CC Mystic; 8.1; what versions of software can I run?

[mraroid]

Hi folks...
 
I have a Color Classic Mystic.  I have a SCSI2CF for a hard drive,  132MB MBs of RAM, a full 68940 in a LC 575, the 640 X 480 mod, and Internet access.  I can boot to 7.6.1 or 8.1.
 
Here is my issue....
 
I keep looking on ebay and other places for the latest versions of popular software that I can install under 8.1.  But even if the seller posts a photo of the box, I can't tell if it will run, or if it will run, can I install a newer version?  About the only software that I can find reliable data for, are which are the latest versions of Netscape and IE I can run.  But other than that, it is a crap shoot.
 
Has anyone made a list of what common software will run under which processor and which classic OS?  Maybe someone made a list for the 68030 processors?  Or maybe for my Mystic with a full 68040?  Maybe someone has built a website where we can go to find out this information?
 
I buy software on ebay and many times it will not run in my Color Classic.  I tried a few games and some make it and some do not. 
 
Can anyone give me an idea of which are the most current versions of the software below, that will run under 8.1 in 640 X 480, on my 68040 processor? 
 
Maybe we can find someone who has an older Mac software support web page and start to build some lists to post for everyone?
 
For example, what is the most current version of the software below that will run under 8.1 & a 68040 in a Mystic?
 
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Pagemaker
Adobe Illustrator
Microsoft Office
Can I install Windows 95?
Norton Tools
Claris Works
iMovie (from 1999 version 1 v1.0.1)
Stuffit Expander
Micromat Tech Tools
Word Perfect
 
Any help, or pointers to web sites appreciated.
 
Thank you
 
mraroid
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

[ttb]

I would probably stick to software released before whatever computer came out. Maybe add a year or two at most. At this point you won’t be running anything released within the last 20 years on your Mystic, so why try to push it?
 

In a lot of cases the most current version a machine can run might be painful to use. i think that’s why no one has tried to compile a list like this. Otherwise if the online software archives strictly enforced a PPC/68k flag, that would be a good way to filter for what will at least function. 

 

[mraroid]

 Otherwise if the online software archives strictly enforced a PPC/68k flag, that would be a good way to filter for what will at least function. 

OK.  That is a good tip.  Thank you. 

I down load software where I can find it.  But I am not put off by buying software on places like ebay for example.  More then 1/2 the time the seller gives little to no information on what the software will run under other than an Apple computer. If I pester them, and they still have a box, I can sometimes get them to post a photo of the box showing what OS and processor the software can support.  Despite my best efforts, I often buy software that will not run.  Disks or a CD will come with a manual and the manual will give more detail as to which OS and processor it needs. And then I find out I need a newer machine.

Some older software that I see available for download for free, will not run with out a serial number.  So for software like that, I try to buy a package on ebay with a box, manual and serial number. I am thinking about software like adobe products, Microsoft Office, etc. 

I will try looking for PPC/68K in the future.  I think that will be quite helpful.

I think with my full 68040, over 128 MBs of memory, and my flash drive for a hard drive will be helpful in running software maybe a bit faster then it once ran under 8.1.  So I am not worried about software running slow.  I know it will be very slow.  My Mac was made in 1993 and I am not sure when the LC 575 was made.  But my Mystic is faster then a SCSI hard drive, and has more memory to work with then older software was probably designed to work under.  I will never know until i try.

Thanks again for the good tip.

mraroid

 

[Byrd]

Hi mraroid,

The Macintosh Garden often lists basic system requirements on popular downloads, and if you're packing a full '040 with plenty of RAM you'll be able to mostly anything well coded from early 90's onwards made for 68K.  For those programs you're not sure, usually Googling the name, version number and "system requirements" will often glean some further information.  A "Mystic" Colour Classic is the ultimate 68K machine for that broad compatibility, but Mac OS 8.1 does not work nicely with all.  Older 80's games and some applications will usually crash under Mac OS 8.1 (and because B&W), you might have slightly better luck with a few games with a secondary install of Mac OS 7.6.

Re: Windows 95; a version of SoftMac exists for 68K Macs that comes with Windows 3.1 preinstalled.  But ... apart from a quick laugh I wouldn't bother, it's just too slow to emulate.

JB

 

[just.in.time]

...
Microsoft Office
Can I install Windows 95?
...
Claris Works
iMovie (from 1999 version 1 v1.0.1)
Stuffit Expander
...

I can add a few comments from stuff that I use on my own computers. Like @Byrd said, the garden is a great resource. It also allows users to leave comments on the download pages, so if something is popular it’s generally well commented on what works, what doesn’t, etc.

For Microsoft Office, Office 98 requires PPC, but Word 6.0 ran on 68k. HOWEVER everyone seems to believe that Word 5.x was the all time best 68k era Word version. So maybe a combination of components from the Office 5 and Office 6 suites.

There may be a softPC version for 68k to run DOS, but I’m sure the performance would be unusable to run Windows 95. Maybe Windows 3.1 with some extreme patience, but I have my doubts.

Claris Works 4.0 (IIRC) was a popular version around the end of 68k/early PPC. Might work.

iMovie... not a chance. Recommends a G3... MIGHT run with a really fast 603/604 but anything slower than x500/x400 (6500, 5500, 6400, maybe 240mhz PB 3400c with the CardBus mod and a FireWire card) era PPC probably doesn’t even have a fast enough system bus to move .dv video data around regardless of what CPU upgrade is present. I don’t believe it’s 68k compatible at all.

Stuffit Expander 5.5 seems to work great on anything with System 7 and above with a 68030 or greater (maybe 68020 as well???), and has great compatibility for most .sit compressed files you will find floating around on the web.

Another great resource that I use on many of my 68k and PPC Macs is Virtual CD/DVD-ROM Utility. Supports toast and other disc formats that Disk Copy 6 can’t mount to the desktop. Also available at the garden. Extremely nice tool to have as it’s small and light-weight.

 

[mraroid]

Hello just.in.time...

Thank you for the good feedback. 

I am sure it is heresy to say this here, but my first computer was a IBM PC XT that i bought in 1984 or 1985. I learned DOS on that computer.  Now I find that I am very rusty when I shell to DOS in Windows 10.  So maybe not a early version of windows, but maybe I can get a early version of DOS to run on my Mystic? 

I will keep your email and look for the versions you suggest.  I appreciate the help!

mraroid