Slow Dialup Update Woes -- any other options?

Question

I just unpacked my new Intel iMac and am in the process of setting it up, moving files from my old beloved G3 iMac, etc. No problems setting up the external modem. I decided after receiving some advice elsewhere here to run Software Update before installing any software, moving over Quicken data, etc. Was horribly dismayed to see that I was looking at literally days of download time. So far I have only downloaded and run the Firmware Update. I stopped Software Update after a 5-hour Quicktime 7.1.2 download (which I apparently lost altogether when I Stopped) because I saw that the OS 10.4.7 download was going to take approximately 21 hours.
I am stuck in the hinterlands without cable or DSL. Satellite is prohibitively expensive for me at this time. Dialup is presently my only option for Internet connectivity. I am the lone Mac user crying in the PC wilderness here. Is there any way to get the 10.4.7 update, as well the other updates I need (iPhoto, iWeb, iPod, iTunes, iDVD, etc.) on disc somewhere? Failing that, can I download them from my PC at work onto a disc and use them at home from that? If Apple makes these large files available for us dial-up peasants, I cannot find them and I sure would appreciate some direction. Many thanks in advance for any advice that anyone can offer.
iMac Intel DuoCore   Mac OS X (10.4.4)  

Answer 1

Your best option would be to download them at work like you proposed. Then, place the original files you download onto a CD-R.
Then, copy them to your Mac's hard drive to install them.
It does not matter that they would be downloaded with a PC and then copied to a Mac. As long as you save the original downloaded file to the CD-R, the Mac will work just fine with it.
The one exception are files that have the "PKG" extension. Those files cannot be stored properly on a Windows disk (either hard drive or CD-R disk).
If your office has a Unix or Linux system, then you can store those files on a disk.
But, Windows disks will not hold those files properly.
At least I know that the Mac complains any time I try to place one of those files on a FAT32 / Windows disk.
Now, you could always try it, and see what happens. But, I expect you are going to have trouble with PKG files. So, you'll have to download and save those with a Mac.
The updates that are in DMG format will download and save just fine on a PC.
As for getting the updates on disk. I don't know of any way to do that except for buying them on e-bay. There's a few shady people selling the updates there. It's not ethical, and likely illegal / against the license agreement. But, they do it.
Your best bet is going to be to find someone with a Mac every once in a while to download and save the updates for you.
Perhaps there is a cyber-cafe somewhere near you with a Mac setup. Or, maybe even an Apple dealer.
It's a tough one when you're stuck with a slow connection.
I hope this helps.