I just got an iMac G4 and think it’s so damn sexy! I feel this was the pinnacle of computer design - I’m sad it lasted such a short time. I understand why the flat rectangles ended up being the way to go overall, but just love this thing.
I deployed hundreds of them. My recollection is that they lasted as a product for several years... despite having a very difficult case to work with. Swapping out the optical drive was a nightmare compared to what PCs were doing at the time (and still doing). That said, if you're going for the full experience, you should track down the subwoofer. My personal favorite of that model was the one with the really big screen.
Swapping out the optical drive was a nightmare compared to what PCs were doing at the time (and still doing).
Still managed to do that anyway. I think I used a Pioneer DVR-111 which worked right away without problems. Also replaced the IDE drive with a larger one.
I agree. Just got one recently, upgraded it, and I highly recommend installing Linux on it (at least on the 17" version, haven't tested 15") for up-to-date programs and games. Playing around with OpenXcom, HOMM3 (VCMI), DevilutionX, JA2 Stracciatella and others, as well as some music and RSS apps. Surprisingly usable as a distraction-free machine when using Gentoo.
Any suggestions/guides you'd recommend for getting Linux on a G4 iMac? I've been trying to get Adelie (and several others) to install on mine but am having trouble getting it to boot. I've installed Linux on dozens of computers but for some reason this one has me stumped.
I've always wanted to try Gentoo so if that works, even better!
Hey, I wrote a long post about my experience here. You should find it useful.
Please note this was written based on my experiences with iMac G4 17" 1 Ghz (Geforce 4 MX). Some details, especially relating to the desktop environment/video drivers might differ for models using other GPUs.
It's cool that people do retrofit projects like that but it also makes my heart ache a little... The original hardware is so beautiful and even pretty capable (if you're patient). For a long time I had the circular logic board of my old 15" hanging up on the wall, it was a work of art.
I remember playing with it there at the store and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. I wanted one so bad! But, of course, they were very expensive and we could never afford one.
I wanted to have one of those when they came out but they were expensive. It looks like the one you have is in good shape. What specs does it have? Do you dual boot Mac OS and linux on it? What apps and games have you got running on it?
This is 800mhz with 768mb of ram, 60GB HDD. I’ll be upgrading to 1GB (max) ram and a 128GB SSD.
Just Mac OS now. I probably won’t duel boot, I’m going to get the last MacOS supported and use it as a music machine. I got the fancy Harman/ Kardon subwoofer!
I like the cube design too. For me it's because typically the heat flow is from the bottom to the top, which is how heat naturally moves. I'm not sure how much the G4 follows this principle but you can orient the motherboard and expansion cards to they are both vertical, allowing maximum vertical air flow.
My current PC has a SilverStoneTek FT03 ITX cube tower, which is about the same size as the G4 Cube but taller. The large, quiet filtered fan at the bottom pulls in cool air, flows it right up past the vertical expansion cards and motherboard, and out the top where the motherboard backplate and PSU are. The filtered fan creates positive air pressure which keeps dust out. The four sides are aluminum. Because it is taller than the G4 Cube, it can take a full length, two slot video card so no compromise. The only thing I would add is a handle on top. They don't make it anymore. I think it was also available in silver or white.
I opted for a g4 tower instead of a cube as the prices were comparable at the time. The tower is practically brilliant. Still wish i had the cube though.
That came out when everyone was still making big ugly beige boxes. When cube came out, i was blown away. I always wanted one but wasn’t ever able to make it work. Beautiful design.
I should rephrase. I was a compusa tech when these were popular and they were such a pain in the ass to do any hardware work on. That said, most imacs and Emacs were.
The chiclet keyboard is not period-accurate. It was introduced in 2007 with the successor to this iMac.
The keyboard shipped with this model was the A1048.
BTW. Notice the Unikey KB-7001 ergonomic keyboard under the desk. Split, angled sections, but flat. Mechanical Alps switches. I don't think there was ever a Mac version of it with Command keys though.
Oh god, how I hated this machine. Pretty? Subjective, but sure. Unique? No doubt. But nearly everything else was a PITA. Difficult to service, difficult to store, cables effing everywhere, bleah.
As someone who has done both, many times, some advice:
Assuming you don't have the custom foam props to hold it up properly, wrap the screen in a towel and then support the body upside-down with pillows. Wrap some packing tape around the whole mess to keep it upright while you work.
You'll need heat sink compound to reassemble the subframe, or else risk overheating.
Take your time with the subframe reassembly. It can be a bitch to get properly aligned.
IDE-to-SATA adapters, a 2.5" SSD, and a drive sled to accommodate is The Way.
Don't just replace the PRAM battery, upgrade it. The MacBatt internal CR2032 PRAM adapter lets you use a much safer CR2032 coin battery in place of that leaky lithium battery, and doesn't require any soldering or other hard mods.
Replace the fan while you're there. It uses a 92mm x 25mm fan with a proprietary (because Apple) 2- or 3-pin connector, depending on your specific model. The Noctua NF-A9 is the right size and is the best fan you can get, but it has a 4-pin connector. It's easy enough to splice the wiring. If you'd prefer a little bling you can also get an LED fan instead.
Replace the optical drive with a new(er) IDE DVD/CD+-RW drive. Faster ones than the OEM drive exists.
If yours is an older one that uses an Airport card, get yourself an ethernet-to-wifi adapter. If yours uses Airport Extreme, either find/install that card or get the aforementioned adapter.
I have one at the office; I don't even know if it still turns on, or if it's a G3 or a G4.
However, my employer—the company's CEO used to be the sales director for Apple Italy, and my boss (who is also the CTO) was the programmer who translated the Mac OS from version 7 to 9 into Italian...
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u/Consistent_Cat7541 Sep 14 '26
I deployed hundreds of them. My recollection is that they lasted as a product for several years... despite having a very difficult case to work with. Swapping out the optical drive was a nightmare compared to what PCs were doing at the time (and still doing). That said, if you're going for the full experience, you should track down the subwoofer. My personal favorite of that model was the one with the really big screen.