Should I put OS X back on this iBook G3?

[MacFox]

Hello,

About a year ago, I bought an iBook G3 dual USB version that had a dual boot of OS X 10.4 and OS 9.2.2.  It was working great and I loved the ability to switch between the two environments even though I used OS 9 more because that's what most of my Mac software required.  One day I decided to try getting WiFi working on the OS X side and while it "worked", the laptop became incredibly sluggish.  I could barely multitask and even OS 9 was affected despite the drivers for the USB WiFi adapter I was using being only for OS X.  Even after I uninstalled the drivers for the WiFi adapter, the computer still ran a lot slower than it did when I first got it, so I did a clean install of OS 9.2.1.  The computer was running much better now, but I had lost OS X.  I notice that old PPC OS X discs are pretty cheap on ebay, so I have been considering doing a new dual boot of OS X and OS 9.

Is there anything I am missing out on by not having OS X on this laptop or should I just stick to OS 9?

 

[CharlesT]

You can, but it would be better to partition the hard drive first and dedicate each to it's own OS.

 

[Cory5412]

It depends on what you want to do. My personal preference is for OS 9, and to use Mac OS X only on relatively modern hardware that can run the current version, although that's primarily for security reasons, which can be avoided by just not connecting the machine to a network while it is running Mac OS X.

There is no specific need to dedicate a partition to each OS, although it does make it easier to separately reinstall one or the other, should trouble (like this) arise. In my experience, it doesn't make dual booting or Classic Mode any more reliable, fast, etc. (It was always relatively unreliable for me on my PowerBook G4, I haven't used a PPC Mac with OS X in a few years, though.)

 

[MacFox]

I used to partition my hard drives on my old PCs, but I know that the software I used won't work on Mac.  Is there a partitioning tool on the install CD or will I need a third-party solution?

 

[EvilCapitalist]

If you're working with a blank drive the included "Drive Setup" program on the OS 9 install CD will work just fine.  I say a blank drive because it can't split an existing partition into pieces, it clears the drive and starts fresh.

On the iceBooks/dual USB iBooks until you get to the less reliable 700MHz-900MHz G3s OS X is going to feel a bit slow, while OS 9 will absolutely fly.

 

[MacFox]

If you're working with a blank drive the included "Drive Setup" program on the OS 9 install CD will work just fine.  I say a blank drive because it can't split an existing partition into pieces, it clears the drive and starts fresh.

On the iceBooks/dual USB iBooks until you get to the less reliable 700MHz-900MHz G3s OS X is going to feel a bit slow, while OS 9 will absolutely fly.

Good to know.  Thanks.

 

[TechEdison]

While most people would just stick to OS9, I've been quite happy with OS X 10.2. 10.4 will run on it, but it is sluggish. The advantage to upgrading is obviously the software benefits, but I wouldn't recommend doing that unless you also had an OS9 installation. My G3 has OS9 and 10.2 installed, and I use both partitions.

If you want WIFI, setup a newer computer as an access point, and either make it hidden and open, or use WEP encryption.

 

[IlikeTech]

or make it MAC filtered, hidden, and WEP encrypted if you are paranoid.

 

[boitoy1996]

OS9 and Classilla or, 10.4 and TenFourFox run great on higher end G4s and Dual / Quad G5s but that machine....I would stay away from OS X on it all together.  OS 9 should run well and Putting OS X on there might just slow it down to the point it doesnt feel like a Mac

 

[MacFox]

I think I will just leave it with OS 9.  Maybe one day I'll pick up a G4 if I feel like exploring PPC OS X, but for right now I think I'll focus on other Mac related projects.