[Ham-Mac] how low tech can you go?

[Steve Hellyer]

Hi Byron,

Not sure from your brief description but I think that is one of the  
original G3 "Life Saver" colour iMacs from 1999. Actually don't think  
speed is only issue. The latest OS you can run on it will be Mac OS X  
10.3.9. If you can find it. Hopefully it came with Mac OS X CD.

Think you might find it difficult to find much in the way of current  
programs that perform digital supporting this old version of the OS.  
You will have to investigate that with your preferred programs. For  
example I believe Cocoamodem requires 10.4.x minimally to run. Keeping  
in mind the standard size hard drive in the day was 4 or 6 GB and that  
would be typical RAM size for machine today.

Which colour did you get?  I always thought the purple was rather cool  
colour myself!!!

If you looking for specs on the old machine to tell you what it is and  
what OSes it can run download MacTracker.
http://mactracker.dreamhosters.com/

It a starting place anyway.

73
Steve - VA3SPH

On 2009-10-14, at 3:14 PM, Byron Watson wrote:

> I was wondering how slow a Mac desktop or laptop i can use and still
> enjoy the digital modes?....I have been out of the digi modes a few
> months now...a dead hard drive in the old Dell nailed the coffin
> shut....did manage to get an old 333mhz imac at a yard sale for 15
> bucks and now the household is totally Mac!!! (wife has ibook G4). I
> have downloaded cocoamodem for free (tnx W7AY!) and wondering what to
> do next....I have a RigExpert SD interface that i used before....can i
> still use this and how simple or difficult? Anyway this will be a
> temporary setup, going for a Mac laptop soon (ala low end mac) and
> looking to stay as cheap as possible and still ham it up with the digi
> modes, any advice on minimum setup?....My radio setup is an ICOM 703
> into a carolina windom at about 30 ft....Thanks in advance and all
> input is welcome....
> Byron
> N4TIZ