Alright, if I can dig the machines out of storage in the next two days; I'm going to use only machines that were current the day my step-son was born (September 25, 1994.) This means a PowerBook 540c for portable use, and a Power Macintosh 7100/66 for desktop use. (I may go for the 6100/60av; I haven't decided yet.) If I feel that I need a PDA, I'll use my Original Newton MessagePad. The mobile side will hinge heavily on if any of my PB500-series batteries still hold a charge. I have four PB5300-series batteries that hold a reasonable charge, but the PB5300 is too new for my personal deadline. (It was introduced in mid-to-late '95.)
For photos, I wish I had a QuickTake 100, but sadly, I only have a QuickTake 200. I'll have to fudge it and use that slightly-too-new hardware. Once the photos are transferred to computer via software, it doesn't really matter, anyway.
I will allow myself hardware upgrades and software that was available exactly ten years prior to the start of the warmup (as of 1/1/2000,) mostly to allow myself to use my WaveLAN card on the PowerBook.
(I can't remember if my PCMCIA cage is the one-and-only model that works with the PPC upgrade. If it is, I'll use my 520c with PPC upgrade instead of the 540c.) I was going to have the cutoff be my step-son's fifth birthday (9/25/1999,) but that would exclude Mac OS 9; and I feel like using OS 9.
I will also allow for security and bug-fix updates that are newer than 1/1/2000; but not major releases. So iCab 2.9.9 will be my web browser of choice. (I can justify that 2.9.9 is really just the last in a long line of bug-fix/security updates of the earliest version of iCab, right?
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A few unavoidables: My home server must continue to run for my wife's sake; and at work, I don't exactly have a choice in the matter. Finally, since pre-2000 cell phones don't work; I'll be using my iPhone for phone calls. I will not use it for browsing the 'net, though. I don't think there's any way to get an OMP (Newton) on the internet wirelessly, so I may have to resort to doing mobile email on the iPhone, as in my job, mobile email is unavoidable. (I know a 2000-series Newton can use WiFi, but those are newer than my hardware timeline allows.)
My Summer project will be to set up my home computer museum, though. (We should get the remodel going by then, and I'll have a proper 'museum-style' display; with as many machines as possible in ready-to-use condition.)