Better Flash version for iMac G4 1.25GHz?

Question

I have an iMac G4 (1.25GHz, 1GB RAM, 64MB VRAM, 20-inch) running 10.3.9 and would like to upgrade its operating system to 10.4.11. Even though Panther is considered an ancient OS, it still meets most of my needs; however, when it comes to online video content, many, if not most, web sites require Flash 10 and that's a problem since Flash 9 is currently installed on my system.
So, aside from upgrading to Tiger, should I also upgrade Flash to version 10? Is version 10 too much for my G4's configuration? Have people found version 9 to run smoother?
Thanks.

Answer 1

With a better availability of quality browsers for Tiger 10.4.11, at least a few are
still being supported (compared to Panther 10.3.9) including Camino, Opera,
and Firefox, along with newer Adobe flash and shockwave plugin players, the
web experience can be a bit better with Tiger 10.4.11.
However the strengths of Tiger OS X 10.4 are in most everything compared to 10.3.
Your computer could also run Leopard OS X 10.5, yet Tiger works very well in those.
Do upgrade to Tiger, and if you can, make the new Tiger a completely new installation
where nothing Panther remains on the computer, and 'secure erase' the hard disk drive
makes for a better fully new installation; then build the new system from scratch.
I've gone the route(s) and found a completely new full installation of Tiger with NO
Panther 10.3 system bits on the hard disk drive, and the hard drive over-written with
zeros, partition mapped APM and reformatted to HFS+ was a great start (over.)
There are PPC Adobe Flash and Shockwave player plugins, and there are some there
in the Adobe site for Intel-based Mac running later or hardware specific OS X versions.
With Tiger, note & avoid those which are for Leopard 10.5 & later, w/ Intel processor Macs.
I have the latest supported Java versions, and Adobe Flash/Shockwave versions, and
the latest supported proven stable browser versions; and no issues in three G4 Tiger
running PPC computers; with Tiger at the last stage of development; and with the last
Combo update and last Security Update installed (at initial upgrade interval.)
In other user posts where they've cited Flash issues, and computer slowness, some of
them go on to other issues and do not return to the Flash problem; finding other reason
for general computer slowness and fixing that (in Tiger or newer OS versions.) So, after
I have outlined exact PPC Flash/Shockwave items, bits and cited source links, in those
instances (in Discussions) I am loath to find and re-type them again, perhaps to no avail.
The common theme with Flash/Shockwave players in Panther 10.3.9 is the system is
not supported for several years, so it is lacking in further development. Until about two
years ago, a more recent Flash or Shockwave player update, and to get & use the last
Camino browser (Mozilla/Camino) was a partial cure to web browsing issues in Panther.
You can still get the last player versions Panther could use, then remove the existing ones
in your computer (use uninstaller each plugin has with it) and install the last players; and
then get the last supported Camino browser for Panther 10.3 from their old version links;
and probably hobble along online a few more months, at best, as web sites are updated
to the newest technologies and Adobe does not support new Panther plugin development.
While this user post says the computer is already at Tiger 10.4.11, and he considers Leopard
10.5.8 (it is a PPC G4 can may support it) the thrust initially was concerns about using newer
Flash and Quicktime versions. +Note my posts about updating Flash + Shockwave Player:+
• http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=13076736#13076736
Your iMac G4 1.25GHz 20" computer could probably support Leopard OS X 10.5(.8) but the
performance in some aspects of general use including graphics support may lag behind the
Tiger 10.4.11 since Leopard was built to support newer video/graphics and later technologies.
One of my G4s has Leopard, the other three have Tiger. And I prefer the older OS X 10.4.11,
even though it is older and lacks some kinds of support. It is stable and I can keep it running
for up to 180 days without a problem & without a restart; maybe even longer. (Because it can.)
So, Tiger is great version of OS X. Leopard 10.5.8 would give you more recent official support.
This means a more recent Security Update, later Java versions, newer Quicktime builds, later
browser builds, more recent Adobe Flash and Shockwave versions, and maybe a few more
years of compatibility with certain software versions; and so on.
Your computer can be upgraded to run 2048MB of RAM if both slots are upgraded to 1024MB.
The original official total was 512MB per RAM slot; so this replaced the as-shipped 256MB in
the factory installed location, if done, at least once. The iMac G4 1.25GHz Mac likes RAM a lot.
If you or someone goes into the computer to upgrade the RAM, have the clock battery replaced;
also consider for the labor effort, to upgrade the hard disk drive to a larger capacity (PATA) unit.
Then you could partition the internal drive if needed, or have plenty of space for storage and also
for the OS X to have free space for it to run well.
There is no problem in upgrading the computer as far as it can go; unless you find excessive
costs in acquiring the necessary items to do so; unfortunately the all-in-one computers do not
have an upgrade path for main hardware items such as graphic processors or CPUs.
Beyond whatever that brings, there also are some great options at the Apple Store/Refurbished
pages online, for later hardware with newer software; with warranty & extended care available.
Anyway, have fun...
Good luck & happy computing!