for inspiration: How do you use your compact Mac?

[blatboy]

I'm a relative newcomer to the world of Compact Macs. I've been posting in other threads about the Classic II I have recently gotten into working shape. I've almost got everything ready and am just waiting for the SSD to come in the mail.

Right now my Classic II is in my little "vintage computer museum" at my studio, but I'd like to the house if I can come up with a creative use for it. I have a few Commodore computers, and those are the ones I get my nostalgic kicks from. They're physically somewhat cumbersome though, and will be staying in the studio.

I'm curious how you are using your compact Macs, and am especially curious about practical uses. I can have network (and probably internet) access with it if needed. I'm not completely married to any one idea, so if I can come up with a use that is more apt for the studio than the home, that's ok too...

But again, I'm more curious how you're using them than necessarily looking for suggestions of how I use them... (though I'll take those too haha)

Thanks!!

 

[uniqueidentity]

I've got a few books on programming for Mac so am considering writing some software - though I'm not sure where the demand is. I wanted to write an interface to a social media site, but I can't find any existing code for interfacing with the HTTPS protocol and I'm not sure I'd have the time to implement it.

I am looking forward to some more replies to this.

 

[Mk.558]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18110

 

[macosten]

Homework, and the occasional MacTalker sentence.

I also force a bomb error to happen by attempting to save MacTalker settings, if I'm feeling masochistic.

Also, even though i'm kinda new, the last post on the above thread was on the 30th of March. Is it not usually rude to necro topics?

 

[Mk.558]

The mods here are pretty lenient about such things, as long as the information is "relevant" and / or "strongly pertient to the subject" and not some silly "Me too!" or "That's a good one!" remark. I think two months is a standard benchmark, but they're primarily interested in good info that justifies such an update.

I mean we've had 5 (yes five) year thread necroposts. I think the best I have seen but can't remember where it came from was seven years.

 

[macosten]

Wow. 8-o

Well, back on topic!

I do play a few games on my SE every now and then. I have all of the System 6 Hell games on disks, and a few others as well.

 

[napabar]

I try to get them to do things they are not supposed to be capable of.

http://www.nilesmitchell.com/mac-512k.html

 

[MassiveBarry]

I use my SE for IRC, writing, and occasionally showing off the web in 1bit colour:

 

[Mac128]

As I have always said and continue to maintain, vintage Macs are as good today as they were when they were born, at least with respect to the tasks they were designed to perform. The key for me has been getting that work out of that vintage Mac in a useful format. My area of specialization is the original Mac 128K up to the Plus. To that end, I refer you to the following website for useful ideas that help push the envelope:

Http://www.mac128.com

In particular, I use mine to write letters, stories, essays, books, and the like. As a word processor, I find there is really little difference in the way a 1984 Mac works over a modern one (as far as speed and ability are concerned for basic tasks). There are some really neat database programs for cataloging household inventory, or other lists, exportable to character delimited files for importing into modern databases. Recipes is another good use, as well as many vintage games to while away the time.

 

[Scott Baret]

As most of you know, I use mine as educational tools. There's also a Classic I keep at home as a developer machine, although it usually sits neatly in its carrying case. See my thread in the lounge for more details on what programs I run on my classroom lab!

 

[QuicksilverMac2001]

I got a 128k over 2 years ago now and recently got both a 1200 BPS and 300 BPS modem for it. I happen to have a significantly old (but not 128k old ;-) Quicksilver Power Macintosh G4 that has a 56K modem that can downshift to 1200 or even 300 BPS by virtue of me using Mac OS 9.2.2 on it, and so as soon as I get it somewhere where there's a second phone line will be able to pass messages between a computer running the oldest production-supposedly System 0.85 Finder 1.0 wasn't quite production level-Classic Mac OS version and the newest, Mac OS 9.2.2, because that was the end of the road for the Classic Mac OS. Such a tandem of older Macs could allow you and someone you care for to have your own message passing system, substituting later versions of MacTerminal or some other System 7-compatible terminal app for the MacTerminal 1.1 I use on my 128k.

Who needs broadband and the whole world wide web to send messages when you can have a Compact Mac, a 1200 BPS modem, a newer or equal age (possibly even same model) Mac with another compatible modem, and terminal software on both ends? Once you get the settings right you can sit there and send messages between Classic Mac OS computers without using a single "arcane" command. Also if set up right from Classic Mac OS machines on both ends you can transfer applications too, thus giving you your own 2 computer mini-Internet.

And if you want to test and see if the vintage 1200 BPS modem works, just dial the number of the location where you intend to open the connection and if it works right it will say "the call was answered but no computer responded" or something logical to that effect.

Let's say you have a young nephew. Imagine the fun you could have talking on your own secret line of communication that has nothing to do with the Internet or the Facebook so many people are into.

Just a thought I had about a wonderful way to use a Compact Mac that my secret admirer revealed to me.

 

[Blougram]

I play chess online on the ICC server on my SE/30. The only problem with the client is that it assumes a better resolution; the board window doesn't quite fit; I cannot see how much time I have left, and if I collapse the board, black pieces on black squares disappear. That's a minor objection, though.

I am also planning on writing at least a chapter of my dissertation in Word 5.2. The Alps key switches are amazing. And the limited multitasking ability means fewer distractions.

 

[James1095]

I mostly use mine to play Glider and Shufflepuck. When I was in college in the late 90s I used my accelerated Mac Plus for all my homework because it came with a laser printer and it didn't have internet access and modern games to distract me. Word and Excel on that ancient machine are not all that different than newer versions on a modern PC.