Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Questions from JennyWren1420

Jan 18, 2007 3:41AM PST

I have put it in this new thread that that you have a clean sheet to start your new conversation:

This post is by jennywren1420

Well, mrmacfixit and other wise ones, I need your help with questions about how best to make a transition from OS 9 only to either OS X only or both that and OS 9. (I still need to have some way to use OS 9 because that's what my elderly mother uses, and she needs my help at times with computer problems.)

At present, I have two moderately old but still well-functioning computers. One is a G4 tower, 450 Mhz with 384 MB RAM and 120 GB hard drive (pretty new, with 112.59 GB available). The other is a PowerBook G3, 400 Mhz, with 320 RAM and 10 GB hard drive (9.36 available). Both are running OS 9.2.2; neither has an Airport card; both have CD-ROM (G4 has DVD-RAM and G3 has DVD-ROM). The G4 has an internal ZIP drive, too. As I see the issue, here are my options:

Put a relatively old version of OS X that has the Classic environment on one or both computers (assuming that is possible for the G3), get compatible application software for OS X, new printer, etc., if necessary;
Put the newest version of OS X on one or both computers (if that will work without an Intel computer), with a view to someday getting an Intel-based computer,other compatible software, new printer and other hardware;
Keep OS 9 on one of the computers (so I can continue to help my mother) and get a new computer, new everything, including native software, where available.

I really am quite ignorant about what goes with what. I do know that OS 9 will not work without Classic, and that an Intel computer can't use OS 9-compatible anythings. Does that mean only that software (Word, etc.) made for OS 9 won't run on one (or work with the newest versions of OS X, wherever they are placed?) or that any *files* created with an OS 9-compatible application also will be consigned to the ash heap, archived on media or printed out? (I told you I am ignorant, right?)

I am not asking you to make the decision for me, but any advice about what the choices would entail would be very welcome. I haven't given you my questions, really, but they should be clear enough. Mostly, I am trying to compare the merits of my options, both for the present and with a view to the future. My ignorance about OS X (despite having read hundreds of pages of messages on CNET and Apple forums) leaves me still too incompletely informed and too confused to know, for example, what versions of OS X are even feasible for use on my old computers or on the new ones, what their limitations and strengths are, and so on.

I don't expect anyone to tackle all the questions (though as many as possible would be nice); even just a recommendation and the reasons for it would be very helpful. I know this sounds kind of muddle-brained. Well, it is. . . .

Hoping to settle this soon. I am being pressed hard by a client that uses a totally Web-based system to hurry up and get OS X in some form or other. And yes, mrmacfixit, you can stop holding your breath, too (though I hope you haven't been doing that, all this time).

Thank you, thank you. thank you,

jenny

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Some answers
Jan 18, 2007 3:42AM PST

At Last!
If you are going to put OS X on anything, without buying a new system, it would be the G4 and not the G3.
Leave the G3 running System 9.2.x and use it as the "Help Mumsie" machine. The G4 would be much more suitable for OS X, albeit a little slow now. 10.4.x would be as high as I would comfortably go with that machine.

I much prefer the option of getting a completly new machine. It will enable you to get staight into business, running OS X on a machine that is fully capable of doing so and that will allow you to catch up, both in speed and applications.

You are right in assuming that NONE of the System 9 programs will run on the new Mac. All is not lost though, there are free replacements for some of the stuff you were running. Take the case of Word. The System 9 version of Word will not run on any version of OS X. Currently, when you launch it, OS X tells System 9 to launch and run Word. Classic is a stripped down version of System 9.
But, and here's the good news, Word is available for OS X AND there are other alternatives to the Office Suite(Student/Teacher edition is around $135). OpenOffice or NeoOffice are both contenders and will open Word documents, and the other MS stuff like Excel and Power Point) that you have already created.

So, mull that lot over and let us know what you think.

Bye the way, it's about time! I was starting to turn blue here!

P

- Collapse -
What about reading old files?
Jan 18, 2007 3:54AM PST

Dear P,

Sorry about your near-asphyxia. Anyway, may I ask again whether I would be able to use my old files (letters, email messages, etc.) on the new Mac, assuming I get one? I know that the old applications wouldn't work, but I'm kind of hoping that I'd be able to import, read, alter my old "papers" and use them.

Thanks again for the answer and for rescuing me and my message from oblivion!

jenny

- Collapse -
indubitably,
Jan 18, 2007 7:06AM PST

Files created with older versions of word/excel/powerpoint, etc. can be opened with their equivalent programs or the alternatives already mentioned.
Unfortunately, email will not make the journey from System 9 but if you happen to be using OS X at all, you will be able to import the Mail files from the old machine.
Or, if you decide to upgrade one of your existing machines to a higher version of OSX you can import them your old OS X mail to your new one.
One way that you could get the System 9 email, if there is any, is to send it to yourself and get the mail on the new machine. Long winded but doable.

P

- Collapse -
Re: indubitably
Jan 21, 2007 1:16PM PST

Thanks again for your clear and comprehensive answer. I don't have OS X at all (not yet), but before I get it, I shall weed out the email that I don't really need to keep on the computer, so that sending myself whatever OS 9-generated email remains will not be an endless chore. Much of it is on Earthlink's Web Mail server, anyway, and I'm hoping that will make a difference in retrieving it. Maybe I'm mistaken about that, but I shall be finding out all kinds of new and fascinating things when I make the trip over the bridge to OS X, won't I?

Not sure yet what the final decision will be about which computer (G4 or a new one) will have OS X. That decision depends in part on how much it all is going to cost and how much money will be provided by a foundation I work with that is willing to pony up part of the money for the transition, but it's going to happen, one way or another. Between software and hardware (including a new printer, scanner, etc., most likely), it could be quite alittle bundle.

Thanks again for the advice and the interest you've shown in my evolution. Again, beyond the call.

jenny

- Collapse -
(NT) You are very welcome.
Jan 21, 2007 8:50PM PST