Mac Plus video

[option8]

hi all!

i've recently completed a project utilizing a Plus case to house a G4 Cube (


) and now i'm looking to do something with the innards of the Plus itself.
i hate to see the pieces go to waste (though the logic board is lovely piece of art for my office right now), so i thought i'd try and put the pieces into another case. maybe even try and build a Portable Plus...

however, part of the reason i chose this Plus to disassemble was that, though it had an intact and well-preserved case, the CRT was badly burned-in. i'd like to replace it, and being ambitious, i'd like to see what my options are.

one thought i had was to try and get external video working (i understand there are cables from "Power R" that will do the job, though i have yet to find one for sale). i have a variety of monitors and converters that could take a usable video signal.

another thought was to somehow connect directly to the analog board in the Plus and extract its video signal - in essence, build my own Power R cable thingy.

other than the usual caveat about working with or near a CRT, do the folks on this forum have any suggestions on how best to proceed?

 

[tomlee59]

It's relatively straightforward to do what you propose. For some details, see http://68kmla.org/files/classicmac2.pdf

Interfacing to an old TTL monitor requires just two signal inversions, and possibly a minor tweak to sweep speeds. Newer multisync monitors may need even less work.

 

[option8]

thanks! this has (i think) just what i'm looking for.

now to try and find an LCD that can tolerate my tinkering and compatible with the signal...

has anyone else managed to do this - connect an LCD or other more up-to-date display to one of the compact Macs?

 

[Mac128]

No, no, no, do this instead:

http://www.bernardbelanger.com/computing/proto/index.html

 

[option8]

one thought i had was to combine the Cube shell that i had and the Plus innards and create a reverse of the G4 Plus, by putting the Plus parts in the Cube case.

but alas, the boards are much too large. besides, someone beat me to it:

http://www.bernardbelanger.com/computing/cube/index.html

 

[Bolle]

this is great mac128

 

[MacDan]

one thought i had was to combine the Cube shell that i had and the Plus innards and create a reverse of the G4 Plus, by putting the Plus parts in the Cube case.
but alas, the boards are much too large. besides, someone beat me to it:

http://www.bernardbelanger.com/computing/cube/index.html

...and you beat me to what you did. I actually dreamed this and I woke up thinking about it, only to find it here. Do you have a blueprint of some sort we can see :?: Thanks.

 

[option8]

a blueprint? no. i do have some photos, tho -


you can see most of the process there. you'll need:

a G4 cube (or at least the innards)

a plus/classic/se/... chassis

8 or 9'' LCD screen with VGA input - i used one of these:

http://dynamixcomputers.com/lilliput_841.html

USB hub (the cube only has two usb ports, and one will be used up for audio)

USB audio converter - something like this:

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=165143&cats=136&catid=121%2C637%2C136

moderate soldering skills, dremel or similar rotary tool

several weekends

an understanding spouse/significant other (optional)

 

[MacDan]

you can see most of the process there. you'll need:

a G4 cube (or at least the innards)

a plus/classic/se/... chassis

8 or 9'' LCD screen with VGA input - i used one of these:

http://dynamixcomputers.com/lilliput_841.html

USB hub (the cube only has two usb ports, and one will be used up for audio)

USB audio converter - something like this:

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=165143&cats=136&catid=121%2C637%2C136

moderate soldering skills, dremel or similar rotary tool

several weekends

an understanding spouse/significant other (optional)

I have no spouse, being 15 and all, but I do have understanding parents and a mother with soldering skills (she's a hand solder). Now I just need to get the Cube and I have a Mac Plus coming from another source, which is coincidental. Thanks a lot! :beige:

 

[Bunsen]

This one of his is more to my taste.

But the ElectriClerk beats all

 

[tomlee59]

The ElectriClerk is simply beautiful.

 

[Mac128]

The ElectriClerk is simply beautiful.

Yes, I have wanted one since I saw the brilliant Terry Gilliam's Brazil.

I even bought a beautiful old typewriter for just such a project but alas it sits unused in the garage. (car park for those of you across the pond).

 

[TheNeil]

Can I just say: Nice job on the G4-in-a-Plus-case. Really nice work

 

[Bunsen]

Yes I must agree. That's a beautiful mod, and puts most CC jobs to shame.

 

[option8]

has anyone managed to hook up a modern(ish) LCD display to a classic Mac in the way i described?

essentially, what i'm thinking is connecting up the video signal (J4 pin1) and ground to an RCA plug. connect to an LCD with RCA input, cross my fingers and hope the Magic Smoke doesn't escape.

other than that i don't have any idea what i'm doing, are there any warnings or tips you guys might have?

 

[Bunsen]

{shudder}

I'd advise doing some keyword searching and reading in these forums, and don't do what you just suggested.

 

[option8]

yeah...

i did more looking last night, and i see what you mean.

my electronics ignorance notwithstanding, *has* anyone managed to hook an LCD to a classic mac?

 

[Dennis Nedry]

I've never looked at compact mac video specs, but you can tell immediately that this isn't a composite signal (RCA jack) because the screen is much too hi-resolution. Composite signals are fuzzy to the extent that individual pixels aren't always easily identified.

Apples in the Apple II series did use composite video (also others at the time, like the Commodore 64), so maybe this is where you got the idea.

 

[TheNixer]

Waaay off topic here BUT the SE-30 TV raised a few questions. The web page said the SE/30 ran Quicktime movies in a loop. Just what kind of Quicktime movies can you run on an SE/30?

I saw an eBay auction from Japan of Star Wars Quicktime clips on disk but it required 256 colors.