I understand! It would just be a waste if you did not use them and just shoved them in a closet or something.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What do you use your iBook/s for?
- Thread starter PowerMac G4 MDD
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I understand! It would just be a waste if you did not use them and just shoved them in a closet or something.
14" iBooks are kind of odd, but still great computers. The 12" iBooks are awesome though; if you can easily get your hands on one, by all means do so. The advantages, though, to a 14" model are the larger screens and generally more-solid build quality. (and, of course, they are the higher-end ones).
My second ever PPC Mac was an iBook G4 1.2GHZ I acquired off Ebay for $40 in November of 2012. It just needed a hard drive replacement, and it was ready to go!
I upgraded the RAM to 768MB, and pretty much left it that way. It ran pretty well on Leopard, but I wiped the hard drive nearly every other week because I like things tidy, plus I'm weird!
I loved that thing, and it was my primary laptop for a long time. About a month later though, I noticed that it would no longer take any battery power, but it would charge the battery. I finding that I would have to replace the logic board, I ordered a new one. It was getting costly to keep this machine, so I later sold it for $60.
This started a phase of mine where I bought and sold many iBooks. Later on, I had to stop because I was starting to save up for a more modern computer, which I later purchased and it was my Black Mid-2007 MacBook (SMEXY), my first Intel Mac EVER.
I wish I had a G4 laptop, it would make an excellent addition to my 2-month old MacBook Air!
I remember iBook G4s when they were still new. I was in elementary school and thought it was so cool that the big 6th graders got to use laptops (mobile lab). They were 2005 1.33Ghz(?) 12-inch iBook G4s. By the time I was in 6th grade, they were 5 year-old laptops, but we DID use them for certain things. They got rid of them the summer I graduated, as well as ALL their PowerPC Macs. (iMac G3s, eMacs, and I think some iMac G5s). My first Mac was the 2004 iMac G5, which I got brand new back in the day. It feels good to have used PowerPC before Apple even switched to Intel. I didn't switch off from PowerPC until 2012 either, but I still use them on the side and, at the same time, mainly.
Mine isn't an iBook, its a PowerBook. But I wanted to join in anyway. 
For years I've used my iMac G4 and whatever craptop I've been able to get hold of for my writing. I've used four or five ThinkPads, several Acer laptops, a few Dell models, an iPad, a MacBook Air and many others all with varying software and hardware capabilities. All of them have also seen the wrath of me when I'm writing. I'm heavyhanded and quite often, such as the Dell models and the MBA, they disintegrate and fall to pieces in a matter of months. An issue for laptops since the keyboards are self contained, but not for my G4 which I use a separate IBM keyboard for.
Anyway, last month my last Acer finally died upon me after about six months or so (which is good for me). I spotted a PowerBook G4 going cheap on eBay and decided that I'd give it a spin since I'd never owned any of Apple's PowerPC portables and I already had all of the software it needed on disc for my G4.
So yeah, one month down the line it is still going strong. We'll see how we are after I've beaten a few more chapters into it.
For years I've used my iMac G4 and whatever craptop I've been able to get hold of for my writing. I've used four or five ThinkPads, several Acer laptops, a few Dell models, an iPad, a MacBook Air and many others all with varying software and hardware capabilities. All of them have also seen the wrath of me when I'm writing. I'm heavyhanded and quite often, such as the Dell models and the MBA, they disintegrate and fall to pieces in a matter of months. An issue for laptops since the keyboards are self contained, but not for my G4 which I use a separate IBM keyboard for.
Anyway, last month my last Acer finally died upon me after about six months or so (which is good for me). I spotted a PowerBook G4 going cheap on eBay and decided that I'd give it a spin since I'd never owned any of Apple's PowerPC portables and I already had all of the software it needed on disc for my G4.
So yeah, one month down the line it is still going strong. We'll see how we are after I've beaten a few more chapters into it.
Attachments
Altemose, that sounds good. I read that a Mac running 10.4.11 is compatible with remote disc. If that's accurate it would be worth it for me to install Tiger on the iBook.
Thanks again for the post.
----------
I was a MUG member when Tiger was introduced. Members at that time recommended and archive and install to upgrade from Panther to Tiger.
I really don't remember the procedure for that. Time to read MM for Tiger and Panther again.
Thank you for your post.
Get ready for a lengthy backstory folks:
My first computer that I actually owned/paid for was a Toshiba Netbook, which I got using birthday money when I was 13. It was the best netbook you could buy, with lots of extra features that actually made it worth buying for a netbook. I used that machine for about a year, and I maxed it to 2GB of RAM and installed Windows 7 Home Premium (it came with Windows 7 Starter *shivers*). Then I received my step-brother's budget Lenovo, and that was one of my favorite Windows computers EVER. It had a 2.13 GHZ New-Pentium, 4GB of RAM, 320GB HD, and 15.6 inch screen. It was only about $300 new, so it was poorly built and had awful battery life, but thanks to the better processor, I could actually do things now! At one point it was even faster than my parent's Dell media laptop.
However once I touched my iBook for the first time, I never looked at a Windows computer the same. It's amazing how a 10 year old computer could draw me away from brand new ones, and if that doesn't show you how great Apple and PPC Computers are in general, then I don't know what will.
I totally understand... Many Windows people who hate on Apple probably don't realize that the build quality of an 11 year-old iBook G4 is better than that of a brand new budget laptop. I can't describe how pleasant it is to use an iBook or PowerBook; most cannot, save for the fact that the keyboards are obviously some of the best in any laptop.
I remember my first Mac, which was the original iMac G5 back in 2004... I was butt-hurt because my brother (of course) claimed the first one that arrived from shipping as being his. (and mine came like a week or so later). Though the iMac G5 was a lemon, it was an awesome experience.
Last edited:
If I didn't have two macbooks to take care, I'd buy an iBook or a Powerbook. Just for the sake of upgrading them to the maximum and seeing blazing fast performance on Tiger. Installing IDE SSDs would be fun too.
Oops! I thought the OP meant the iBook app. I was going to say "uh, books."
My bad.
iBooks on an iBook. I don't see why not
Mine isn't an iBook, its a PowerBook. But I wanted to join in anyway.
For years I've used my iMac G4 and whatever craptop I've been able to get hold of for my writing. I've used four or five ThinkPads, several Acer laptops, a few Dell models, an iPad, a MacBook Air and many others all with varying software and hardware capabilities. All of them have also seen the wrath of me when I'm writing. I'm heavyhanded and quite often, such as the Dell models and the MBA, they disintegrate and fall to pieces in a matter of months. An issue for laptops since the keyboards are self contained, but not for my G4 which I use a separate IBM keyboard for.
Anyway, last month my last Acer finally died upon me after about six months or so (which is good for me). I spotted a PowerBook G4 going cheap on eBay and decided that I'd give it a spin since I'd never owned any of Apple's PowerPC portables and I already had all of the software it needed on disc for my G4.
So yeah, one month down the line it is still going strong. We'll see how we are after I've beaten a few more chapters into it.
Hmm... well, I probably should update this as being for PowerBooks as well. (although I would need to add in my PowerBook stories too!). I understand heavy-handedness, but a 6-month lifespan for a laptop? Do you travel a lot with them?
PowerBooks are great, and you have scored a nice 17" model. It's too bad that you go through laptops so quickly, as it would be nice to type right on the PB instead of using an external keyboard; these things have awesome keyboards.
Hope you enjoy using yours (I have a 15" 1.5Ghz model with 2GB of RAM and I love it).
----------
I wouldn't say they would be blazing fast, but later models would hold up pretty well. I have a 1.5Ghz PowerBook G4 with 2GB of RAM, and it does fairly well on Tiger. (have not tried an SSD yet, but that would be a major speed boost). I installed a Tiger partition on my DP 2.0Ghz PowerMac G5 w/2GB of RAM, for the heck of it, and THAT was blazing fast. Although I won't get into that, as this is for iBooks.
----------
No problem; and to do an archive installation, it's simply an option during the pre-installation process. Before you are ready to confirm the installation, there should be an 'Options' button, or the like, which brings up choices for installation. Click 'Archive and install' so that your files can be saved in a folder. Or, if you are upgrading from Panther, it's best to choose the 'Upgrade' option. It (obviously) just leaves all your files in place and simply upgrades the OS.
I occasionally decide to spend a few days on G4 only for whatever reason, so my 2004 14 inch iBook G4 becomes my laptop
I also use them for vintage gaming and a few other things.
I have a 12 Inch 2005 model, a 14 Inch late 2004 model, a broken early 2004 12 inch and a 12 inch late 2004 model.
I also have a Clamshell iBook G3 + a 14 Inch iBook G3 (White) which I rarely use because it smells bad.
I also use them for vintage gaming and a few other things.
I have a 12 Inch 2005 model, a 14 Inch late 2004 model, a broken early 2004 12 inch and a 12 inch late 2004 model.
I also have a Clamshell iBook G3 + a 14 Inch iBook G3 (White) which I rarely use because it smells bad.
I wrote my script for my preschool lesson last Sunday in Word and edited a craft sheet in Photoshop. Worked perfectly and the keyboard on this guy is great!
I also went and modified the Apple logo color, like I did on my Black MacBook earlier this year. Turned out great, and sooo much easier than the MacBooks.
I also went and modified the Apple logo color, like I did on my Black MacBook earlier this year. Turned out great, and sooo much easier than the MacBooks.
I occasionally decide to spend a few days on G4 only for whatever reason, so my 2004 14 inch iBook G4 becomes my laptop
I also use them for vintage gaming and a few other things.
I have a 12 Inch 2005 model, a 14 Inch late 2004 model, a broken early 2004 12 inch and a 12 inch late 2004 model.
I also have a Clamshell iBook G3 + a 14 Inch iBook G3 (White) which I rarely use because it smells bad.
Mine has become my laptop for light use/taking to school. It's nice to pull these out sometimes and just use them.
----------
Nice! I actually did the same on my 1.07Ghz 2003 12" model, and with the same red color. I noticed, though, that some of the points on the frame, where the screws go in, became bulged out after I had re-assembled it. Maybe I screwed it back together too tight.
Yeah, the keyboards in these are the greatest of any laptop, besides the PowerBooks. It's sad how bad the new Apple laptop keyboards are. I took vigorous notes on my 800Mhz G4 for like 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, and for 6 weeks. (and a job well-done with this awesome keyboard).