Repurposing Powerbook G4

U

USF-Nealio

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
373
I recently found my GF's old 17" Powerbook G4. After dusting it off, and firing it up, I feel it might still be worth more to me than the $20 I'm bound to get for it on Craigslist/eBay. Even though it's rather poorly powered by today's standards it still has such a nice display and backlight keyboard after 8 years.

What can do I do with this thing besides use as a LIGHT web browser? The battery life is already terrible, so I'm not too worried about installing a Linux Distro that doesn't do much power saving, but there aren't too many that still support PPC. Is there anyway I can use this as a Citrix/RDP/VNC terminal to control my home server farm?
 
Try TenFourFox as the browser

You'll find some idiot to pay you $100-$200 for it. I wouldn't bother with trying to make it usable, they're very slow and the software support is lacking. I'd only keep it around if I needed to access some kind of hardware/software that only works on PowerPC Mac.
 
I'd get one if the price was right, and it was in good shape for some retro Mac gaming.
 
Yes, Debian and Yellow Dog Linux will both run great on the PPC architecture if you are trying to get away from OS X.

Also, $100-200 for it?
Really depends on the model.
G4 processors range from sub 400MHz and upwards to 2GHz.

But, if you can find someone who can use that G4 Powerbook, then go for it.

I wouldn't bother with trying to make it usable, they're very slow and the software support is lacking.
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Slow maybe, but the PPC architecture is far more reliable and stable than the x86 architecture.
 
^ Good call on the 17" models.
I was speaking of G4's in general, just fyi.
 
I have one of these too. New battery and RAM upgraded. Runs perfect, just a few dents in the case and the palm rests are worn.

It's not really useable by me, but at the same time it's far from scrappable.

The whole OS thing is the biggest problem with these G3's. Apple kinda screwed people on this and I'm sure as hell not paying $200 plus for a copy of 10.5.6 from eBay.
 
TechLarry said:
I have one of these too. New battery and RAM upgraded. Runs perfect, just a few dents in the case and the palm rests are worn.

It's not really useable by me, but at the same time it's far from scrappable.

The whole OS thing is the biggest problem with these G3's. Apple kinda screwed people on this and I'm sure as hell not paying $200 plus for a copy of 10.5.6 from eBay.
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Apple still sell Leopard for $130. Call AppleCare if you're interested. Or try to score a copy used on craigslist or ??? & profit.
 
450 said:
Apple still sell Leopard for $130. Call AppleCare if you're interested. Or try to score a copy used on craigslist or ??? & profit.
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Yeah, just buy it off of someone who upgraded to Snow Leopard. I got a Leopard Family Pack (5 licenses) for $10 on Craigslist last year.
 
450 said:
Apple still sell Leopard for $130. Call AppleCare if you're interested. Or try to score a copy used on craigslist or ??? & profit.
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First, I wouldn't put $130 into it.

Second, used copies are selling for twice that price go figure.

Third, most of what I've seen on Craig s List the guys will not sell the copy. They offer to install it on your machine for $50. Yeah, that's pretty blatant stuff but apparently the money is so good they don't care.

And the only thing that will work is a pure, full install version Apple sold at retail. iMac discs, PB disc, etc.. won't work because they stripped the PPC core out of them.
 
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