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Recycled Computing
Macintosh Remote Control with Chicken of the VNC
- 2009.10.06
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Before I started writing for Low End Mac, I was a loyal reader. And as a reader, I happened to catch Dan Bashur's Teaching an old iMac Some New Tricks.
Dan is taking his old G3 iMac and attaching it to his home stereo. This is an excellent repurposing of a classic Mac. But he also had a problem similar to the one I have: When he put the iMac next to his entertainment system, there was no room for a keyboard and mouse.
I have the same problem in my setup. Dan rejected a
wireless keyboard and mouse and mentioned Chicken of the VNC. This
is a VNC (virtual network computer) application for Mac OS X, and
it allows you to control another computer from your computer. Dan
claims it allows you to do more things than Leopard's screen
sharing.
Since I am limited to Tiger on both the iMac and my Pismo, Chicken of the VNC fills the bill.
I had been using Apple's Remote app on my iPod touch to control my iTunes library remotely. However, occasionally I would have to run an update on the old iMac or run Disc Permissions in Disc Utility. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
Now, from the comfort of my couch, I can control the iMac and even turn it off when I am done listening to my iTunes library. Ultimate coolness.
I plan on opening up my other users on my home network so that (lazy me), I can take over their computers remotely and fix whatever problem is bedeviling them - all from the comfort of my recliner. Life is great. Maybe heaven is a place where there is a remote control for everything.
If you happen to see an old iMac sitting in the recycle bin or trying to hitch a ride on a major highway, adopt it. I run Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" on mine. It is connected to my wireless network and functions as a jukebox for my home stereo. You could do the same with yours - or turn it into an emailer or just let the kids play with it.
Don't let the express train of progress throw these colorful computers on to the ash heap of history.
Pismo SuperDrive Update

Last week, I wrote about
replacing my Pismo's DVD-ROM drive with the burner I salvaged from a
broken iBook G4 (see Upgrading
a Pismo PowerBook with a Slot-load Drive Salvaged from an iBook).
It was an easy swap, but I was left with a Borg-like module that lacked
a face plate. Kinda of ugly looking. I happened to have a face plate
from the Zip drive module that came with my Pismo. After hacking it up
with my wife's Dremel tool and salvaging a bit of the old iBook's CD
mounting, I believe that I can make it look much better.
Recent Recycled Computing Columns
- Google Calendar with iPhone or iTouch Is Great for Scheduling, 11.24. Web-based Google Calendar allows access and updates from any computing platform, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone OS.
- Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
- Upgrading a Pismo PowerBook with a Slot-load Drive Salvaged from an iBook, 10.01. Starting with a spare DVD-ROM module and the SuperDrive from a G4 iBook, the author ended up with a SuperDrive in his Pismo PowerBook.
- Why the 20" iMac Is Perfect for Home or School, 09.29. The aluminum iMac has plenty of power and screen space, yet it's small enough and light enough to tote from place to place.
- More in the Recycled Computing index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 17" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Apr. 2006 - The top-end MacBook Pro includes a 1680 x 1050, 2.16 GHz Core Duo CPU, and supports Apple 30" Cinema Display.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- November 24 in LEM history: 98: Microsoft's heavy hand - 00: Looking at the iMac - 04: The best Mac for the holidays - Picking the right replacement for a dead mouse - Better battery for 15" AlBook
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Pismo WiFi Networking Issue Finally Solved?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.24. It turns out the problems wasn't the Pismo, the Buffalo WiFi card, or Mac OS X 10.4. It was the Wireless G router - Linksys to the rescue!
- Mini VGA to S-video Adapter a No Go for eMacs, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 11.24. You might think that Apple's Mini VGA S-video adapter is a cheap way to connect your eMac or G4 iMac to your TV. You would be wrong.
- Why Spaces is My Favorite Leopard (and Snow Leopard) Feature, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.23. Spaces, a feature introduced with OS X 10.5, is like having several monitors on your Mac without the cost and space of using multiple displays.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best G4 iMac Deals, 11.24. Used 15" 700 MHz CD-RW, $150; 800 MHz Combo, $229; 1 GHz, $289; 17" 1.25 GHz, $200; 20" 1.25 GHz, $509.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.24. Used from $899; refurb from $1,099; new 1.6 GHz/120 HD, $1,150 after rebate; 1.8/64 SSD, $1,150 a/r; 1.86/128 SSD, $1,350 a/r; 2.13/128 SSD, $1,694 a/r.
- Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 11.24. Used 233 MHz WallStreet, $75; 266 MHz, $160; 400 MHz Lombard, $199; 400 MHz Pismo, $289; 500 MHz, $350.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.23. Used 867 MHz SuperDrive, $348; 1 GHz Combo, $379; SD, $519; 1.33 GHz, $529; 1.5 GHz Combo, $549; SuperDrive, $609.
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.23. Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 4-core. $1,919; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.93 8-core, $4,999; new 2.26 8-core, $2,290.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.23. Used 802.11g AirPort Extreme, $49; 500 GB Time Capsule, $150; new, $190; 1 TB dual-band, $280; 2 TB, $469; 802.11n AirPort Extreme, $170.
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- More deals in our archive.
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