iMac G4 modern use case ...

[maximit]

I gave up on trying to run a modern web browser on the G4 iMac 15" Nvidia. I tried all the various Linux distros including YDL. I settled on running Sorbet Leopard + Apple Remote Desktop and connecting to another Mac in the house to use the browser and other basic apps. I think this is the best way to browse on these Nvidia PPC machines if you have another more modern Mac in the house.

 

[pipetogrep]

That certainly is a way and one I’ve done before in a similar fashion. Then I started redefining what “modern” means and realized that context matters.

For example, I wanted my iBook G4 to be a modern python development. I was able to do that with the help of NetBSD. Will it ever browse the modern web under its own steam? No, but it can browse the pages I need it to with Netsurf and Firefox 52.

In that respect, it does what I need it to do with mostly modern software. It really depends on what you want vs the needs the machine can fulfill.

 

[XboxEvolved]

I gave up on trying to run a modern web browser on the G4 iMac 15" Nvidia. I tried all the various Linux distros including YDL. I settled on running Sorbet Leopard + Apple Remote Desktop and connecting to another Mac in the house to use the browser and other basic apps. I think this is the best way to browse on these Nvidia PPC machines if you have another more modern Mac in the house.

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It's a work of art, so just having it sit there would be enough for me.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

It's a work of art, so just having it sit there would be enough for me.

Me too. In the same way I use PowerPC and EI minis as book shelf ends I have three imacg4s sitting around just to look at really. I haven't turned them on in probably 8 months ... a year maybe? What can I say, Macintosh design language is interesting to look at.

With that being said, I think OPs use of the imac g4 as a terminal of sorts, remoting into a modern Mac and using that Mac to interface the modern web is cool and an elegant solution to keep old Macs useful.

 

[maximit]

Thank you, it was the only feasible way to use it for me after trying all others.

Also I agree its a great design, but its not quite up to "work on art" for me. Maybe its because ive owned both G4 and G3 iMacs when they were new so I dont see them that way. This particular iMac G4 has a fun story.... it was owned by my first GF, then she sold it to someone locally in Toronto. Eventually after almost 15 years a friend of mine brought an iMac to me asking "can you make this work for my kids web browsing?". I told him it was a bit too old unfortunately, he just left it. It laid around for a few years as I could not bring myself to trash it. Eventually i took a look at it and as I was manually erasing all the files I recognized it as my ex GFs computer! Looks like it went through a few owners, winding up with my friend as payment for a debt from an ex business partner, and now with me. Toronto is a big city so this was a fun coincidence. Anyways i kept the little Mac in the basement after maxing out the RAM, in case i need a bigger screen than my phones.