What to do with PPC Macs?

[IanT720]

Hey guys we have several PPC Macs, basically replaced by our 8 core Pro, and IPads. Any ideas on what to do with them? Heck even art ideas! Get creative! These are the ones in question...

933mhz Powermac G4 Quicksliver (Leopard)
1.6ghz Powermac G5 (leopard)
1.8ghz IMac G5 White (Tiger)
700mhz eMac (Mint Linux)

I don't exactly want to sell since they're not worth much, rather do something cool. Or mess with Linux more.

 

[eyoungren]

Same thing they were doing before.

My Quicksilver…1.8Ghz Dual, 3.6TB SATA drives, 1.5GB ram, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2, six displays. I use it for design. Adobe CS4, QuarkXPress 8.5.1, Acrobat 9.4.5 with Suitcase Fusion 3 and Office 2008.

 

[IanT720]

That is nuts! I'm still impressed how quick my 933mhz G4 is even on leopard. But sadly it doesn't compare to the 8 core pro aha. It was my first Mac. Bought it off Craigslist years ago for 300 bucks. The Quicksliver that is.

 

[redheeler]

Hey guys we have several PPC Macs, basically replaced by our 8 core Pro, and IPads. Any ideas on what to do with them? Heck even art ideas! Get creative! These are the ones in question...

933mhz Powermac G4 Quicksliver (Leopard)
1.6ghz Powermac G5 (leopard)
1.8ghz IMac G5 White (Tiger)
700mhz eMac (Mint Linux)

I don't exactly want to sell since they're not worth much, rather do something cool. Or mess with Linux more.

Secondary Mac, music player, file server are all great uses. You can even install Mac OS 9 on the Quicksilver and try some older games from the Macintosh Garden.

Same thing they were doing before.

My Quicksilver…1.8Ghz Dual, 3.6TB SATA drives, 1.5GB ram, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2, six displays. I use it for design. Adobe CS4, QuarkXPress 8.5.1, Acrobat 9.4.5 with Suitcase Fusion 3 and Office 2008.

That's quite a setup you have there. Must be the most loved G4 Mac of all time

 

[eyoungren]

No, that's true. However, my MP at work isn't noticeably faster than my QS (now that I have a dual CPU), except perhaps in web browsing.

I do have three more screens than the MP at work though.

I have always liked the Quicksilvers. One of the best designs of the G4 I think. I got mine from a member here for $50 and 3 iBook G3s (I dislike iBooks).

In any case. Servers, Applescript servers, print servers, music production, video production, burning, etc. Still very capable Macs. If it weren't for the G4/450 at work my MacPro could not print to our Appletalk printers.
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That's quite a setup you have there. Must be the most loved G4 Mac of all time

Ohhh, it's about the same as a sports car driver has with his tempermental Italian sports car. When it runs it's just flat out awesome. But when it's in the shop…oh boy!

 

[bobesch]

Hey guys we have several PPC Macs, basically replaced by our 8 core Pro, and IPads. Any ideas on what to do with them? Heck even art ideas! Get creative! These are the ones in question...
933mhz Powermac G4 Quicksliver (Leopard)
1.6ghz Powermac G5 (leopard)
1.8ghz IMac G5 White (Tiger)
700mhz eMac (Mint Linux)
I don't exactly want to sell since they're not worth much, rather do something cool. Or mess with Linux more.

If not all machines at least I would keep the iMac (on Leopard): space savy, music machine with access to the Pro's iTunes library, good sound, video streaming, screen sharing & log into the Pro in the background with a separate user-account to let the Pro do the heavy work with actual software, fax-machine, print-server, file-server, backup-solution with attached USB-drive, Office and all the stuff, the PPCs could have done before.
Basicly the PowerMacs and the eMacs can do the same, but they need more space and have a higher power consumption. That's why my iBook(s) and old iMacs are (still) in heavy use in combination with intel Macs and a Windows-Server environment (actually "still in use" is the wrong expression since I 'discovered' the beauty and function of the old PPC machines just two or three years ago...)

 

[flyrod]

Set one up with a web cam? That could be kinda fun to check on the weather out the window at work from home or something.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

I would use my G5 for a Mac server but I need one program to run and it requires Windows sadly. Had a ProLiant DL360 G5 and after it blew both power supplies within a month of owning it, it got replaced by a MP1,1.

I'd totally be using the G5 if it could emulate WinXP fast enough for this one program

 

[MysticCow]

933mhz Powermac G4 Quicksliver (Leopard)
1.6ghz Powermac G5 (leopard)
1.8ghz IMac G5 White (Tiger)
700mhz eMac (Mint Linux)

The G5 is, if I'm looking at Mactracker correctly, the 7,2 model that will run MorphOS. The G4 I think will run it also, but the GeForce4's are very iffy for support under Morph. If it were me and I were looking for a new OS, I'd skip Linux entirely and look at Morph. Linux for PowerPC tends to be awful experiences for me, but other users' mileages will vary.

In all honesty, do whatever you'd like with them! Use one for a jukebox. Use one for an office workstation (only dedicated to email and documents). Use one as a DVD player--hook it up to a projector and good speakers and you have a literal theater night whenever you please. Use one for Linux, one for Morph, one for OS 9, and one for OS X. Have some fun with them.

 

[0248294]

I have started collecting the PPC Macs. I just got my iMac G4 in today, the 15" model with a 1GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM, and I specifically bought it as a music player. It can easily stream FLAC over the network without an issue, and it can be hooked up to my HiFi set. And it's absolutely gorgeous. I'll also be using it, doing my livestream shows with a bunch of my online friends, again to play music. The fact that the screen is on an arm, like my microphone, just fits so well in the "studio" set up of my desk. It's a timeless design, and when I tell people that it was made in '03 (and that the design is from '02), they are all amazed by that. I also own a semi-functional iMac G3 Bondi (the screen has a bit of a fitzy image, every now and then the image kind of jumps, I fear it's a dying flyback transformer), which is meant for retro gaming. You can play Mac games from that era, but also emulators for old game consoles. Heck, with Connectix Virtual Game Station, you can PlayStation games! When I move into a place of my own (which won't happen any time soon, I'm only 17 as of right now, with no plans to move out yet), I want to get a nice sturdy round table, that I'll load up wit iMac G3s hooked up in a LAN connection, allowing me to host retro LAN parties or just have people play retro games on them. Fun stuff, although I fear all G3s have died by then. I also have a dead iMac Indigo, which I'll attempt a recap on. Kind of nooby with soldering, but I've ordered some stuff to help me out (beter soldering station, ESR meter, etc.). If I can fix that iMac, I can fix any iMac After all, modern iMacs don't require you to decharge and pull out heavy CRT tubes.
Went on a bit of a ramble there, but let me give you a list of things I think you can do with them to round up this post!

• Music Jukebox
• Internet Radio
• DVD/SD Video player
• Office machine (older but still very functional versions of Microsoft Office can be had for PPC Macs)
• Retro game box
• TV (if you can find an older TV tuner that works with PPC Macs, I kind of want to do this with the G4 as well, so I can tilt the screen towards the bed and watch SD TV on it)
• Music creation (Older music creation software and DAW software still works)
• Terminal (Control other devices via SSH and such, any device with an internet connection can do that)

 

[bobesch]

• TV (if you can find an older TV tuner that works with PPC Macs, I kind of want to do this with the G4 as well, so I can tilt the screen towards the bed and watch SD TV on it) with an internet connection can do that)

about TV: eyeTV and a compliant USB-Stick will do a good job and TV-USB-Tuners are easy to find. (e.g. elgato or terratec - you may find a list of compliant hardware after installing eyeTV and start the setup-procedure, which shows (a shopping-list of) all compatible hardware working with eyeTV ...)

 

[0248294]

Yep, I've read about eyeTV tuners. I've seen one second hand on a classifieds site with a CI+ module for a smartcard, which I may pick up since I do actually have a smartcard of my own. That would allow me to watch any digital channel from our cable subscription on the iMac.

 

[IanT720]

Well I found a use for my eMac! Check it out! My cat loves it..... Plus the computer is cool looking, I want to add some legs to it and make some kinda sculpture....

 

[eyoungren]

My cat loves it.....

I love cats! What's his/her name?

Plus the computer is cool looking, I want to add some legs to it and make some kinda sculpture....

You could do like a Max Headroom Network 23 kind of thing!

 

[bunnspecial]

Ohhh, it's about the same as a sports car driver has with his tempermental Italian sports car. When it runs it's just flat out awesome. But when it's in the shop…oh boy!

I'm more of a British sports car person, but this reminded me of pushing my MG to the shoulder of the road yesterday so that I could tinker with the battery cable and get good enough contact to turn over the engine

At least you finally passed that Giga off to me so that you don't have to deal with it anymore

 

[2984839]

I'm more of a British sports car person, but this reminded me of pushing my MG to the shoulder of the road yesterday so that I could tinker with the battery cable and get good enough contact to turn over the engine

At least you finally passed that Giga off to me so that you don't have to deal with it anymore

Did you replace the Lucas wiring harness smoke?

 

[eyoungren]

At least you finally passed that Giga off to me so that you don't have to deal with it anymore

LOL!

Yes, I figured a specialist with access to some stuff I don't have access to could do a better job with it then I.

When it comes to Macs I'm more of your shade tree mechanic than anything else. Unfortunately Macs don't often respond very well to pliers and ballpeen hammers!

A year or more back I got pretty good hot starting our Honda Accord direct by running a wire from the battery to the starter solenoid terminal too.

At least until they got the starter fixed - finally!

 

[bunnspecial]

Did you replace the Lucas wiring harness smoke?

Unfortunately, that product is NLA from the major suppliers. All that's available are complete replacements, although unfortunately in many cases the Chinese ones come "empty."

Ironically, within the British sportscar community, Lucas parts are often viewed as being higher quality than the majority of aftermarket replacements(with the exception of some of the "cottage industry" suppliers). I suppose that's a testament to just how bad the aftermarket parts are
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Unfortunately Macs don't often respond very well to pliers and ballpeen hammers!

And, ironically enough, I got some funny looks yesterday for beating on my battery terminals with just those two items(although I did use the channel locks primarily to compress the terminal and the hammer to knock it onto the post). I'm going shopping for replacement terminals tomorrow

 

[2984839]

Unfortunately, that product is NLA from the major suppliers. All that's available are complete replacements, although unfortunately in many cases the Chinese ones come "empty."

Ironically, within the British sportscar community, Lucas parts are often viewed as being higher quality than the majority of aftermarket replacements(with the exception of some of the "cottage industry" suppliers). I suppose that's a testament to just how bad the aftermarket parts are
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And, ironically enough, I got some funny looks yesterday for beating on my battery terminals with just those two items(although I did use the channel locks primarily to compress the terminal and the hammer to knock it onto the post). I'm going shopping for replacement terminals tomorrow

I also think Lucas gets a bad rap as does MG for reliability, though I don't really put my money where my mouth is as my British sports car was made in Hiroshima.

 

[IanT720]

I love cats! What's his/her name?


You could do like a Max Headroom Network 23 kind of thing!

That's my homie Rascal, I've had him since I was a little kid. He's gotta be 12 or so now. As for the Network 23 that's exactly what I was thinking...

 

[bunnspecial]

I also think Lucas gets a bad rap as does MG for reliability, though I don't really put my money where my mouth is as my British sports car was made in Hiroshima.

In all seriousness, I'm in agreement on this. In the 6 months or so that I've had my car, I've fixed a good many of the electric woes by either a good cleaning or reverting the wiring back to factory configuration. Pretty much any vehicle is going to need to have connections cleaned after 50 years of exposure to the elements, and one of the nice things about the B is that-unlike modern cars-most of the wiring is 16 gauge or larger. I've also fit a good number of "tune up" parts, but used Lucas or OEM wherever possible. The only exception was using NGK spark plugs rather than Champion(although of the same general construction) because of past issues with Champion. This battery terminal problem is the only lingering electric gremlin that I have, but then my old Maxima had a similar problem that-again-was solved by replacing the connector. The engine and drivetrain are pretty much bullet proof, with the only real achilles heel of the MGB being rust in "hidden"(or not so hidden) areas of the unibody.

BTW, to bring the thread back on topic a little bit, my PPC Macs get used for a little bit of everything. I use a Quad at work to run some PPC-specific software, and also have several other PPC and even one 68K Mac in my office as sort of a museum. One of my "prizes" is a G3 Minitower with a 1ghz G4-I also use it to run some specialized OS 9 native software. A B&W is used to help trouble another B&W that's still in service in the department. I have a Cube for decoration . The 512Ke gets the most comments, but I do use it to type(I have all the OWR stuff as well as my B&W connected via a local talk network along with a Laserwriter).

I spend a lot of time tinkering with various things at home. Often, @LightBulbFun will have an idea that he wants to test out, and he bugs me for a while hoping that I'll eventually get around to it on real hardware(he tests it on emulated hardware).

I have a couple of laptops and desktops set up for OS 9(and earlier) games-they work remarkably well for that.

 

[TheAcorn]

No, that's true. However, my MP at work isn't noticeably faster than my QS (now that I have a dual CPU), except perhaps in web browsing.

I do have three more screens than the MP at work though.

I have always liked the Quicksilvers. One of the best designs of the G4 I think. I got mine from a member here for $50 and 3 iBook G3s (I dislike iBooks).

In any case. Servers, Applescript servers, print servers, music production, video production, burning, etc. Still very capable Macs. If it weren't for the G4/450 at work my MacPro could not print to our Appletalk printers.
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Ohhh, it's about the same as a sports car driver has with his tempermental Italian sports car. When it runs it's just flat out awesome. But when it's in the shop…oh boy!

Youngren, I thought if anybody would know it might be you. Is there a way to use more than two cinema displays with a PowerMac g4 MDD? I’ve scoured the Internet looking for any info about this and can’t find a thing. My MDD is currently handling two 20 inch cinema displays. Would it handle two more if I put in a second video card?

 

[Southern Dad]

I’ve had way to many PowerPC Macs for many years. Every once in a while I’ll get some time, clean up a couple and sell them.

 

[MBAir2010]

I’ve had way to many PowerPC Macs for many years. Every once in a while I’ll get some time, clean up a couple and sell them.

wow, apple store did not have this many at once

 

[eyoungren]

Youngren, I thought if anybody would know it might be you. Is there a way to use more than two cinema displays with a PowerMac g4 MDD? I’ve scoured the Internet looking for any info about this and can’t find a thing. My MDD is currently handling two 20 inch cinema displays. Would it handle two more if I put in a second video card?

Absolutely.

You just need PCI video cards that have DVI output. You're going to need the A1006 though for each Cinema Display.

I have three Cinema Displays, but six monitors. All six were once driven by my G4. But if I'd have had three more Cinema Displays those would have worked too using the A1006 (I have three of them already).