A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X so
that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this machine.
Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
remain stable with OS X?.
-
Peter

In article <SWUbe.12946$Nc.6449@trnddc09>,
"Peter" <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X so
> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this machine.
> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
> remain stable with OS X?.
> -
> Peter

I've had OS X running on an iMac-266 w. 192 MB of RAM... yours should be
fine, though if possible, upgrade the RAM as much as possible.

===============================================
remove 'nospam' when replying

Many thanks for the fast reply Alan. Any idea how much RAM I can add to
this machine, the exact specs and where I can purchase this RAM?
-
Peter

"Alan Zisman" replied ...
>
> "Peter" wrote:
>
>> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
>> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X
>> so
>> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this
>> machine.
>> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
>> remain stable with OS X?.
>> -
>> Peter
>
> I've had OS X running on an iMac-266 w. 192 MB of RAM... yours should be
> fine, though if possible, upgrade the RAM as much as possible.

On 4/27/05 6:19 PM, in article e6Vbe.12951$Nc.630@trnddc09, "Peter"
<verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> Many thanks for the fast reply Alan. Any idea how much RAM I can add to
> this machine, the exact specs and where I can purchase this RAM?
> -
> Peter
>
> "Alan Zisman" replied ...
>>
>> "Peter" wrote:
>>
>>> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
>>> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X
>>> so
>>> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this
>>> machine.
>>> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
>>> remain stable with OS X?.
>>> -
>>> Peter
>>
>> I've had OS X running on an iMac-266 w. 192 MB of RAM... yours should be
>> fine, though if possible, upgrade the RAM as much as possible.
>
>
This iMac should accept 2 512mb PC100 SDRAM DIMMs for a total of 1GB; with
current RAM prices (as low as $65.00 per stick), I'd do it in a heartbeat.
--
Brian Ehni

In article <e6Vbe.12951$Nc.630@trnddc09>,
"Peter" <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> Many thanks for the fast reply Alan. Any idea how much RAM I can add to
> this machine, the exact specs and where I can purchase this RAM?
> -
> Peter

A comfortable value is 512MB more or less. If you can buy a 512MB
memory card, that would be the best bet (approx $65 - $100 range)

Many people in this news group like <http://www.crucial.com>, but I've
also used vendors from <http://dealram.com> and been satisfied.

By the way. A lot depends on what your friend wants to do with the Mac.
Light duty email and web surfin' can most likely be done on 192MB, but
your friend will find the experience better with more memory.

Bob Harris

> "Alan Zisman" replied ...
> >
> > "Peter" wrote:
> >
> >> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
> >> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X
> >> so
> >> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this
> >> machine.
> >> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
> >> remain stable with OS X?.
> >> -
> >> Peter
> >
> > I've had OS X running on an iMac-266 w. 192 MB of RAM... yours should be
> > fine, though if possible, upgrade the RAM as much as possible.

In article <SWUbe.12946$Nc.6449@trnddc09>, Peter
<verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X so
> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this machine.
> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
> remain stable with OS X?.

Add more RAM, then the answer is certainly "yes".

djb

--
One site: <http://www.balderstone.ca>
The other site, with ww links<http://www.woodenwabbits.com>
------------------------------------------------------
~ Stay Calm... Be Brave... Wait for the Signs ~

Peter <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X so
> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this machine.
> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
> remain stable with OS X?.

Before doing anything, check to see whether this machine requires a
firmware upgrade. If it does and you install Mac OS X without it, you
will have an expensive doorstop. m.


--
matt neuburg, phd = matt@tidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/
AppleScript: The Definitive Guide
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...methingsbymatt
Read TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com

On 4/27/05 8:14 PM, in article 1gvovrk.9f1dra10yqzl4N%matt@tidbits.com,
"matt neuburg" <matt@tidbits.com> wrote:

> Peter <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:
>
>> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
>> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X so
>> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this machine.
>> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
>> remain stable with OS X?.
>
> Before doing anything, check to see whether this machine requires a
> firmware upgrade. If it does and you install Mac OS X without it, you
> will have an expensive doorstop. m.
>


AMEN!!!
--
Brian Ehni

Thanks for the heads up, which raises three additional questions.
1. Exactly how does one detect what level of firmware an iMac is currently
running?
2. How does one find out what level of firmware is required for Mac OS X?
3. Where is the "current" firmware located, and can someone provide any
pointers for "safely" installing it?
Remember that I am a PC person.
-
Peter

"matt neuburg" wrote ...

> Before doing anything, check to see whether this machine requires a
> firmware upgrade. If it does and you install Mac OS X without it, you
> will have an expensive doorstop. m.

Peter <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the heads up, which raises three additional questions.
> 1. Exactly how does one detect what level of firmware an iMac is currently
> running?
> 2. How does one find out what level of firmware is required for Mac OS X?
> 3. Where is the "current" firmware located, and can someone provide any
> pointers for "safely" installing it?

Apple System Profiler lists the Mac's firmware as "Boot ROM Version" or
something similar.

For more information on updating iMac firmware:

<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60385>;

<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117>.

In <5b_be.4585$vj1.1618@trnddc01> Peter wrote:
> "matt neuburg" wrote ...
>
>> Before doing anything, check to see whether this machine requires a
>> firmware upgrade. If it does and you install Mac OS X without it, you
>> will have an expensive doorstop. m.
>
> Thanks for the heads up, which raises three additional questions.
> 1. Exactly how does one detect what level of firmware an iMac is
> currently running?
> 2. How does one find out what level of firmware is required for Mac OS
> X?
> 3. Where is the "current" firmware located, and can someone provide
> any pointers for "safely" installing it?
> Remember that I am a PC person.
> -
> Peter

Mac OS X: Chart of Available Firmware Updates
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117

You need the iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9. Apparently if you don't install
it the iMac video output can be set to some strange mode which the
internal display can't work with. Getting it out of that mode again is
very difficult!

--
Roger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand
http://vintageware.orcon.net.nz/
__________________________________________________ ______________________
No Silicon Heaven? Preposterous! Where would all the calculators go?

Kryten, from the Red Dwarf episode "The Last Day"

In article <e6Vbe.12951$Nc.630@trnddc09>,
"Peter" <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:

> Many thanks for the fast reply Alan. Any idea how much RAM I can add to
> this machine, the exact specs and where I can purchase this RAM?
> -
> Peter
>
> "Alan Zisman" replied ...
> >
> > "Peter" wrote:
> >
> >> A friend has an Apple G3, 500Mhz, 192MB iMac with 28 GB hard drive (27 GB
> >> free) running OS 9.2.2 and I would like to upgrade this machine to OS X
> >> so
> >> that my friend can run Mozilla's FireFox 1.0.3 web browser on this
> >> machine.
> >> Can I expect such an upgrade to go smoothly? Will this iMac run well and
> >> remain stable with OS X?.
> >> -
> >> Peter
> >
> > I've had OS X running on an iMac-266 w. 192 MB of RAM... yours should be
> > fine, though if possible, upgrade the RAM as much as possible.

Crucial.com lists RAM for that model on their page:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...e=Apple%2BiMac
&mfr=Apple&cat=RAM&model=iMac+%28G3-500%29&submit=Go

It's listed as fairly standard PC133 168-pin DIMMs... This iMac uses the
same RAM as PCs of the same vintage; they stock:

512 MB for US$110
256 MB for US$78
128 MB for US$43

Crucial sells high-quality RAM for relatively high prices-- you (or your
friend) can probably find usable RAM locally cheaper (but make sure to
be able to return it if it doesn't work!) If it's affordable, Crucial is
a good source-- high quality, fast shipping, guaranteed.

Personally, I find 512+ MB a good 'sweet spot' for both OSX and WinXP,
though 384 MB would probably be OK.

Instructions on opening up the iMac and changing the RAM at:

http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/bc/howtoimac/

===============================================
remove 'nospam' when replying

Followup-to: comp.sys.mac and comp.sys.mac.system

Neill Massello <neillmassello@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Peter <verizon@petersaleREMOVETHIS.com> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the heads up, which raises three additional questions.
> > 1. Exactly how does one detect what level of firmware an iMac is currently
> > running?
> > 2. How does one find out what level of firmware is required for Mac OS X?
> > 3. Where is the "current" firmware located, and can someone provide any
> > pointers for "safely" installing it?
>
> Apple System Profiler lists the Mac's firmware as "Boot ROM Version" or
> something similar.

Here's the one from my Prismo:

: Machine Model: PowerBook
: CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (83.0)
: Number Of CPUs: 1
: CPU Speed: 400 MHz
: L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
: Memory: 512 MB
: Bus Speed: 100 MHz
: Boot ROM Version: 3.2.3f1
: Serial Number: QT0100YLHDR
: Sales Order Number: M7630DK/A

> For more information on updating iMac firmware:

<iMac firmware update link snipped>

> <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117>.

It says on that page, that a PowerBook (G3, and with built-in Firewire)
needs to update the firmware to 4.1.8.

This machine is a PowerBook G3 with built-in Firewire and has been
running OS X 10.2.8 with the above Boot ROM version for over 2 months,
and it now has had 10.3.9 on it for about 3 weeks. And there havn't been
any problems.

During the OS X 10.2 install, the installer was supposed to come out and
give a warning message about updating the firmware if that was
necessary. No warning came, so I just installed OS X 10.2, and upgraded
to 10.2.8 a day or two later.

No warning message when installing 10.3 either.

The Firewire port hasn't been used. The modem and network connection
has, as has the CD/DVD drive, USB and the headphone jack.

Any ideas?

Axel Hammerschmidt <hlexa********.com> wrote:

> It says on that page, that a PowerBook (G3, and with built-in Firewire)
> needs to update the firmware to 4.1.8.
>
> This machine is a PowerBook G3 with built-in Firewire and has been
> running OS X 10.2.8 with the above Boot ROM version for over 2 months,
> and it now has had 10.3.9 on it for about 3 weeks. And there havn't been
> any problems.
>
> During the OS X 10.2 install, the installer was supposed to come out and
> give a warning message about updating the firmware if that was
> necessary. No warning came, so I just installed OS X 10.2, and upgraded
> to 10.2.8 a day or two later.
>
> No warning message when installing 10.3 either.
>
> The Firewire port hasn't been used. The modem and network connection
> has, as has the CD/DVD drive, USB and the headphone jack.
>
> Any ideas?

The new firmware is apparently not as critical for your PowerBook as it
is for some iMac models. It's likely that the only things 4.1.8 fixes on
a G3 PowerBook relate to FireWire. To be safe, I wouldn't install 10.4
before running the recommended firmware update.

Neill Massello <neillmassello@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Axel Hammerschmidt <hlexa********.com> wrote:
>
> > It says on that page, that a PowerBook (G3, and with built-in Firewire)
> > needs to update the firmware to 4.1.8.
> >
> > This machine is a PowerBook G3 with built-in Firewire and has been
> > running OS X 10.2.8 with the above Boot ROM version for over 2 months,
> > and it now has had 10.3.9 on it for about 3 weeks. And there havn't been
> > any problems.
> >
> > During the OS X 10.2 install, the installer was supposed to come out and
> > give a warning message about updating the firmware if that was
> > necessary. No warning came, so I just installed OS X 10.2, and upgraded
> > to 10.2.8 a day or two later.
> >
> > No warning message when installing 10.3 either.
> >
> > The Firewire port hasn't been used. The modem and network connection
> > has, as has the CD/DVD drive, USB and the headphone jack.
> >
> > Any ideas?
>
> The new firmware is apparently not as critical for your PowerBook as it
> is for some iMac models. It's likely that the only things 4.1.8 fixes on
> a G3 PowerBook relate to FireWire. To be safe, I wouldn't install 10.4
> before running the recommended firmware update.

Yes. And thanks.

Quote:

Firmware Update 4.1.8 includes improvements to Firewire target disk
mode, network booting, gigabit networking (on systems with gigabit
hardware), and system stability. This update also adds support for
additional security options which allow the Open Firmware to be password
protected.

1. No Firewire target disk mode
2. No network booting
3. No gigabit networking
4. No Open Firmware password protection

Nor have I encountered system instability.

OS X 10.4 will have to wait.

I was really wondering about the missing warning messages during install
of 10.2 (and 10.3). Why didn't the installer come out with a message
about upgrading Firmware?