Oh do I dare ask the Macintosh question here? Pretty easy one I think...

[daveleau]

Hi everybody!

I have a Mac 7200 (120MHz, 64MB ram, 1GB hdd SCSI (i think) other than that I am not sure spec-wise) and am wondering what to do with it. Here are the options as I see it, please enlighten me on any others you might come up with...
1) Leave it as is, and learn Mac and have a second system albeit slow...and mac...
2) Play around with Linux and make it a Linux box (anyone with any info on this please let me know...Linux PPC...is that the only flavor available for Mac?)
3) Sell it for the measely $100 I might get for it on FleaBay...
4) Drill a hole in it and make a birdhouse/ boat anchor with it...

I am NOT a Macintoosh fan. I do not want this to go to waste though since it is fairly quick...and can help me catch RCNMoose again in RC5... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks for any input...
Dave

[daveleau]

The G3 upgrade is around $400 so I don't want to put that kind of $$ into a Macintosh. I did that to a 7500 here at work though and it is MUCH faster. Thanks.

[FrozenLiquidity]

Oh, oh option 4 by far....

Seriously, thikingofpain has a pretty darn good idea. Do that and you can catch RCN and suprise him.

All Mac talk is trash, but I happen to respect Macs myself, after using one as my main systen for five years. (1992-1997)

I can see that this system could be of some use to you.

FrozenLiquidity Mac = paperweight http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[thekingofpain]

You could buy a Sonnet G4 upgrade card and run OS9.0.4 at 400mhz with 1mb of 200mhz L2 cache and REALLY crack some RC5!!!...OR you could donate it to a church or deserving kid thats already usin a Mac in school...Yellowdog and eLinux might still be available...(boatanchor/birdhouse, nawww...come onnnn)

[NDC]

Definetly option 1 or 2!

I think you can do without the $100 and I doubt that birds need your help finding their home.... And the MAC just won't be able to anchor any boat other than a paper boat! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 01-25-2001).]

[daveleau]

Yes, I respect the Mac a bit myself. I like the fact that they have moved ahead and had the foresight to ramp up the processor bit count (that how you say that?) to make 128 bit processors instead of sticking at 32 like PC. Other than that, I hate not being able to tinker with the mac OS...

Any ideas onthe best Linux route to take?
Thanks
Dave

[Warthog]

I like #4.
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif
Warthog

[RobRich]

LinuxPPC is the best Linux release for the Mac currently. Even though your system is a relatively slow 120-MHz PowerPC-601 processor, it will still surfice most common desktop related activities. Definitely a great system to aid in learning about the Apple and PPC architectures.

Install Linux, drop in RC-5, and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised by your systems capabilties.

About forgot, here is a link you will definitely need:

http://www.linuxppc.org/

Robert Richmond

[This message has been edited by RobRich (edited 01-25-2001).]

[struggles]

What's a mac?

Are they those stupid colored things we use for target practice at the range?

[DemonKnight]

A "Mac" is short for Macintosh, a type of computer created by apple computers. for quite some time they were actually the system of choice, that is untill Microsoft copied their idea and made a GUI for its OS DOS (the birth of windows http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif) after that some how people decided to get PCs instead of Macs. However the macs are quite good IMHO. But I still prefer a PC running linux (if my modem would only work with it..)

[daveleau]

Thanks guys, I think I may try out the LinuxPPC and see how finances move with the upgrade. I would rather put $300 into a PC instead of upgrading a Mac, now that I think about it. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Dave

[Savant]

you can use it as furniture http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

If you really feel you must use it, at least have the decency to use linux on it.

FrozenLiquidity, I've also seen them as bookends, footrests, tables, etc.

[struggles]

Hey Demon.....Duhhhh!

[daveleau]

I think he thought the "What's a mac?" question was a serious one struggles. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

dave

[[EFS]HarryPotter]

I say option 3, sell your comp for as much as possible and then buy a REAL computer for $600 or $700. You can get an okay computer for that much check out www.axissystems.com (http://www.axissystems.com)

i say if u r not looking for that much power go with a duron or celeron, but the athlon are not that much more expensive that the duron so who know!?!

if not option 3 then option 4...god knows the only thing we need on this planet besides a politician is another mac user.

[Joel Kleppinger]

It's funny how even in a Mac thread, we get proof how helpful the people that hang out at SysOpt are. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

What's a mac?

Most forums you'd have got that shoved in your face... possibly even so eloquently using your own "Duhhhh!" However, that's not what happened.

Thumbs up to DemonKnight for patience with people that look like newbies, smell like newbies, but talk back like 3l33ts. <grin>

[Dputiger]

A Mac is not a true 128-bit CPU unless I misunderstand the G4. It uses a 128-bit bus to the AltiVec decoders, but these are 4 32-bit lines of code, not a true single 128-bit line.

If you think about it, Intel has been trying to design an effective, efficient 64-bit CPU for the last six years. I'm fairly sure the G4 and G4+ are not true 128-bit processors.

[NDC]

Yep, the G4's are 32bit processors, not true-128bit processor. The softwares will have to be optimized to utilize the Velocity Engine which processed tha data in 128bit chunks rather 32bit chunks..... Most of the graphic applications are optimized to utilize the Velocity Engine on the G4's... That is why Photoshop and other graphic applications run much quicker on a MAC then a PC.... they are optimized to utilize the Veocity Engine...

[Warthog]

That is why Photoshop and other graphic applications run much quicker on a MAC then a PC.... they are optimized to utilize the Veocity Engine

huh that's why Adobe manual pictures are in the Mac OS...it "favors" the mac. Never really thought of that.

Warthog

[NDC]

huh that's why Adobe manual pictures are in the Mac OS...it "favors" the mac. Never really thought of that.

That's hilarious.... "Favor" http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif


Actually. most of Adobe graphic apps were originally released for MAC....Then they were made for PC platform. I think Photoshop V.3.0 was the first version for PC platform. As for Go Live just a couple years back, it was exclusively for MACS only, but were later rewritten for PC platform.




[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 01-26-2001).]

[nunyadam]

option 5. sell it to me cheap . i'd love to
have it for a few reason's

i could learn about mac's (my mother love's them)
crack rc5
crack rc5
crack rc5





[This message has been edited by nunyadam (edited 01-26-2001).]

[falcompsx]

macs are good for 3 things....

-paperweight
-doorstop
-ship anchor

[falcompsx]

what's the facination with RC5 anyway? watch a screen sit there and crunch numbers?? I'd rather get a frag in counterstrike or Q3A

[spuck]

are u all saying macks are no good? was thinking of getting a cube.not sure now.

[Warthog]

Agree, falcompsx.

I don't get it. jl123 convinced me to crack it for him. I suppose I could easily do it for myself by making a few alterations, but I couldn't really give a rat's **** cheek....oops did I say that? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Personally, I don't like macs whatsoever BUT I don't want to get into that discussion and repeat myself. I will give it to them that they can be better for major graphic artist stuff. Other than that....no way hose. The thing lacks upgradability. Maximum PC had a bunch of good uses for it...hehehe http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif. IMO, it's a jazzed up imac. Maybe someone could tell me what it is good for.

Warthog

[This message has been edited by Warthog (edited 01-26-2001).]

[nunyadam]

why crack rc5?

they say it can't be done.
1 in 13,000 chance at a $1000
used it to burn in my new processor (gained an extra 50 mhz so far)
in a strange way i like hearing my cpu go mooo
it help's somebody else out.
i leave my cpu on 24/7 so let it do something when i'm not.
a little ego boost showing off my kick **** cpu.(duron 700@950)

[RobRich]

You are correct, as even the G4 is still a 32-bit RISC-based processor. People often state the G4 is 128-bit, because it can process SIMD data using a parrallel (4 x 32bit) internal bus which offers 128-bit transactions. It also doesn't help that Apple tries to market the G4 as a 128-bit solution in some of its advertising.

Robert Richmond