I have a power mac G3.

To make a long story short, I just got a Power Mac G3 from a friend. I want to use it as a word processing machine, because its not good for much else, so I have a few questions. I'm running OS 10.2, just so you know.

1. Is there a good freeware word processor out there that I can use?
2. Is there a photo editor out there that I can use?
3. Is there any good games for mac that I could possibly play?

It's 450 Mhz, has 512 Mb of ram, and a 16 mb video card.

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

1. Is there a good freeware word processor out there that I can use?

OpenOffice - The best alternative to running Microsoft Office on the Mac. Unfortunately, since you're running 10.2 you may not be able to run the latest version. According to the system requirements page, only OpenOffice 1.1 goes back as far as 10.2.

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

2. Is there a photo editor out there that I can use?

GIMP has been called the best free open source alternative to Photoshop, but it doesn't look like there are any builds on the official Mac builds page that support back to 10.2.

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

3. Is there any good games for mac that I could possibly play?

No idea on that one.

Ultimately, 10.2 is going to hold you back on the list of quality programs that you can use. No software wants to continue to support that far back.

I'm not sure about the compatibility of any of these with 10.2

You might want to try to torrent a newer version of OS X that computer will run and try it then.

1. NeoOffice is a freeware Word Processor for Mac.
2. Try iPhoto, GIMP, Acorn.
3. Sense you don't have a newer version of OS X, there aren't many games you'll be able to play. I don't know of any that might work with 10.2

But yeah, try to upgrade to the highest version of OS X you can.

I'm going to upgrade to 10.3 probably, or maybe 10.4. Can you do 10.4 on a G3? This thing was originally running OS 8.5, so I've made a huge step up already. Maybe I'll pick up a newer iMac or something.

That is of course, if I get the money.

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

I'm going to upgrade to 10.3 probably, or maybe 10.4. Can you do 10.4 on a G3? This thing was originally running OS 8.5, so I've made a huge step up already. Maybe I'll pick up a newer iMac or something.

That is of course, if I get the money.

If you get the newer iMacs you can do whatever you want on them.

1. Openoffice
2. Gimp
3. Gaming on an old Mac is like trying to game on your router.

Originally Posted by Aniday

If you get the newer iMacs you can do whatever you want on them.

Except for things that actually require computing power.

Originally Posted by fratey

3. Gaming on an old Mac is like trying to game on your router.

That's the vibe I'm getting.

Originally Posted by fratey

Except for things that actually require computing power.

Like what?



Anyway. You computer might be able to handle 10.4..maaaybe 10.5 but that's a stretch.

Originally Posted by Aniday

Like what?

Games from 2007 and newer, design work, heavy (or large image) Photoshop work, and heavy music production.

Originally Posted by Aniday

Anyway. You computer might be able to handle 10.4..maaaybe 10.5 but that's a stretch.

Most likely 10.4 - several G4's can't even handle 10.5, and the 'official' (it's possible without with a hard drive swap) requirement is 733 mhz for Leopard.

design work, heavy (or large image) Photoshop work

lol

I do this sort of stuff on my iMac all the time and it runs smooth as glass--even with several other applications open.

Originally Posted by Aleph

lol

I do this sort of stuff on my iMac all the time and it runs smooth as glass--even with several other applications open.

The most expensive iMac costs 2200$. It has less performance (by far) than a 800$ i5 box + a 250$ monitor, has worse warranty, eats more power, has ****ty MaxtorSeagate hard drives which are bound to erase your data, and definitely won't run games or actual design work a fifth as good. I'm not talking about editing a couple .jpg's from your party with your artsy coffee-chugging friends, I'm talking about tens or hundreds of .RAW files, rendering with vray, or several large .psd's with hundreds of layers, which aren't that uncommon for my work. Your iMac is simply inferior and not made to handle stuff beyond 5mpx images, signatures, and logos.

But yeah, you have fun rendering with vray on your iMac while I sport 1/20 of your rendering times.

Originally Posted by fratey

The most expensive iMac costs 2200$. It has less performance (by far) than a 800$ i5 box + a 250$ monitor, has worse warranty, eats more power, has ****ty MaxtorSeagate hard drives which are bound to erase your data, and definitely won't run games or actual design work a fifth as good. I'm not talking about editing a couple .jpg's from your party with your artsy coffee-chugging friends, I'm talking about tens or hundreds of .RAW files, rendering with vray, or several large .psd's with hundreds of layers, which aren't that uncommon for my work. Your iMac is simply inferior and not made to handle stuff beyond 5mpx images, signatures, and logos.

But yeah, you have fun rendering with vray on your iMac while I sport 1/20 of your rendering times.

For the love of God

Originally Posted by Aniday

For the love of God

You give me two sentences, I give you eight.

You should bring back the communist girl sig, it made me happy. And, coincidentally, I just bid on a Power Mac g5

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

And, coincidentally, I just bid on a Power Mac g5

Hope you get it cheap, it won't run Snow Leopard + programs made for Intel
(this comes from someone who too bid on a Powermac G5, so don't think I'm just spewing anti-Apple propaganda )

Originally Posted by fratey

Hope you get it cheap, it won't run Snow Leopard + programs made for Intel
(this comes from someone who too bid on a Powermac G5, so don't think I'm just spewing anti-Apple propaganda )

Oh I know. Then there's a guy in my area selling one on craigslist for 400 bucks. That's not a bad deal.....

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

Oh I know. Then there's a guy in my area selling one on craigslist for 400 bucks. That's not a bad deal.....

Definitely not! What are the specs?

Originally Posted by fratey

Definitely not! What are the specs?

1.8 Ghz power pc, 2 gig of ram, 250 gig harddrive. I would pick it up but I don't have the money right now....

Originally Posted by Dark Wyrm

1.8 Ghz power pc, 2 gig of ram, 250 gig harddrive. I would pick it up but I don't have the money right now....

dual core 1.8ghz or single core?

Originally Posted by fratey

dual core 1.8ghz or single core?

Dual. If it was single I don't think that it would be worth it.