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What Apple laptops are covered in the PowerBook section?

To quote the little bit of text under the forum:

From the Portable to the 190cs.
This is the 68k PowerBook section... I guess the title of this forum was a little ambiguous, so I've updated it.

 
So I generally like the re-organization, but where do the PPC PowerBooks fit? There's a section for PCI and NuBus of which most are neither? I know the Duos took advantage of NuBus architecture and later PowerBooks used IDE drives, but seriously shouldn't there be a category for PowerBooks separately which are not mixed in with desktops due to the unique nature of their problems?

Also, are Intels completely off-forum?

 
They go under either NuBus PowerBook (1400, 2300, 5300), PCI (2400, 3400) or G3/G4/G5 (iBook, PowerBook G3, PowerBook G4) depending on what model they are.

Intel chat belongs in the Lounge.

 
We should move the Intel stuff into it's own sub-forum where it belongs. The lounge is for off-topic conversation. IMO Intel computers are on-topic (for a computer forum).

 
I wouldn't call it a reorganising -- more just a simple renaming. The forums have always been organised in that way, it just wasn't implicitly noted in the titles. If you notice the PowerBook forum is in the section "68k Model Forums".

As LCGuy said, topics about PPC 'Books go in the relevant architecture forum. Although they don't have physical NuBus or PCI slots, they are actually based around the motherboard architecture. When I was doing the renaming yesterday -- and moving all the PPC 'Book topics that had been posted in the 68k 'Book forum -- I did consider adding a dedicated forum for the PPC 'Books. If people think it would be a good move then I have no opposition to adding one -- just let me know!

While we could add an Intel Mac forum, it doesn't exactly fit into the "vintage" ethos we've got going on. There will always be members who think we should focus purely on 68k Macs, but I've always been of the belief that the PPC models (especially the earlier ones) are similar enough to be of interest. That's also why we provide a separate G3/G4/G5 forum -- if people aren't interested in these machines then they can just avoid that forum. There are plenty of places where bleeding edge technology can be discussed, so I don't see any real benefit of adding more forums here. I guess it would keep The Lounge a bit tidier. Even as it is though, we have certain members who don't seem to want to acknowledge that we even have other forums here and just post everything in The Lounge -- I'm not going to point any fingers, you know who you are [:o)] ]'>

 
Powerbooks/iBooks/Macbooks should all be in one section no matter what architecture they use. It really bothers me when I keep seeing discussions about laptops spread out across several different forums. Keep them all together. Leave the Nubus/PCI/G3,G4,G5 and other forums for desktop machines.

 
I did consider adding a dedicated forum for the PPC 'Books ...While we could add an Intel Mac forum, it doesn't exactly fit into the "vintage" ethos we've got going on. There will always be members who think we should focus purely on 68k Macs, but I've always been of the belief that the PPC models (especially the earlier ones) are similar enough to be of interest.
First, I do think PowerBooks belong in their own category due to their unique issues. Separating 68K PowerBooks and PPC PowerBooks seems like a good idea as they too have very different issues and software considerations. However, if those who have a broad understanding of both may not visit two separate forums, thus limiting the spread of their expertise as widely as possible, then I think it's a bad idea. Though it's a unique case, splitting the forums would effectively orphan the Duo 2300 from the rest of the Duos, even though many of the things that apply to it also apply to the earlier 68K versions.

As far as limiting expertise to 68Ks:

1) As long as 68K software runs under a PPC, even if it is only under Classic emulation, then PPC Macs should be included.

2) I would guess a large percentage of the forum member use Intel-based Macs (or will use them) for their routine access to this forum and as such may need assistance with both the operation of those Macs and downloading software for use with vintage Macs. Not to mention 68K emulators such as Basilisk II and Sheepshaver.

3) Why send users all over the internet looking for information about PPC Macs, most considered vintage by Apple as well as current Intel Macs when there are other members who are equally helpful with those topics. Putting them in separate forums allows those who want to participate in those subjects to do it.

4) Eliminating nothing but 68K Macs would mean all Apple IIs. Let's face it, Vintage is Vintage. What attracts us to Apple products should not be limited to the processor. If server space were an issue I would suggest limiting it. Since that does not seem to be the case, there is no reason to make anything taboo. State the goals as 68K oriented forum, which should attract mostly those who have an interest in 68K Macs, but doesn't drive them away to another forum to discuss something else most of us are perfectly willing to indulge.

I mean sometimes you just get tired of eating Chinese.

 
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There are a lot of items to discuss when it comes to interconnect a 68kM to other stuff (peripherals from a serial mouse to any other PC, an instrument in the lab or even the whole Internet). Or how about emulations, to get Sys. 7 running on a recent machine, any command executed within fractions of a second? Think of data interchange, also. Some of the forums should be left open as a kind of 'compatibility area' to permit useful threads that would be marked 'off topic', otherwise. Some structure is helpful, so I would not put this stuff into the lounge, but have some dedicated areas. Why not have some extra forums for recent computers, as long as the posts are 68k-related? And yes, we have the 'Peripherals' area, but I think it could use some re-organisation to allow easy access to specific information.

But this leads to a more database related question: Might it be possible to 'flag' a post in 'peripherals' as 'related to SCSI' or 'related to RS 422' AND 'related to HyperCard' (for example), and to switch on/off visibility of posts in a forum depending to their flag? Any new post should meet one or more categories to choose from. This way one could decide easily if the post belongs to the forum. Or think different, and have a set of categories to choose from to post something (with nothing chosen, it is clearly off topic, to be thrown into the lounge). Let the server decide into which forum the post will go, without additional interaction (-> less 'moved' posts). To view something, check the categories you are interested in, and have a forum customised to your needs. From a database organisation point of view there should be no need to organise the forums in fixed categories. Fixed forums still could be supported, like the forums we already have. They are one possible set of categories to organise discissions. No one needs to change habits.

P.S.: A lot of people organise their photo collections in categories like 'general stuff', 'miscellaneous', 'other stuff' and so on, what is the mind-blowing result of a present inability to predict future needs :) A software based forum may take advantage of automagic re-organisation on individual demand.

 
Right, I've added a PowerPC PowerBook/iBook section...

There will always be a split on the forums between the 68k purists who think even the PPC stuff should be spun off into another board entirely, and those who think we should have forums for everything. It's not going to be possible to please both camps, but I think the setup we've got just now is a good balance between the two views...

But this leads to a more database related question: Might it be possible to 'flag' a post in 'peripherals' as 'related to SCSI' or 'related to RS 422' AND 'related to HyperCard' (for example), and to switch on/off visibility of posts in a forum depending to their flag? Any new post should meet one or more categories to choose from. This way one could decide easily if the post belongs to the forum. Or think different, and have a set of categories to choose from to post something (with nothing chosen, it is clearly off topic, to be thrown into the lounge). Let the server decide into which forum the post will go, without additional interaction (-> less 'moved' posts). To view something, check the categories you are interested in, and have a forum customised to your needs. From a database organisation point of view there should be no need to organise the forums in fixed categories. Fixed forums still could be supported, like the forums we already have. They are one possible set of categories to organise discissions. No one needs to change habits.
Unfortunately, that's not possible with phpBB (the forum software we use), and it's not something I've really seen in any other software, though it's common on things like photo galleries, blogs, social networking sites and the like. I'll keep an eye out for it though...

 
I like things the way they are, and I'm a 68k purist. I'm a big believer in the "if it ain't broke" philosophy, and I don't see anything wrong with how things are now.

JMO.

 
I have an account on PPCMLA, but hardly ever use it. I come here for all my vintage computing needs.

I started my vintage mac voyage here as a result of it being moved off of the MacAddict forums way back when. As a result I have been coming here for my vintage fix to discuss everything mac related. Everything from Powerbooks, iBooks, Centris (Centrii?), Quadra's and so on. Whether it's 68K or my Aluminum PBG4 I like talking about them here.

Although some may not want Intel talks the fact of the matter is that people will discuss their Intel needs here.

Maybe we could put Intel in a contraband forum or something.

 
I could not more agree with Temetka. Lets keep this forum open for contributions as necessary. The MacBook Air will be a vintage Mac some years later, as well (if it lasts long enough, though). I like the pleasing manners and the humor in here. Such needs some headroom to thrive and prosper.

 
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