Where do I get apps for a PowerPC? Do the ones from the App Store work on it?

The PowePC processor was abandoned in 2006 so it's hard today to find new software that supports it. PPC compatibility is a function of the software developers, not where you buy. Example, TurboTax still runs on G4 computers. Most, however, does not.

You can still get copies of Office 2008 here:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Microsoft/GZA00006/

It was the last version that ran on PPC. I have it on a PPC G4 1.25Ghz tower and a 1Ghz G4 PowerBook and it runs fine.

There are free suites that do what Office can. There is a PPC version of NeoOffice on this page:

http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/download.php

You can get PPC version of NeoOffice here, also free:

http://www.libreoffice.org/download/

If you post what kind of software you feel Dad needs, we can come up with some other suggestions. The software is out there, but takes some looking.

A Mac User Group may be your best resource for older software. This page will help you find one close:

http://appleusergroupresources.com/?page_id=394

Software from the Mac App Store doesn't work on PowerPC Macs regardless of the system requirements for that software when it comes from another source.

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There are email and web browsers that still work on PowerPC.

If you do a search for Apple Macintosh PowerPC software, you may find software application sites that still have versions of their software that will still work with PowerPC Macs.

Google and Bing are your friends.

Here's a great site to get older (PowerPC) versions of popular apps. http://www.oldapps.com/

Here's anothyer good site http://www.macupdate.com/

 Cheers, Tom 😉

I also had the same problem, I bought an iBook G4 and I didn't know what was PowerPC. Well I loved it and I decide to create this project called MacPowerPC, you can check out softwares that still available for PowerPC processor, I'm doing research everyday and I have quite few already to post: http://macpowerpc.wordpress.com

Nice job! 🙂