BluRose

Q: Best Software for an iBook G4 1.44 with 512 Ram

I found an iBook Adapter and Battery at Goodwill cheap so I decided to get an iBook on ebay to test this out and to have fun with an older Apple unit.

I was wondering, what would be the best software for this laptop? For example:

 

What is the highest OS I can go with this computer that will not slow it down too much (I know it can go to Leopard, but does Tiger run much better?)

What is the best version of iLife to run on this Mac? (I really only would use GarageBand and iTunes)

Will this run Photoshop CS2?

 

Thanks a lot!

 

I do have a late 2014 Macbook Pro, so obviously I won't use this for anything fancy, just for a fun PowerPc computer that I can run some software and games that won't run on my Macbook Pro, have some fun with it and maybe use Word to write papers when I don't want to take my Macbook.

Posted on Aug 13, 2015 12:06 PM

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Q: Best Software for an iBook G4 1.44 with 512 Ram

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 15, 2015 1:40 AM in response to BluRose
    Level 6 (14,451 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 15, 2015 1:40 AM in response to BluRose

    With the 14-inch iBook G4 1.44GHz model (assume late 2005) the memory or RAM

    can be upgraded by adding a 1024MB chip under the keyboard, for 1.5GB total...

     

    The ATA/PATA 2.5-inch hard disk drive may be upgraded (if available) to a faster

    spin rate rotational drive, or to a faster legacy Mercury SSD from owc/macsales.

    And the newer SATA ones of course won't work. Some ideas on using an adapter

    may not be functional or practical for several reasons. The OWC mercury legacy

    SSD may be OK, but you'd have to set perform setup with the unit in an external

    housing for a hard drive; perhaps a FireWire400 version with oxford-type chipset

    or a newer model available from OWC that can boot a PowerPC system.

     

    The iLife '06 may be suitable for use with Leopard 10.5.8, the unit shipped with an

    older version that would have been in its install-restore grey-lable DVDs, with Tiger

    10.4(.11) would have seen a few updates to the original via Software Update, then.

     

    A hard disk drive with adequate free or used storage capacity helps since these old

    PPC G4 models like others rely on Virtual Memory, or a section of automatically used

    hard drive capacity for swap files and temporary memory to supplement physical RAM.

    IT is slower than having more chip RAM installed, but both are essential; especially if

    you were to find and run Leopard 10.5.8. Tiger used less resources & ran better.

     

    To obtain the correct original install-restore DVDs would be difficult now, but if you had

    the correct ones, that will give you original software in addition to the vintage OS X...

    And the retail version of the as-shipped OS X won't work, since you'd need to get a

    later version; and retail kit did not include the gratis software as shipped with the Mac.

     

    Once the computer is restored and tested OK, you may be able to run some vintage

    applications on there and perform useful tasks. For a web browser, you'd have to get

    the TenFourFox browser build for PPC Macs; the version would be 7450 ("G4e")

    (note that's direct download link.) Details: http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

     

    You may be able to buy a replacement battery from owc macsales, note there are a

    few versions, and one for the 14-inch iBook is different than the one for 12-inch.

     

    You should be able to find info about these older products from LowEndMac.com as well

    as everymac.com, and some specs about Macs from mactracker.ca download database.

     

    Hopefully this helps some. I'd noticed your post some time ago, but no takers. While I

    have a few portable Macs, and a few PowerPC model computers, some lag due to specs

    and internet. A few of mine (PPC) use TenFourFox and some other older applications that

    are not available online anymore. Be wary of free-download sites that may provide junk

    or adware, etc; a few are notorious and be careful what links you click...

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Aug 19, 2015 12:19 AM in response to BluRose
    Level 8 (41,547 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 12:19 AM in response to BluRose

    Personally, I would not go past Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger). But I am very conservative, and not much of a risk-taker.