iMac G5: Mac OS X CD included with iMac G5 not compatible with other Macs

MacFixIt reader Greg Neutra notes that unlike most other recently shipping Macs, the system install disks included with the iMac G5 -- which contain Mac OS X 10.3.5 -- will not work with other Mac models:

"Since Apple only upgrades their retail 'generic' OS install disks occasionally, I have been using disks that come with specific Macs to install a more recent version of Panther on various machines. My current favorite is a eMac Restore DVD that installs 10.3.4, QuickTime 6.5.1 and other fairly current system software. Imagine my excitement when I noticed that the new iMacs are shipping with 10.3.5 install disks. No go though; if you try and run the install on any other Mac than the new iMac you get a message that says 'Bundled software cannot be installed on this computer.' There is no opportunity to go ahead without the bundled software (Office 2004 Tryout, etc.) The only choice is to end the install."

George Hart reports that when booting his iMac from an OS X 10.3.5 hard drive previously used in a Power Mac G5, he experiences the "full-blast fans." Our suspicion is that the build of OS X 10.3.5 that ships with the new iMacs is slightly newer than the current general 10.3.5 release in order to support the newer iMac hardware. George's Power Mac G5 drive is most likely unable to fully support that hardware -- including the iMac's cooling system -- without the iMac-specific 10.3.5 build.

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