Re: What I'm doing with my old iBook G4
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 1:36 pm
Just to follow up, the Intel Mac Mini technically "works" but not well. It is running Snow Leopard with Rosetta to run PowerPC apps like Unisyn, however... sysex dumps are not always reliable, especially larger bank dumps. Where my iBook G4 was rock solid through my USB MIDI Express XT... the Intel Mac Mini running Snow Leopard is dodgy. It a shame I sunk some money into it with the SSD before testing it out, but I imagine I can use it for something.
So... my working theory is something about emulating the PPC processor on Intel with Rosetta is not playing right with something critical about sending sysex dumps reliably. It's just a guess. I found an even OLDER G4 Mac Mini from 2005 for sale locally for $40. It has a spinner drive and I think the OS is Tiger, so don't think I can use an SSD on it.
I'm going to install Unisyn on it and hope I can still screen share with the Mac Studio and then hope I will then get reliable transfers. I'll update you all when I find out. It's a shame the Intel Mac Mini didn't work out. As I said, technically it works, but it can take multiple attempts to send or receive a bank dump, etc. It's not confidence inspiring to say the least.
So... my working theory is something about emulating the PPC processor on Intel with Rosetta is not playing right with something critical about sending sysex dumps reliably. It's just a guess. I found an even OLDER G4 Mac Mini from 2005 for sale locally for $40. It has a spinner drive and I think the OS is Tiger, so don't think I can use an SSD on it.
I'm going to install Unisyn on it and hope I can still screen share with the Mac Studio and then hope I will then get reliable transfers. I'll update you all when I find out. It's a shame the Intel Mac Mini didn't work out. As I said, technically it works, but it can take multiple attempts to send or receive a bank dump, etc. It's not confidence inspiring to say the least.