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Vintage Mac Living

The Sun Has Set on the G4

- 2006.05.23

A week ago, Apple introduced a new line of portable computers for consumers, the MacBooks, discontinuing the last of the remaining PowerPC Macs (except the G5 tower).

This marks the end of an era, because G4-based systems are no longer in production.

The venerable G4 was once called the world's fastest personal computer and the worlds first personal supercomputer. Now some say it's only good for word processing, email, and light Web surfing.

It's strange how fast things move. It seems like only yesterday that the G4 was the hot new thing, but the reality is the G4 really is old technology. But does that mean that it's no longer useful in today's world?

The G4 is still a very good performer for nearly any purpose, whether it be 350 MHz Yikes! G4 or a 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4.

Want to edit your home movies on your G4? Yes, it can be done!
Want to rip, mix, and burn your CD collection? Yes, that can be done, too!
Want to import and edit your entire photo collection on your G4? You bet you can!
Want to run Photoshop on your G4? Sorry, you can't do that (just kidding).

And that's not all you can do with a G4, but I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

It won't be too long before everyone thinks the G4 is too slow to do any of those things, or worse, forget that they can.

I just hope that those of you who are reading this don't forget about the G4s and how they (along with OS X and great software like iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, etc.) brought us into the 21st century.

Recent Vintage Mac Living articles

If a Mac Plus can run System 7.5.5, why can't an 800 MHz G4 run Leopard?, 10.19. Apple supported the Mac Plus for over 10 years after its introduction. Why should Leopard cut off support for Macs released 4-6 years ago?
60 Mac models left behind: The ridiculously high cost of Leopard, 10.17. Mac OS X 10.5 officially doesn't support any G3 Macs, most G4 Power Macs, most titanium PowerBooks, half the G4 iMacs, early eMacs, or the first 12" G4 iBook.
What a waste! Some schools would rather store old computers than put them to use, 09.12. Denver Public Schools is one example of a school district so ready to buy new computers that it has tens of thousands of old, usable computers sitting in storage.
Why I don't want an iPhone - and really want an iPod touch, 09.06. The iPhone offers a lot of capabilities, but at too high a cost for someone who doesn't need a mobile phone or doesn't want to change carriers. The iPod touch is nearly perfect.
More in the Vintage Mac Living index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: 17" iMac G4/800 MHz, July 2002 - The iMac 'grows up' with a 17" 1440 x 900 display.
Group of the Day: LisaList supports Lisa users.
November 8 in LEM history: 99: OS 9: I think I like it - 01: The simplified Mac life - Soured on Windows - Flea market Mac - 02: Little room for improvement in new 'Books - Combo drive upgrade for iceBooks - 04: Re-Porter - 05: Fix the old iMac or buy a Mac mini? - Apple's Copland project - 06: MacBook Core 2 - MacBook value equation - Cheap is as cheap does - 07: Problems with Classic mode in Tiger - The G4 Power Mac that won't run Leopard
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Best G4 iBook Deals, 10.30. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $225; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1 GHz, $349; 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz SuperDrive, $498.
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