A tower of towers

[bunnspecial]

I'm in the process of moving, and current circumstances dictate that the majority of my computer collection will need to go into storage for a few months.

I'm "attacking" it stepwise, but spent the better part of the day getting the G4s and B&W G3s packed up and in storage. There's a LOT more to come(iMac G3s, some other odds and ends, plus the 68K and beige PPCs), but this was an easy one to tackle first. This is in the ballpark of 30 towers, and took me 3 trips to the storage unit to get them there.

First, a couple of side notes:

1. I can haul 14 of these towers in my car, something that I know from experience. I've borrowed my dad's new Nissan Rogue CUV...and I can still only haul 14 in one trip.

2. MDDs are heavy

3. The case handles seem nicer on these than on G5s/MPs, but they can get awfully painful after you've hauled 30 of the things one handed down a couple flights of stairs

4. MDDs are heavy

5. Most can be hauled fairly expediently with a tower in each hand. Don't try doing two MDDs at the same time(see points 2 and 4)

6. MDDs are really heavy, especially when you're on the 10th one...

 

[z970]

MDDs are heavy

I've noticed this as well.

I wonder what it specifically is about the structure that's so different from Quicksilvers and earlier ...

The case handles seem nicer on these than on G5s/MPs, but they can get awfully painful after you've hauled 30 of the things one handed down a couple flights of stairs

Surely, they hurt less than the G5/MP's aluminum handles? Between the two, I by far prefer transporting the G4 for this express reason.

On that note, have you tried using gloves?

 

[weckart]

Although only superficially different in looks, the difference in weight between a Sawtooth and an MDD is striking, I've found. That's before you even load it up with drives etc. The rounded edges of the MDD handles are nicer than its sharper predecessors, though.

Still prefer lugging those around to the beige towers. Those are heavy AND awkward. I have a couple of those to squeeze into awkward gaps and my lower back is not looking forward to that.

 

[MagicBoy]

Surely, they hurt less than the G5/MP's aluminum handles? Between the two, I by far prefer transporting the G4 for this express reason.

On that note, have you tried using gloves?

30 isn't a big enough sample size? How many would you prefer? Do I need to get Geoff Capes who used to be Britains Strongest Man to help out?

 

[macgeek18]

That's a lot of PowerMacs. I thought I was bad when I had ten at one time.

 

[bobesch]

Oh, I knew, there was "one more thing" that the "Books" are my favorite Macs ...

Moving around a PowerMacs is little bit of a hassle (by far not as much compared to that grey PC-boxes),
but the b&w G3 and the G4s do look so fancy, that it's worth the effort having them around ...
[automerge]1590077070[/automerge]

That's a lot of PowerMacs. I thought I was bad when I had ten at one time.

Same felt I, when I had a shoebox of 2nd hand Palms (mainly TRGpros) as an eternal reserve nearly two decades ago ...
Views change, weight and volumes too.

 

[Project Alice]

I only have two MMDs (I still have a total of like..Probably 10 or so PPC towers) and yeah I've noticed the MDDs are definitely heavier. And mine is weighted down with 4 HDDs...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

What in the world are you doing with all of those computers?!

 

[russell_314]

Just wow 🤤

 

[eyoungren]

What in the world are you doing with all of those computers?!

He's a collector, like most of us in the PowerPC Mac forums here on MacRumors.

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

What in the world are you doing with all of those computers?!

I remember that there was a G5 supercomputer cluster at one time. The internet tells me it was System X, made by Virginia Tech in 2003. It had 1,100 G5s and cost $5.2m, which sounds low for a supercomputer. It was in 2003 the third-fastest supercomputer in the world. It began as a bunch of G5 towers and was later upgraded to XServes.

I wonder if they had to turn it on slowly, or notify NORAD every time it was activated. According to Everymac the 2gz dual-processor model weighed 17.8kg, so that's 19,580kg. That's 21 of your American tons, which again doesn't sound that bad for a supercomputer. Not counting the racks and fans.

As with all the PlayStation 3s from the US Air Force's PlayStation 3 cluster I wonder what became of all the machines. They must have been thrashed 24/7.

I imagine that 30 mixed G4s and G3s would form a more modest cluster. You could use it to mine fractions of a bitcoin. If you could generate free electricity you might make a profit. But then again why not just sell the electricity?

 

[Amethyst1]

As with all the PlayStation 3s from the US Air Force's PlayStation 3 cluster I wonder what became of all the machines.

They've all been sold to Linux enthusiasts of course.

 

[bunnspecial]

What in the world are you doing with all of those computers?!

I'd normally ignore this, since you're apparently not a regular poster here.

Since I'm just generally in a bad mood this morning and exhausted from getting the rest of my COLLECTION and other household stuff moved, I'll just say

1. None of your business

2. What the heck is it to you?

3. None of your business

So kindly buzz off if this topic doesn't interest you.

 

[bunnspecial]

And this post goes out specifically to @Dronecatcher

I shared this when trying to do an extremely stressful relocation of my collection 2 states away and have spent the last 2 weeks working my rear end off trying to safely pack and store it until that can get done.

I'm not, as one user implies hoarding with the intent to make a future profit. That's never been the goal. I collected these things because I enjoy collecting and using these computers.

It's incredibly insulting to suggest that I'm working toward a future profit on these. Anyone who's dealt with me knows that if you come to my house and taking a liking to something computer related or whatever, you'll find me trying to give you stuff incessantly. The only things I hold dear are the projects I've put a lot of time and energy into, or spent a lot of time sourcing parts to make them happen. I'd dare say that I've given away more crap than a lot of folks on there. I don't say that to brag-that's just how it is. There's no intent of profit here, and the fact that some agitator would suggest that is enough to frankly piss me off beyond belief and push me over the edge of even caring about this section of the forum any more.

 

[eyoungren]

I'd normally ignore this, since you're apparently not a regular poster here.

Since I'm just generally in a bad mood this morning and exhausted from getting the rest of my COLLECTION and other household stuff moved, I'll just say

1. None of your business

2. What the heck is it to you?

3. None of your business

So kindly buzz off if this topic doesn't interest you.

On the front page of the forum there's a section on the right for 'Latest Posts'. Sometimes people come into the forum at the front page and they see that and react. A lot of MR forum members, especially those involved in the iPhone section are totally unaware that there is even a PowerPC forum. They just see people discussing 'old stuff' and assume it's in a main forum. So they comment.

I think that's probably what happened here.

 

[Dronecatcher]

And this post goes out specifically to @Dronecatcher

As I said in the other thread before it got moderated - I used the term "hoarding" as a sarcastic retort to your insulting attack on most of the forum users - I hoped it would make you aware that we all have different takes on vintage Macs - just because some like the challenge of tweaking it doesn't make them inferior.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I'd normally ignore this, since you're apparently not a regular poster here.

Since I'm just generally in a bad mood this morning and exhausted from getting the rest of my COLLECTION and other household stuff moved, I'll just say

1. None of your business

2. What the heck is it to you?

3. None of your business

So kindly buzz off if this topic doesn't interest you.

What was that all about??

I genuinely asked why this person has so many Mac computers, because I have never seen that many in my life?!

People are just so mean these days... :-(


P.S. Yes, I did come to this thread from the front page, and no, I have never been in this forum before.

 

[eyoungren]

What was that all about??

I genuinely asked why this person has so many Mac computers, because I have never seen that many in my life?!

People are just so mean these days... :-(

Here's the thing.

@bunnspecial is noted in this forum, the PowerPC forum, for his large collection of Macs. You wouldn't know that if you came from outside the forum. And people from outside the forum who ask questions like this have a general disregard or misunderstanding about PowerPC Macs and why we collect old stuff like this. So, the question you asked is perceived hostilely because in general it's usually asked to attack.

That's why I pointed out to you in MY quoting of your question that you were posting in the PowerPC forums.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I'm in the process of moving, and current circumstances dictate that the majority of my computer collection will need to go into storage for a few months.

I'm "attacking" it stepwise, but spent the better part of the day getting the G4s and B&W G3s packed up and in storage. There's a LOT more to come(iMac G3s, some other odds and ends, plus the 68K and beige PPCs), but this was an easy one to tackle first. This is in the ballpark of 30 towers, and took me 3 trips to the storage unit to get them there.

View attachment 917214

First, a couple of side notes:

1. I can haul 14 of these towers in my car, something that I know from experience. I've borrowed my dad's new Nissan Rogue CUV...and I can still only haul 14 in one trip.

2. MDDs are heavy

3. The case handles seem nicer on these than on G5s/MPs, but they can get awfully painful after you've hauled 30 of the things one handed down a couple flights of stairs

4. MDDs are heavy

5. Most can be hauled fairly expediently with a tower in each hand. Don't try doing two MDDs at the same time(see points 2 and 4)

6. MDDs are really heavy, especially when you're on the 10th one...

That's a really impressive collection. I can only dream of a collection of that grandeur. I do agree that the handles are really nice. When I hauled my DA in a QS case home from the garage sale I got it at the handles helped me not absolutely kill my arms, hands, and back. I can imagine how hauling more than two or three could get painful though.

 

[eyoungren]

That's a really impressive collection. I can only dream of a collection of that grandeur. I do agree that the handles are really nice. When I hauled my DA in a QS case home from the garage sale I got it at the handles helped me not absolutely kill my arms, hands, and back. I can imagine how hauling more than two or three could get painful though.

That;s just a small slice of the entire thing - the stuff he doesn't really have a problem being without until he's settled in his new house. Where he's coming from, closets, rooms and floor space are all taken up by Macs.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

That;s just a small slice of the entire thing - the stuff he doesn't really have a problem being without until he's settled in his new house. Where he's coming from, closets, rooms and floor space are all taken up by Macs.

Oh, wow. That's even more impressive. I'd be interested in seeing more of his collection if he's willing to share

 

[z970]

Here's the thing.

@bunnspecial is noted in this forum, the PowerPC forum, for his large collection of Macs. You wouldn't know that if you came from outside the forum. And people from outside the forum who ask questions like this have a general disregard or misunderstanding about PowerPC Macs and why we collect old stuff like this. So, the question you asked is perceived hostilely because in general it's usually asked to attack.

This tactic is flawed and isn't good for anyone. If someone randomly waltzed in and started poking around the threads (which there's absolutely nothing wrong with; it's a free Web), and they get met with rudeness and hostility because of a misperception of intent, that can hurt the PowerPC forum's image as a band of rude, elitist snobs.

On the flip side, if people (all of them) are treated kindly and with the benefit of the doubt, that can oftentimes leave a positive impression on the visitor as a forum full of nice people. They might start hanging around more, pick up the proper forum etiquette, and then maybe even learn a thing or two about the central subject. Down the line, they might even pick up a couple of old Macs for themselves because they intrigue them based off of what they heard in this forum. This grows our community, and even further down the line, benefits everyone.

Unfortunately, you can NOT grow the community if people are turned away right off the bat because they happened to ask a simple (and for many, legitimate) question. This forum on MacRumors is one of the biggest content generators and social circles surrounding the future of the PowerPC architecture (or at least the Mac variants). If the community shrinks over time because of perceived offense and conflict, and it will, that can then reflectively snowball into shrinking the growth of PowerPC as well, all but assuring the platform's slow but guaranteed demise.

I wish people thought of these things.

 

[eyoungren]

This tactic is flawed and isn't good for anyone. If someone randomly waltzed in and started poking around the threads (which there's absolutely nothing wrong with; it's a free Web), and they get met with rudeness and hostility because of a misperception of intent, that can hurt the PowerPC forum's image as a band of rude, elitist snobs.

On the flip side, if people (all of them) are treated kindly and with the benefit of the doubt, that can oftentimes leave a positive impression on the visitor as a forum full of nice people. They might start hanging around more, pick up the proper forum etiquette, and then maybe even learn a thing or two about the central subject. Down the line, they might even pick up a couple of old Macs for themselves because they intrigue them based off of what they heard in this forum. This grows our community, and even further down the line, benefits everyone.

Unfortunately, you can NOT grow the community if people are turned away right off the bat because they happened to ask a simple (and for many, legitimate) question. This forum on MacRumors is one of the biggest content generators and social circles surrounding the future of PowerPC. If the community shrinks over time because of perceived offense and conflict, that can then reflectively snowball into shrinking the platform's growth as well.

I wish people thought of these things.

I don't disagree.

Here was my comment to Texas Toast

He's a collector, like most of us in the PowerPC Mac forums here on MacRumors.

What you are quoting me on is simply an explanation, not a justification.

It's all the same thing though, just depends on what forum you're in and where it's coming from.

iPhone forums: "Get an Android then if you don't like Apple!" - as a response to legitimate questions about iPhone features.

Intel Mac forums: "Get a new Mac" - as a response to questions about Macs that are more than three years old.

Here: "What do you have so many old Macs for? PowerPC is dead and useless."

Jailbreak forums: "Jailbreaking your phone will make you less secure and you shouldn't do it!"

This is one of the reasons I've always tried to be nice with new people coming in. It goes farther.

 

[z970]

What you are quoting me on is simply an explanation, not a justification.

It's all the same thing though, just depends on what forum you're in and where it's coming from.

iPhone forums: "Get an Android then if you don't like Apple!" - as a response to legitimate questions about iPhone features.

Intel Mac forums: "Get a new Mac" - as a response to questions about Macs that are more than three years old.

Here: "What do you have so many old Macs for? PowerPC is dead and useless."

Jailbreak forums: "Jailbreaking your phone will make you less secure and you shouldn't do it!"

This is one of the reasons I've always tried to be nice with new people coming in. It goes farther.

Yes, this is a problem. Admittedly, many of the forums here have a bit of their own elitist snob problem. All I was saying was that such behavior had no place being furthered - really, no matter the discourse location.

But you can be very sure that PowerPC will be dead and useless if there's no support structure to speak of. Given the same trend of conduct like @bunnspecial's from multiple people (because that's interpreted as demonstrated forum etiquette) over a span of another five to ten years or so, and the greater situation certainly won't look encouraging; many people will have long since left and the remainders likely won't make anything of themselves to anyone.

Then again, maybe I'm over my head at this point...

...But that is my $0.03 regardless.

 

[eyoungren]

Yes, this is a problem. Admittedly, many of the forums here have a bit of their own elitist snob problem. All I was saying was that such behavior had no place being furthered - really, no matter the discourse location.

But you can be very sure that PowerPC will be dead and useless if there's no support structure to speak of. Given the same trend of conduct like @bunnspecial's from multiple people (because that comes across as demonstrated forum etiquette) over a span of another five to ten years or so, and the greater situation certainly won't look encouraging; many people will have long since left and the remainders likely won't make anything of themselves.

Then again, maybe I'm over my head... But that is my $0.03 regardless.

I can't speak for him, but I do believe it was a moment of frustration (which we all have from time to time). Having moved house myself I can totally understand the stress involved.

I've had my own failings here as well. @Dronecatcher even called me out on one a long time ago.

But I do agree with you.