The Nature of Collecting Retro Macs

[James Kenny]

So, I'm new to the forums, but I've been listening to the podcasts for a while (thanks, James & John). And for a good while I've been asking myself the question:

What do these people do with their retro Macs!?

I mean, from a hardware perspective, I look at a lot of machines and admire them, and enjoy opening up the older ones and seeing how things differ. I haven't owned a lot, but maybe I'll start bidding on the really old stuff.

But in software terms... If somebody booted up a machine in OS 7.x and sat me in front of it, I'd get seriously depressed. Maybe, just maybe, I'd discover all the cool things I missed out on as I grew up, like Hyper Card. Then again, I'd probably regress to wasting all my time on Crystal Quest.

So, my question, and the point of this topic is, software wise, what do ye guys and gals get up to on anything pre OS 7?

[Ken]

Right now my focus is on anything that is old and net capable. People seem to get a kick seeing an ancient machine load something up online.

I'm also itching for Apple II stuff. IIgs expansions in particular.

[Ryan]

I like to play on old games but thats about it ... Its just nice to look at them.

[James Kenny]

Okay... two understandable responses. In fact, Ken, now that you mention it, I'd love to see if I could get me old LC to go online. That would be hilarious. Maybe it'll be a project after I resurrect and upgrade my cube.

[Kathryn]

I have my TAM sitting next to my G5 tower, and the TAM is set up to go online. Although it is not as much of a challenge to get a TAM online as an Apple IIgs, it is still a kick. I have had CyberDog running, but haven't been able to get it to work well. I'd would love to be able to send e-mail via CyberDog, has anyone done this? Recently I mean, not back in 1998. I'd also like to learn to use the Open Doc application. I didn't take the time back then, but I'd really like to learn now.

I would also like to get my Color Classic, and my SE/30 online. Heck, I would just like to get my SE/30 running well. (dead drive I think). Then, get it online.

Then, there is the challenge of getting them all on a network with the shinny, new Macs. I'd love for them to all talk, share, and get along well together, just one big, happy family.

[Ryan]

I wish that there was a way to get all retro Macs to connect with there new brother and sisters ....

I once tried Apple care to ask how to get a OS 9 G3 hooked up to a intel iMac. Sadly the assistant over phone didnt know what OS 9 was ... Or anything older that a G4 !
He also insisted that Apple never made ANY printers. Tut.

[macdownunder]

You can connect them all in some fashion or another.

For example in my network, I have a mixture of Appletalk, MacIP, ethernet and serial.

All my ethernet capable Macs (and some not - via SCSI to ethernet) are networked.

All my non-ethernet capable Macs are connected via MacIP with a Quadra950 running IPNetrouter to route to the ethernet. The only exception being the Mac 128k which cannot load the MacIP clients - so it is connected via serial and a telnet session.

Even the Newtons are MacIP capable (if you don't have an ethernet PCMCIA card).

The Apple //gs's and some of my Apple ]['s have Workstation Cards which connect to Appletalk for file sharing.

The rest (Apple ///s and Lisas) are all serial/telnet.

So in some way, most if not all can talk to each other. Mind you I have never turned them all on at the same time!

[Wholly Mindless]

This just in. "House containing hundreds of old computers catches on fire. We have video... It looks like this guy keeps computers like that crazy old lady kept cats.... "

[macdownunder]

You should see the power meter spin when I've got a few servers running!

[Kathryn]

Wow! That is awesome that you have all those computers connected. Maybe you could give us a little mini class on how to do this.

And, I bet the power company loves that you collect all those Macs.

[Kathryn]

Oh geez! Not a lot of 'Tech' in their Tech Support huh?

[Pam]

Just thought I'd throw in an idea about getting your SE up and running without going to the trouble of cracking the case to install a new HD. For my old compact Macs that have this problem, I boot them from Zip disks - easy and cheap! You may already know all about this method, but just in case, here's an old post that I made a while back with step by step instructions.
Nice to see your posts! I too am trying to get all my Macs networked - the old to the new. That will be SO cool!

[Pam]

Oops! forget to throw the link in there! (I started daydreaming about the networking problem and got distracted....)

Here's the link for booting your old Macs from Zip disks:
http://www.freeforum101.com/retromaccast/viewtopic.php?p=53&sid...