Old Mac, is it worth bothering with?

Kevinmach · #1 08-31-2009, 05:39 PM

I will be brief.

I am a PC guy who has had an interest in Macs, but also do IT work for a living and I am too tied into a PCs and software that I can't use on Mac (without all the dual booting stuff) to justify such a purchase.

Someone gave me an G4, a tower, that's probably 5 or 6 years old running some version of OS 9.x I want to say.

Is it possible that I could upgrade this thing to OS X and get something like garage band going on it, or am I wasting my time.

In the PC world, I know anything past 4 years is more or less only good for being a boat anchor. But I hear Mac users going on and on about how much longer their Macs last them without issues and how they can run current software much further into the future than PCs can.

I wish I could tell you what the hardware specs were, if I only knew where to find them (other than OS 9 and 512 MB of RAM).

Is thing pretty much useless?

Thanks for any info.

GradyBass · #2 08-31-2009, 05:42 PM

Hmmm... G4 = PowerPC, not Intel. You can get it up to OS X 10.5, Leopard, but that's as far as you can go as far as the OS goes. I'm a recent convert from a lifetime of PC and now have a unibody Macbook Pro, running Logic Studio 9. I am pretty much sold on Macs from now on. I think you'll be able to run some garage band-age on an old G4 tower, in fact my old band still runs ProTools on there. You're not gonna be able to run the latest greatest stuff, but for some basic multitracking and what have you, you can totally use it.

bk2mono · #3 08-31-2009, 05:59 PM

I have an old G4 tower... dual 1.25 ghz with plenty of ram. It was my old ProTools HD box. I tried to upgrade the OS to 10.5.6 over and over with constant failures and it never took even though in theory it is supposed to work. The best I could get it up to is 10.4.11.

Kevinmach · #4 08-31-2009, 06:34 PM

Can you guys tell me where in the OS I can find the speed of the processor so I know what I am getting into here? Pretty sure the RAM is 512MB and can probably be upgraded, but the guy who gave it to me is computer illiterate and can't help me.

I am sure it's not the best way to experience a Mac, and probably not worth the hassle since I have 2 pc laptops and desktop now that are capable or running pretty much any software. I just thought it would be neat to play around with without investing a bunch of money as I don't really need it.

seamonkey · #5 08-31-2009, 06:37 PM

Instead of investing any more in the old Mac technology get a new one - cheap
http://www.psystar.com/

I wouldn't, but maybe somebody else would

Kevinmach · #6 08-31-2009, 06:42 PM

Thanks, that is pretty cheap, I will give that some thought. I was, of course, hoping to do with this with almost no money, maybe $100. Again, not so much that I can't afford it, I can- just figured I would try to make the most of it, but I might go the route you suggested or drop the idea altogether if it looks like too much of a headache.

I know a lot of you Mac guys feel the expense is justified, but truthfully, I can build a really bad ass PC for what they are charging for even the low end Macs (the cheapest is 599 in that link, a pretty damn nice gaming PC I could probably do for $600-700 easy). I think that's where it always gets me and I never take the plunge-since I don't do video editing or graphic arts and the kind of stuff people who love Macs use them for- I wonder am I really gonna be able to take advantage of it to justify the added expense.

beelzelboss · #7 08-31-2009, 06:42 PM

to find the info, go into the top left apple. Then click about this mac. Then more info. Then dig around in there. (thats how to do it on my computer so it should work.)

deaf pea · #8 08-31-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyBass

Hmmm...G4 = PowerPC, not Intel. You can get it up to OS X 10.5, Leopard...

AFAIK, that's the current technology (OS X 10.5, Leopard) . . . I'm still using Tiger OSX 10.4 . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

to find the info, go into the top left apple. Then click about this mac. Then more info. Then dig around in there. (thats how to do it on my computer so it should work.)

That's right . . .

brotherdoc · #9 08-31-2009, 07:46 PM

The system profiler will give you more of the information you're looking for. I say load it up with Ram (do your research) and run it. I'm running 10.4 on G4 eMac's. Don't really care for 10.5, but I hear Snow Leopard is worth the upgrade.

Mac's aren't all about the style or hardware, it's about the OS... IMO.

cybersnyder · #10 08-31-2009, 08:02 PM

Throwing money into an old PC (or mac) is usually worthless. OS X came out in 2002, so you may have an even older computer than you realize since this is running OS 9. I have an older G4-based iBook with 786MB of RAM. It still does ok for email, web, and word processing. But it's showing its age when you view a webpage that has a lot of Flash/Shockwave.

lm183902 · #11 08-31-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Instead of investing any more in the old Mac technology get a new one - cheap
http://www.psystar.com/

I wouldn't, but maybe somebody else would

Yeah, I wouldn't either:

http://www.edibleapple.com/an-in-dep...royed-evidenc/

jonathanhughes · #12 08-31-2009, 08:13 PM

I had a G4 that I upgraded to an 800 mhz processor. I have since upgraded computers, but I recorded full good-sounding records on that computer. I gave it to my parents, and it's now running OS X 10.5, and still works great (of course, they're just using it for internet stuff and word processing).

So, if it's reasonable fast (800mhz or more), and has 2 gigs or more of ram in it (more is better, of course), you can install the second latest operating system (10.6 will only run on intel) and run GarageBand or just about any other software out there.

REAPER52 · #13 08-31-2009, 08:22 PM

I am running a 6 year old g-4 dual 2.5 ppc .and it is getting tired and slow. if i were you i wouldnt put any money into that machine. I hear that when Snow leopard come out it will be an all intel machine so all the older software is cooked. if you like mac's and i believe they are great i would wait and look into a cheap imac - i guess cheap is kind of funny when your talking about Apple ..they aint cheap... but my 6 year old one has out lasted my sons pc's at least 2 to 1

depalm · #14 08-31-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

I will be brief.

I am a PC guy who has had an interest in Macs, but also do IT work for a living and I am too tied into a PCs and software that I can't use on Mac (without all the dual booting stuff) to justify such a purchase.

Someone gave me an G4, a tower, that's probably 5 or 6 years old running some version of OS 9.x I want to say.

Is it possible that I could upgrade this thing to OS X and get something like garage band going on it, or am I wasting my time.

In the PC world, I know anything past 4 years is more or less only good for being a boat anchor. But I hear Mac users going on and on about how much longer their Macs last them without issues and how they can run current software much further into the future than PCs can.

I wish I could tell you what the hardware specs were, if I only knew where to find them (other than OS 9 and 512 MB of RAM).

Is thing pretty much useless?

Thanks for any info.

As long as you have enough RAM (1GB minimum to Leopard 2Gbs recommended) you can have some fun with old G4s.

They're very reliable machines (I bough one in 2003 and it's still perfectly working as a backup station).

Don't expect nothing really fast and it will not work very good with lots of applications at the same time.

This kind of machine works with old ATA 100 hard drives, (hard to find nowadays) so check if the system HD is working fine or you'll have to replace it.

Post the specs or go to <www.everymac.com>

Kevmove · #15 09-01-2009, 11:22 AM

While working with the latest, greatest hardware and software is almost always preferable (ask Vista users how they feel about that statement), there is plenty to do with old technology, if you plan it out correctly. I use the G3 600 mhz, with 512 meg ram to run:

Rebirth 338.
Awesome Roland 808/909/303 emulator. This program was designed to run on a much slower machine, so it screams on the G3

Band in a Box 12
This auto accompaniment program does not get the credit it deserves. It because its MIDI based, CPU power and ram are not an issue. While I prefer the Windows version, the practice features and song styles make a great tool.

Garageband 1
In the age of digital audio, the G3 doesn't stand much of a chance. However, the first version of Garageband works okay, as long as you don't run any effects.

Now if I can get a G3 to run these programs, surely you can get the G4 to run them, especially if you use the G4 as a "softsynth" and use another computer to act as your DAW.

The option of running multiple systems, with each one assigned a specific task is not to be underestimated. But hey its your coin. If you are not computer savvy or don't have the time, move on. But if you like a project that can produce some amazing results, get the aforementioned software and start making that G4 productive again!

Pickebass · #16 09-01-2009, 03:51 PM

I have a dual processor G4 with 2 GB of ram that I can still run protools, logic, and a few other programs. Granted it's not as fast as a new one, but it doesn't crash and it will get things done fast. I never upgraded to 10.5 or have no plans in the near future to get 10.6. Upgrading to 10.6 will be expensive in because of all of the other software I have to get to be compatible and still not sure what works yet. I usually wait a year before upgrading software. Never got around to 10.5 because everything is working really well with 10.4

squashedOpossum · #17 09-01-2009, 04:16 PM

If it ONLY has OS 9 on it, at best it's this machine: http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl...ac_g4_733.html, which puts it closer to 9 years old.

Upgrading is an iffy decision. There are so many parts that could be on their last legs. You work in IT, so you know what I'm talking about. When the power supply goes, the machine is done. The PSU's are so expensive for these things, it's not worth fixing at that point. I'd say IF you could test the power supply, and IF you had access to free RAM and at least 10.3, it'd be worth the time. But I don't think I'd put any money into it.

I wish you knew how difficult that last statement was for me to make. I love older Macs, and I'd love to have this machine. But I wouldn't want it as my only Mac, and I definitely wouldn't put any money into it unless I was the original owner and had an emotional attachment to it.

Kevinmach · #18 09-01-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

If it ONLY has OS 9 on it, at best it's this machine: http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl...ac_g4_733.html, which puts it closer to 9 years old.

Upgrading is an iffy decision. There are so many parts that could be on their last legs. You work in IT, so you know what I'm talking about. When the power supply goes, the machine is done. The PSU's are so expensive for these things, it's not worth fixing at that point. I'd say IF you could test the power supply, and IF you had access to free RAM and at least 10.3, it'd be worth the time. But I don't think I'd put any money into it.

I wish you knew how difficult that last statement was for me to make. I love older Macs, and I'd love to have this machine. But I wouldn't want it as my only Mac, and I definitely wouldn't put any money into it unless I was the original owner and had an emotional attachment to it.

Hey Opposum, thanks for that post (and thanks to everyone else as well).

Unfortunately, it looks like it *is* that machine. I think it's older than the original owner led me to believe, though he is just bad with numbers all the time and probably forgot (he was a business partner for a while). He gave it to me, no money, no trades, no string attached--was just clearing out some stuff out of his house.

I guess the only thing I really thought looked sweet that I can't get on PC is Logic, and I am not even that into record as of yet (I am sure there is more stuff that I would think is cool that is only available on Mac ). It was ironic that he gave it to me, because I was looking at them recently, but decided against it when it was literally 3 time as much for Apples cheapest laptop as I was paying for the laptop I ended up getting (which was a netbook, so admittedly thats not really a fair comparrison, but will suffice for business use)