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MAlan · 01:40 PM

I have a 400MHz iMac DV/SE with 256 MB RAM and a 500 MHz ibook with 384 MB RAM both running Mac OS 10.1.5.

I'm having no major problems with either computer. My major complaint is that the interface is sluggish which I was hoping to fix with an upgrade.

My wife wants iCal and I would like the ability to run safari. I'm also interested in Xcode. I did some project builder stuff earlier this year for fun/learning.

My main concerns are the firewire 800 and 400 problems that panther has had. I have a Lacie 40 GB desktop firewire hard drive which is working just fine now. I need to boot off of it when I go back to OS 9.1 because I do audio recording and use old Cakwalk software which only works in 9.1 and earlier. I cannot lose this ability. I don't want to upgrade my music software now to an OS X audio program because of the cost. My plan is to buy a G5 for that upgrade and invest some serious dollars.

The guys at the Apple store did not know about the firewire 400 problems that I read about here on MacNN. Have they been fixed yet? What type of drives were affected?

Now that you all know my story can you tell me whether you'd suggest upgrading or keeping my systems the way they are?

Developer · Dec 18, 2003, 01:45 PM

If you were running Jaguar, you could ask, but since you're still on 10.1 there is no question. Upgrade!

There was no problem with Firewire 400 drives.

A G5 does not boot into OS 9 (but runs it in Classic mode).

JKT · Dec 18, 2003, 01:52 PM

I would upgrade your RAM in the iMac as well as the OS. 256MB is OK, but anything around 512MB or more makes a lot of difference, even in 10.1.5. However, the interface speed in Panther is much better than 10.1.5.

FW400 problems were fairly isolated and not widespread. However, check with LaCie to see if your particular drive has any issues. FWIW, I boot my iMac from a FW 400 drive and have had no problems at all.

CharlesS · Dec 18, 2003, 01:53 PM

For the FireWire hard drive, the best thing to do is probably to make sure it is upgraded to the latest version of the firmware available for the drive. I would go to www.lacie.com and see if there are any firmware updates available for the drive, and if so, apply them.

Of course, you want to back up the data on the drive before doing this.

But as to the question whether you should go to Panther from 10.1.x, the answer is: God, yes. Once you are sure you're running the latest version of the firmware for the FireWire drive... don't walk. Run.

MAlan · Dec 18, 2003, 01:59 PM

I knew about the G5 not booting OS 9. If I bought the G5 I would upgrade my audio software to a modern solution so it is a moot point.

Developer · Dec 18, 2003, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by MAlan:
I knew about the G5 not booting OS 9. If I bought the G5 I would upgrade my audio software to a modern solution so it is a moot point.

I'm sorry. I misunderstood you.

MAlan · Dec 18, 2003, 02:14 PM

That's o.k. it wasn't well phrased. What sucks is that I researched that Cakewalk software back in '98 and saw that it had been developed for the mac for many years. I thought they would surely support the mac in the future. The software was the most feature packed for the money at the time when compared to Cubase and the others. Now I'm forced into doing something I did not want to do...upgrade to a totally new audio platform because I made the wrong choice then. But the fact of the matter is that the old cakewalk system still works...why upgrade something that just works.

It's not economically efficient to upgrade for upgrade's sake. One should upgrade something...anything to get a significant benefit from it. That's why I didn't upgrade to jaguar. I did not see how it would benefit my situation in a significant way so shortly after purchasing OS 10.1 for 129 the year previous.

iYeat · Dec 18, 2003, 02:23 PM

I would definitely suggest upgrading. I am running panther on a Graphite iBook/366 with 384 MB of RAM. I won't say that the UI is fast, but definitely much improved over 10.1 and jaguar performance-wise.