Very elderly iBook

I have a Power PC G3 with 384MB and it is running OS 10.1.
I haven't used it for many years, now I need the portability but I seem unable to load current software from my desktop iMac G5. When I say current, I mean current to me, eg Photoshop CS (yes, just CS!), Appleworks 6 etc.

So, can I update the OS to a version to run these programs?

Grandad said:

I have a Power PC G3 with 384MB and it is running OS 10.1.
I haven't used it for many years, now I need the portability but I seem unable to load current software from my desktop iMac G5. When I say current, I mean current to me, eg Photoshop CS (yes, just CS!), Appleworks 6 etc.

So, can I update the OS to a version to run these programs?

Click to expand...

You can update your iBook's OS to at least 10.4.11 if you need to in order to run your applications. I have an iBook "Clamshell" laptop from the 2000 timeframe (maybe older than your laptop)...it's running 10.4.11.

I would advise not upgrading the OS further than you need to...because the newer the OS...in most cases the more demanding it will be on your laptop (meaning slowing things down).

You need to do some internet research to find out what the oldest OS is you need to run your programs.

I would also advise...that if you need OS 10.4 or OS 10.5...you're going to pay a lot for it. Somewhere around $100+ bucks...which may be more than your laptop is worth (depending on it's age).

If you let us know exactly what the specs are on your iBook...we can give you a better idea of the max/latest OS you can run on it.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

Hi Nick, Thanks for your help. The iBook is a Power PC G3 with 384MB and it is running OS 10.1. What other specs are there? and where can I find the information? I'm a clock maker (grandfather clocks and suchlike) and not very computer literate!

Grandad said:

Hi Nick, Thanks for your help. The iBook is a Power PC G3 with 384MB and it is running OS 10.1. What other specs are there? and where can I find the information? I'm a clock maker (grandfather clocks and suchlike) and not very computer literate!

Click to expand...

Need to know the processor speed. That helps identify the model more closely, and what OS versions it can run.

- Nick

Sorry to be so helpless but where do I find the processor speed?

Grandad said:

Sorry to be so helpless but where do I find the processor speed?

Click to expand...

Apple Menu > About This Mac

All it says is " Mac OS X Version 10.1; Memory 384MB; Processor PowerPC G3".

Hi Nick
I've just asked the Help button and it directed me to the System Profiler which says:
Serial No UV1432BELPX, Video memory 8MB, backside L2 cache 256K; PC100-2225;
500MHZ
I hope this is what you need.
Grandad

Grandad said:

Hi Nick
I've just asked the Help button and it directed me to the System Profiler which says:
Serial No UV1432BELPX, Video memory 8MB, backside L2 cache 256K; PC100-2225;
500MHZ
I hope this is what you need.
Grandad

Click to expand...

Yes that helps. You can pretty much upgrade your OS to as high as OS 10.4.11 (Tiger). But like I mentioned earlier...you don't want to upgrade any higher than necessary for the programs you want to run...first because it may "bog" down the computer...second, because getting a copy of Tiger is expensive.

Now you need to identify:

- what programs you want to run
- what versions of each program you have
- and what the minimum OS required is to run them

Hope this helps,

- Nick

I want to run:

1. Photoshop CS (not 1,2 or 3, just the first one, CS) and needs Mac OS X v.10.2.8 through v.10.4 on a PowerPC
2. Appleworks 6.2, needs OS 8.1 or OS X.

Also, I have a desktop iMac G5 running 10.4.11, can I copy that system onto CD and use that? The "install" discs that came with the iMac are 10.4

Grandad

Grandad said:

I want to run:

1. Photoshop CS (not 1,2 or 3, just the first one, CS) and needs Mac OS X v.10.2.8 through v.10.4 on a PowerPC
2. Appleworks 6.2, needs OS 8.1 or OS X.

Also, I have a desktop iMac G5 running 10.4.11, can I copy that system onto CD and use that? The "install" discs that came with the iMac are 10.4

Grandad

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!

If Photoshop CS needs a minimum of 10.2.8. Then you could install OS 10.2, 10.3, or 10.4 on your laptop.

As far as Appleworks 6.2. You said OS X. I did a quick search, and found these things out:

- That Appleworks 6.2 is not compatible with OS 10.1:

AppleWorks 6.2: Mac OS X 10.1 Compatibility Issues

- But if you update to Appleworks to version 6.2.9...then it's compatible with OS 10.1 or later. Here's the updater:

AppleWorks 6.2.9 for Mac

Lastly the iMac G5 stuff. No you can't do that. The disks that came with the iMac G5 are specific to that computer, and won't work on your laptop. And even if the disks would work...it's against Apple's EULA (End User License Agreement). One OS disk install per computer (unless someone purchases a "Family Pack").

I would recommend installing Mac OS 10.3. This is because it will most likely cost you a lot less $$$...and stlll run reasonably fast on your laptop. You could install OS 10.4 (same as your iMac G5)...and update to 10.4.11. But the OS install disk for 10.4 will be expensive (like $100+ U.S.).

Hope this helps,

- Nick

Nick
Thank you very much for your advice, and your patience! I shall seek out a copy of 10.3.
Grandad

Grandad said:

Nick
Thank you very much for your advice, and your patience! I shall seek out a copy of 10.3.
Grandad

Click to expand...

You're welcome...good luck. Glad to see an older laptop being put to good use!

- Nick