Ideas on how to repurpose a G4 iMac (lampshade)?

[pinkoos]

Picked up a 17" iMac G4 on craigslist

I always loved this form factor - I think this was the peak of Apple's industrial design

So, even if it wasn't functioning, I wanted one as a collector's item and for nostalgic reasons (I've owned several in the past)

Turns out this one works fine. It had Panther installed which I upgraded to Tiger yesterday

There's no Airport card installed, so no wifi, but ethernet does work

I don't believe it has bluetooth either

USB, firewire and ethernet ports are working

The optical drive also doesn't seem to be able to read discs, though I haven't tested it extensively

So, does anybody have any thoughts on what I can do with this? Or, should I just marvel at its incredible design and be happy with that?

Thanks

[mrbigstuff]

I've been using my originally purchased 15" as a music server for a dozen years now. I've replaced the HD once and now the optical seems to be dead, but I'll probably replace that, too. It's got the prefect screen to adjust for viewing when using it in a cramped location, as I do. My music is stored on external FW drives, but I'm tempted to just splurge for the OWC ssd conversion so I can ditch those.

[jdc]

mrbigstuff wrote:
I've been using my originally purchased 15" as a music server for a dozen years now. I've replaced the HD once and now the optical seems to be dead, but I'll probably replace that, too. It's got the prefect screen to adjust for viewing when using it in a cramped location, as I do. My music is stored on external FW drives, but I'm tempted to just splurge for the OWC ssd conversion so I can ditch those.

Is it a later model with USB 2? I would think running music thru USB 2 is more than fine.

Nice portable USB drives are cheap... no power needed, less heat, less noise, 1/4 the size...

[pinkoos]

I already have an always on Mac mini that serves as my primary computer and media server (Plex, etc.), so I don't think I would use the iMac for any server-type duties

@jdc it's this model: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/...17_fp.html

It has 512MB RAM and an 80GB hard disk

[PeterB]

Recipe / music server for kitchen. Consider a wall mount, such that the LCD hangs downward and at eye level.

[bhaveshp]

I ran one as a photo slideshow for a few years. Worked great and looked great. Eventually replaced it with a raspberry pi and a bigger display for the slideshow.

[jdc]

PeterB wrote:
Recipe / music server for kitchen. Consider a wall mount, such that the LCD hangs downward and at eye level.

Huh, never thought to wall mount one. They gotta be close to 25 lbs.

Im in the same camp as you guys -- I have my moms in the garage -- its a 15" G4 1 Ghz w/USB 2 -- one of the last/fastest ones.

No idea what to do with it.

I have a 2006 20" and 2007 24" sitting that are for more capable... but not the same adjustment...

[Rolando]

Photo frame and music station

[RAMd®d]

I've got the original version of the 15" G4 iMac, and it weighs around 21lbs.

Obviously the bigger versions will weigh significantly more.

It was another two generations before it got USB 2.

When my friend had it, he used it to run iTunes all the time.

I've never run it from an external HD, but if that were a problem for ALAC music, I'll try an SSD inside.

That may be a project.

[mrbigstuff]

Yeah not sure any 15er had USB2. But a ssd could solve some of the typical lag one sees even from a FW drive.

Edit I guess the last iteration did!