Long-Dormant 180

[LCARS]

In 2008 I bought a 180 from its original owners. At the time I didn't know what I wanted to do with the machines that I was accumulating. I was mostly trying to buy the Macs as an adult that I dreamed about as a kid simply to have them. Anyway, when the active matrix tunneling syndrome (AMTS anyone?) began to show itself about six years ago, I put the laptop into storage.

While browsing Tindie last month, I came across 10MB of hand made PSRAM purple goodness and decided to give the 180 another go. Despite the AMTS, I can use it for a good hour before it shows up and I'm hoping to do some work in my coffee shop to show the well-kept creature off. I like the engagement with other people it elicits. I think its good to demonstrate that consumer electronics don't have to vanish into the ether.

I usually hold my breath and create more problems when opening up my portables but not this time; the installation was very easy. I'm looking at you 2400c.

Wow, have I missed this machine. With the exception of the new RAM card, its entirely original (even the OS install). To the relative size of the System Folder from stock to additional memory, System 7.1 noticed and went YOINK I'll take that.

 

[joshc]

That 180 is beautiful, the screen looks new! Quite jealous right now if I'm honest......

 

[LCARS]

@joshc Thank you! It hasn't seen much use over the past several years, which has kept it looking crisp. The screen looks perfect for about 45 minutes and then the edges start to show signs of darkening. By an hour its down right annoying.

Now I can't find the battery for it. Not that it works at this point but the ballast is useful!

 

[mg.man]

The screen looks perfect for about 45 minutes and then the edges start to show signs of darkening ... annoying.

Yeah! I have two in this state. You can read more about the issue here:

Tunnel Vision On Monochrome Active Matrix Powerbooks

Reading this thread from the beginning (way back in 2013!), I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to have any PowerBooks with monochrome or grayscale active matrix displays. Too much trouble!! However, the Portable, despite also having a monochrome active matrix LCD, doesn't seem to be...

68kmla.org

Keep hoping someone would come up with a reliable fix....

 

[techknight]

The only fix is to custom manufacture new LCD panels, or retrofit modern ones in their place with some type of standards converter.

First is expensive as hell, 2nd might be feasible .

 

[LCARS]

The only fix is to custom manufacture new LCD panels

Do you know of any places that could do that? If you had to guess, would you say less than $500 per panel? I've thought about this option often as I watch tunnel vision begin. With newly made RAM, SCSI HD alternatives, and battery cell rebuilds, it seems like the last big problem is the tunneling. If we could fix that (and maybe the hinges) these machines would be "solved" so to speak.

@mg.man Thank you for the link. I've read all about it. The tunneling began way back before I found 68kMLA and I thought I was the only one with that issue. I lived in Southern California at the time and the typical relative humidity in my place was low. I'm more of the mindset that its not moisture related, at least not entirely.

 

[techknight]

Do you know of any places that could do that? If you had to guess, would you say less than $500 per panel? I've thought about this option often as I watch tunnel vision begin. With newly made RAM, SCSI HD alternatives, and battery cell rebuilds, it seems like the last big problem is the tunneling. If we could fix that (and maybe the hinges) these machines would be "solved" so to speak.

@mg.man Thank you for the link. I've read all about it. The tunneling began way back before I found 68kMLA and I thought I was the only one with that issue. I lived in Southern California at the time and the typical relative humidity in my place was low. I'm more of the mindset that its not moisture related, at least not entirely.

Im sure you can find a chinese company to do it, but it would probably take a massive order to justify the cost