Tell me about MorphOS

[Iggy]

I'd recommend giving OS9 a shot on that G3, if you're not that fond of OSX. Classic Mac OS has its own issues, but it's much less resource-intensive, more flexible (OS8-9 don't have quite the amazing third-party system-extension ecosystem that System 7 did, but there's still some interesting things you can do with them,) and seems to me to be more of a coherent, unified system than OSX, which despite its technical merits is basically a Mac-like UI and a custom library selection grafted onto BSD.

John's answer is the most practical.
Heck, OS9 was so popular that they re-introduced a 1.25 MDD just for people that wanted to run it
.
But I'd try MorphOS on the Quicksilver.
You obviously are familiar with the Amiga.
Load it up and run OWB.

That's the configuration and the software package that hooked me.

[Iggy]

...their "G4 and up" policy...

Their is no such thing.
G3 Pegasos 1s should work.
And the Efika's processor is sub-G3.

And magnetic's comments are a little off base.
I don't advocate OS9 for the Power mac.
But its not a bad system for the other two.

Definitely about the only thing for the G3.

[Iggy]

The Quicksilver is a 933Mhz 3,5 model (good, right?), but, it has the Nvidia card.  I will have to find another video card.  So, is there a huge performance difference in the various ATI Radians?  How would 3D acceleration benefit an Amiga-like OS?

Yeah, that system is the one you want to run MorphOS on.
I used a similar system for over a year.
And it can be upgraded.
If you hunt around long enough (on ebay, etc) you can usually find a cheap 1333 or 1400 MHz accelerator card. The last one I picked up cost less than $40.

Where are you located?
If its not too far away I can send you some kind of video card.

Oh, and the G5?
Why not run OSX Leopard.

And sell the G4 eMac.
Their displays darken and fail early.

Besides, you'd have three systems then, OS9, OSX, and MorphOS.
Then you'll have a real basis for comparison.

[Iggy]

Well first I dont know what you mean by "off base" i'd love to hear you clarify exactly what I as "off base" about.

My, aren't we combative tonight?

What I meant is you were a little negative about the OS9 suggestion.
Its a valid idea, and there is a lot more software for OS9 then MorphOS.
Sometimes people want systems they can use, rather than something that is more suited to hobbyists.

Besides mag, you seem to forget that on most thing I side with you.
And the guy's got exactly the type of system I started using MorphOS with (a 933MHz Quicksilver).
I'm giving that system (with a 1333MHz processor) to haywirepc in Philadelphia.
Hopefully Steven will get some use out of it.
Three Power macs is a couple too many.

BTW - Try and remember that I'm not Franko. OK?

[Iggy]

Don't sweat it mag. Right  now I'm a little irritable myself because I don't feel good and I am putting off dealing with it so I can be at home when my next paycheck arrive.
I've got some bills to deal with that I can't handle from a hospital bed.
OS9 software? The first thing that comes to mind is word processing. They had that down two decades ago. WYSIWYG was around when OS9 was current.
I'm sure there is other stuff.
And look at how many of us still use Amiga packages that pre-date OS9.

But, realistically, the machine I'd focus on would be the Quicksilver.
As my first MorphOS platform, that system will always hold a place in my heart.
And besides, there are some down right dumb elements in the MDD design.
For instance, what sub-genius at Apple decided to move the video card to the left where, when the case is closed, the cards cooler sits a fraction of an inch from the Superdrive's housing?
I thought Jobs was supposed to be a genius. Sheesh!