Small Mac-related things

[Franklinstein]

At last, I came across an ADB cable (they're surprisingly hard to find over here), so now I can use this Apple Extended Keyboard II that I bought a while ago. It's a Japanese version, but they layout is virtually identical to the English model. One peculiar difference here is that on most keyboards, the Japanese is written in Hirakana, and the characters on this keyboard are Katakana. Plus, this keyboard lacks the kana-changing key and the Kanji key. Maybe it's just because it's old. Dunno.

Also found a USB Zip 250 drive for about $8 (so now I can use Zip disks more often).

Finally, I also found "The Jackal" on LaserDisc. You may ask, "What does a LaserDisc have to do with Macs?" Well, there are a bunch of Macs in the movie (mostly the 5200-style machines). I haven't watched the movie yet, and haven't seen it in a whille, so I don't remember if they're using System 7 or a movie OS...

 

[Christopher]

You have a LaserDisc player? Wow!!!!

 

[funkytoad]

Awesomness! We actually have a laserdisk player at the News Station where I work. Frank, you know you can use an S-Video cable as ADB?

 

[Christopher]

I always wondered that same thing. Now I know it will work!!!

 

[Franklinstein]

LaserDiscs are the coolest thing ever - analog video encapsulated within an FM signal, read by a laser (a HeNe gas laser in the earliest models). CAV-mode discs are the best - I've got a few special-edition movies that use CAV, and bonus: you can frame-by-frame through all of the discs with perfect image results. CLV discs don't work quite so well, but they're still awesome.

I've got a really nice LD setup: a Pioneer CLD-D500 (a dual-sided player! woot!), which outputs Dolby Digital AC-3 sound (when available) to a Yamaha 5.1 channel decoder, which then runs the sound and SVideo signal to a Pioneer receiver. It's fantastic. I just need a new TV.

I also have an old Yamaha LD, but it's more of a standby deck.

In "The Jackal", they definitely use Macs in parts of it. Some are the 5200-style AIO boxes, but they also show some desktop Power Macs. They definitely run either System 7 or OS 8. Good movie, btw.

I totally didn't know that SVideo cables could be used as replacement ADB - I suspected for a while, since they look almost identical, but never tried it for fear of blowing a fuse or something (much like what would happen when a phone cord was used for the keyboard on an original Mac).

 

[LCGuy]

Nope, yoiu don't have to be afraid, S-Video and ADB cables are exactly the same. I've used S-Video cables as ADB, and vice versa many times before, without a problem.

 

[~tl]

Nope, yoiu don't have to be afraid, S-Video and ADB cables are exactly the same. I've used S-Video cables as ADB, and vice versa many times before, without a problem.

Using an ADB cable for S-Video may lead to a degraded picture as they often don't have as good shielding, etc. However, S-Video cables can be used instead of ADB ones to connect peripherals to a computer without any problem, as you said.

 

[LCGuy]

I thought that shielded cables with S-Video were only a big deal if the cables are long...when I did it I couldn't tell the difference, but maybe I'm just not fussy.

 

[~tl]

I thought that shielded cables with S-Video were only a big deal if the cables are long...when I did it I couldn't tell the difference, but maybe I'm just not fussy.

It'll certainly make more of a difference for longer cable runs. It probably won't be a noticeable difference on shorter runs, but in an electrically noisy environment then it might be.

 

[funkytoad]

I control most of my macs with a Trackball connected via an S-Video Cable. I like the length than many S-Video cables come in. Also, they are easy for me to get from the News Station where I work. And yes, when running video through ADB at a fair length, you will get worse picture, but for small connections it works fine.

 

[Christopher]

It's like a Guitar cable thats un balanced, the longer it goes the more random noise you pick up.

 

[John8520]

Nope, yoiu don't have to be afraid, S-Video and ADB cables are exactly the same. I've used S-Video cables as ADB, and vice versa many times before, without a problem.

Nope. Well, not for me anyways. A few months ago I got a few s-video cables to use just for ADB cables on macs, and every single one caused the mac to boot when I plugged it in; it must have been shorting out the power on pin and ground. And this is not the only occurrence, I've looked around on other sites and forums and seen it happen to other people; so no, do not trust every s-video cable to work interchangeably with an ADB cable.

 

[4seasonphoto]

Memories of LaserDisk! Years ago, I found a 2nd- or 3rd-gen Pioneer player in a thrift store and it mostly worked (sometimes took several tries) so I wound up getting the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies on LD, and misc '80s movies like Ghostbusters, Planes, Trains & Automobiles and Trading Places. Felt so smug having it connected via composite video to my 20" NAD TV set, with both (count em!) audio channels being piped through conrad-johnson amplification!