dipping a toe in the apple

[freetaco]

Discount Electronics has an insane deal on Apple G3s.

Anyone know what software can run on a G3? I've never had an Apple computer. Can someone point me in a good direction?

PS: I need the computer essentially for its browser capabilities. I need to x-check sites on Safari and IE.

Thanks.

Comments

anything PCs can do, Macs can do better

[frogman1975]

well, maybe that isn't true.
But as far as desktop publishing, music editing, image manipulation... you don't have nearly the same software conflicts you have with windows machines.
All of your major software (Adobe Photshop, Adobe InDesign, Quark Xpress, etc.) are going to run amazingly well on your Mac. Also, the great things about Macs, they will read PC disks with no manipulation. You have a project you started on a PC, your Mac will read those files just fine.
As far as entertainment software and games, I really couldn't tell you. But for working, I really miss using Macs just because I wasn't always having to stop every five minutes to find some new codec to install (and going through IT to get them to take down my firewalls so I could do that, yadda yadda)

Enjoy yourself.
Happy Chanukah.

[noromdiam]

Like the last commentor said, I can't tell you much about games and entertainment software. But with each version of OS X, they're increasingly robust and run very well on older machines.

Almost all of the software I mention can be downloaded on Versiontracker.com.

1) Download IE before Jan. 30th, 2006, Microsoft will make it go bye bye.

2) Definitely download Shadowkiller. It takes away drop shadows from windows, it makes the edges a tiny bit harder to see but will boost the speed a shitton.

Here's a short list of free software I use on a regular basis:
Adium (multiple IM client)
MacJanitor (maintenance)
Acqlite (P2P sharing via Limewire Gnutella network)
Tomato Torrent (Bit Torrent client)
Xjournal (LiveJournal client)
Watson (No longer supported by Karelia.com so some of the tools don't work anymore, but it's still nifty and less annoying than Widgets)
VLC media player (Video file player)

[noromdiam]

BTW, I'm so happy you've decided to join the religion of Apple. You can email Steve Jobs at steve@apple.com.

[radioactiveart]

I recently re-joined the Apple Orchard after many years in the wilderness. However you figure to get in, do it...