Q: Can I use a super drive double layer in my ibookG4?

The RAM chip is a fairly easy upgrade, specs essentially are, in low-profile, low-heat:

• Module Size: 1GB
• Package: 200-pin SODIMM
• Feature: DDR PC2700
• Specs: DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 128Meg x 64 •

{These PowerPC architecture machines -- cannot run Snow Leopard 10.6 or Later.}

A dual-layer SuperDrive upgrade is offered by some reputable companies who

repair & upgrade Macs for a living; one is macsales.com (owc) or wegenermedia,

or perhaps macservice.com; there are others depending on where you live. I'd go

as far as mailing one of my Apple portables from AK to SC in a padded box

to have a few things done at the same time, as combining jobs is less cost.

D/L drive, part example: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/iBook_G4

A fair repair guide can be found at http://ifixit.com for the iBook series models.

These are tedious and have many mis-matched screws you have to map out

where they came from, so they all go back, plus tiny wires, connections, and

a chance something may be broken off the logic board, in the process...

guide: http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iBook_G4_14%22_933_MHz-1.33_GHz

Good luck & happy computing!

The matter of obtaining a retail or replacement install DVD for Leopard 10.5

can be elusive; some say they'd been able to call AppleCare or Sales Support

US (two different 800 numbers, in Apple site) and for a fee of about $17, get

a white label full install DVD for Leopard 10.5; also said to be available, was

a white label DVD for Tiger 10.4. {These may or may not still be available;

the kicker here, was some who called over the past year did get them, others

who called later did not. Then even later on, others were able to get them.}

This topic has come up a few times in ASC discussions, even early this year

with posts in these threads with contact phone numbers to try & order discs.

And at this moment, I do not have those numbers available to include here;

nor do I know if I did, if the persons who may answer would be able to answer

the question of availability themselves. Appears the answer has changed

depending on who you are able to talk to, there at Apple.

Since those of us who answer these discussions do not know policy nor do

we represent Apple corporate, the results of any finding can be hit & miss.

About browsers. Some exist that are custom builds for PowerPC Mac and

there are some limits due to the nature of the volunteer efforts behind them.

Of them, note of these some only work in OS X 10.5.8; a few offer an older

OS 9 version (see icab site for a classic pre-X version.)

•TenFourFox - 7450 ("G4e" - see DL link)

http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/tenfourfox/files/24.4.0/TenFourFox7450-24.4.0.ap p.zip/download

•iCab - shareware - runs free w/ small limitation

http://www.icab.de/dl.php

•SeaMonkey-for-PPC (OS X 10.5)

http://sourceforge.net/projects/seamonkey-for-ppc/

For my PPC G4 Macs, which run 10.5.8, I have these three browsers, and

also the Safari browser of the vintage; you can use Safari to set a different

browser as 'default' to the system, so a general browser launch triggers a

different browser than Safari, another one will take its place. I also have

an older Opera browser 10.63 that works, but is not supported w/ updates.

So regarding the purchase of retail label (not grey from a machine series)
DVD for a full install Mac OS X Leopard 10.5, an answer may exist, but

I do not have the details; nor do I know of some are workable answers.

And the discs said to be offered were either vintage replacements so a

caller would need a serial number, to match; or were white label installer

versions for a wider range of machines, not just one built model. So there

is some matter of what they are, and if what you want may really exist!

Some persons had looked into amazon or other possible sources, but if

a seller misrepresents their product, you can't really use what won't work.

You may be able to get old stock unused retail Leopard DVDs, ? online.

{Oh, if you have some favorite classic applications from OS 9.2.2 & before

you should consider a clone of Tiger 10.4.11 system with Classic, so you

can later boot the computer from there, in order to run those old applications.

Leopard does not support Classic in OS X. A backup hard disk drive with

its own power supply, and with oxford-type chipset, can be used for clones.}

Anyway, I thought to add the browser list; and a few add-ons from FireFox

will work with TenFourFox. I use one that makes the first open browser

window not have a tab. TenFourFox 17 had no tabs by default, now v.24

has tabs. I prefer separate windows so I can drag-drop between them and

do multiple searches or have other topics open at once. Or run two browsers.

Hopefully this helps somewhat.

Good luck & happy computing!

For the Superdrive you could also think about an external Firewire Superdrive. I have one from LaCie that is working very well, it will even boot your iBook. But of course being a bit bulky it stays on the desk.