I have an original PowerBook G3 (M3553 or "Kanga", 3400 style introduced 11/10/1997 for $5699) with 160MB of RAM (5GB HD, 250MHz G3, cache, integrated 10Bt Ethernet, Modem, SCSI, 10.4" TFT, etc.) which I am now trying to convert to a Music Server. Here's what I want to do:
- Move my PowerBook into my A/V rack in the living room
- Initially connect via Wi-Fi (Lucent WaveLan 802.11b) to my PowerMac G4 desktop (later probably hard wire when we move next summer)
- Use iTunes to stream data from the desktop to the PowerBook
- Have the PC Card slots upgraded to CardBus via MCE ($99)
- Get a USB Card (~$25 via eBay)
- Connect my Keyspan Digital Media Remote sensor to the USB card
- Use my theater's Philips Pronto programmable LCD remote to control the PowerBook/iTunes via well labeled controls
- Get a Focus Enhancements video scan converter to view my PowerBook's output through my Sony ES receiver/video switcher via S-Video on my Sony XBR TV ($35-$60 via eBay)
- Finally connect up the sound out via my old custom StraightWire cable to the receiver.
So here are my issues I hope you could help with:
- I am currently running the most current OS 9 version that Apple has released for machines w/o OS X
- I can't use iTunes to stream directly via OS 9, but I wonder if I could do it through an AFP mounted volume.
- I might be able to buy X and install it on there (I'd probably try it first with a copy from my desktop and if it worked buy another copy), but this is the only unsupported machine for OS X by Apple. Does anyone know whether I can't use it or whether they just don't recommend going off AC power? OS 9 would probably be more responsive, but that probably wouldn't be an issue since I'd really just be running iTunes. Additionally, this should be faster than the second generation PowerBook G3's running 233 & 250 because of the cache...if I can get it to work.
EDIT: It looks like I can install at least Jaguar on it, but it appears currently like that might disable my WaveLAN card, so right now I'm mainly thinking about OS 9 options, unless you have some better ideas 
Any good thoughts? I really hope I can execute this well, as I really long to have all my MP3s and AACs playable in the living room system.
I guess if I don't get good responses here there might be a better category for this, as there are separate OS X and peripheral issues. THANKS!
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