still exists as this fantastic educational & connecting resource for thinkers, tinkerers & bright ideas. I think this forum is a perfect example of that - ppl coming together to better understand, debate & share ideas of PPC, OSX, & linux’s relevance in 2020. The end being a critically thought through exchange of ideas leading to clarity, relative consensus, and new ways (tweaks & apps) to improve usability.

The herd will always be around - it’s a natural expression of community & society. Without the herd you have anarchy which is flatly unacceptable. The herd as dumb & thoughtless as it may seem is the foundation holding our communities together, allowing thinkers to think. It’s the bright bulbs within the herd that drive understanding, clarity &thoughtful growth.

Sometimes people are so dumb that they accomplish things that make thinkers shake with fright. They do this because they don't consider the consequences and just act. There's a lot of info on the 'net about how stupid people are successful.

A herd survives though because some are sacrificed and whatever it is that's preying on the herd is satisfied with what they caught while the main part of the herd gets away.

But sometimes…there are the Darwin awards.

 

[MrVitalic]

Ok, I'll repost it here. As for MacOS9Lives, I asked there about a possible source for finding Ableton for OS X under the PPC OS X DAW subforum and the responses I got were "get OS 9 audio hardware," which I would love to do, but I also don't have the time or the money to invest in a new audio setup at the moment. But I'm not sure they'd be all that open to answering questions about OS X DAW recommendations. 😂

I have ableton live 7 for osx. it work on 10.5.8. Didnt tried on 10.4 .. Most of my software are legit but when I bought a G5 as a collection piece, finding ableton live 7 UB on one of my old hard drive was the start of me trying to use that G5 as a daw.

 

[MrVitalic]

@Dronecatcher since you are also into MOD files, would you like to elaborate an audio /DAW setup in a different topic ?
@AphoticD @RhianB @MrVitalic same question, I don't think there is a topic here that describes the use of a PPC in a studio/DAW setup.

@RogerWilco6502 I think you are in the same boat as me looking for info on how to start an audio setup ?
(well figuratively speaking since due to COVID-19 we better not sit next to each other in the same boat)

G5 are not powerful enough natively to process 96k/24 or 192/24 audio tracks and midi instrument like massive. You are better using 48k/24. You cant have multiple synth running high voices count stacked together. It is better to work on one patch at a time and not running everything in live midi. Better to bounce to audio an resample. I think being restricted like that help learning a better workflow. If you do electronic music, working a 48k is not the end of the world, most sample packs are still 44k/24. In protools its another story, you can do 192k if you have enough dsp power and use tdm plugins instead of rtas. Forgot to mention, with gui intensive plugins like dmg audio compassion or equilibrium, osx gui start to lag a bit ( ableton meter, ect)

I'v contacted McDsp yesterday and bought a channel strip for PT (G channel hd V6). They sold me an ilok license for V6 and because I asked for it before making my purchase, they also gave me a license for V4 (compatible with my set-up on ppc mac but locked for reselling). Their legacy installer came with the tdm plug and rtas version. I have contacted waves to buy older license but they dont want to and they dont use Ilok anymore. From what I bought, mcdsp and dmg audio still sell license for ppc mac. Native instrument is a pain to work with tho...

I never got my head around logic 9 but it work perfectly fine on a G5 (version 9.0.1 if I remember). It is very well optimized for altivec. If you are a logic user, this daw is insane. Theres also renoise 4 that work on G5 (tracker). Ableton live 7 and 8 also work on ppc mac under 10.5.8.

 

[TheShortTimer]

From the LEM FB group.

 

[z970]

@TheShortTimer Infuriating.

It is absolutely insane how flippant (and addicted) people can be and often are of what were a very short time ago technological marvels... bEcAuSe iT cAnT lOaD fAcEbOoK !!

A sad reality.

It makes you question what values they were raised with...

 

[RogerWilco6502]

@TheShortTimer I'm really questioning why that would be a thing that the poster woud think about trying to do in the first place because they can get a Mac Pro with the same cheesegrater design and two optical drive bays as opposed to one. I can't stand seeing things like that, especially if the machines are fully functional or have an easy fix.

 

[TheShortTimer]

@TheShortTimer Infuriating.

It is absolutely insane how flippant (and addicted) people can be and often are of what were a very short time ago technological marvels... bEcAuSe iT cAnT lOaD fAcEbOoK !!

A sad reality.

It makes you question what values they were raised with...

@z970mp I agree and it's why I spend far less time on there nowadays. It's strange to see the prevalence of those attitudes in a group that's supposedly geared towards getting the best out of low end Macs. I've grown tired of endless asinine remarks that permeate the threads such as PM G5 serving no other purpose than a great heater during the winter. A festival of tomfoolery. I fear that we're living in an Information Technology version of Idiocracy and Fahrenheit 451.

@TheShortTimer I'm really questioning why that would be a thing that the poster woud think about trying to do in the first place because they can get a Mac Pro with the same cheesegrater design and two optical drive bays as opposed to one. I can't stand seeing things like that, especially if the machines are fully functional or have an easy fix.

I also can't stand seeing things like that. It's (unfortunately) a very popular pastime within that group and as you can see within the responses, a poster offered a similarly sensible suggestion to your own.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I also can't stand seeing things like that. It's (unfortunately) a very popular pastime within that group and as you can see within the responses, a poster offered a similarly sensible suggestion to your own.

Honestly, even if I bought one of those to convert it, I would end up repairing it because I couldn't bear to let go of the G5-ness of it. I love old Apple products too much to modify then in any way other than a way that would help it operate better.

 

[1042686]

No idea where this guy is at but Someone here could rescue them all for a hundy. Did the seller list specs?

My own rule is if the machine is Dead, it’s up for a custom build. I have a MDD that is Dead inside (dead lobo) but will at some point get scavengedfor parts & then be retro fitted with new guts as a boss custom build at some point.

 

[salamanderjuice]

@TheShortTimer I'm really questioning why that would be a thing that the poster woud think about trying to do in the first place because they can get a Mac Pro with the same cheesegrater design and two optical drive bays as opposed to one. I can't stand seeing things like that, especially if the machines are fully functional or have an easy fix.

You can get a modern new computer in there? Even a Mac Pro in that form factor is still an 8 year old computer at this point. A modern mid-range AMD or Intel will run circles around even the 12 core models that will still cost a few hundred in working order. Optical bays at this point are out. A lot of new PC cases have dropped them entirely. So I doubt that's a real pro for getting a Pro.

For $15 I imagine those machines are just going to end up scrapped if they don't sell even if they work. May as well live on as a case than in the trash.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

You can get a modern new computer in there? Even a Mac Pro in that form factor is still an 8 year old computer at this point. A modern mid-range AMD or Intel will run circles around even the 12 core models that will still cost a few hundred in working order. Optical bays at this point are out. A lot of new PC cases have dropped them entirely. So I doubt that's a real pro for getting a Pro.

For $15 I imagine those machines are just going to end up scrapped if they don't sell even if they work. May as well live on as a case than in the trash.

I'd argue that there are plenty of things that optical drives are still used for. I just installed a new one one in my Power Mac yesterday. I use a 10 year old machine as my daily and it might not be the fastest, but it works for my purposes. Ideally those G5 systems wouldn't be scrapped or converted and be saved instead.

 

[dbdjre0143]

I don't see it in the pic - anyone say where those were located? Bet some folks here would be interested in grabbing one if they're reasonably close.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I don't see it in the pic - anyone say where those were located? Bet some folks here would be interested in grabbing one if they're reasonably close.

I know I would be

 

[defjam]

Wanted to update everyone with my experience using the PowerMac G5, TenFourFox, and uMatrix. All I can say is uMatrix is a lifesaver for this old PowerMac. I am actually able to use it to browse web pages. I have encountered issues with it but using this extension to block JavaScript has really perked this old system up. While I would not use this as my DD for occasional use uMatrix has made this a useable, if not pleasant, experience.

 

[Dronecatcher]

All I can say is uMatrix is a lifesaver for this old PowerMac.

So, consider that and then in addition, a tweaked config file, a custom host file and alternative user agents and that's why PPC users here get defensive.

 

[defjam]

So, consider that and then in addition, a tweaked config file, a custom host file and alternative user agents and that's why PPC users here get defensive.

Why should they be getting defensive? It wasn't a non-PPC user who started this discussion After having gone through this entire experience I stand by the conclusion of the first YouTuber in your original post. For the vast majority an inexpensive Intel based Mac makes more sense.

 

[eyoungren]

So, consider that and then in addition, a tweaked config file, a custom host file and alternative user agents and that's why PPC users here get defensive.

Yet he does have a point. Beyond what he's done we start getting into things that the 'average' user isn't aware of. These are all things we do, but we are not average users.

But the 'average' user is familiar with browser addons and that is why I disagreed with @defjam.

 

[Dronecatcher]

Yet he does have a point. Beyond what he's done we start getting into things that the 'average' user isn't aware of.

But I'm not even discussing the level of a users depth of understanding or willingness to investigate workarounds - just addressing the fact that after just one add-on he has revised his opinion on the G5s ability.

 

[eyoungren]

But I'm not even discussing the level of a users depth of understanding or willingness to investigate workarounds - just addressing the fact that after just one add-on he has revised his opinion on the G5s ability.

OK. That's the place I was trying to get him to though. In the beginning he wouldn't even consider addons as part of what an average user would know or use. His opinion hasn't changed, but now he's more informed.

We can now argue (discuss) while being on the same page.