[Macpilot]

Hey folks....just picked up a 128k Mac on eBay. It is the one that says just Macintosh on the back, no "128k". It appears everything works (keyboard, mouse, disk drive), although I have no printer to hook up to see if it prints. It came with a disk with some little apps on it. The Finder says 1985. That is about all I know about it, and want to find out where a good source of info is on this machine.

Specifically, I am interested in what disks came with it, what OS was included, what apps, etc. And how I can get that stuff too.

Thanks!

[ListerMint]

Try:
EveryMac
Mackido
LowEndMac

Did you do a search? I used Google and found almost 2,000,000 hits.

[Ganesha]

Only problem I see.

You will need to find something that can write to 400k floppies. USB drives CANNOT do it. Macs used specially modified floppy drives to write to 400/800k floppies. The only way to get one of these drives is to have a Mac that has a build in floppy drive and is either networked or has a CD-ROM.

[Macpilot]

Originally posted by Ganesha:
Only problem I see.

You will need to find something that can write to 400k floppies. USB drives CANNOT do it. Macs used specially modified floppy drives to write to 400/800k floppies. The only way to get one of these drives is to have a Mac that has a build in floppy drive and is either networked or has a CD-ROM.

So another Mac is needed to make disks for the 128k Mac?

So I suppose the process is to download or otherwise acquire the desired software, burn it to CD or network it to an older Mac that can write to the 400k floppy that a 128k Mac can read?

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, I did a search, but I wanted the input from some MacNN people with experience with this machine or knowledge of it.

[CharlesS]

Another thing to keep in mind is that even with older Macs that have the built-in floppy drives, the OS might not necessarily be able to write to the 400K disks. Apple removed support for MFS at some point; I think it was around OS 8.0 or so, but I could be off by a bit.

With this said, if you get your software in a 400K disk image format, you might be able to write the disk images directly to the floppies with a program such as DiskDup+ regardless of whether or not the OS itself can read the floppies. You'll still need a built-in floppy drive, though.

Another idea (depending on whether the 128K supported LocalTalk or not, which I can't remember) would be to get an Ethernet-to-LocalTalk bridge (I think Asante still sells these) and transfer the files onto 400K floppies through networking. It would be slow, but it might be cheaper than buying a Mac with a floppy drive in it.

You know, though, another huge problem is going to be finding where on earth you could still buy blank 400K floppies these days...

[ryaxnb]

Originally posted by CharlesS:
Another thing to keep in mind is that even with older Macs that have the built-in floppy drives, the OS might not necessarily be able to write to the 400K disks. Apple removed support for MFS at some point; I think it was around OS 8.0 or so, but I could be off by a bit.

With this said, if you get your software in a 400K disk image format, you might be able to write the disk images directly to the floppies with a program such as DiskDup+ regardless of whether or not the OS itself can read the floppies. You'll still need a built-in floppy drive, though.

Another idea (depending on whether the 128K supported LocalTalk or not, which I can't remember) would be to get an Ethernet-to-LocalTalk bridge (I think Asante still sells these) and transfer the files onto 400K floppies through networking. It would be slow, but it might be cheaper than buying a Mac with a floppy drive in it.

You know, though, another huge problem is going to be finding where on earth you could still buy blank 400K floppies these days...

Well 800k ones work too, but mostly use 1.4MB they're less reliable though.

[CharlesS]

Originally posted by ryaxnb:
Well 800k ones work too, but mostly use 1.4MB they're less reliable though.

To clarify what you said, 800K floppies can be reformatted as 400K floppies, which will work. 800K floppies formatted as 800K floppies will not read in the 128K.

This does, however, still present you with the problem of how to get ahold of 800K floppies nowadays...

1.4 MB will reformat as 400K disks, but it's pretty flaky.

[Big Mac]

It is again important to remember that external USB floppy drives only support high density (1.44MB) disks. A 128K Mac is best left in a Mac museum, IMNSHO.

[tooki]

I think I have the Apple Service Source CD-ROM that has all the System Software for ancient Macs. I'll check when I get home from class.

tooki

[tooki]

Well, the first disc I found doesn't go that far back. I'll check the other discs if I can find them. But Google it: I know I've seen websites with archives of software for those ancient Macs.

tooki

[cla214]

I've also got one of these guys (128k Macintosh) lying around at home. Still runs like the day we got it - it's been on the desk since we bought it in 1984. I've got a range of software for it, and I'd offer to copy disks for you - except that I don't have any way to do that.

I still fire the 128 up when I feel like playing some frogger. It was the first computer game I ever played, and it's still fun.

C

[romeosc]

Originally posted by cla214:
I've also got one of these guys (128k Macintosh) lying around at home. Still runs like the day we got it - it's been on the desk since we bought it in 1984. I've got a range of software for it, and I'd offer to copy disks for you - except that I don't have any way to do that.

I still fire the 128 up when I feel like playing some frogger. It was the first computer game I ever played, and it's still fun.

C

If you know anyone with an Apple ][ or Apple ][ GS they could copy Mac disks for you. There is still a large group of diehards out there!

[Macpilot]

Originally posted by tooki:
Well, the first disc I found doesn't go that far back. I'll check the other discs if I can find them. But Google it: I know I've seen websites with archives of software for those ancient Macs.

tooki

Thanks! You guys rock!

[spauldingg]

try this site.

system six heaven

I have a 512k mac and tons of software for it, all found on the web.