PowerMac G4 Sawtooth, OS 8.6 - Optical Drive Options ?

BDAqua and Don, Thanks so much for the great info and helping me so far.

Ok, as far as the optical thing, I guess if the current one in there reads CD's and normal DVD's and also even burns CD's then that is cool enough for what I will be doing with this rig, and I will just use external drives/burners if I want to satisfy a fancier side ever.

BUT, the issue with the OS is very disturbing. Because here is the scenario (as I thought I explained earlier, but let me elaborate):

The reason for OS 8 is not because of the Sawtooth, it is because the whole reason I am doing this set up is to run a old program called "SP12 Librarian". It only runs on System 6, System 7, and OS 8.x. So what I wanted to do is find the absolute newest computer that will comfortably run OS 8. Upon my research, I thought that would be the Sawtooth.

I don't understand why that model specific thing happens. I mean, what do they expect you to do if you need to or want to go backwards to a specific OS ?

I really don't have to go to 8.6 exactly, I could run 8.anything really. So would that work ?

Or would getting another computer be better ? If so, which computer can comfortably have a retail version of 8.5 installed on it ? (then updated to 8.6)

I know I could go to System 6, 7, or even a earlier 8, but my point is, I want to run the latest thing possible that this program runs on, cause then I get side percs of other cool stuff working. Like Firewire drives, CD burning, maybe ? etc..

What do you think ?

Don, thanks so much for taking the time for all this.

Lets see, ok, the O.S. information you gave me pretty much answers this thread, and does cause me to not be able to use this Sawtooth. I did not know that about O.S.'s, and oddly enough, been using Macs since around the time that Sawtooth came out. But back then I never tried to "bend the rules". Now a days, I always am trying to do the "unsupported"...LOL...

Ok, so that alone answers this thread, and causes reason for going with a older computer.

Now onto the other stuff. Man, Don, again, thanks for taking the time to read the whole system requirements at Watersedge for that software. As I have read and studied it too, I never expected anyone to take the time to read it, and I didn't want to get too far into details about it all....

But here it is:

Ok, I did know that about the serial ports, but after contacting them (Watersedge), they said that since they have not tested whether or not a PCI Serial Port card or Modem Serial Port Card (like the GeeThree Stealth Port or Griffin G4 Port) would work with their software or not, they just can't recommend it. But it very well may work. They said those things weren't even invented when they made this software, so it was impossible for them to test of make it work or not, it was simply unthinkable. Their main concern for it not working is, will the SP12 Librarian "see" the expansion serial ports as "built in" ones or not. Cause thats all it knows to look for. It very well may work with a certain one, but due to all that, they just simply recommend to not try it.

Now, why am I rebellious you may ask ? ha ha, Well, I am one of those dudes that just love to try the untested so possibly may work, but we don't know things. As long as they are somewhat intelligible, like this one (except for the OS thing), and if it worked then would render me major benefits (like this one would have I thought until the OS thing). This is all what I was talking about in-between the lines when I opened this thread saying "I have more questions, but each will have their own thread, and lets start with this one first". Them "other questions" were going to be, "What serial port (round 8 Pin Mini DIN) expander/adapter are the best, and looked at by the computer as closest to 'built in' ?"

Also, the bigger factor is, I was able to scrape up that Sawtooth out of my garage, clean it off, and am ready to go (other than it is running OS 9). When I looked into what I needed no matter what in either config, and what I would be "out" if this first try didn't work, it seemed well worth it to try (and fun). Basically all I would be out is the price of the Serial Port expansion, which is like $25 each one. Really no big deal, I only had 3 choices, and I was willing to try all three. Everything else in the config, I need no matter what no matter what computer I use.

But, with your knowledge sharing of how OS's work, you are right, even with me trying to be all savvy and go for the latest, that would be a G3 Blue and White... but after thinking about it, since that is not too far off the mark of a G3 Minitower, I might as well just save the testing and taking chances on my own, and just go straight for what I know for sure will work.

I guess now I am on the look out for a G3 Minitower 333mhz in good condition. Plus I notice that the Minitower comes stock also with a SCSI port ! Sweet, there goes my external back up drive solved. No need for firewire anything. I just hope maybe I can upgrade it maybe to be able to read both DVD's and CD's AND also burn CD's ? That would be great.

Being that the G3 Minitower shipped with OS 8, means, I can go to any later OS, and even via a retail copy. So yea, its looking like the Minitower, unless you think fiddling around with a Blue and White and Serial expansion is worth it ? Would I gain anything from it if it did work ? Like, besides that application I want to run, what does a G3 Blue and White have over the Minitower ? Any percs ?

Thanks again for the time --

Thanks Jeff for your input. Very helpful.

Yea, I guess now I am torn between trying this "test/possibly not working" way with a G4 or G3 Blue and White, or just getting a Minitower and calling it done.

I guess my main question would be if anyone had any experience with the "Gee Three Stealth Port" or the "Griffin G4 Port" ? As these are not PCI serial expansions. Since they get installed on the modem port (taking over your modem so you can't use it as a modem anymore) they are suppose to be "seen" by the computer and any peripherals, software, etc.. as "built in" serial ports. But I wanted to know if this is indeed true or not ? ALSO, do they (or one of them/which one) would work under OS 8 ?

At the same time, you are kinda right, all this just to gain some bus and processor speeds that I may never need or use anyway. Then again, I may find some other cool app or game that is only compatible with OS 8, and then I would have liked to have at least gotten the best computer I could ?

See ? I'm torn... lol..