I have an old Apple 12in PowerBook G4 sitting in a cupboard. It's way behind the curve, PowerPC-equipped - no good for Snow Leopard, in other words - and the battery's had it.
Everyone I know who I'd would have passed it on to in the past has, by now, got a more capable machine.
But it seems a shame to chuck it away.
So, Reg …
They had a fair number of antiques in there, from what i could see through the doors, they might like it...
Mind you, they are only open at the weekends, so it might be a bit of a pain to find out, but Bletchley park is well worth a visit, if only to see Colossus.
I would gladly take it off your hands and put it to use. I do tech work for a non-profit and would love to get a 12 inch powerbook. Tiger and Leopard work well for our purposes.
I would reimburse your shipping costs and send you a receipt for tax purposes. If you are interested check www.heartlandgirlsranch.org for a shipping address. However, if you are outside the U.S. I fear that shipping costs would be too high.
You make it sound as if if you can't run Snow Leopard, your laptop is useless. Far from it! Even the oldest 12" G4 is capable of running Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). It can run most contemporary software programs including iWork, Microsoft Office, games, productivity software, and thousands of others.
I don't know how people in the UK feel about assets, but here in the US a 12" G4 laptop could be worth up to $300 (£185, €213.50)
I have the same iBook G4 sitting on top of my stereo, serving iTunes, playing newsfeeds and all to my stereo. I really like Pandora. And if you get a USB digital audio out adapter and feed that into your Digital receiver, everything sounds much better, especially the iTunes in Apple Lossless.
We use a 12 inch G4 as a data parking lot for our remote transcriptionist. We purchased several Olympus DS-4000 digital voice recorders which capture voice files (foot pedals control the DS-4000) and we upload the voice files via the Olympus Mac Transcription software. This software also allows the Mac to use foot pedals. We can use them to play, rewind, etc. Rate of playback is variable to allow for transcription. About a year ago we outsourced our transcription so we cloned the configuration at a remote site and she grabs the files via Apple Remote Desktop.
The G4 is limited to one special hands off work area that is very messy. We have a plastic cover for the keyboard but it is still nice to use an old unit when it is in a GROSS location.
You don't say what speed it is, but if it's over 800MHz or thereabouts, it will give sterling service with Leopard for years yet, esp with a new battery.
And contrary to popular misconception, it won't burst into flames al la Mission Highly Improbable the moment Snow Leopard is released.
I would cheerfully give it space in my workshop as a print server and occasional email & web access Mac. Alas, I'm on the opposite side of the planet. I'm sure there are plenty of folk over there who can use a simple computer.
The 12" Powerbook is very desirable, it's practically the smallest laptop that apple ever made and is still in demand today from travelers. - Selling on eBay for around £300
You can stick tiger on it and if you max the ram and put a new HD in it'll be fine (My old 1.5Ghz G4 is running leopard fine for the missus)
Sometimes people need a PowerPC computer for development, tests or builds (e.g. Debian build farm). Funnily enough, battery is typically irrelevant to such uses. If you don't have such needs, why keep an outdated crap around? Just sell it on eBay and invest money in something more up to date, less noisy and power hungry.
I know a charity in South London who run music projects for primary school children and vulnerable adults. They are desperate for any kind of laptop (or even desktop), as their computers date back to the early 90s.
So how about giving it to charity? Their website is: http://www.pegopera.org
I second the suggestion to use it as an iTunes server. But I would add TwonkyVision, so you can stream iTunes content to DLNA/UPnP devices, like in my case, a Denon AV receiver and a PS3. If you want to save a few quid, use open source alternatives like OpenSUSE PPC Linux, MediaTomb and daapd.
Register
Any uses for an old Mac G4?
I have an old Apple 12in PowerBook G4 sitting in a cupboard. It's way behind the curve, PowerPC-equipped - no good for Snow Leopard, in other words - and the battery's had it. Everyone I know who I'd would have passed it on to in the past has, by now, got a more capable machine. But it seems a shame to chuck it away. So, Reg …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 14:22 GMT
mark adrian bell
Linux #
I'd put Yellow Dog or Debian Linux on it. With a light desktop like XFCE or WindowMaker, it should run well.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 14:22 GMT
Drem
Musuem of Computing #
They had a fair number of antiques in there, from what i could see through the doors, they might like it...
Mind you, they are only open at the weekends, so it might be a bit of a pain to find out, but Bletchley park is well worth a visit, if only to see Colossus.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:33 GMT
BARe FOOt
Linux #
I use the latest Fedora 11 Linux on my G4. It runs great, and gives me access to tens of thousands of free applications.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:33 GMT
jose2292
UK or US? #
I would gladly take it off your hands and put it to use. I do tech work for a non-profit and would love to get a 12 inch powerbook. Tiger and Leopard work well for our purposes.
I would reimburse your shipping costs and send you a receipt for tax purposes. If you are interested check www.heartlandgirlsranch.org for a shipping address. However, if you are outside the U.S. I fear that shipping costs would be too high.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:33 GMT
Anonymous Coward
I have one of these... #
...I use it as a dedicated Serato Scratch Live machine..
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:33 GMT
spencer
blap #
stick BSD on it, learn unix.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
Dru Richman
12" Powerbook G4 #
You make it sound as if if you can't run Snow Leopard, your laptop is useless. Far from it! Even the oldest 12" G4 is capable of running Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). It can run most contemporary software programs including iWork, Microsoft Office, games, productivity software, and thousands of others.
I don't know how people in the UK feel about assets, but here in the US a 12" G4 laptop could be worth up to $300 (£185, €213.50)
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
Piloti
Seti.... #
Not sure if it will run on the apple os, but drop if it will,m run the seti screen saver.
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Not good for the carbon footprint, but hey....
If this does nto work on the apple os, partion, drop in any linux apple distro and then run seti!!
Enjoy your weekend.
P.
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
David MW
Stereo it! #
I have the same iBook G4 sitting on top of my stereo, serving iTunes, playing newsfeeds and all to my stereo. I really like Pandora. And if you get a USB digital audio out adapter and feed that into your Digital receiver, everything sounds much better, especially the iTunes in Apple Lossless.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
jake
Household print server. #
Subject says it all, really.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
Dave Hanks
G4: Data parking lot #
We use a 12 inch G4 as a data parking lot for our remote transcriptionist. We purchased several Olympus DS-4000 digital voice recorders which capture voice files (foot pedals control the DS-4000) and we upload the voice files via the Olympus Mac Transcription software. This software also allows the Mac to use foot pedals. We can use them to play, rewind, etc. Rate of playback is variable to allow for transcription. About a year ago we outsourced our transcription so we cloned the configuration at a remote site and she grabs the files via Apple Remote Desktop.
The G4 is limited to one special hands off work area that is very messy. We have a plastic cover for the keyboard but it is still nice to use an old unit when it is in a GROSS location.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
Kiwiiano
Huh? #
You don't say what speed it is, but if it's over 800MHz or thereabouts, it will give sterling service with Leopard for years yet, esp with a new battery.
And contrary to popular misconception, it won't burst into flames al la Mission Highly Improbable the moment Snow Leopard is released.
I would cheerfully give it space in my workshop as a print server and occasional email & web access Mac. Alas, I'm on the opposite side of the planet. I'm sure there are plenty of folk over there who can use a simple computer.
Posted Friday 12th June 2009 22:35 GMT
Ben Brandwood
Sell it! #
The 12" Powerbook is very desirable, it's practically the smallest laptop that apple ever made and is still in demand today from travelers. - Selling on eBay for around £300
You can stick tiger on it and if you max the ram and put a new HD in it'll be fine (My old 1.5Ghz G4 is running leopard fine for the missus)
New battery might cost you about £50
Lovely little machine
Posted Saturday 13th June 2009 10:53 GMT
Ben Clemson
Uses for a G4 Powerbook #
Assuming you have the Airport (wifi) card installed:
- plug in a USB printer and you have a wireless print server (under sharing in system preferences)
- plug in a USB modem and you have a wireless Internet server (under sharing in system preferences)
I do both on my 10 year old Pismo Powerbook running 10.4. You can also install VNC so you can remotely manage the laptop from another computer.
Posted Saturday 13th June 2009 23:02 GMT
Anonymous Coward
You can still get batteries, I think #
So why not just use it? OWC probably sell a battery for them if Apple don't.
Posted Sunday 14th June 2009 16:21 GMT
Ramazan
PPC #
Sometimes people need a PowerPC computer for development, tests or builds (e.g. Debian build farm). Funnily enough, battery is typically irrelevant to such uses. If you don't have such needs, why keep an outdated crap around? Just sell it on eBay and invest money in something more up to date, less noisy and power hungry.
Posted Sunday 14th June 2009 16:21 GMT
geeky_poor_musician
Charity! #
Hi,
I know a charity in South London who run music projects for primary school children and vulnerable adults. They are desperate for any kind of laptop (or even desktop), as their computers date back to the early 90s.
So how about giving it to charity? Their website is: http://www.pegopera.org
Geeky greets!
T
Posted Monday 15th June 2009 09:25 GMT
Bonnie
Media server #
I second the suggestion to use it as an iTunes server. But I would add TwonkyVision, so you can stream iTunes content to DLNA/UPnP devices, like in my case, a Denon AV receiver and a PS3. If you want to save a few quid, use open source alternatives like OpenSUSE PPC Linux, MediaTomb and daapd.
This topic is closed for new posts.