Ticket Options

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Lombard Upgrade?

swft - Aug 18, 2005 - 12:03 am

I have a G3 Lombard 400MHz / 256MB RAM / 6 GB hard drive, and I'm wondering if an upgrade, something like the Daystar XLR8 433 MAChSpeed G4 LOMBARD upgrade, is worth the money and effort, or if it makes sense to get a new computer.

I mostly use my computer for basic internet and word processing, and it's been fine so far. The only real problem right now is a dead battery.

But I am thinking of upgrading for these reasons:

1. I am starting at a university whose network doesn't support OS 9, so I need OS X

2. I would like to be able to get on my university's network wirelessly

3. I would like to get an iPod (probably an older one, I was looking at 3rd generation ones)

From what I've read (and I don't know much about computers, just what I dig up online), it seems like getting the Daystar Lombard upgrade, along with OS X (Daystar offers 10.3), a PC wireless card, and a new battery would be what I need to be able to do what I want. But then there's the issue of more RAM - I was reading about some issues the Lombard has above 324MB RAM. And I'd also like more hard drive memory, but I was thinking of getting an external hard drive. But all those things add up to lots of money, and it might make sense to spring for a new computer.

So, the questions I have are

1. is an upgrade worth it, given the my computer (including its dead battery) and the machines that are available now?

2. what do I need to go wireless? I was thinking of getting the 802.11g/802.11b PC card, but I don't really understand what my choices are here

3. do I need more RAM? (i mean, more RAM is always better, but can I get away with less) how much more for OS X, etc to run smoothly? can I go above 324MB? is 512MB the max for the Lombard? even after the upgrade?

4. is the only disadvantage of an external hard drive its price?

I'm not very tech savvy, so I'd be having someone else do this (no screwdrivering open computer casings for me). sorry if these are unexciting questions, but advice from someone with a little more knowledge would be a great help.

thanks

Natobasso - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:36 pm

Howdy! Phew, long question. However, there's an easy answer. You need to have a computer equipped with firewire to use OS X and the Lombards didn't have firewire, only the Pismos (I have a Pismo).

So you'll need to investigate your iBook options, that's the cheapest of the laptop line. Go to apple.com to search for your model and make sure it has an airport card install. An "Extreme" card gives you the faster g wireless compatibility as well as the slower b standard.

The other option is that you can can access the university network in OS 9, it's just not quite as straightforward as it is in OS X. Airport cards work in OS 9 as well.

Of course for the iPod you need iTunes and there are older versions (I think 1.0 and 2.0) that work in OS 9.

So in short I'd say just get an iBook G4, but be aware that all new systems come with OS X Tiger preinstalled and the bugs are still being worked out there, but you'll have this site to come to for any questions you might have. Get applecare just in case.

Let me know if this helps!
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.

Natobasso - Aug 24, 2005 - 6:17 pm

I had no intentions to mislead you. I was informed by many websites that OS X on a laptop requires firewire.

Give me a break, I do this for free, and could care less what apple wants me to do. Sorry you had a bad experience, but you're way off base regarding my intentions and knowledge set.
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.