Hi I've still got my old G4 1.4GHz Mac mini, and rather than just dump it on ebay, I'm looking for a use for it. I have a time capsule for back up. Anybody got any ideas of what to use it for? I use a Mac Pro for daily use.
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Uses for old PPC Mac mini?
- Thread starter Akula971
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I just upgraded my 5.5 year old Mac mini 1.42Ghz G4 to a new 2010 mini and am wondering what to use it for.
I normally pass down my previous machines to my daughter, but ended up finding a good deal on an iMac Core2Duo for her, so am left with my mini and thoughts about it's future use. It's still not a bad machine, but given how much faster the new mini is even for web browsing and email, it's hard coming up with options.
I thought about taking it to my work just to have a Mac there, but I take my MacBook Pro 2.66ghz with me there everyday.
eBay prices have been in the $200 range, at least the last time I checked (a week or so ago)
Honestly, if you've got a Pro, I can't think of a good use for it. Can't turn it into a file server, it would probably struggle with HD video if you tried to make a HTPC out of it, and you have all the power you need with your pro.
There is nothing wrong with EBay. Get what you can now or wait to get nothing.
You can also store it away and come back to MR in about 20 years and ask if you could sell it as a rare collectible for a million dollars. Then get upset that nobody wants to buy it.
You can also store it away and come back to MR in about 20 years and ask if you could sell it as a rare collectible for a million dollars. Then get upset that nobody wants to buy it.
Forgot about the HTPC option. I may look into that. Could be nice, although the new minis have that HDMI port, which would make more an easier connection (assuming the HDMI port also does audio, too)
I use the G4 Mini I have as an always-on, low power login server. It runs Debian linux and just chugs along headless as an SSH server (though I leave a VNC session up for the times that I want to leave something graphical running), giving me a machine to log into from the road that doesn't eat a lot of power! I can use wake-on-lan for any other machines at home from the mini (yes, I suppose I could use my NAS or router for a similar purpose, but having a dedicated machine is easier and nicer - and the mini eats very little power)
Other ideas:
*if you only watch DVD-quality and below video it would do decently as an HTPC (I did this for a while, it replaced an xbox with XBMC, and in turn got replaced by an intel mini I acquired broken and fixed, which can do HD). I reccomend an AirClick USB or something similar if you go this route.
*add a larger disk or externals and it would be a pretty decent NAS device (albeit limited, with 10/100 networking)
*donate it to a local school or charity?
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now is the very best time to sell on ebay ,after christmas the prices will drop down again , i bought a g4 mini just after last christmas and sold it now for more then double the price i payed for it ..ok it was in pristine condition with all software disc's you could wish for
You could turn it into a media center like the Apple TV. Plug it into your TV and turn your TV into a 2nd computer. Play music and videos on there. Thats what i did with my old G4 iMac. Its great when friends come round. Just leave itunes on the tv and let people choose what they want. Plus i dont like my PC user friends playing on my Mac Pro saying "where are all the games?".