My kids need a basic internet browsing computer. Tired of fighting for my laptop.
So I have an old Power Mac G4 with Mac OS 10.2.8, I have a comcast cable modem hooked to my Airport Extreme.
What is my next step? Or is this not doable?
We went the netbook route last year and that cheap thing died a long slow frustrating death. While I would love a new
laptop for me, it is so not in the budget.
Thanks!
Basically if I can get Tiger and an ethernet cable I will be in good shape to do this cheaply?
I'd get an ethernet cat 5 cable & plug it into your router with 10.2.8. You will be able to verify that all the hardware works. I've been able to get to google.com with ancient web browsers.
Once you verify the hardware works, upgrade the os.
Restore Tiger 10.4 & Leopard 10.5 DVDs are available from Apple by calling 800-767-2775 as of January 20, 2013. Have your serial number ready. Have your credit card ready too. There is a small fee.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4720126?tstart=0
See if apple will deal.
Got to google.com with IE 5.2. IE will fail on most other pages.
Robert
"Restore Tiger 10.4 & Leopard 10.5 DVDs are available from Apple by calling 800-767-2775 as of January 20, 2013. Have your serial number ready. Have your credit card ready too. There is a small fee.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4720126?tstart=0"
Hopefully, this is still the case.
I assume you want a low cost solution.
To get a decent browser on a PPC, you need 10.4.8.
Must you connect wirelessly? Could you connect via cable to your router? Move the router to you computer.
We need to know how much memory you have. The exact model of the machine.
You may want to post machine info.
blue apple > about this mac > more info button. Click on the hardware line. It has a little triangle in front of the work hardware.
Leave out the serial number.
Example:
Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac4,1
CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (33.11)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 600 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 768 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.1.9f1
OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar is very old and you'll have a hard time with many things, including Internet access using this OS X version.
Most G4 PowerMacs can run OS X 10.4 Tiger.
The problem, if you don't already own a retail copy of OS X 10.4 Tiger, finding this and purchasing this now is going to be very expensive. More than Apple's original $129 OEM retail.
If you know someone who uses Macs and has had older Macs, could find out if that person has a copy of OS X 10.4 Tiger that you can use and install.
OS X 10.4 Tiger upgraded to OS X 10.4.11 is really your hope for having a decent Internet experience.
Especially with kids.
Here is the version you will need to install.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mac-Tiger-10-4-6-VERSION/dp/B000BWZZLG/ref=sr_1_2?ie =UTF8&qid=1368125492&sr=8-2&keywords=OS+X+10.4+Tiger
or here
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=100
Also, have you considered an iPad?
I feel like a broken record, but I hadn't seen my (very simple) solution on here before so I want to make sure people see it in case it might help them.
I couldn't get my G5 to recognize any of my USB wireless cards, so I moved my wifi range extender to withing close proximity to my G5 tower and just ran an eithernet cable to it from the computer (the Netgear range extender I have has a couple of ethernet ports you can connect devices to. This was cheaper than spending money on an airport base. I had $50 in Best Buy gift cards saved up from my Rewards Account and then I added like another $15 so I guess the model I have would cost around $50 today (I bought it last year). That's about half the cost of the airport right?
I am not in a position to turn it on at the moment and get machine info. I do know I bought it with the most HD memory I could at the time and installed extra RAM.
I do not expect wireless. I have it near the router & modem. I guess I was not thinking so specific. Would an ethernet to the airport be what I need?
I might actually have Tiger somewhere. (Scary but I saw a system 8 disk earlier when digging out the G4)
Basically if I can get Tiger and an ethernet cable I will be in good shape to do this cheaply?
If not then its time to toss the G4 and look into other options?
Thanks!
Also, if your G4 has only minimum amount of RAM, you will need to upgrade your G4’s RAM to its Max. for decent operation.
RAM for these old PowerPC Macs is fairly cheap,now.
Correct and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com).
If you do decide to get this G4 back to into action, Safari web browser for that version of OS X will still be dated and an issue/challenge for the modern Internet.
For a better web browsing experience there is one web browser called TenFourFox that is a still being developed and updated by former Mozzilla.org developers and can use all web browser updates like Adobe Flash and generally, TenFourFox is better designed for use on today's Internet running on older Mac hardware.
http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/
Good Luck to you.
😉
Tthe Tiger disc has to be a OEM retail copy install disc.
You can't use a OS X Tiger disc that came originally came from a Mac as these are Mac computer specific and won't work on other Macs.
FYI.
Edited because I replied to the wrong message.
I'd go with 10.4 and not 10.5. My Dual Processor G4 was too slow on 10.5 and I reverted back to 10.4 for improved speed.
Regards,
Power Mac G4 - Setting up for Internet
