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evaprice
Newbie
Joined: Sep 22, 2009
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Nov 18, 2009 - 12:46 PM |
 
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| Post subject: PowerBook is slow! Need to add RAM? |
I am looking to fix up my PowerBook G4 computer. It has plenty of hard drive space, but it's running really slowly. At first I thought it was just old, but I'm thinking that it can be saved. I don't really want to buy a new computer in China. The macs are too expensive, and I don't want to resort to one of those tiny cheap PCs. I'm a mac user.
I'm thinking that the absurdly slow pace is due to the 512MB of RAM, and that I need to update that. I just don't want to get ripped off! It's way too easy for that to happen in China. I need someone who speaks English and is trustworthy and sells trustworthy products. I'd also need help making sure everything is backed up. It's my experience that backing up the ORGANIZATION of iphoto and tunes is hard.... stars, playlists, photo albums, slideshows, etc.... I don't want to lose my data!
On another note, I'd love to get a more recent version of iPhoto (I bought the computer 6 years ago, I think).
Sorry. That's a lot of topics, I think. I'm a bit overwhelmed...
Thanks,
Eva |
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root
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 1300
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Nov 18, 2009 - 12:51 PM |
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Try push Ctrl+Alt+Del and see how much of memory in using (during your normal working) and you may guess need it or not. Usually, 1 GB memory is ok, if you are not a gamer. |
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Urban dictionary: Money talks, bullfeces walks, that is how life goes. |
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musicexec
Barker
Joined: May 16, 2005
Posts: 141
Location: yiwu/shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 18, 2009 - 01:09 PM |
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umm ctrl alt del doesnt work on a mac.. |
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root
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 1300
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Nov 18, 2009 - 01:24 PM |
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| musicexec wrote: |
| umm ctrl alt del doesnt work on a mac.. |
True, sh11t !
Here some recommendations:
" Command-option-escape should do it. If not, try command-option-shift-escape. You'll see under the Apple menu that "Force Quit" has this shortcut. Normally, it will bring up a window that will let you choose which app to force-quit; if you hold down Shift, it will silently force-quit the frontmost app.
__________________" |
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Urban dictionary: Money talks, bullfeces walks, that is how life goes. |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 19335
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Nov 18, 2009 - 01:44 PM |
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You need a newer mac. (That is my conclusion based on having a similar computer and similar problem.) BUT since youa re not looking at that option, , yes, getting more RAM is a must! talk to Lawrence at Computer Solutions (he posts here so do a search) and he can quote you out AND arrange an install thru his company. |
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The right to free speech does not grant you freedom from the repercussions of what you say. This and more on my Blog...Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
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OhDannyBoy
Reacher
Joined: July 10, 2006
Posts: 249
Status: Offline
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Nov 18, 2009 - 02:20 PM |
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If you're running OSX, install a widget called "iStat Pro." It'll show you stats about memory usage, cpu usage, etc. |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 18, 2009 - 03:04 PM |
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Backup all your programs and documents and then reinstall OS-X. Run a full update of OS-X (needs a few reruns) and then copy back all your programs and folders. If you don't have Time Machine installed you can download iBackup (free) and use it for backing up everything. |
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Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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compsolutions
PopStar
Joined: Mar 07, 2009
Posts: 1100
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 19, 2009 - 01:57 AM |
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@horsemandk - Thats crap advice about reinstalling, especially for a Mac. They generally work pretty well unless you have hardware issues. Backing up is a good idea though 
For ram (how much do i have(tm) ) - Apple, About this Mac.
I've already sent a lengthy response to her email any way 
Given that a ram upgrade for that one is 10-15% the price of a totally new mac, I'd still lean to getting a new mac. Almost guaranteed something that age is going to see the hard drive fail soon. That said, they're usually pretty good aside from that. S/hand (from a trusty source - eg from a foreigner that owned from new) might be a route also. I wouldn't buy a s/hand mac from the stores here, unless I got at least a 3 month warranty. I've seen bad things done...
I have a G4 that lives under my couch that gets used maybe once every three months thats still alive. Is fine for the occasional Youku use when I forget one of my other 3 macs.
Usually my MB Pro gets loaned out to a client, as Apple takes too long to repair something, and I use it as a loaner. My MB will be forgotten in the office, and my hackintosh goes through months of being usable or not, depending on what its current state is (currently between OS's) as I'm lazy. Hmm project for the staff... |
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China Hosting, IT Support - http://www.computersolutions.cn | Web Design - http://design.computersolutions.cn | iPhones, Fridge Lingo Magnets (Talking to your Ayi, Sex in the City...) and other cool stuff - http://www.iwantone.cn |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 19, 2009 - 11:13 AM |
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@compsolutions
I don't know how many Mac's you fix on a yearly basis. I do app. 100 and many of them just need a new clean install of OS-X. Mac's are not as invincible as people think. I've seen viruses on them as well inflicting serious damage on OS-X.
Last week I did 2 MacBook Pro and both just needed to have OS-X hit over the head and they were back to normal. Apple has exactly the same baby diseases as Windows, the more fancy it gets the more problems you're going to have.
On another note. Mac in China has serious quality issues and their customer service sucks. They basically know nothing about how to troubleshoot hardware. I don't complain as they keep me busy instead. |
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Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 19, 2009 - 11:41 AM |
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Upgrading RAM is not 10-15% of a new Mac unless you can buy a Mac for less than 5.000,-
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Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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compsolutions
PopStar
Joined: Mar 07, 2009
Posts: 1100
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 19, 2009 - 01:46 PM |
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To beat a dead horse(sic) -
Mac in China does have serious issues with their service centers.
I have documented this well enough on my site http://www.badappleservice.cn
I should update it, I have a few more horror stories!
1G SDRAM for an old G4 is something like 500-700rmb.
That is well within the 10-15% range that I quoted.
I have seen viruses on Mac's, but rarely. I generally see between 3-5 Mac's a week, although some weeks it can go as high as 10-15 Mac's. I'll say that viruses are extremely rare from what I've seen, even on the DJ's laptops that I see. Whereas with Windows its rare when they *don't* have a virus on them.
You can usually tell within a few seconds of using the machine if something is off, I can feel it in the way the machine responds (or doesn't). |
_________________
China Hosting, IT Support - http://www.computersolutions.cn | Web Design - http://design.computersolutions.cn | iPhones, Fridge Lingo Magnets (Talking to your Ayi, Sex in the City...) and other cool stuff - http://www.iwantone.cn |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 19, 2009 - 02:11 PM |
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1G SDRAM for an Apple is around 300,- that's for good memory with lifetime warranty!
2 x 512 is slightly cheaper. |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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compsolutions
PopStar
Joined: Mar 07, 2009
Posts: 1100
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 20, 2009 - 04:17 PM |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 20, 2009 - 09:18 PM |
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These are Apacer DDR333 1 G modules.
DDR2 and DDR3 are even cheaper! |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2301
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 20, 2009 - 09:19 PM |
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Apacer DDR400 is the same price, but not in stock right now! |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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