is anyone still using mac powerbook g4 (powerpc processor)?

Question

Hi, i just bought this powerbook G4 from craigslist. I have never used mac before so I don't want to spend big bucks on something totally new. So i bought this powerbook for a pretty cheap price. After playing a few hours with it, i got frustrated!

Yes, the osx looks awesome...i guess this is the only reason i wanted to try mac. However, I learned that my laptop's processor is the old-school PowerPC G4 (1.1) and i couldn't find any software that support this old processor.

Is this processor totally outdated? this mean i just got ripped off for a old as grandma mac laptop? I need at least a office software like openoffice (again the new one don't support powerpc processor)
Is anyone here still using powerbook G4 that runs with powerpc processor? Please show me is there any new software that i can use on this laptop. Or is it too outdated and all i can do is just surfing the web, music, dvd...that's it?

thank you very much!

Answer 1

It's pretty old, but it is usable. You need to find older software, though. Usually something that says for PowerPC and Intel, or Universal Binary, or something. All the graphic design, office and productivity software has versions that were for PowerPC and most all of them do WAY more than what people actually use/need in the newer versions. Plus you can usually get the older software cheaper or at a thrift store, whatever.

I've got a G4 powerbook and I use Adobe CS, Office and a bunch of other stuff, and it's fine.



EDIT: But the battery life is down to about 1/2 hour now, and a new one costs about $100...

Answer 2

There still some system applications over at http://mac.oldapps.com/ so you go over there and choose from System Applications they are setup by OS and by what your needs are.





There are still uses for an older Power PC some like it as you are able to OS 9 and there many photographers that I know that like the cleaner and faster OS 9 running when they want to use some the older applications that can't run and they are not making updates for them.



I have lots of older applications for a Power PC that are not licensed to any computer as I collect older apps for clients and friends. Let me know what your needs are by email if you like.



I hope this helps you get started.

Answer 3

I don't know much about macs and exactly which models started using intel processors but my short answer would be no. Long answer is that it depends on the chip/motherboard type. Technical research required here.

Answer 4

Free: For screensavers, www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/download.html (scroll down to the bottom and choose "Mac OS X binaries"). For office applications (word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, database) use NeoOffice (at http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/maindownload.php); it's mush smaller than OpenOffice, and is more efficient. If you only need a free word processor, try AbiWord (http://www.abisource.com/download/ -- click "Mac OSX binaries") or FocusWriter (http://gottcode.org/focuswriter/). For image editing, use Seashore. For image conversion, use Dragoman (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/dragoman.html). For music, use iTunes (nothing beats it). For torrent downloads, use Vuze (formerly Azureus). For video editing, use Simple Video Splicer. For DVD extraction, use HandBrake at handbrake.fr. For anti-virus, use MacScan at macscan.securemac.com/

(in fact, 85 percent of Mac users have no anti-virus software, since Macs almost never get any virus). For Web page editing, use KompOzer. For unzipping, use Zipeg at www.zipeg.com. For browsing, use Safari or Firefox. For downloading embedded audio or video, use Video DownloadHelper extension in Firefox. For extensive system enhancements such as maintenance on a schedule or changing the Finder and screenshot preferences, use OnyX (http://www.titanium.free.fr/index_us.html).



Cheap but great: iLife comes free with new Macs. Even if you have an older Mac, iLife offers a lot of bang for your buck, or rather, for your 80 bucks. iWork is quite good for office applications (word processing, presentation, spreadsheet). Files can be exported as Microsoft compatibles (.doc, .ppt).



Browse for others here:

www.apple.com/downloads/

www.macupdate.com/

mac-free.com/

www.pure-mac.com/ (scroll to bottom and observe the "Denotes" icons)

www.freemacware.com/

downloads.zdnet.com/ (scroll down to the Mac section)



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Answer 5

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