05-05-2012, 08:22 AM

Current OS 10.4.11.
400mhz power PC G4 (2.9)
Memory 1.25 GB SDRAM


Should I have waited and gone for the G5?

Just been told this morning that my G4 won't run the newer OS (later than what it's running now v10.4.11). And that it won't run the current version of iTunes which I'm currently downloading to test this theory.

I'm wondering if it's a sales gimmick to sell me a G5 (for what I think is a good price second hand, compared to what I paid for my current G4 only bought yesterday).

I rang looking for a wireless network USB adapter for my Mac as I have no wires upstairs. Then was told the above and now I'm seriously confused.

I'm on my iPad now while the Mac is hooked up to wired Ethernet downstairs as a temporary solution.

Has anyone any ideas or suggestions?

05-05-2012, 08:27 AM

Read the post at this link, as it will give you some background for making choices.
"What OS Disk Do I Need?" A Brief Overview

Bottomline: the G4s are seriously old machines, even the G5s are two (soon to be three) OS generations behind. If you have the money you really should consider an Intel based Mac.

05-05-2012, 08:51 AM

That's the problem - money! Thanks for the link will check it out and I'm going to check out the price of an intel based Mac for curiosity.....

Thanks for replying!!

05-05-2012, 08:51 AM

G4s are old, but yours, the 400mhz, is seriously old. You have a 10ish year old Mac. You are going to be very limited in what you can run.

Like Razermac said, if you can afford an Intel Mac, you will be much better off.

05-05-2012, 08:52 AM

The PowerMac G4's were released around 1999 and are now 12+ years old. I was running on a Intel 486 around 1Ghz at that time and rocking Windows 98 with my 128MB of RAM..

I could hardly expect that machine to run Windows 7 today with all the bells and whistle, why is there any reason for a Mac from the same era/generation to run the newest/latest OS or software.

Considering purchasing ANYTHING beyond about 3 years or so needs to be thoroughly scrutinized to ensure that you are not making a mistake by buying a machine that will be guaranteed to be stuck in time as far as OS upgrades and software goes..

As Razormac suggested, purchasing an Intel-baed Mac is paramount and then it is also necessary to try to purchase as new a variant as possible. A lot of the original Intel-based Mac's came with Core Duo processors and Lion requires Core2Duo or more and that is JUST within the past 5 years or so..

So trying to get a i3 (minimal) based system will ensure that you can run the newest OS/software today and for a while to come..

05-05-2012, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by msid

Current OS 10.4.11.
400mhz power PC G4 (2.9)
Memory 1.25 GB SDRAM


Should I have waited and gone for the G5?

Just been told this morning that my G4 won't run the newer OS (later than what it's running now v10.4.11). And that it won't run the current version of iTunes which I'm currently downloading to test this theory.

I'm wondering if it's a sales gimmick to sell me a G5 (for what I think is a good price second hand, compared to what I paid for my current G4 only bought yesterday).

I rang looking for a wireless network USB adapter for my Mac as I have no wires upstairs. Then was told the above and now I'm seriously confused.

I'm on my iPad now while the Mac is hooked up to wired Ethernet downstairs as a temporary solution.

Has anyone any ideas or suggestions?

I think that you need to explain your situation in more detail:

- Why you bought this G4?
- What you expect to do with it?
- What OS version you want to run?
- Why you didn't "wait" and get a G5?
- What your budget is?
- Who did you buy this computer from...since you mentioned a "sales gimmick"? Not much "sales gimmicks" going on these days for these computers (G4's, and G5's) since they're at least 7-10 years old.

If money is a problem...then you're going to have to keep saving.

- Nick

05-05-2012, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

I think that you need to explain your situation in more detail:

- Why you bought this G4?
- What you expect to do with it?
- What OS version you want to run?
- Why you didn't "wait" and get a G5?
- What your budget is?
- Who did you buy this computer from...since you mentioned a "sales gimmick"? Not much "sales gimmicks" going on these days for these computers (G4's, and G5's) since they're at least 7-10 years old.

If money is a problem...then you're going to have to keep saving.

- Nick

Bought this machine so I can work with photos with more ease. Im online alot and heard that Apple are the way to go. Also Apple hardware is taking over in my home

So

1 security and compatability with my iPad and iPhone
2 photo editing and work related
3 ease of use
4 speed
5 fun

The above are my main reasons.

OS isn't important unless photoshop won't update on the machine I have now (Photoshop 7), and as long as iTunes 4 will work the same list of songs that is stored on my daughters iPod seeing as iTunes won't update as I don't have OS 10.5.

Regarding sales gimmick: what I meant was why was I offered a G5 with screen for 350? It sounds too cheap.....

I'm going to check out intel based machine next month when I might have more money......

05-05-2012, 10:37 AM

If you go to eBay you will find lots of Powermac G5s available for $300 USD or less. You can probably find a decent Intel Mac for not much more, though it may not be able to run Lion.

05-05-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by msid

1 security and compatability with my iPad and iPhone

Since all iPads are (relatively speaking) new technology/product for Apple (less than 3 years old)...compatibility between iPads and Apple computers will require (in many cases) much newer hardware (computers) and much newer OS versions (probably Snow Leopard, OS 10.6).

You cannot expect a less than 3 year-old iPad to be compatible with a 10+ year old computer...running an OS that was discontinued back in 2007-2008 (OS 10.4). This would also apply to newer iPhone versions.

Thus some iPad & iPhone compatibility research should have been done prior to purchasing either a G4 or G5 based computer...since you may have found out that you needed an Intel based Macintosh computer in the first place.

Originally Posted by msid

OS isn't important unless photoshop won't update on the machine I have now (Photoshop 7), and as long as iTunes 4 will work the same list of songs that is stored on my daughters iPod seeing as iTunes won't update as I don't have OS 10.5.

Again...some compatibility research prior to purchasing this Powermac G4 would have been a great idea!

Originally Posted by msid

Regarding sales gimmick: what I meant was why was I offered a G5 with screen for 350? It sounds too cheap.....

I'm not sure where you're located or the exact model G5 computer you're talking about...but some Powermac G5 models can be purchased fairly regularly on e-Bay for $150-$200...and I know a couple folks who got them for close to $100.

So $350 for a G5 + a monitor (depending on the computer model)...is actually NOT cheap...but on the expensive side. Since if you got a Powermac G5 on e-Bay for $150...and a used monitor off Craig's List for $75...that would have only cost $225 (not $350).

Originally Posted by msid

I'm going to check out intel based machine next month when I might have more money......

This is probably the smartest thing I've read in this thread!

- Nick

05-05-2012, 12:12 PM

Ha ha Thanks Nick!!! 

05-05-2012, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by msid

Ha ha Thanks Nick!!! 

You're welcome. Good luck with the search!

- Nick

05-05-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

You're welcome. Good luck with the search!

- Nick

Thank you all for your help today. I've spent the day trying to get the G4 to do what I want it to do but am sadly disappointed. It didnt recognise either my iPad 1st Gen or iPhone 4. Guess as Nick said, I should have researched. Unfortunately I was over the moon to be able to get my first Apple computer at a good price (that I could afford anyhow) that sense eluded me

Now, seeing as I normally research before I buy, can I recap on what I need:

A dual core processor with minimum OS 10.7 in order to have up to date software and recognise the afore mentioned external hardware....

Am I forgetting anything?

By the way I'm based in the south of Ireland if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks again

05-05-2012, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by msid

Now, seeing as I normally research before I buy, can I recap on what I need:

A dual core processor with minimum OS 10.7 in order to have up to date software and recognise the afore mentioned external hardware....

Am I forgetting anything?

Make sure not to confuse "dual-core" with "dual-processor". Powermac G5's come in both versions...but since Powermac G5's DO NOT have an Intel cpu...they CANNOT run Snow Leopard (10.6) or Lion (10.7).

What you want is any Intel based Macintosh with at least a Core 2 Duo cpu. NOT a Core Solo or Core Duo. I would also highly recommend this computer having 4gig of ram (or at least capable of being upgraded to 4gig of ram).

Once you have this...you will be able to run OS 10.7 (Lion) just fine.

Of course...OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion) is going to be released this Summer. This article (below) lists what computers CAN run 10.8...and those that are "Not Expected" to be able to run Mountain Lion:

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion System Requirements

I'm only mentioning this...since I'm guessing you don't want to buy a used Intel based Macintosh in May...and find out this Summer (June, July, August)...that the computer will not be able to run the latest OS.

Again good luck,

- Nick

05-05-2012, 06:16 PM

Thanks so much for clarifying
I presume though, having read the link you posted Nick, that as long as the machine is compatible with OS 10.8 it will be still running OS that is compatable with my iPad and iPhone and other apple hardware whether it's OS 10.6 or 10.7?
And I will look to buy from Apple direcly unless my supplier can offer me a good deal. 

05-05-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by msid

I presume though, having read the link you posted Nick, that as long as the machine is compatible with OS 10.8 it will be still running OS that is compatable with my iPad and iPhone and other apple hardware whether it's OS 10.6 or 10.7?

Yes...Apple is pretty good about that. If two or three products are currently selling (a computer, iPhone, and iPad)...then all devices will be able to communicate between each other easily.

It's only when a device is no longer being sold...or is starting to get old (3-5 years)...is when you have to start worrying.

For example...now that Apple has released the iPad 3 ("New iPad")...there will be a time (in the future) when folks that own an iPad 1 will start "hitting walls" in terms of capabilities and support. Since as new iOS versions for the iPad are released, and the abilities of iPad's improve (processing power, graphics, internal memory, etc.)...with newer releases (iPad 4, iPad 5, iPad 6, etc.)...support for older hardware will diminish.

What I'm saying is...sometime in the future...an iPad 1 will be just like the Powermac G4 you bought...a real DINOSAUR! Remember Palm Pilots and other early PDA's from the 1990's.

- Nick