How Much Mac Do You Really Need to Run OS X?
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.
OWC: Juice up your iPod w/NewerTech High Capacity Battery from $19.99 Free Installation Videos for most models. Pro Installation Service w/FedEx Shipping From $57.95 (Battery Included). - www.MacSales.com
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
MacPro Memory 667Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $90 / 4GB $134 / 8GB $264. Click to Maximize your Macs...
- 2006.11.16
Well, my experience with using only my Power Mac 6500 and the "classic" Mac OS for the last few weeks went smoothly.
I must say that while it can be done, I can understand why most people wouldn't want to. You have to put up with a lot of pages being rendered incorrectly, even when using iCab 3.
As much as I hate bloatware, I must concede that you can no longer avoid feeding the beast if you need an Internet connection.
For the Average Joe Mac user who needs to be online (and not put up with incorrectly rendered pages, and fewer "must have" features), you've got to have OS X 10.2.8 or later (I would suggest OS X 10.3.9).
While you might need OS X to access the Internet the way you want to, you definitely don't need a new computer to do it. That's why I decided to compile the following list of computers that I would recommend to the average user for daily use (prices are for base computer - memory, optical drive, and video care upgrades and OS X may be additional):
Low End: iMac G3/350 1999 or iMac 350 (2000)
- Mac OS X 10.2.8
- 256 MB RAM
- 10 GB hard drive
- CD-ROM
- US$50 and up
Low End Plus: iMac DV or DV+, 400/450 MHz, 1999 or 2000
- Mac OS X 10.3.9
- 384 MB RAM
- 20 GB hard drive
- DVD-ROM
- US$100 and up
Midrange: Power Mac G3/400
- Mac OS X 10.3.9
- 512 MB RAM
- 20 GB hard drive
- replace CD-ROM with CD-RW or Combo drive
- US$100 and up
Midrange Plus: Power Mac G4/500
- Mac OS X 10.3.9
- 640 MB RAM
- 40 GB hard drive
- replace DVD-ROM with Combo drive
- US$190 and up
High End: Power Mac G4/667 (rare) or G4/733
- Mac OS X 10.3.9
- 768 MB RAM
- 60 GB hard drive
- SuperDrive
- upgrade to 32 MB ATI Radeon AGP video card
- US$400 and up
High End Plus: Power Mac G4/800 dual
- Mac OS X 10.3.9
- 1024 MB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- SuperDrive
- upgrade to 64 MB ATI Radeon 9000 AGP Graphics Card
- US$700 and up
I think these models with the configurations listed would be the
best bets based on what you do. All you need to do is ask yourself:
Do I need a low-end Internet station, a midrange G3, a G4
workhorse, or a high-end DVD burning power house? 
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.
- More in the Vintage Mac Living index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Mac Pro overclocking, Windependence with Darwine, Blu-ray for Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 07.04. Also more on running Leopard on non-Apple hardware, Ubuntu on a Mac mini, the first autofocus webcam with Zeiss optics for Macs, and more.
- Wouldn't life be great with an iSlate?, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.04. PDAs and smartphones are too small for some tasks, full-fledged Tablet PCs are overkill, and ebook readers are too limited. Apple has the tech to own this niche.
- Mac of the Day: 'WallStreet' PowerBook G3, May 1998 - WallStreet offered 3 screen sizes and CPU speeds from 233 to 292 MHz.
- List of the Day: System 6 is the email list for those who choose System 6.
- The Macintosh Portable started a notebook revolution, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.03. Before Apple introduced the Mac Portable, notebook computers were text-based and ran MS-DOS. Ever since, graphical interfaces have been the norm for laptops.
- More links in our archive.
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