G4 Laptop - what to do with it?

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Morgenmuffel

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#160459 7-Jan-2015 16:02

Ok we got given a G4 laptop

1.67ghz processor
1gb ram
osx 10.5.8 (Leopard i believe)

Obviously it won't run the latest software, in fact i can't work out how to install software correctly, little kids games i have downloaded seem to run from the downloads folder which is a bit odd

1) Anyway, I can get an old version of Adobe CS2 premium for $20, but it isn't officially supported under leopard (although some people say it will work), any one here had experience with it?
2) What are some good apps/games etc that will run ok on it, the mac software on it is fine for everyday stuff, and there are browsers available Tenfourfour, Seamonkey and Roccat.
3) I am a Fireworks/Dreamweaver user and have Studio MX (which will run on mac, but probably not this version), so something that is a good free alternative would be good

Thanks

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

gzt

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#1209984 7-Jan-2015 16:13

I have used Ubuntu OS as a test platform on PowerPC G3 iirc and it worked ok. Try a live CD if that interests you to get a later operating system.

Also there is a lot of open source graphics and photography software available for Mac PowerPC anyway so no real need to change/update o/s to ubuntu unless you are concerned about security etc.

Morgenmuffel

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#1210612 8-Jan-2015 15:05

Not fussed on using Ubuntu at this point, was just looking for some image editing, syntax highlighting software, cheers though if i can't fining i might give ubuntu a go

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

wellygary

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#1210628 8-Jan-2015 15:22

Image editing on a 10 year old machine will be like going back to the stone age after being anywhere near any "modern" machine.

Its 32bit PPC so alot of Mac stuff is simply not going to run...

gzt

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#1210641 8-Jan-2015 15:48

Gimp is the open source image editing standard. There is a PPC build for mac.

Mark

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#1210817 8-Jan-2015 21:20

See if MorphOS will go on it, pretend it's an Amiga :-)

BTR

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#1246404 25-Feb-2015 14:00

Go trap shooting?

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nakedmolerat

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#1246433 25-Feb-2015 14:37

Will it blend?

Morgenmuffel

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#1247262 26-Feb-2015 19:28

Not helpful, my wife would kill me if I broke her blender, anyway the laptop runs nicely, I just don't know how to install programs on it

I have found various programs but installation is completely different to windows

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

mattwnz

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#1247278 26-Feb-2015 19:41

Maybe keep it, and it maybe worth something in 20 years? eg for parts

Sideface

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#1247281 26-Feb-2015 19:46

It was given away for a reason ...

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clicknz

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#1247311 26-Feb-2015 20:28

Hi - wrt installing apps onto the Mac - I don't think things are different under Leopard - generally you just need to drag the app icon out of the disk image 'folder' and drop them into your applications folder. That should copy them across to your HDD and they can be run from there, or drag the app icon down to the dock (from the apps folder) and they can be run from there.

Cheers,
Mike

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Lurch

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#1247332 26-Feb-2015 21:03

Get a copy of MorphOS and experience Amiga NG on the cheap :-) If you don't want it I'll take it off your hands and do just that. LOL

xlinknz

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#1247369 26-Feb-2015 21:46

I have a Powerbook G4 it dual boots 10.5.8 [Leopard] and Lubuntu 14.04

Morgenmuffel

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#1310460 23-May-2015 16:34

Update: Not that its remotely interesting but

My little G4 is getting a work out copying my copy protected music cds, I had a small pile of Warner (mainly) Cds that wouldn't copy on either windows machine, decided to try them on the G4 and they copied perfectly, when they wouldn't even load on the Windows PCs.

Also using it for bit of browsing

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Morgenmuffel

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#1310474 23-May-2015 17:15

Ok dumb question How do i make itunes 10.6.3 show recently added albums (note that is the most modern version that will install on this mac)

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON