Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Montanan · Jun 2, 2002, 11:57 AM

I've been kind of thinking lately about blowing $25 or so and buying an old compact all-in-one Mac ... like a Plus, an SE, or a Classic. (It would mostly just serve as a conversation piece, but I'd also probably want to play with it a little bit.) But I'm not quite sure yet whether an ancient Mac would be a fun thing to have lying around the house, or just a useless thing that would only gather dust.

So do any of you guys collect old Mac hardware? Or is this just a totally stupid idea?

And if I decide to get one, does anyone have buying advice? (I'm thinking a Classic might be the way to go, because of the PC-compatible floppy drive ... or should I just take out a second mortgage and buy myself an original Lisa I?)

Beyond Redemption · Jun 2, 2002, 12:03 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Montanan:
I've been kind of thinking lately about blowing $25 or so and buying an old compact all-in-one Mac ... like a Plus, an SE, or a Classic. (It would mostly just serve as a conversation piece, but I'd also probably want to play with it a little bit.) But I'm not quite sure yet whether an ancient Mac would be a fun thing to have lying around the house, or just a useless thing that would only gather dust.

So do any of you guys collect old Mac hardware? Or is this just a totally stupid idea?

And if I decide to get one, does anyone have buying advice? (I'm thinking a Classic might be the way to go, because of the PC-compatible floppy drive ... or should I just take out a second mortgage and buy myself an original Lisa I?)<hr /></blockquote>Check your local elementary schools. The school that I work at ended up just giving them away to people who wanted to make fish tanks. They aren't really worth using anymore (especially since we couldn't find a single printer that was in working condition that would work with them). I took 2 home myself. I'm gonna make a nice little fish tank.

OldManMac · Jun 2, 2002, 12:03 PM

I've thought about this from time to time as well, but I've already got a house full of useless crap that I'll have to sort through when I move next year, and I'm not sure I want to add any more stuff to the pile! I had a Quadra 660AV that was actually my first Mac, sitting in the basement for a couple of years. I bought it used for my daughter and she decided she would rather have a boyfriend, so I learned the ways of Mac on it, and then got a G3. After collecting dust for two years, I sold it for $25. I tend to be a pack rat, even though I don't know what I'll do with 100 coffee mugs, 50 beer steins, old hard drives, mice, etc. The only thing I collect that I get use out of is my music collection, which is 600+ CDs, 250 albums [remember those?], 200 cassettes, and my camera collection which numbers 12. I think I've just talked myself out of collecting old Macs!

The Jackalope · Jun 2, 2002, 12:04 PM

I still miss my old SE/30 that I bought for $20 a few years ago. I mostly used it to play Crystal Quest and Dark Castle. Those were the best all-in-ones until the iMac in my opinion.

As long as it's running, you can find good old software for it. Stupid hypercard decks that are funny, old games, etc. I wish mine hadn't chimed of doomed, I'd still be using it.

My old 7100 eventually became a shooting target though. Although it served me well, it just collected dust after I bought a Yosemite.

starman · Jun 2, 2002, 11:17 PM

I had a Plus for a while. It was cute, but got boring after a while and I found myself moving it from room, to room, to room, to the trash.

Mike

juanvaldes · Jun 2, 2002, 11:26 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by The Jackalope:
I still miss my old SE/30 that I bought for $20 a few years ago. I mostly used it to play Crystal Quest and Dark Castle. Those were the best all-in-ones until the iMac in my opinion. <hr /></blockquote>Great games, that and tetris!

And a few others who's name escapes me. I have a Se/30 at home, just need to get a boot disk for OS 6 or 7 and I can use it.

Montanan · Jun 3, 2002, 08:19 AM

OK, I think I'm going to go for it ... the concept of wasting time with dumb Hypercard stacks and classic computer games is just too tempting to ignore.

I'm a packrat by nature, too, so even if I never use the thing it'll be just one more item added to the pile o' crap. (No ... actually, it will be more of an "objet d' art," at least in my mind!) And I remember wanting one of those old Macs for years; 12 or 13 years ago, a good friend of mine bought what was probably an SE, and I remember salivating whenever I came too close to the thing.

I think I'll look for a Classic or a Classic II, just because I like the way they look. (Maybe a II, since it's code name was "Montana"!)

starman · Jun 3, 2002, 08:22 AM

Do a casemod on it, so long as it's not a fishtank

.

Mike

Montanan · Jun 3, 2002, 08:31 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by starman:
Do a casemod on it, so long as it's not a fishtank

.

Mike<hr /></blockquote>No, no, no!!! It ... must ... be ... pristine. After all, this could be the beginnings of a housewide obsessive-compulsive Macintosh museum, here.

Mediaman_12 · Jun 3, 2002, 08:35 AM

I have an old SE/30 I use as a clock. It just sits up on a shelf running an analouge clock screensaver.

dav · Jun 3, 2002, 09:05 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
I have an old SE/30 I use as a clock. It just sits up on a shelf running an analouge clock screensaver.

<hr /></blockquote>hey, could you email me that screensaver - or tell me where you found it. i've been looking for software to turn my classic II into a clock. Is the clock stationary or does it move?

Montanan · Jun 16, 2002, 08:30 PM

Just thought I'd report back ... an 11-year-old Mac Classic joined my household last Friday. I'm sure I'll get bored with the thing at some point, but at the moment I think it's extremely cool -- much of the weekend was spent exploring the intricacies of Systems 6 and 7, Hypercard 2.0, and WordPerfect 2.1. And its cuter than hell, besides.

I may actually put the Classic to work as a print server for my old HP LaserJet II. (It's just too bad I can't tie it into the house's AirPort network, somehow!)

And even though I've never found the perfect name for my iBook or iMac, it was easy to name the Classic. It's gotta be the "Banana Junior."

Montanan · Jun 16, 2002, 08:33 PM

P.S.

For you young'uns who never knew the saga of the Banana Junior, check out <a href="http://www-i5.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/mbp/bloom/bloom.html" target="_blank">this link.</a>

Great stuff! I loved that comic strip ...

ironknee · Jun 16, 2002, 09:13 PM

I have 2 128 mac, MacSe and a Macc Se30

they just look great

Mac Zealot · Jun 16, 2002, 09:29 PM

banana junior

hahahahahaaahahahaahaahahaahahahahaa.. good name for an imac!!!!!!

OwlBoy · Jun 16, 2002, 10:51 PM

Yeah I got this from my High School, they were gonna throw it out.

<img src="http://www.owlboy.com/OwlBoysSetup/ColorClassic.jpg" alt=" - " />

hmm thats crappy quaitly...

-Owl

MacmanX · Jun 16, 2002, 10:52 PM

Bloom County rocks!

Anyway, I have two SEs and two Classics as well as a PB 140 and a PB 520. They are great fun, and when you get bored with them you can find some use for them.

Cheers!

KaptainKaya · Jun 16, 2002, 11:08 PM

My most prized Mac I'm collecting is the 20th Anniversary Mac. My boss used it barely for email and word processing and wanted to upgrade to a newer Mac. I offered $1000 for it and walked out with it that same day. Upgraded with a G3 processor, and this thing runs 9.1 beautifully.

Mediaman_12 · Jun 17, 2002, 05:26 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by dav:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
I have an old SE/30 I use as a clock. It just sits up on a shelf running an analouge clock screensaver.

<hr /></blockquote>hey, could you email me that screensaver - or tell me where you found it. i've been looking for software to turn my classic II into a clock. Is the clock stationary or does it move?<hr /></blockquote>It's part of a very old After Dark install I had lying around, the main problem with sending it to you is getting it from the SE (floppy based, no network, no net connection) on to my G4 (CD based, no floppy drive, cable net connection). I may have the installer on a CD, I will have to look?
(After dark that will run on a SE is basicly abandon where anyway, so I have no problen sending it you from a legal perspective)

undotwa · Jun 17, 2002, 06:48 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by KaptainKaya:
My most prized Mac I'm collecting is the 20th Anniversary Mac. My boss used it barely for email and word processing and wanted to upgrade to a newer Mac. I offered $1000 for it and walked out with it that same day. Upgraded with a G3 processor, and this thing runs 9.1 beautifully.<hr /></blockquote>OMG YOU ARE SO LUCKY! I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN ONE OF THOSE! Sorry for shouting.

But I don't know anyone in Australia whose got one of those, they just look so damn beautiful! Definately a work of art IMO. Some people say after using them, they aren't really that great, what do you think? Because I've never used one, so I wouldn't know.

olePigeon · Jun 17, 2002, 07:38 PM

Makes me wish I'd held out. I sold my TAM for only $700, and it was complete with boxes, manuals, accessories, everything.

All I have left is my Color Classic with Adjustable Keyboard and 4x multimedia CD-ROM. I wanna get a set of those little beige speakers but they're so freakin' expensive. Last I saw a set sold for $50 on eBay. Ick.

I'm gonna eventually upgrade my Color Classic to a G4 (6500 mobo with G4 upgrade) and replace the CRT with a 10" LCD. It's gonna kick ass.

Sap · Jun 17, 2002, 08:49 PM

Why not fulfill your curiosity, nostalgia, etc. with a good old emulator? <a href="http://www.bannister.org/software/vmac.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bannister.org/software/vmac.htm</a>

cube-dude · Jun 17, 2002, 09:26 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Montanan:
So do any of you guys collect old Mac hardware? Or is this just a totally stupid idea?<hr /></blockquote>Yes, and yes.

Why I keep a Plus and Classic II tucked away in a closet is beyond me. There's an MP110 and eMate somewhere in there too.

Superchicken · Jun 17, 2002, 11:22 PM

My iMac Rev D will never die!

He's just to cool!

Just wait I'll be married with kids, and there'll be a space on my desk for my over sized MP3 player <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

or by that time, AAC's 27th better brother

cms · Jun 18, 2002, 06:29 AM

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents' worth.....

My Mac Plus -- my very first Mac bought in Hong Kong in 1988 for about US$1500 (yes, really.....!) -- has pride of place on my bookcase in my dining room and is a great conversation piece during dinner parties!

Amazing that I paid the almost same amount of money for a machine that couldn't do anything much at all 15 years ago as I paid in April for my state-of-the-art G4 iMac that does absoultely EVERYTHING.........

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Vanquish · Jun 18, 2002, 07:04 AM

Yeah, I'm also going into mac-colecting (after I buy my new TiBook 800 that is). I already have a crap performa 5300, but i'm planning on a 20th Anniversary Mac, a PMac 9600, an Apple Network Server 700, ColorClassic, SE/30 (had one of those but my dad trashed it

) and than last but certainly not least the Quadra 840AV. I'm going to network them all to my G4/TiBook/iBook/PeeCee/Printers and so I will have one massive hard drive voor Photoshop

(yeah, i'm a troll i know).

KaptainKaya · Jun 18, 2002, 09:39 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by undotwa:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by KaptainKaya:
My most prized Mac I'm collecting is the 20th Anniversary Mac. My boss used it barely for email and word processing and wanted to upgrade to a newer Mac. I offered $1000 for it and walked out with it that same day. Upgraded with a G3 processor, and this thing runs 9.1 beautifully.<hr /></blockquote>OMG YOU ARE SO LUCKY! I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN ONE OF THOSE! Sorry for shouting.

But I don't know anyone in Australia whose got one of those, they just look so damn beautiful! Definately a work of art IMO. Some people say after using them, they aren't really that great, what do you think? Because I've never used one, so I wouldn't know.<hr /></blockquote>While its no Dual GHz G4, this thing is amazing. I haven't had any problems with it. I don't do much with it really except run Office 2001, the internet, a few other apps and iTunes. I'm not selling it though, even when its turned off in my study its a piece of art.