Using vintage Mac computers?

princealfie · Jun 11, 2010, 11:50 AM

Why use vintage Mac computers? What are some of the appeal for choosing an older computer rather than the latest incarnation?

David Schmidt · Jun 11, 2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princealfie

Why use vintage Mac computers?

I guess that should be a FAQ.

There's been plenty of discussion in various threads about it:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=817328
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=815604
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=925274
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=898894
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=741253

I like mine because they're all curious period pieces. They are a snapshot in time of the state of the art of user experience. (And, you can't read an 800k diskette without one.)

gkarris · Jun 11, 2010, 02:36 PM

I bought a 17" lamp style G4 iMac to use as a digital photo frame - way cool...

velocityg4 · Jun 13, 2010, 05:06 PM

I mainly like it to play old games on. It is much more reliable than an emulator.

Hrududu · Jun 13, 2010, 10:11 PM

Price. I remember drooling over the Tibooks and other wicked fast computers years ago. Now, I can actually afford to buy them and give em a shot. My 12" Powerbook for example is a computer I use every day. Its still plenty new enough to run modern software and costs far less than a 13" Macbook or an Air. For older PPC and 68k systems, its pure nostalgia. Its fun to go back and use older software and OS versions. If you didn't ever use use that stuff back when it was current, then you probably don't see the point.

czerc1 · Jan 17, 2013, 08:08 PM

Recently bought a Powernook G3 Lombard @ loaded it with Mac OS 9.2. It brought back so many college memories of late night essay writing. Luv it!

MisterKeeks · Jan 17, 2013, 08:20 PM

Because I can, because I don't need to throw money on an Intel, because I like searching for the last compatible versions with the wayback machine...

SkyBell · Jan 18, 2013, 02:13 AM

I hate how disposable our electronics have become. I hate how people feel the need to chunk their old system and buy a brand new, slightly faster one every other year. I hate watching these perfectly functioning computers and gadgets end up sitting in someone's closet or garage for years, until they end up in a landfill. It truly sickens me.

I aim to be different, to make use of what many find unusable, to use what I already have until it no longer physically functions, and recycling them when they reach this point. There's something to be said about living frugally, and making your impact on this planet as little as possible. (in an environmental and consumer/business sense)

Plus, old stuff is wicked cool, and nostalgia is the icing on the cake.

Anonymous Freak · Jan 18, 2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velocityg4

I mainly like it to play old games on. It is much more reliable than an emulator.

This is my main reason.

Although I'm about to help a friend clean up her circa-1998 PowerBook G3. After 14 years, and 8 years since its last OS upgrade, it's starting to get crufty.

I'm going to upgrade it to Tiger, the latest iTunes that works on it (she got a newish iPod nano, which requires a much newer version of iTunes than she has,) and add TenFourFox. Then I'll up the RAM (I have a spare stick lying around that'll work in it,) and add an AirPort Card (same.) This system hasn't been on the internet in forever, and she doesn't have a home internet connection, but she did express a desire to use her phone as a hotspot occasionally to do things on the computer rather than her phone.

tevion5 · Jan 18, 2013, 11:09 AM

Because they're just really cool and vintage equipment just makes me feel happy. My 512Ke can't do very much by modern standards but it looks great, is fun to mess about with and is a real piece of history. I didn't even have it for years, I just bought it on eBay a month ago, because I can

sheppy1 · Jan 25, 2013, 06:07 AM

I have an iMac G3 which I use as a personal jukebox because it beats setting up my 5.1 speakers with the mass of wires which are needed to connect them together and the speakers in the iMac G3 are absolutely amazing!!

mrsir2009 · Jan 25, 2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princealfie

Why use vintage Mac computers? What are some of the appeal for choosing an older computer rather than the latest incarnation?

I'm sure most people have a reasonably modern computer in addition to their vintage Mac(s). It's kinda the same as people who buy vintage cars

ppcg4mac · Jan 26, 2013, 12:16 PM

when I had my G4s, it was because i got them for free, but then i bought a MacBook Pro, i still used them, mostly because some of the apps i used were PPC only (such as TORCS) Also because it made a good place to make small backups.

el-John-o · Jan 26, 2013, 05:20 PM

Nostalgia.

I get a kick out of just going through all of the settings and included Apps in OS 8.6, for example. Just brings back memories!

Jun 11, 2010, 11:50 AM	#1
princealfie macrumors 68030 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Salt Lake City UT	Using vintage Mac computers? Why use vintage Mac computers? What are some of the appeal for choosing an older computer rather than the latest incarnation? __________________ albertfallickwang.artcat.com late 2006 iMac 17" (Intel Core Duo 2) with 4 GB and 4 TB internal hard drive; Mac OS X 10.6, iPhone 3GS on T-Mobile + a few Android phones (HTC Amaze, etc.)
	0

Jun 11, 2010, 02:36 PM	#3
gkarris macrumors 604 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: in a Mass-Production Zone...	I bought a 17" lamp style G4 iMac to use as a digital photo frame - way cool... __________________ "This gate's plastic." Captain Carter, Stargate SG-1, "Touchstone"
	0

Jun 13, 2010, 05:06 PM	#4
velocityg4 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Georgia	I mainly like it to play old games on. It is much more reliable than an emulator. __________________ Quadra 650 040 33MHz 72MB RAM, 2GB HD, 2x CD Macbook C2D 2.0Ghz; 3GB RAM, 500GB HD Home Made i5 4.0Ghz, GeForce 560 Ti, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD RAID 0, 3TB HD RAID 0 in a G5 Case.
	0

Jun 13, 2010, 10:11 PM	#5
Hrududu macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wichita KS	Price. I remember drooling over the Tibooks and other wicked fast computers years ago. Now, I can actually afford to buy them and give em a shot. My 12" Powerbook for example is a computer I use every day. Its still plenty new enough to run modern software and costs far less than a 13" Macbook or an Air. For older PPC and 68k systems, its pure nostalgia. Its fun to go back and use older software and OS versions. If you didn't ever use use that stuff back when it was current, then you probably don't see the point. __________________ Quad 2.5 G5, MacBook Pro 2.16, Dual 2.0 G5 Powermac, 12" Powerbook G4 1.5, TiBooks 867 & 667, iMac G3 600, G4 Cube 500 & 450, B&W G3 450 & 350, iBook 300's & 366, Beige G3 350, Wallstreet 233
	0

Jan 17, 2013, 08:20 PM	#7
MisterKeeks macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2012	Because I can, because I don't need to throw money on an Intel, because I like searching for the last compatible versions with the wayback machine... __________________ Core Duo 1.83 Mac Mini, Dual 2.7 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.8 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.25 MDD G4, 1.6 GHz iMac G5, 900 MHz iBook G3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 500MHz iMac G3, 400MHz iMac G3
	0

Jan 17, 2013, 08:08 PM	#6
czerc1 macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas	Recently bought a Powernook G3 Lombard @ loaded it with Mac OS 9.2. It brought back so many college memories of late night essay writing. Luv it!
	0

Jan 18, 2013, 02:13 AM	#8
SkyBell macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas	I hate how disposable our electronics have become. I hate how people feel the need to chunk their old system and buy a brand new, slightly faster one every other year. I hate watching these perfectly functioning computers and gadgets end up sitting in someone's closet or garage for years, until they end up in a landfill. It truly sickens me. I aim to be different, to make use of what many find unusable, to use what I already have until it no longer physically functions, and recycling them when they reach this point. There's something to be said about living frugally, and making your impact on this planet as little as possible. (in an environmental and consumer/business sense) Plus, old stuff is wicked cool, and nostalgia is the icing on the cake. __________________ MR's PowerPC Fangirl eMac 1.42 GHz - 10.4.11 Pink iPod mini 2G 4 GB R.I.P Apple Computer, 1976-2007
	1

Jan 18, 2013, 11:09 AM	#10
tevion5 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ireland	Because they're just really cool and vintage equipment just makes me feel happy. My 512Ke can't do very much by modern standards but it looks great, is fun to mess about with and is a real piece of history. I didn't even have it for years, I just bought it on eBay a month ago, because I can
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 06:07 AM	#11
sheppy1 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2008	I have an iMac G3 which I use as a personal jukebox because it beats setting up my 5.1 speakers with the mass of wires which are needed to connect them together and the speakers in the iMac G3 are absolutely amazing!! __________________ Current devices: iPhone 2G 8GB, iPhone 4 16GB, iMac G3, Aluminium Macbook 4GB RAM Past devices: iPhone 3G 8GB, iPhone 3GS 16GB, iPhone 4 32GB, iPad 16GB Wi-Fi, White Macbook
	0

Jan 26, 2013, 12:16 PM	#13
ppcg4mac macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Spaaaaace!	when I had my G4s, it was because i got them for free, but then i bought a MacBook Pro, i still used them, mostly because some of the apps i used were PPC only (such as TORCS) Also because it made a good place to make small backups. __________________ There is no question about it, my sanity is questionable. I'm not on during the week, only weekends if I'm lucky!
	0

Jan 26, 2013, 05:20 PM	#14
el-John-o macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Missouri	Nostalgia. I get a kick out of just going through all of the settings and included Apps in OS 8.6, for example. Just brings back memories! __________________ Windows7 PC - Phenom II 965@4GHz x4 Cores, 4GB DDR3-2133, Radeon HD5870 \| iPhone 5 32GB \| iPad WiFi+3G 64GB \| Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13", Dual 256GB SSD's in RAID 0, 16GB DDR3-1600
	0

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