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Macdownunder's Blog (15)

Vodcasting with CamTwist

As part of a weekly community radio program that I contribute to, we now run a regular vodcast of the studio during the show. Up until now one of my colleagues has been using a Netbook with some Windows software to do some basic picture in picture. Problem for me was that we couldn't include the iSight camera (in my Macbook) as part of the feed. Problem solved! Mac software to the rescue (again). CamTwist is a wonderful freeware ap… Continue

Added by macdownunder on April 17, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Hacking the Apple TV

Well, as some would know, I purchased an Apple TV late last year. I got a second hand 40Gb HDD model running v1.0 of the firmware with the purpose of using it to stream video from my G4 Xserve over a 802.11g network. As most of my video collection was in AVI/DIVX format in order to work with my old Elgato EyeHome, I had two choices: 1). Re-encode every video file that I had (which would have taken months) 2). Hack the Apple TV to accept the AVI/DIVX format Not having much time or processor po… Continue

Added by macdownunder on March 20, 2009 at 8:49pm — 2 Comments

G4 Xserve blower replacements

Before we start..... PLEASE NOTE: I am not responsible for any damage done to your beautiful G4 Xserve if you follow any of the information below! Ok, now that I've got that out of the way.... Haven't had much time to do any tinkering of late. Out of necessit, however, I've done some investigating on replacement G4 Xserve blowers. You see, my G4 Xserve started making even more noise than usual recently, and shortly after that, the CPU blower died. Given that the machine isn't w… Continue

Added by macdownunder on March 19, 2009 at 1:59pm — No Comments

Collection moving into the (almost) new era

Hi all, Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. I've been so busy with work since October, I haven't had a chance to post. But that doesn't mean that I haven't been collecting! Since October I've been rapid catching up with the modern era... iPhone - OK, so I'm a little late into this party, but I love my iPhone 3G 8Gb. I'm managed to convince my boss and General Manager to get one too - and they love them (not bad for a strictly PC/Blueberry company). Apple TV - Spl… Continue

Added by macdownunder on January 17, 2009 at 11:36am — No Comments

The Macintosh TV (not to be confused with the Apple TV!)

In response to some questions on the Australian Mactalk forums, I got my old Macintosh TV out of storage and fired it up for a photoshoot.

I also need to dig out my old 115V power invertor so that I didn't fry the power supply which was not built with Australian 240V in mind! The old beastie fired up beautifully - even the remote's batteries still wo… Continue

Added by macdownunder on May 30, 2008 at 10:43pm — No Comments

New additions - some old friends, some new!

Well my collecting juices seem to be back. I've finally found that illusive Apple DMP (Dot Matrix Printer) that I've been looking for! A fellow in Sydney, Australia had one for AUD$5 ! I remember using one on an Apple //e back in 1983 when I was doing some programming on a Summer holiday job. These were the same mechanism as the Imagewriter I and II (ie the C-Itoh) but had the classic parallel interface for the Apple // series rather than the serial ports of the later Imagewriters. That rounds… Continue

Added by macdownunder on May 28, 2008 at 7:12am — 3 Comments

Dusting off the TAM

Having had my retro-ism renewed, and fast running out of annual leave, I decided to dust off my Twentieth Anniversary Mac for a while today. While it has a Sonnet 300MHz G3, it keeps crashing when trying to load the extension - I'll need to look into that. With the extension gone (and t… Continue

Added by macdownunder on May 14, 2008 at 8:00pm — 4 Comments

Local retro challenge - Wireless Powerbook 540c

Been a little while since I've been able to do any work on my collection. As some of you may know, I'm involved in a broadcast radio tech show here in Australia (check out theTechTalk Radio website). Anyway, last week we had an interesting collection of laptops in the studio. The co-host was running a PIII with the latest release of Ubantu extolling the virtues of Linux (which I usually agree with) and attempting to connect to the radio's access po… Continue

Added by macdownunder on May 10, 2008 at 2:01am — 5 Comments

Apple Remote Access Server Card

Picked up a rare NuBus card today from eBay here in Melbourne, Australia: An Apple Remote Access Server Card complete in box with all manuals and software.

I've taken a few photos of the box and contents for those who are interested: Apple Remote Access Server Card photos Essentially this is a four po… Continue

Added by macdownunder on February 19, 2008 at 4:25am — 7 Comments

Leaking capacitors and MacIP routing....

Of course these things have nothing in common, other that they are both issues I have been dealing with in the last 24 hours.

First for the good news:

I got my Quadra 950 back up and running as a Ethernet to Appletalk router! So now, all my ethernet deprived Macs can get the internet via the MacIP protocol (routed using IPNetrouter) and can share my Xserve's files (routed via Localtalk Bridge).

For giggles, I need to get my Mac512 up and running with Mosaic and Ircle w… Continue

Added by macdownunder on January 26, 2008 at 4:13am — No Comments

Starting an iPod collection and other things....

Since my last entry, I've officially started my iPod collection.

I already have a G1 Shuffle 1Gb which I use for listening to RMC and transferring work files. I had also brought my wife a Pink G1 Mini back when they were new. But now, I've started in ernest. since Christmas I have managed to get hold of:

G1 iPod 5Gb (in transit from USA)
G2 iPod 10Gb in fantastic condition except for the dead battery
G3 iPod 15/20Gb (HDD was upgraded)

… Continue

Added by macdownunder on January 25, 2008 at 2:44am — No Comments

JD's last haul for 2007

Well today I managed to pick up a Snow iMac G3/500 for AUD$60 (sans keyboard and mouse). It's in great condition and booted up just fine.

I also received an eBay auction win in the mail today. An Apple Australia "In Modem" for the Apple // series. It came in great condition, complete with box, all documentation and the phone cable. According to the manual it runs at a blistering 1200/75bps!

This card was from an era when Apple Australia were building their own hardware. This mo… Continue

Added by macdownunder on December 27, 2007 at 5:27pm — No Comments

Today's addition to the collection - Grape Slot Load iMac

Picked up a couple of extra machines for the collection.

Firstly a Performa 5260/120 for AUD$0.99. Case is damaged, but will make for good parts for the other 5260 I picked up this week.

Secondly, a Grape slot load iMac (AUD $67). Case in good condition and came with the black extended USB keyboard (no mouse). Yet to fire it up, but am told that it runs very, very slowly. Given that it reportedly only has 128Mb RAM and is trying to run Mac OSX.2.8 I am hardly surprised!
… Continue

Added by macdownunder on December 21, 2007 at 7:02pm — 3 Comments

University clean up haul

Well, visited my friend at a local University on Monday and picked up a heap of retro Mac stuff. A big thanks to David!

Most importantly I got a Performa 5260 to round out the 5xxx series collection. Also snagged an SE/30 workhorse and a Laserwriter II (haven't seen the model number as yet).

I also got an Apple Portrait Display and an Apple 14" AV monitor (the one from the Centris/Quadra era) along with a pile of Apple Ergonomic (ie split) Keyboards.

Included was a few… Continue

Added by macdownunder on December 19, 2007 at 4:14pm — 2 Comments

Recent news in the collecting front...

I had a great time chatting with James and John in making their last episode of the RetroMacCast. I hope that some people found it interesting, if maybe a little long. Thanks to James and John for inviting me along!

My collection is going pretty well at present.

I'm currently on the lookout to complete my PPC Apple Powerbook collection. I've recently found a 1400c to match the 1400cs I got earlier this year. It should arrive from interstate (Australia) soon.

I'm starti… Continue

Added by macdownunder on December 13, 2007 at 12:51pm — 3 Comments

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