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I am not worthy. --Thread for people with slow Macs--

MacNN Hardware 50 posts Jul 3, 2004 to Jul 5, 2004
I've been feeling kind of small lately with these big, fast Macs emerging, so I thought I'd start up a thread to find out how many other people are in the same boat as I.

Here's what I have:

2001 iBook 500MHz
640 RAM
1024x768 res
8MB video (no QE)

Post your fastest 'slow' Mac (the one that you use). I know some of you guys keep old ones around for nostalgia. I guess I just want to find someone out there that uses a slower Mac so I can rub it in their face.
I use a rev A B&W G3 400. It has two 10 gig hard drives (on SCSI, one ATA) and 416 Megs of RAM. The graphics card doesn't support QE either although I have it cranked up at 1280x1024.

I still find Panther to be quick and useable (I prefer it to my 2.6GHz Windows box with XP...)
My second Mac is a clamshell iBook SE (graphite). 366 mhz, 384 of ram, 6GB HD and it still works like a champ (have latest build of Panther).
I used it daily for a week when my G4 iBook had to go into the shop and my G/F uses it daily for surfing, e-mail and even Office 2004 work (I had an academic version so I was able to install it on both Macs).
About the only problem I've ever had with it was that I needed to replace the original battery.
7200/90 is a file server
iMac 266 is a dev machine
iBook 466 hanging around
B&W 400 G3 w/800Mhz G4 upgrade is the main machine these days.

i decided to upgrade the old machine and buy lots of gadgets and a month away, instead of a G5. works for me. i really don't think a dual 2.5Ghz G5 is going to make BBEdit run that much faster.
I use my Wallstreet II Powerbook for my dirty work, when I dont want to damage my ibook. The Wallstreet is running @233 with 160 megs of ram. While it is no speed demon, it runs Jaguar 10.2.8 just fine. I have taken this machine through hell and back but it keeps running like a champ.

Matthew
Quote:
Originally posted by rozwado1:
2001 iBook 500MHz
640 RAM
1024x768 res
8MB video (no QE)

Mine's about a year younger than yours...

2002 iBook 600MHz
384MB RAM
1024x768
16MB Video

It's not too bad, but I need more RAM, and opening Fireworks MX is never a fun event (damn thing takes a minute or so to open, and sucks up all the CPU while it's doing so).
Main Computer:
400mhz Powerbook (Pismo)
320mb RAM
40 GB HD
8mb ATI Rage 128mobility(i think)
Screen is broken so i have it hooked up to a 17" external CRT

Also have an iMac rev.C i believe, used for internet/file server
266mhz
384mb RAM
40 GB HD
6mb Rage Pro(not even recognized by OS X)

Both run 10.3 fairly well so i just dont see any reason to upgrade.
I'm still using my iMac DV. It's got a 400 MHz G3, an 8 MB ATi Rage 128 VR, 1 GB RAM and a 120 GB hard drive. It's time for a G5.
I have, apart from my ageing TiPB, a 333MHz Lombard with 192MB RAM. I use it mainly for OS8.6 (yes, you heard right), and I actually quite like it.
My iBook600/384 shyly says hello.

I still use my iBook 600/348 as a music server and as a backup. Runs 10.3.4 without a hitch. Main machine is a PB 12".
Quote:
Originally posted by Mastrap:
Runs 10.3.4 without a hitch.


Damn, trying to install that on the same machine with no luck whatsoever at the moment, pleased to hear that it rocks when it works.

[spam]
(topics posted in iBook and Mac OS forums)
[/spam]
A 600 should handle it more than fine. My 366 works fine. Even snappier with Panther than Jaguar.

While my main is now a G4 iBook, the clamshell is still more than worthy and capable of getting most jobs done.
My iBook is just FINE for... say... text procession. Like NOOO problem.

Surfing the net, checking your emails...

but coding apps? compiling obj-c, cocoa, gosh.... it's such a pain.

I can't wait to get a G5 really, I think it'll boost my productivity.

and this 12" screen. what a pain.
My main machine is...

400MHz iMac DV (Indigo)
1GB RAM
8MB ATI rage128
10GB HDD

This makes me so sad
Secondary Machine:
Late '01 iBook
600 MHz G3
2X AGP ATI RAGE Mobility 128 - 8 MB VRAM (No QE)
640 MB RAM
15 GB HD
OS X 10.3.4

Blueberry Toilet Seat iBook
300 MHz G3
2X AGP ATI RAGE Mobility - 4 MB VRAM
288 MB RAM
6 GB HD (Third Pty)
OS X 10.3.4
Quote:
Originally posted by alphasubzero949:
Secondary Machine:
Late '01 iBook
600 MHz G3
2X AGP ATI RAGE Mobility 128 - 8 MB VRAM (No QE)
640 MB RAM
15 GB HD
OS X 10.3.4


Damn, another one, so did you manage to install 10.3.4 right of the bat?

[/derailment]
I only have two G4s...
Quote:
Originally posted by ambush:
text procession
Like in an ASCII marriage ceremony or something?
I have a dual 800. I'll trade someone for their G5, though.
Quote:
Originally posted by skalie:
Damn, another one, so did you manage to install 10.3.4 right of the bat?

[/derailment]



I bought mine new with OS X 10.1, then upgraded to 10.2. When Panther came out, I did a fresh install. No problems.
Quote:
Originally posted by wataru:
Like in an ASCII marriage ceremony or something?


Yes, Yes that's it!

No I meant processing as you might already have guessed.
Thanks for the support guys. I've really been jonesin' for a G5 - my one-click account keeps telling me yes, but my $19k in student loans is saying no.

Hopefully I can hold out til maybe Tiger comes around...
My mom and I both have
  • Dual 1.25GHZ
  • 1.7GB RAM
  • Radeon 9000
  • 160GB
  • SuperDrive
  • ComboDrive
  • iSight

She's not due for replacement until 2007. Me I hope by 2006 but life doesn't always go the way you plan it. My Beige G3 went from June 4, 1998 - September 26, 2003 (Now dev server).

But my PowerBase (first Mac) only lasted from December 3, 1996 - June 4, 1998.
Since when are dual 800 g4s slow mindfad?
Since last year. Nah, I just want to do some heavy rendering and video work (and Photoshop work, of course), but this baby barely cuts it. And I'm not a fan of my Radeon 9000. I'm just being bitchy, don't worry. I love my dual 800. Best Mac I've ever owned (even though it's only my second).
darn rendering! Aint it fun to wait 2 days for a scene to find it sucks?

A friend of mine and I used to render backgronds that way (albeit only through bryce -- which is easy to make crap with but NOT easy to make GOOD crap with), and while my machine felt slow at times -- his was slower

Then again it only supported one processor so meh.
Quote:
Originally posted by Mastrap:
I still use my iBook 600/348 as a music server and as a backup. Runs 10.3.4 without a hitch. Main machine is a PB 12".


That is my set up, and it's also my main computer... it rocks, however, I look at the PB 12" longingly.
I have the original TiBook 667.

It has a powerful fan.
Quote:
Originally posted by Sealobo:
I have the original TiBook 667.

It has a powerful fan.
My original 667 TiPB keeps me warm in winter
QS 733 / 768MB / 40GB / 27GB / Superdrive / Radeon 9000
12" 1.33Ghz PB w/ Combo and 768MB
Check my sig. Don't use it for much. If I have a friend over, we can play network games though. I also use it for the occasional backup over the network too.
  • imac dv 400
  • 10 gb HD
  • 80 gb FW
  • 256 mb Ram (Where did you other imac dv owners aquire memory and at what price?)
  • Ati Rage 128 Pro 8 mb
Quote:
Originally posted by rozwado1:

Here's what I have:

640 RAM
8MB video (no QE)


Man, that sucks for you !

What happened to your built-in 128MB ?
Where the heck did you get 640 B RAM from ?

Are you running all your apps in the video RAM ?

-t
This is sort of cheating, 'cause the Mac is (obviously) not mine, but it's the only one I've had the pleasure of using on a semi-regular basis (ie. once in a while).

iBook 400 (I think), 12" (from 2001 or so I think)
18.6 GB hard drive (well, that's what it says... probably 20 GB?)
256 MB RAM
Runs 10.3, not super-fast, but usable (for her needs)

I don't know about video memory or anything like that... I think everything in it is completely stock...
Quote:
Originally posted by Dex13:
  • imac dv 400
  • 10 gb HD
  • 80 gb FW
  • 256 mb Ram (Where did you other imac dv owners aquire memory and at what price?)
  • Ati Rage 128 Pro 8 mb


I have upgraded the RAM in my machine many times. I added a 128 MB stick (192 MB total) from Futureshop, then swapped out the 64 for a 256 MB (384 MB total) which I think was from Futureshop again. Finally, I purchased dual 512 MB sticks for my current 1 GB from Wildred Laurier University's bookstore. Each stick was $100 CAD. It's just regular PC133 SDRAM.
I had a 350mhz G3 that I was using for my MAIN computer until last Feb.

I feel your pain.

PBook 12" one year old...only, but it feels so old when I see the new DP G5's coming out...
Apple II/SE
PPC 6100 @ 60 MHz (1995), OS 7/8 multiboot, 24 MB RAM, HPV videocard with 2 MB VRAM, 3 (THREE!!) internal SCSI disks with a total amount of 21 GB storage capacity, data volume running @ 10.000 rpm, ............................................... planning to get a Sonnet processor upgrade with 240 MHz G3. whole rig is running as a file/backup server for my Tibook (667 MHz, DVI, 2002)
I have a Power Mac dual 450.
Quote:
Originally posted by turtle777:
What happened to your built-in 128MB ?
Where the heck did you get 640 B RAM from ?


128 built-in, then I got a 512 chip from transintl.com = 640MB
Quote:
Originally posted by rozwado1:
128 built-in, then I got a 512 chip from transintl.com = 640MB


Yeah, MB !!!, now we're talking

-t
TiPB 400 and Cube 450. Both with good HDs (5,400s in Ti and 7,200 in cube) good enough memory (384MB and 740MB respectively). They are not speed demons but very very reliable (the Ti is being up now for 61 days).
Until a few months ago my main machine was a G4/400 MZ, with 756 Mb of RAM.. But -- I finally got a processor upgrade (933 mz) which makes it pretty snappy, especially in comparison! My secondary is an original 12-in PB.

I have a performa 6360 laying around and I'm wondering what to do with it...
PowerBook 540c - 68LC040 @33mhz
36MB RAM / 340MB HD

Installed software:
Mac OS 7.5.3
After Dark 4.1

I just slapped Jaguar on my beige G3 to prepare it for its new life as a jukebox when I go back home in a month.
Wife's machine: Tangerine iBook

300MHz G3
576MB RAM
40GB HD
Airport

Currently running Panther, and is very usable.
Summer 2001 iMac
40gb HD, 128MB Ram, CD Rom, Firewire, USB, 500mhz G3.
Our family mac
iMac DVSE 400 Graphite
1 gig ram
7200 HD (Original broke)
Panther runs fine.

Dyin' for a new iMac.
mp.ls