Ideas for old Powerbook G4

Hello,
I have my old Powerbook G4 sitting around with OS X 10.3 on it. Rarely do I ever touch it, but it still works wonderfully.
Anyone have any ideas or concepts for my laptop that could be useful?
I already have a home server, so that's one option ruled out.

You could upgrade it to Leopard, especially if you can increase the memory on your particular model to at least 512mb of RAM.
Do you already have another laptop you use for your mobile computing?
You could basically turn it into at least a sort of ebook reader.
Then again, if it's of no use to you and is working fine and can even be upgraded to a more current OS, you could donate it to someone that can't afford a computer at all. Your local Mac User Group could help you find a way to do that.

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OS 10.4 for old Powerbook G4?

I am about to purchase a new Mac Mini Intel. I currently use a Powerbook G4 (with OS 10.3 on it). Will I be able to use the disks that come with my Mini to update the OS on my PowerBook as well? I'd like them to be on the same OS, but I don't want to purchase anything new for my laptop. I guess my question is:
- Is this illegal or does my purchase of the Mini software authorize me to update my old computer with the same disks?
- If it is legal, would the Intel disks still install on my G4?
Thanks,
Lee

Hi Donnie;
Besides be illegal, the disksthat came with your Mac Mini are hardware specific so they will not work on your Powerbook.
Allan

Invoice for old powerbook

Hi,
I purchased an apple powerbook G4 in June 2005, and also purchased a 3 year warranty plan few months back. However, I found that the warranty dates are misquoted now. I heard from apple that I need the purchase invoice to set the dates properly. But, I am not finding any invoice in my online account. It seems I can view only orders in the last 18 months. Is there any other way I can get my invoice? Here are more details of my order.
Please let me know how I can get the invoice.
Regards,
Amith

Hi, Amith. You received a paper copy of the invoice with the computer. If you didn't save that, too bad — it's a very good idea to file away the invoice for any sizable purchase you make, in case of just such a problem as the one you have now.
I had a similar mixup over my own extended AppleCare Protection Plan: in registering my AppleCare plan with Apple, I had misread an "S" as a "5" in my Powerbook's serial number. When I checked up later to make sure my coverage was in efffect, I found that no AppleCare plan was associated with my Powerbook's correct number, but whoever owned a Powerbook with the other number was covered by the plan I had paid for. The mistake was entirely mine and it was eventually straightened out, but not until I had sent in copies of my invoices for the Tibook and the APP coverage (which I bought separately, at different times).
I hope you're able to get the information you need from the store. Good luck.

Decided to upgrade from an old PowerBook G4, mostly for eyesight issues. Bought a new Mac Mini and hooked it up to an Apple A1267 Cinema Monitor. I cannot even figure out how to turn them on. Help please.

I am exhausted just getting to the point of being allowed to ask my question. I recently decided to upgrade from an old PowerBook G4 that we have used for years, and am using now. I bought a new Mac Mini and a reconditioned Apple A1267 Monitor that was working beautifully when hooked to a slightly newer PowerBook in the store. Both the Mini and the monitor are plugged in, and attached to each other but I feel light a dolt. I cannot even figure out how to turn them on or even get a power light to come on. Can someone help me?

How is the Mini coonected to the momitor?
Does the power button n the mini not work?

Hi anyone. Can I buy an SD card reader for my old Powerbook G4, OSX, 10.4.11 and it's only USB. I've never needed one previously but I now need to update the firmware on my camera. Can I get one, if so which one's best? Many thanks.

Hi anyone.
Can I buy an SD card reader for my old Powerbook G4, OSX, 10.4.11 and it's only USB.
I've never needed one previously but I now need to update the firmware on my camera.
Can I get one, if so which one's best? Many thanks.

Hello,
If it is a PowerBook G4 with a PC Card slot, you have two possibilities. You could buy a USB card reader for SD, or a PC Card adapter (such as SanDisk's 6-in-1adapter). Please note that you are or may be limited to plain SD (that is, not SDHC) unless otherwise noted. For a USB reader, make sure that it has Mac support. BTW, is an SD card absolutely necessary for the firmware update; is there not a way of updating via cable? If you post back with the camera model, someone may be able to provide additional information.
Jan

Software suggestions for old iSight camera/PowerBook G4

Hi All,
I have an old stand alone iSight camera and an old PowerBook G4 that I would like to use as a "webcam". Currently I have the old iSight hooked up to my iMac 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and am running Sequenz to save an image to my public DropBox folder. The camera takes pictures of our back yard once every hour and updates the image in my DropBox. I share the current along with our weather station data with our active adult community. The system works just fine and the residents love it. BUT...
For many reasons, especially security, I would like to get the camera off my main desktop computer and put it on this old PowerBook running 10.4.11.
Sequenz will only work with 10.6 and the PowerBook cannot run that OS.
Is there another piece of software that will work for me? I just want software that will caputure a picture and save it/update the file in my DropBox folder on a specified schedule.
Thanks for any help.

You're most welcome, Suzanne.
As you obviously know, regardless of your specific requirements at this time, your choices for apps that work with Mac OS X 10.4 will be limited by the fact that the MacOS you plan to use is now three generations old. OS X 10.4.11 is a great OS, but little if any new commercial software is being developed for it now.
However, here are "in the clear" links for three webcam apps that claim work with
Mac OS 10.4.11:
http://www.securityspy.com/                       (click for ->online user guide manual)
http://www.evological.com/evocam3.html   (click for ->explanation of the free trial)
http://www.arborbits.com/icamshare/         (click for ->free trial version)
Although they all operate differently, each of these programs can be configured to perform a variety of tasks. The FAQs, downloadable user guides, free trial, etc. for these apps will let you decide which, if any, can do what you need. Unless you get a specific answer that works for you, you will need to do as much research or evaluation as is necessary to decide whether any of the apps are right for you.
If none of them does what you want, I suggest you ask your Apple retailer whether he has (or can recommend) any MacOSX10.4-compatible software that meets your needs.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim

I need a floppy disk drive for old 3 1/2" disks. I have a PowerBook G4 Mac with MacOS X 10.4 operating system. What will work for me?

I need a floppy disk drive for old 3 1/2" disks. I have a PowerBook G4 with Mac OS X 10.4 operating system. What external drive will for for me?

Hi,
Providing that the old 3.5" floppies are 1.44 MB HD disks, you should be able to use a USB floppy drive.
However, if the disks are 2DD/DSDD in the 800K Mac format a USB drive is not going to work. In this case you would need a suitable semi-old Macintosh computer with a built-in floppy drive as an intermediary.
Jan

Install went fine. Looking for Transmit prefs in old powerbook to move

I purchased a new Macbook Pro with Leopard. Everything is going well with the exception of transmit. I could move the application but when I opened it to make sure all is well, it is missing my license and favorites/sites presaved.
I went back and looked in my old powerbook in home/library/preferences and do not see the transmit prefs to move over. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find that?
I'm guessing there is a new version of transmit for Leopard. Once I get the prefs I'll dl the new version.
I also missed the BBEdit application in the migration and need to go back to get that too. I managed the migration without the migration wizard.
Thanks for your help locating my Transmit prefs.

Thank you sooo much! I downloaded the newest version of transmit, hooked up the firewall cable to the old powerbook, nabbed that pref, found BBEdit folder in my applications, nabbed that for the new MBP and I'm now set.
I keep finding little things here and there I still need.
I appreciate your help very much! Thank you!

I have an offer to trade an old powerbook g4 for an iphone. Should I do it?

I have an old powerbook that was given to me. I have no use for it and cant seem to sell it anywhere it is hardly used. I have an offer to trade for an iphone. Should I do it? I have a mac of my own and this one is just sitting there loosing value everyday. I think i should trade it for another mac product I will use?

I have not tried ebay. The powerbook may have been used 20 times...maybe. I use one just like it and I just have no use for it. I truly feel guilty for hoarding it away and not letting it be used The iphone is att 8gb. It looks like on ebay the computer is only worth about $350. I ve never sold anything on there so i though it would be hard to sell.

Restore old PowerBook G4 before/for Apple Recycle Program.

I have an old PowerBook G4 I need to send to Apple for its recycling program. But it's still got all of my stuff inside it I've just transferred it to my new MacBook. I need to wipe everything out before I can send it like erase the disk and restore its orginal settings. I know I should own the Lion dvd to be able to do this BUT thing is I have NO cd/dvd in the box. There's everything else as I purchased my MacBook in an Apple Store BUT there is NO such thing as a cd/dvd. Can I do the process in some other way or am I forced to bring the old computer to an Apple Store? Thank you.

You can hook up your Powerbook in target disk mode to your MacBook Pro, and erase the hard drive from there. You'll need a firewire cable to attach the two systems. Boot the Powerbook while holding the T key down. A firewire symbol will be moving around the screen, hook up the firewire cable between the two system, and your Powerbook will now appear as another disk drive to your MBP. Bring up Disk Utility on the MBP and erase the Powerbook hard drive, recommend a secure erase which writes zero's to the hard drive. If it's going to be recycled, I don't know why you need do anything else but clear the hard drive.

URGENT Portable HD Recommendations needed for G4 Powerbook

PLEASE HELP
I would like a portable HD to back up and carry my itunes and special files with me on holiday etc...
I brought an enclosure for an old powerbook HD which was nice and small, but while it powers up when plugged into my Ebook it won't when plugged into my powerbook. Appears that the powerbook does not have enough power to run it or something (of course, being portable, it has no external power supply). Any Ideas of brands that work.
Thanks

I use a 120gb Seagate FreeAgent Go. Most of the time it is connected to my AEBS, but I connect it directly to the PB when importing multiple CD's or when on the go. The first portable drive I tried was a Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini, but returned it as it required more power than the PB USB ports could put out. I've had this setup for about a year now.
I recommend getting a second Firewire drive and backup software such as Super Duper or Carbon Copy Cloner to backup your PB and portable drive.
Hope this bit of info helps.
Mondy

I'm trying to migrate data from an old Powerbook G4 to a Macbook running 10.8 - new laptop can't find the target disk

Can anyone help me get a new(er) Macbook that's running Mountain Lion migrate data from an old PowerBook G4 running 10.4.x?
I've restarted the G4 holding down "T" and have the Firewire icon floating around its screen, started Migration Assistant on the Macbook, telling it to get data from a Time Machine back up or other disk, have Firewire cable connected to both laptops, continue and the Macbook is just endlessly "Looking for Other Computers"....
Any ideas?
Anyone?

Additionally, When I have the two laptops connected via Firewire, I do see the disk from which I'm trying to migrate data and can copy files, etc.
Not sure if this is helpful or not but thought I'd throw it out there.

Five year old Powerbook, time to let go?

I'm Hangin'On to a five year old Powerbook G4 17in. Two years ago the computer crashed and I was able to get it back to normal with an 'Erase and Install' from the disc. Last week it happened again. I had more trouble getting it back, but was able to repeat the 'Erase and Install' and now the computer works 80% of the time. When symptoms resurface, the performance slows greatly, the "spinning ball of death" taunts me for minutes, and occasionally the screen goes blank and I have to force a Shut Down. When I restart it, I get a message that the "OS unexpectedly quit".
There's also a buzzing sound from the left side.
Is it time to let her go?

Hangin'On:
There will always be newer, faster, more powerful computers coming along. Any computer you buy today will be old in a couple of years. The question is, does the computer you have do for you what you need to have done. I would love to get a MacBook Pro, but my wife asks me whether I think I really need one, and I can't honestly say that I do. My eight year old Pismo does for me all that I need to have done. Of course, a MBP will do things I can't do with this baby, but at what cost?
Now, back to your PB G4. Installing a new HDD will breathe new life into your computer. Here are the steps:
• Select and purchase a new HDD.
• Install the new HDD in your computer.
• Format and erase the new HDD.
• Install OS and migrate stuff from old HDD
Your computer will support a 2.5" Parallel ATA/IDE drive up to 250 GB. Here is a list of available drives for your computer. Use the filters in the sidebar to screen for capacity, Manufacturer etc. You can compare drives by checking the boxes then clicking the Compare button at the top. When you see the drive you want, click the button to Compare Prices to the right.
Once you have the drive in hand you will need to install it in your computer. Here are step by step directions for installing the HDD. Once you have the HDD, post back with questions about the directions. At that time I will also post additional tips.
In the interest of keeping this post manageable I will post later with directions for formatting the newly installed HDD, and installing the OS and migrating your data.
cornelius

Webcam for Titanium Powerbook

My mother is using my old Titanium Powerbook. I would like to use Skype with her. She was told at an Apple Store that there are no webcams for this computer. Is this true? Is it a USB problem? Any ideas for a camera.
Thanks
Dean

I checked them out today at my Apple Store. The tech there said you could use ANY webcam with a Mac. Obviously delusional, at which point I stopped listening to him. The Logitech box says minimum 10.4.1 and G4 800Mhz processor. The Ti book may be just 400Mhz. What processor speed does your Ti book have? That may be why it won't work on the older books?
Thanks again

TS1362 Everything works except the **** thing won't play. I push the play arrow or instruct it to play and it stays eternally paused. No problem buying things from these dogs,just can't play the when everthing pops up on screen.Any ideas for a hopeless ol

Everything works on ITunes except play function.I can select as song I want but cannot get it off "pause."I tried going to controls and instructing it to play(no go) and clicking again and again on play arrow(which flips it to pause...).Any ideas for a very old,very frustrated non-tech guy???
Please!! Thnaks!!!

Replying to myself. Kept trying different areas of the ipod this evening, clicking various buttons, including some I'd never used before. All of a sudden I could see my Nano in iTunes. I quickly clicked on Restore before iTunes changed its mind about recognizing the iPod. Moved some songs onto it and it appears to be back to normal. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Ideas for old Powerbook G4

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