The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
I have an Apple iBook now what?
EliteLamer
__BANNED USERS regular
__BANNED USERS regular
Now that I have an iBook G4 1gig 256mb of ram, Air Port Extreme. What should I get for it? I know nothing about mac. All I got was a fresh install disc that came with the G4. Should I upgrade to a newer version? What software is Must have?
SEGA
EliteLamer on
0
Posts
I'd recommend getting some more RAM, if you can afford it. Back when I used OS X, 512MB held up fine, but I hear a gig is the sweet spot.
Also: Play Marathon, now. http://trilogyrelease.bungie.org/
Where's MaximumZero? He's the one that helped me when I first got a Mac. He'd do a lot better job of this.
Adium -- Best multi-protocol chat client on any operating system ever. Supports a host of options including complete skinability. Lacks voice and video chatting right now, but I don't use these features and could easily open iChat if I needed to. [Free]
VLC Player -- The only video player you'll ever need. [Free]
AppZapper -- "The uninstaller Apple forgot." It's tagline is pretty self-explanatory. This handy little App works by Drag and Drop, and removes the extra files put in place by programs you want to remove. [$12.95]
Menuet -- An iTunes extender app. Provides global keystroke controls (fully configurable), built-in Last.fm updating, playlist updates via Growl, Art Collector and a host of other useful features. [$12.95]
Shapeshifter -- Allows for the change of OS X's appearance via Themes. Themes are contributed by the community, and do everything from subtle modifications to complete overhauls. My screenshot in the desktop thread is using one of these themes. [$20.00]
NeoOffice -- OpenOffice.org port for OS X. It's a bit slow, but it does everything I want it to. And best of all it's -- [Free]
Cyberduck -- Graphical FTP/SFTP client. Has a host of features including bookmarks, AppleScript integration etc. [Free]
UnrarX -- Graphical handler for .rar files. Very easy to use, definitely better than RARLabs CLI client. [Free]
Bon Echo -- Mac optimized FireFox browser. [Free]
Some useful links:
http://www.adiumxtras.com -- Addons for Adium including themes, scripts, icons etc.
http://www.maczot.com -- One-Deal-a-Day on Mac OS X software usually from indie developers.
http://macthemesforums.net -- Forums where community members submit icon packages, wallpapers, shapeshifter themes etc.
But I have a question of my own that I'm just going to slip into this thread: what sort of GPS options are available for an old G4 iBook? Or rather, what is the best combination of GPS receiver an software? I've tried a few google searches but the answers are typically complicated or not entirely clear.
Oh my god, bear is driving!
Second rule of Teacher Club: You DO NOT touch the kids.
It's a G4 iBook. No XP for him.
Second rule of Teacher Club: You DO NOT touch the kids.
I know that sounds daunting, but it's better to install it now just in case you need it some time down the road.
Hardware:
Get more RAM. 512MB RAM in total should be enough for a low-end PowerPC system (Intel Mac RAM requirements seem to be higher, but I have been pretty happy with my G4 and 512MB - its enough, even for huge Photo shop files) -> more RAM the better. One 512MB SO-DIMM SD-DDR stick (quality RAM) shouldn't cost more than 55 Euro. Only get quality RAM, OSX is very picky about the modules you put in your machine.
External HD : Go for a Firewire (400) drive. The iBook most likely supports USB 1.1 only - which is unfortunate, if you are going to buy one of the later iPod models. The drive space of the iBook is limited. (I believe it was 30GB - 40 GB in the standard model) Format your external HD to fat32. This file format enables write/read access in OSX and in Windows, if you decide to use it on a Windows PC.
iSight: If you are interested in videochat then get one of these babys - if you can find it cheap - then pick it up. Its the best FW web cam. But its only useful if you use ichat and the AIM protocol for video chat.
ibook video out adapter: Normally comes prepackaged with the ibook. You should consider getting it, if it is missing - so you can connect external displays.
Screen Spanning Doctor: This software changes some variables in the ibook's firmware so you can use screen spanning. (Lets say you want to use a monitor at a 1680x1050 resolution as extra space)
http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/ibook_e.html
Software:
OSX: Wait for OSX 10.5 or if you have the change, update to the latest 10.4 version. At least you should update to 10.3.9 because nearly all new mac programs require it.
If you want to be productive you need a few programs
iLife - really neat program suite: create DVDs, movies, sideshows in iPhoto and music in Garageband - All programs are neatly integrated and easy to use.
iWork - iWork replaced Word and Powerpoint for me. Fluid animations, great design presets enable to create presentations which don't scream "Its made with Powerpoint, look at 3D fonts!!!". The option to directly import Photoshop files + the possibility to use and import alpha channels is another plus. If you know how to - you can even abuse the Keynote and iMovie combination as some sort of Final Cut Lite Frankenstein's monster. (Use Keynote to play two videos at one, overlay it with alpha channeled partly transparent graphics, then export it to quicktime and edit it in iMovie.)
Office for X: The latest mac version of Office is PowerPC only - no problems for your ibook. + its dirt cheap nowadays. You get nearly the functionality of Office 2003 (data base-app is missing and the integration in exchange environments sucks). But if you are handling lots of MS Office documents then you should consider getting it for compatibilities sake.
edit:
Games:
Doomsday: http://www.doomsdayhq.com/
Enables you to play nearly all Doom Engine games: Hexen; Heretic and of course, Doom. Its the best looking doom-engine port which also enables HW acceleration, mouse aiming and lots of eye-candy.
Nanosaur: http://www.pangeasoft.net/nano2/
Should come free with your mac. (at least it did with the G3 versions of the ibook). My favorite Arcade-like game on the mac.