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Must Have Software for 68030 Compacts
- Thread starter System7
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Your question is too broad. It really depends on what you do on your old Mac.
For me, I sometimes browse the web. In this case, hands down, Netscape 2.0 is the way to go. There is no graphic browser any faster than this.
For word processing, I use Word 5.1. But WriteNow is an excellent alternative.
For maintenance, I use Central Point Software's MacTools Pro 4 and also Norton Utilities 3.5, in combination with Apple's Disk First Aid. I also use Conflict Catcher to handle my CP's and Extensions.
For fun, try The Manhole or Cosmic Osmo. Crystal Quest is also a great time killer.
For best system performance, use some flavor of System 6. For more features and newer software compatibility, System 7.1 is the fastest version of System 7, but 7.5.5 has some bells and whistles that you may enjoy.
For great B&W graphics creation, I recommend Canvas 3.5.6.
For me, I sometimes browse the web. In this case, hands down, Netscape 2.0 is the way to go. There is no graphic browser any faster than this.
For word processing, I use Word 5.1. But WriteNow is an excellent alternative.
For maintenance, I use Central Point Software's MacTools Pro 4 and also Norton Utilities 3.5, in combination with Apple's Disk First Aid. I also use Conflict Catcher to handle my CP's and Extensions.
For fun, try The Manhole or Cosmic Osmo. Crystal Quest is also a great time killer.
For best system performance, use some flavor of System 6. For more features and newer software compatibility, System 7.1 is the fastest version of System 7, but 7.5.5 has some bells and whistles that you may enjoy.
For great B&W graphics creation, I recommend Canvas 3.5.6.
You have to keep in mind that the max ram in the Classic ll is 10mb! No way to raise the physical ram on this model. So Ram Doubler works well on this model and most of the early compact macs. The exception being the SE/30. But even that model will benefit from Ram Doubler if it is running System 6 and limited to 8mb of ram. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken on this.
Can you name any software program that runs under System 6 that really needs more than 8MB of RAM? System 7, yes. But System 6 is old school. You can do a lot with very little RAM. You can even run rather "modern" apps like Deneba Canvas 3.5.6 under System 6.0.8 with only 4MB of RAM. Its when you run thinks like Photoshop under System 7 or web browsers that you begin to need more than 8 or 10MB of RAM.
RAM Doubler has its place, but keep in mind that it certainly will not speed up your computer in the process.
RAM Doubler has its place, but keep in mind that it certainly will not speed up your computer in the process.
RAM Doubler not only used compression technology to double the 'working size' of the physical RAM installed in a computer (for which reason it is very useful on a machine like a Classic II or an early PowerBook), but also was engineered to overcome certain of the limitations in the way MacOS handled RAM generally. One of the reasons it did the latter was so that it could do the former – but it also had other tricks up its sleeve in achieving this goal. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it worked on a number of fronts to provide a better solution than Apple did stock, in much the same way that Speed Doubler did in connection with 68k emulation in ppc chips, and multitasking in System 7. Both products came from the same corporate stable, and one of the good things about them is that they work so well together.
Is there documentation on the speed hit taken when using RAM Doubler? Subjectively, I have not noticed any slow-down in the systems in which I have used it, but would be interested if this were demonstrated somewhere.
Is there documentation on the speed hit taken when using RAM Doubler? Subjectively, I have not noticed any slow-down in the systems in which I have used it, but would be interested if this were demonstrated somewhere.
Here is a Feb. 1994 MacWeek Article on OptiMem & RAM Doubler. Note the last paragraph. Although I've not run RAM Doubler on my current SE/30, I did use it in years past on 68000 Macs and PPC Macs. While the slow-down varied, I never found it to be as fast as real RAM (surprise, surprise). And watch out for extension conflicts because they do exist. But as MacWeek properly states, if you are desperate and need a minor RAM boost but can't add RAM, then these product do help.
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