Mastersorbust
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Internet accessibility

Can a 2004 powerbook efficiently access the internet?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Dec 31, 2015 7:17 AM

by Allan Jones,Apple recommended
Allan Jones Allan Jones
Level 8 (35,071 points)
iPad
A:

Yes, our 2003 PowerBook has no connection issues, either wirelessly or using an ethernet cable.

 

The real problem is that the old versions of Safari and FireFox that owners of PowerPC Mac are constrained to use are not recognized as "safe" browses by many current web sites. The cure is TenFourFox, a special version of FireFox re-engineered to run on PowerPC Macs. As it emulates a recent FireFox version, web sites accept it.

 

Downsides:

 

  • No web-based services are "fast" on a PowerPC any more
  • TenFourFox higher than version 17 does not support plug-ins so you cannot view web video.

 

The official (and safe) source for TenFourFox is here:

 

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

Posted on Dec 31, 2015 8:43 AM

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Mastersorbust

Q: Internet accessibility

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Jones,Apple recommended

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Dec 31, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Mastersorbust
    Level 8 (35,071 points)
    iPad
    Dec 31, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Mastersorbust

    Yes, our 2003 PowerBook has no connection issues, either wirelessly or using an ethernet cable.

     

    The real problem is that the old versions of Safari and FireFox that owners of PowerPC Mac are constrained to use are not recognized as "safe" browses by many current web sites. The cure is TenFourFox, a special version of FireFox re-engineered to run on PowerPC Macs. As it emulates a recent FireFox version, web sites accept it.

     

    Downsides:

     

    • No web-based services are "fast" on a PowerPC any more
    • TenFourFox higher than version 17 does not support plug-ins so you cannot view web video.

     

    The official (and safe) source for TenFourFox is here:

     

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

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Apple recommended

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Jan 3, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Mastersorbust
    Level 8 (38,485 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 3, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Mastersorbust

    Even my year 2000 PowerBook (Pismo) can "access the Internet."  I wouldn't exactly call it "efficient." 

     

    But it's still useful for reading my email (Apple's Mail from Tiger still works fine) and "light" web browsing (using the excellent TenFourFox browser). 

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Jan 3, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Mastersorbust
    Level 5 (7,635 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 3, 2016 9:05 AM in response to Mastersorbust

    I have:

    PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), G3/500-FireWire, 512MbRAM, 40Gb (discontinued Jan2001)

     

    that runs:

    • MS Office 2008 Entourage email client
      AND
    • TenFourFox (Firefox) latest available
      AND
    • Activity Monitor (to see when I need to relaunch 10.4fox)

    all at once adequately