An old Imac

segasega

My girlfriend bought a iMac back in about 2000. She got it for college use and then left it at home back in Wales when she moved over here. She dosnt know much about computers and I don't know much about macs. Was just wondering what would the lowest spec be of this iMac if it was bought in 2000? And what OS would be on it 8 or 9?

Just wondering as going over at xmas and just wondering if its worth bringing some vcds over and stuff.

Cheers.

Sparky

Imac G3
Is it the slot loading one?

PowerPC CPU between 300-500Mhz
32MB ram

I can't remember the rest

I'd assume its OS 8 (8.6)

SouperComputer

In 2000, OS X started shipping, so id say it's at least a slot load model running OS 9. Clock speed anything from 350Mhz upwards.

Sad Professor

OS 9 came out late '99 so if she bought it in 2000 that's what should be installed.

niallb

I have one about that age, and it's 400MHz.
If it's got a firewire port, it'll be 400-500,
if not 233-250. If it doesn't have a DVD
drive, it's also likely to be at the slower end.

Mine had OS 9 on it, and OS-X will run on it (well, walk...)
If it's as new, it probably only has 64M of RAM.
They take PC100 (and you can be lucky with PC133)
memory sticks, and they're easy to install through a hatch
on the bottom. You might have a few sticks around from
an old PC.

I added as much memory as I could to mine, and installed
ubuntu linux {powerpc version) on it.
It's in everyday use as an internet and email box,
and occasionally as a dvd player.
The screens on them are crystal clear, and they're nice and quiet.
Sound quality is great too.

Give it a new lease of life.

If you're just wondering about whether you could use
it to watch vcd's while you're over there, you probably can,
and they won't take up much room in your luggage anyway!

Good luck,
NiallB

TempestSabre

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index.html

segasega

Thanks guys, I wonder if it has a DVD drive, I know it doesnt have firewire. Aw well Ill find out soon enough.

Sad Professor

Firewire was added to most of the imacs at the end of '99 as well. DVD-ROM drives were added in the following revision in mid-2000 so if it doesn't have firewire it doesn't have a DVD-ROM drive either. Assuming it really was bought in 2000 then its probably the low-end 350hz from '99.

SouperComputer

You can also turn them into a rather cool media centre using geexbox.

One thing to be careful of is that installing OSX for the first time somtimes updates and corrupts the firmware leading to display issues. Tiger runs decent, but unless you need the extra features of it, id run panther.

OSX does run well on them though. RAM wise you can use PC100 or 133, the important factor is that it must be low density, this is the key issue.