i cannot connect my Ibook G3 to the internet via Airport

[NZG73]

oh, im not complaining about the Ibook itself, just the internet connection. i guess if anything, this shows just how far we have come, technology wise.

 

[pm-r]

oh, im not complaining about the Ibook itself, just the internet connection. i guess if anything, this shows just how far we have come, technology wise.

You might want to keep up as much as possible with such sites such as:
http://lowendmac.com

Also check their search on "airport" for some suggestions and what will and won't work, i.e.:
http://tinyurl.com/jd25qws

 

[NZG73]

You might want to keep up as much as possible with such sites such as:
http://lowendmac.com

Also check their search on "airport" for some suggestions and what will and won't work, i.e.:
http://tinyurl.com/jd25qws

Hi Thank you for the links! - i found the "lowendMac" website informative - in one of the links about airport, it quoted "UPDATE: After this article was posted, we learned that Apple's AirPort Card can be updated to support WPA encryption. The balance of this article has been updated in light of that. " but i found no update for it!
do you know what they are talking about?

 

[pm-r]

I'm guessing they are referring to this info:
"02 Feb 2004
Apple Slips WPA Security into Original AirPort Cards"
https://tidbits.com/article/7528

And don't forget Apple's KB article:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201506

And there's always good old wired Ethernet and also USB wi-fi dongles.

 

[NZG73]

I'm guessing they are referring to this info:
"02 Feb 2004
Apple Slips WPA Security into Original AirPort Cards"
https://tidbits.com/article/7528

And don't forget Apple's KB article:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201506

And there's always good old wired Ethernet and also USB wi-fi dongles.

So if i am reading this article correctly, if i upgrade the OS to X 1.04 (Tiger) which i plan to do, then i can update the Airport so i can then get internet access via it? is that right?

 

[pm-r]

So if i am reading this article correctly, if i upgrade the OS to X 1.04 (Tiger) which i plan to do, then i can update the Airport so i can then get internet access via it? is that right?

Well, doing so will get you updated as far as that iBook can go OS wise as well as providing WPA wi-fi Internet access from more recent wireless routers.

PS: almost any wireless is generally slower than wired Ethernet, and even more so on older Macs.

 

[NZG73]

Well, doing so will get you updated as far as that iBook can go OS wise as well as providing WPA wi-fi Internet access from more recent wireless routers.

PS: almost any wireless is generally slower than wired Ethernet, and even more so on older Macs.

Thank you! - i feel the best course of action is to upgrade the OS then see what i can do getting internet access whether that be through the updated Airport, a dongle or ethernet

 

[pigoo3]

i feel the best course of action is to upgrade the OS then see what i can do getting internet access whether that be through the updated Airport, a dongle or ethernet

Not sure what sort of "updated Airport" you are speaking of. But just wanted to mention that the original Airport card was only capable of WiFi protocol "b". Later Airport Extreme airport cards did faster WiFi protocol "g". The original Airport cards & Airport Extreme cards are not interchangeable (different form factors)…so this 2001 iBook is limited to the original Airport card and WiFi "b" speeds.

If you want access to WiFi "g" (and maybe even newer WiFi protocols & speeds if a 2001 iBook can take it)…this is where the USB WiFi dongles & WiFi nubs that member "pm-r" mentioned may be the solution. I would advise…be careful how much you spend $$$ on this computer…since it is very old…and if your experience with it is not satisfactory…you don't want it to turn into a money pit! Especially if the $$$ spent could just as easily purchase a newer, better, faster, more capable Apple portable computer. With just $50-$75 bucks you could certainly purchase something newer & much better than a 2001 iBook.

Of course I'm still not necessarily recommending you use such an old Apple computer for anything other than "getting your feet wet" learning Mac hardware & OS X. Only that something somewhat newer may give you a better experience.

- Nick

 

[NZG73]

Not sure what sort of "updated Airport" you are speaking of. But just wanted to mention that the original Airport card was only capable of WiFi protocol "b". Later Airport Extreme airport cards did faster WiFi protocol "g". The original Airport cards & Airport Extreme cards are not interchangeable (different form factors)…so this 2001 iBook is limited to the original Airport card and WiFi "b" speeds.

If you want access to WiFi "g" (and maybe even newer WiFi protocols & speeds if a 2001 iBook can take it)…this is where the USB WiFi dongles & WiFi nubs that member "pm-r" mentioned may be the solution. I would advise…be careful how much you spend $$$ on this computer…since it is very old…and if your experience with it is not satisfactory…you don't want it to turn into a money pit! Especially if the $$$ spent could just as easily purchase a newer, better, faster, more capable Apple portable computer. With just $50-$75 bucks you could certainly purchase something newer & much better than a 2001 iBook.

Of course I'm still not necessarily recommending you use such an old Apple computer for anything other than "getting your feet wet" learning Mac hardware & OS X. Only that something somewhat newer may give you a better experience.

- Nick

Hi Nick - the updated Airport card would come after an OS upgrade, as mentioned in this article:
https://tidbits.com/article/7528
i dont mind if i have to buy a dongle or use an ethernet cable to get online..as long as i actually can

i have looked around for newer Macs and believe me, there is nothing under £200 for newer models..this Ibook was just under £100.

the ibook will mostly be used as a back up that i can use if anything should happen to my main computer..which is why i got to get the net working on it.

 

[pigoo3]

i have looked around for newer Macs and believe me, there is nothing under £200 for newer models..this Ibook was just under £100.

Yes…stuff in the UK is more expensive (even used stuff). £100 = about $143US. That same 2001 iBook is probably worth about $30-$40 bucks (£21-£28) here in the U.S.

Hopefully you understood what I meant by "newer". I meant instead of a 2001 iBook…you could get something like a 2003 or 2004 iBook. The last iBook model was released 2005 & discontinued 2006. They then became "MacBook's"…and had Intel CPU's.

It does sound like even a newer iBook is pretty expensive in the UK.

- Nick

p.s. Just for comparison sake. A refurbished 13" 2012 MacBook Pro can be purchased from Apple UK for £759. It would seem a little "nutty" to purchase a 10+ year old Apple laptop (iBook, Powerbook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro) for £200+…if something basically brand new from Apple can be had for £759…which will also come with at least a 12 month warranty.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/produc...133-inch-macBook-pro-25ghz-dual-core-intel-i5

 

[harryb2448]

It is still going to be like walking through molasses on a 'b' speed and I would not take a computer using Tiger on the 'net. Been no security updates for years and years.

 

[pigoo3]

It is still going to be like walking through molasses...

Ha Ha. "Walking through molasses...in Winter!" And I mean North American Winter's. Not those wimpy 13°C Nambucca Heads Winters!!!

Of course I think you suffer more in the Nambucca Heads Summer's!!!

- Nick

 

[NZG73]

yeah, all the Macs here are very expensive..stupidly expensive..i really did look high and low for bargain Mac products, but everything was so high priced..that ibook was the cheapest out of everything i looked at i would have loved to have got a more up-to-date Mac (like the example you gave) but it is completely out of my price range.

 

[pigoo3]

i would have loved to have got a more up-to-date Mac (like the example you gave) but it is completely out of my price range.

Totally understand. Only wanted to mention that something MUCH MUCH better can be had for 750 quid…and spending too much on something OLD (especially VERY OLD)…is not very cost effective (bang for the buck).

- Nick

 

[NZG73]

yeah, i got what you meant, dude just wish my budget could stretch to a better Mac..oh well

 

[harryb2448]

Think of the positive NZG73 when it comes time to sell the Mac.................if one does not keep them too long. Try to turn mine over every four years or so. Mind you it has only taken me to the late seventies to be able to afford to do this lol!

 

[NZG73]

Think of the positive NZG73 when it comes time to sell the Mac.................if one does not keep them too long. Try to turn mine over every four years or so. Mind you it has only taken me to the late seventies to be able to afford to do this lol!

Well, Im new to Mac/Apple products..i've been (and I am at this minute) using the "other teams" products ;P I have a few buddies who are always saying how good Mac products are..so thought that Mac products (used/reconditioned) would be as reasonable as the "Others"..NOT!, lol.

What I have learned: Mac products are NOT cheap and are a bloody minefield!

 

[pigoo3]

What I have learned: Mac products are NOT cheap and are a bloody minefield!

Used or new…apple products are not cheap. They are a bit more expensive when purchased new…and as they depreciate (as all computers do) their used value is usually higher than the same age Windows computer. Basically the value of a comparable 5 year old Apple computer vs. a 5 year old Windows computer will be greater (since the new price of the Apple computer was greater to begin with).

Regarding the "bloody minefield". Any topic we are not familiar with can be a "bloody minefield". If you were a life-long Apple computer user thinking of switching to Windows computers…the "Windows Computer World" would be a bloody-minefield!

Just takes a little time to learn a new topic.

- Nick

 

[NZG73]

Used or new…apple products are not cheap. They are a bit more expensive when purchased new…and as they depreciate (as all computers do) their used value is usually higher than the same age Windows computer. Basically the value of a comparable 5 year old Apple computer vs. a 5 year old Windows computer will be greater (since the new price of the Apple computer was greater to begin with).

Regarding the "bloody minefield". Any topic we are not familiar with can be a "bloody minefield". If you were a life-long Apple computer user thinking of switching to Windows computers…the "Windows Computer World" would be a bloody-minefield!

Just takes a little time to learn a new topic.

- Nick

Aye, i get you..having only ever used Windows, even learning where everything is on a Mac is confusing..whereas Windows is pretty much straight forward..i never had any problems picking stuff up because the layout is straight-forward..its a learning curve

I often wondered why Apple products are more expensive than a Windows product when essentially they are the same basic product (a computer)...i understand that both products come with their own "bells and whistles" that is unique to its product but its strange how the prices vary...yeah im an Apple n00b, lol!

 

[pigoo3]

I often wondered why Apple products are more expensive than a Windows product when essentially they are the same basic product (a computer)...i understand that both products come with their own "bells and whistles" that is unique to its product but its strange how the prices vary...

One aspect is Apple has no competition. No one but Apple is responsible for manufacturing Apple computer's. So Apple can squeeze a little extra cash out of us…why…because they can! But they can't go too far..or folks will go back to Windows…or never try a Mac in the first place. And Apple controls both the hardware and the OS.

Compare this to the Windows world. Lots & lots of big name & small name companies manufacturing the hardware…as well as home-built units. With this much competition…prices will go as low as they can.

Also remember that Microsoft controls the OS for most Windows computers…and charges anywhere from $100-$200+ for it. Apple on the other hand for about the last 2.5 years…has introduced new OS upgrades for free. And for about the last 6.5 years…hasn't charged more than $29 for an OS upgrade.

- Nick