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Author Topic: What to do with an iMac?  (Read 1684 times)

What to do with an iMac?
on: September 27, 2007, 17:59:44 PM
I have just been given an iMac by a friend and im not sure what its capable of (being a PC kinda guy).

The specs I have managed to find are:

iMac PowerPC G3
193Mb RAM
450Mhz G3 processor
Running Mac OS 9.0

Is this mac going to be able to run the newer Mac OSs, eg Tiger?

I was hoping to use it as a media center or sorts, not using an external screen, just to play video files from the network in my room, but im not sure it is powerful enough.
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Formerly sexytw

  • Offline Cypher

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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #1 on: September 27, 2007, 19:28:25 PM
If you can get it some more memory then yes.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/requirements.html
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #2 on: September 27, 2007, 19:58:30 PM
hmm assuming a 450 G3 is the same as a P450 you should be able to play most things, dont try HD stuff though.  :mrgreen:
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  • Offline Beaker

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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #3 on: September 27, 2007, 20:18:09 PM
Quote from: White Giant
hmm assuming a 450 G3 is the same as a P450 you should be able to play most things, dont try HD stuff though.  :mrgreen:


nowhere close, PowerPC was a much better CPU than the Intel of the period, much lower speed, much higher throughput.
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What to do with an iMac?
Reply #4 on: September 27, 2007, 20:33:08 PM
Good good! Seems its worth a try.

Firstly im going to try and get Tiger 10.4 to go on there, ive read that it will install with under the minimum requirements.

Then im going to install MediaCentral which looks good.

If all goes to plan ill start looking for a suitable and compatible remote.
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Formerly sexytw

  • Offline mrt

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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #5 on: September 28, 2007, 08:10:20 AM
Personally, I think you should turn it into one of those cool fishtanks!  Google imac fishtank for some inspiration.
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What to do with an iMac?
Reply #6 on: September 28, 2007, 10:49:20 AM
I was reading during my last install of feisty ubuntu that a lower specification imac could handle xcfe and run media applications, you just have to strip everything down.

i was on teh ubuntu messageboard about a guy who ran a 233mhz imac as a media/internet machine for a few months before the powerboard went, heh.
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #7 on: September 28, 2007, 14:27:11 PM
Boat Anchor?

its got the handle ready.
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  • Offline mrt

  • Posts: 1,250
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #8 on: September 28, 2007, 14:28:58 PM
Quote from: soopahfly
Boat Anchor?

its got the handle ready.


November the 5th is coming up!
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #9 on: September 30, 2007, 20:26:51 PM
This seem to be going according to plan so far.

I have installed Mac OS X Tiger and it runs pretty reasonably. It was a little tricky to install, i first had to update the firmware, but before this I have to update to OS 9.1 or higher. So the process went:

Upgrade OS9 to OS9.1 (update free on apple site)
Update the firmware to handle OSX
Install OSX

I have installed MediaCentral and it is a little laggy. Im looking for alternatives with better film archiving at the moment.
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Formerly sexytw
Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #10 on: September 30, 2007, 20:37:36 PM
Quote from: mrt
Quote from: soopahfly
Boat Anchor?

its got the handle ready.


November the 5th is coming up!


Is it legal to burn computers? I have a load of them and want rid.
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #11 on: October 01, 2007, 00:08:29 AM
Quote from: mr_roll
Quote from: mrt
Quote from: soopahfly
Boat Anchor?

its got the handle ready.


November the 5th is coming up!


Is it legal to burn computers? I have a load of them and want rid.


Dont think so. You could get the Enviroment agency down your throat with a hefty fine and prison sentence, but to be honest... who is going to know the difference between a garden fire for rubbish, and a computer alight.

Also downside is... most of the computer will be left behind. youll have a pile of glass, and metal on the floor. lol.
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  • Offline mrt

  • Posts: 1,250
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Re:What to do with an iMac?
Reply #12 on: October 01, 2007, 08:42:35 AM
If mr_roll was to burn all of his random obsolete hardware, we would have something similar to the great fire of london!   ;)
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