A tower of towers

[bobesch]

So what is the latest OS you can run on that hardware?

Well, think of it like PPC is not the limiting factor ... everything is in the flow!
Let's say, it's the idea of PPC ...
How getting to PPC-Macs and getting here is another story - like with anyone else.
I've learned a lot about to honor, use and improve old and newer computers and other electronic-stuff
instead of only looking for the latest and greatest.
It's like taking the right tools for the right job - and sometimes just fun is the job.
This is my fleet:
os9: on Clamshell, iBookG3, TiBook, iMacG3, Cube-G4, PowerMacsG4 (got my first Mac in '09 and when I started to get engaged with os9 3y ago it was like catching-up missed history ...)
Tiger/Classic and Leopard: on G4/G5 Macs
Lion: on white c2duo intel-iMacs
Mojave: on early-2008 MacBookPro's and above (made possible by @dosdude1 's great patches.)
And finally ElCapitan on my fastest Mac: a mid-2012 nr 4x2,4GHz 15"MBP (and I don't dare to upgrade that machine to anything else ...)
Unfortunately PPCs don't cope with VPN/RDP-sessions to my Office-WinServer-Network, so an early-intel became my daily driver: because it resembles the late PowerBooks and because of it's superb display.
The main goal and fun is, to keep all machines connected: file-sharing/SMB/AFP/FTP; screen-sharing/VNC/RDP; common Cloud-space: webDAV; IMAP; etc. )
It all fits well into a Mac/Win/Linux-environment. (And certainly BSD too ... - I write this because I'm dedicated to BSD, though I think I'm to stupid to understand)
That's it.

 

[2984839]

@eyoungren,

Sounds like a club full of '57 Chevy lovers?!

Everyone needs a hobby, and it can be fun to tinker.

This sounds like an "old school" online forum where people are more serious about solving things, and there is more a sense of community. I miss those days of the late 90s and early 2000s!

It really is about solving things. The members here make things happen. @alex_free just patched OpenBSD's port of IOQuake3 so you can now play it on a PowerPC and also added AltiVec support to the ffmpeg audio player. @wicknix has put together a basically turnkey Linux distribution for PPC Macs, and also maintains the excellent ArcticFox web browser: https://github.com/wicknix/Arctic-Fox/. @z970mp has done frankly a ton of work writing thorough wikis for the forum documenting just about everything you can imagine.

That's off the top of my head, and I know I'm forgetting a lot of people. That's what I find so great about this subforum. People see a need, jump in, and do it. It's a bit like the old Usenet lists around here.

 

[bobesch]

And not to forget: set @bunnspecial free!

 

[z970]

Still others just like seeing how far they can stretch something that the rest of the world says can't be used today.

Definitely that too - another favorite trait of mine.

Case in point, I am currently installing Lubuntu 18.04 on a low-end 2.8 Pentium 4 machine (Dimension 2400), and will try pushing it to good results.

It doesn't even have an AGP slot.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

That's me, but I don't like to talk about them; they're like the relatives from "that" side of the family.

@Texas_Toast there's a fascinating group in here and I find that the level of knowledge in this forum is substantially higher than anywhere else on this site, as well as a much greater willingness to help. I hope one day to have the knowledge that some of the people here possess. People even ask questions about older Intel Macs in here because they know they'll get a helpful answer, and not just get told to buy a new computer.

Well, I'll just have to get "creative" and look for some excuses to hang around! (Maybe I can start off with, "I don't own a PowerPC, but I have a 'friend' that does... And by the way...")

Some people are here for Apple nostalgia. Others like exotic hardware. Still others just like seeing how far they can stretch something that the rest of the world says can't be used today.

Sounds like me and my Honda!! (We've been together now for almost 19 years!)

I'm kind of in the latter two camps. I never had a Mac growing up so there's no nostalgia, but I really like exotic systems and basically doing anything I'm told I can't do.

Good to see there is such strong fellowship here - we need lots more of that everywhere in the world these days!!

 

[z970]

Good to see there is such strong fellowship here - we need lots more of that everywhere in the world these days!!

We're like a little bubble, protected from the horrors of current life.

More on that, I think 2020 has definitely been worse than '01, no contest.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

We're like a little bubble, protected from the horrors of current life.

More on that, I think 2020 has definitely been worse than '01, no contest.

Maybe you all are onto something after all using your PowerPC to go back to 1980 something...

Yep, I cannot keep up with the news these days.

I vote for you guys creating another forum called "PowerPC Vesalius" so I can ask my meaning of Mac (and life) questions!

 

[1042686]

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.

Bunns, I’m totally going to retire on my collection. Livin’ large & in charge with all the Benjamins I’ll make off my PPC macs.

 

[bunnspecial]

Well, the collection is now all in storage with the exception of a few good pieces and a few that have yet to be moved.

There were a few casulaties along the way. A 21" Studio CRT had its stand destroyed and some other case damage while being moved, and I made the difficult decision to send it to E-waste. That one hurt...I hunted for one for years. Finally saw one on Craigslist at the other end of town, made the call, then basically ran out the door at work with an urgent "I'll be back in an hour". That particular screen was never "right"-it came from a graphic design agency, and I suspect had been ridden hard and put away wet. One corner would never align, and it was unusably fuzzy at 1600x1200. The story behind it was good, as was the hunt, but ultimately it didn't deliver and space and storage considerations meant it didn't make the cut.

I still have to find a safe place to stash my G3 AIO, which I was terrified about storing. I think I can put it up at my parent's house safely for now. My 8600 G4 project actually got overlooked by the "moving crew"(a co-workers children) so I might try to finish that one up. No Cubes went in the storage locker, and a I saved back a lot of laptops too.

Moving is incredibly stressful, and I'm still kind of losing my mind because I'm not completely done yet. I'll get through it, though, and most of the computers are away safely.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Well, the collection is now all in storage with the exception of a few good pieces and a few that have yet to be moved.

There were a few casulaties along the way. A 21" Studio CRT had its stand destroyed and some other case damage while being moved, and I made the difficult decision to send it to E-waste. That one hurt...I hunted for one for years. Finally saw one on Craigslist at the other end of town, made the call, then basically ran out the door at work with an urgent "I'll be back in an hour". That particular screen was never "right"-it came from a graphic design agency, and I suspect had been ridden hard and put away wet. One corner would never align, and it was unusably fuzzy at 1600x1200. The story behind it was good, as was the hunt, but ultimately it didn't deliver and space and storage considerations meant it didn't make the cut.

I still have to find a safe place to stash my G3 AIO, which I was terrified about storing. I think I can put it up at my parent's house safely for now. My 8600 G4 project actually got overlooked by the "moving crew"(a co-workers children) so I might try to finish that one up. No Cubes went in the storage locker, and a I saved back a lot of laptops too.

Moving is incredibly stressful, and I'm still kind of losing my mind because I'm not completely done yet. I'll get through it, though, and most of the computers are away safely.

Sorry to hear about a few of the moving fatalities, but after seeing your collection, I won't worry about you dying of Mac deprevation anytime soon! *LOL*

Yes, changing home environment is unsettling, but it's a new chapter, and a year from now you'll look back and smile.

So when is the wedding date?

 

[bunnspecial]

Sorry to hear about a few of the moving fatalities, but after seeing your collection, I won't worry about you dying of Mac deprevation anytime soon! *LOL*

Yes, changing home environment is unsettling, but it's a new chapter, and a year from now you'll look back and smile.

So when is the wedding date?

You're right-in the grand scheme of thing it's not a big thing.

As a side note, years ago I read an article that I can't seem to locate about the mind of a collector. I should have saved it, because I truly am a collector in anything I take an interest(Macs, watches, etc) and it nailed me to a T. The article talked about how many collectors have a weird memory for items in their collection-they can recall the story of how they found it, the details of the transaction that brought it home(sometimes even in excruciating detail the negotiation that brought it about), what the seller looked and acted like, the excitement of finding the item, and just other weird things that even seeing the item brings back a flood of memories. For me, sometimes that comes too with a flood of remembering things like that weird smelling food in the place where it was, or even years later walking through a flea market where I bought something and being able to(if asked) pointing out the exact place where I saw/found an item. This is true of prized items or even relatively mundane ones. Yes, it's weird to an outsider, but the article was enlightening in how I wasn't the only one whose brain was wired that way. It's also shows so much so that the journey is in some cases more important than the destination. I think all of that is what really gets some people addicted to collecting, and why others roll their eyes and say "why bother."

And yes, this is a new chapter of my life that's going to be great. Come October 4th, hell or high water, or the plague, I will be married to the love of my live, and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of stuff in the world(except maybe the MG-I've said that's non-negotiable ) .

 

[bobesch]

A 21" Studio CRT had its stand destroyed and some other case damage while being moved, and I made the difficult decision to send it to E-waste

Good to hear about your progress!
I happen to have a 21" Studio CRT sitting in my cellar.
I would appreciate to give it as a donation to you, but unfortunately there's no forklift and no Jumbo-Jet available in the moment.
It came as an appendix with a PM-G3. I thought it would have the size of an iMacG3. But then had to call a friend to help me to unload that monster off the car. Sorry, that it's left now, forgotten in the oubliette of our office's cellar.

 

[eyoungren]

As a side note, years ago I read an article that I can't seem to locate about the mind of a collector. I should have saved it, because I truly am a collector in anything I take an interest(Macs, watches, etc) and it nailed me to a T. The article talked about how many collectors have a weird memory for items in their collection-they can recall the story of how they found it, the details of the transaction that brought it home(sometimes even in excruciating detail the negotiation that brought it about), what the seller looked and acted like, the excitement of finding the item, and just other weird things that even seeing the item brings back a flood of memories. For me, sometimes that comes too with a flood of remembering things like that weird smelling food in the place where it was, or even years later walking through a flea market where I bought something and being able to(if asked) pointing out the exact place where I saw/found an item. This is true of prized items or even relatively mundane ones. Yes, it's weird to an outsider, but the article was enlightening in how I wasn't the only one whose brain was wired that way. It's also shows so much so that the journey is in some cases more important than the destination. I think all of that is what really gets some people addicted to collecting, and why others roll their eyes and say "why bother."

My brain is also wired in a similar manner. I can remember the details of acquiring certain items, whether it was actual collecting or for some other reason. My wife often reminds me that nobody needs to hear the story about it.

Come October 4th, hell or high water, or the plague, I will be married to the love of my live, and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of stuff in the world(except maybe the MG-I've said that's non-negotiable ) .

Congrats! My wife and I will be celebrating 23 years together on November 8. I have been told that I can make a big deal about it when it's the 25th anniversary and until then I'm supposed to be quiet.

Hope your day is great!

 

[bobesch]

You're right-in the grand scheme of thing it's not a big thing.

As a side note, years ago I read an article that I can't seem to locate about the mind of a collector. I should have saved it, because I truly am a collector in anything I take an interest(Macs, watches, etc) and it nailed me to a T. The article talked about how many collectors have a weird memory for items in their collection-they can recall the story of how they found it, the details of the transaction that brought it home(sometimes even in excruciating detail the negotiation that brought it about), what the seller looked and acted like, the excitement of finding the item, and just other weird things that even seeing the item brings back a flood of memories. For me, sometimes that comes too with a flood of remembering things like that weird smelling food in the place where it was, or even years later walking through a flea market where I bought something and being able to(if asked) pointing out the exact place where I saw/found an item. This is true of prized items or even relatively mundane ones. Yes, it's weird to an outsider, but the article was enlightening in how I wasn't the only one whose brain was wired that way. It's also shows so much so that the journey is in some cases more important than the destination. I think all of that is what really gets some people addicted to collecting, and why others roll their eyes and say "why bother."

And yes, this is a new chapter of my life that's going to be great. Come October 4th, hell or high water, or the plague, I will be married to the love of my live, and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of stuff in the world(except maybe the MG-I've said that's non-negotiable ) .

Oh thanks, that's exactly how the approach to and memories about my stuff are alike!
(There's "In my life" from the Beatles humming in my head just now)
Wish you all the best for the times to come!

 

[Ambrosia7177]

As a side note, years ago I read an article that I can't seem to locate about the mind of a collector. I should have saved it, because I truly am a collector in anything I take an interest(Macs, watches, etc) and it nailed me to a T. The article talked about how many collectors have a weird memory for items in their collection-they can recall the story of how they found it, the details of the transaction that brought it home(sometimes even in excruciating detail the negotiation that brought it about), what the seller looked and acted like, the excitement of finding the item, and just other weird things that even seeing the item brings back a flood of memories.

Interesting. Well, collecting PowerPC's must be the "bookmark" for your brain. I cannot say that I have heard of remember the smell of food or what someone said when negotiating when they bought something, but then we each have unique "hooks" that elicit memories.

For me it is music. I think music triggers memories for me, and memories trigger music.

I too have a pretty vivid memory and mind, so I think I can understand what you are saying.

And yes, this is a new chapter of my life that's going to be great. Come October 4th, hell or high water, or the plague, I will be married to the love of my live, and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of stuff in the world(except maybe the MG-I've said that's non-negotiable ) .

Well, I wish you luck with all of that, and hope everything with your move and preparing for the wedding, and the ceremony of course, and afterwards all go well.

You're a lucky guy to have a fiance that is so understanding about your collecting passions! ;-)

 

[bunnspecial]

You're a lucky guy to have a fiance that is so understanding about your collecting passions! ;-)

Tolerant might be a better word

I did agree to get rid of one car in all of this, although truthfully that was a bit of a relieve. I do tease her constantly any time I see something for sale I like

 

[AphoticD]

It's also shows so much so that the journey is in some cases more important than the destination. I think all of that is what really gets some people addicted to collecting, and why others roll their eyes and say "why bother."

This is how I feel about repairing and setting up these old Macs.

It’s all about the journey of taking something people have considered junk and getting it back to working condition. Then installing, optimizing, configuring an OS and setting up apps to make it the best it can possibly be.

Once the job is done, I’ll put the Mac on the shelf and think to myself “I’ll use that for something really cool one day”... and then I go back to the daily grind, where weeks roll into months and years. Then one day I might get half an hour to myself, so I fire up an old Mac I once repaired and the memories of joy (and often frustration) of the process of getting down to the granular level to repair and revive this old Mac come flooding back.

2 years ago I began to justify my collection with an intention to buy up broken Macs to repair and sell off again. But of the nearly 150 Macs in my collection (which started as only 3 in 2016), I have now sold off a grand total of 2 of them...

I stopped buying new (old) Macs last year and since then my collection has continued to grow because people are now giving me their broken old Macs (and PCs) because they know I will enjoy fixing them.

So for some of us on this sub-forum there is the interest in reviving and optimizing “retro” hardware in the modern day and seeing it shine.

Another valid point which I believe I have now thoroughly fulfilled is the satisfaction of obtaining and using hardware which was once absolutely top-shelf, state of the art technology and priced accordingly, for next to nothing (and sometimes nothing at all).

And yes, this is a new chapter of my life that's going to be great. Come October 4th, hell or high water, or the plague, I will be married to the love of my live, and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of stuff in the world(except maybe the MG-I've said that's non-negotiable ) .

Congratulations @bunnspecial! Not just a new chapter, but an entire new volume awaits.

Your fiancé must be very open to allowing you your freedom to continue with your hobbies and collections

 

[bunnspecial]

Another valid point which I believe I have now thoroughly fulfilled is the satisfaction of obtaining and using hardware which was once absolutely top-shelf, state of the art technology and priced accordingly, for next to nothing (and sometimes nothing at all).

So, funny enough to that point...

Some of this stuff truly was eye-watering when new. Today, I personally moved the 22" ADC display in my collection. I have a special attachment to this display-it's a rare piece(not as rare as the pure DVI version, which I don't have) but a rare piece none the less. These are identifiable by clear plastic "plunger" physical buttons on the bottom rather than the corner capacitive buttons like on the more familiar ADC displays.

If you watch the keynote from when this was announced in ~2001, the 22" ADC was a "Halo" product and I think its initial price was $4K. Plug that into an inflation calculator and I suspect you'd end up with a price similar to if not higher than the current Pro XDR display. It's an eye-watering price. Within a few months, the price came down, but it wasn't too much longer that the "second series" with the 20 and 23" displays came out. Stuff like that can really be a point of pride.

Another that I spent a lot of time disassembling and carefully packing for storage was the 15" Blueberry LCD that matches the B&W. That one took me a while to find and I paid plenty for it even in ~2016, but it too was an expensive piece in its day. I'd REALLY like to find the even earlier one with DB-15 and the rainbow Apple.

 

[1042686]

I'm on the hunt for a blueberry LCD to match my B&W. I had a dream I found one in a thrift store tech junk corner, and well, as I'm totally psychic, I expect to run into one for around $15 USD this August about.

 

[eyoungren]

I have a special attachment to this display-it's a rare piece(not as rare as the pure DVI version, which I don't have) but a rare piece none the less. These are identifiable by clear plastic "plunger" physical buttons on the bottom rather than the corner capacitive buttons like on the more familiar ADC displays.

Hey @bunnspecial, https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Origi...a=1&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109

??????


Mods, not my auction!

 

[z970]

I'm on the hunt for a blueberry LCD to match my B&W. I had a dream I found one in a thrift store tech junk corner, and well, as I'm totally psychic, I expect to run into one for around $15 USD this August about.

So I'm not the only one dreaming about computers after all!

Don't you hate it when you wake up and realize you don't actually have that MDD, or Quicksilver?

 

[Slix]

As a side note, years ago I read an article that I can't seem to locate about the mind of a collector. I should have saved it, because I truly am a collector in anything I take an interest(Macs, watches, etc) and it nailed me to a T. The article talked about how many collectors have a weird memory for items in their collection-they can recall the story of how they found it, the details of the transaction that brought it home(sometimes even in excruciating detail the negotiation that brought it about), what the seller looked and acted like, the excitement of finding the item, and just other weird things that even seeing the item brings back a flood of memories. For me, sometimes that comes too with a flood of remembering things like that weird smelling food in the place where it was, or even years later walking through a flea market where I bought something and being able to(if asked) pointing out the exact place where I saw/found an item. This is true of prized items or even relatively mundane ones. Yes, it's weird to an outsider, but the article was enlightening in how I wasn't the only one whose brain was wired that way. It's also shows so much so that the journey is in some cases more important than the destination. I think all of that is what really gets some people addicted to collecting, and why others roll their eyes and say "why bother."

My brain definitely works like this, and I think it always has. I can remember back when I was a young kid and setting up and using some of the first "new" old computers my dad would bring home from work for my sister and I to use. She hardly remembers these (mainly I'm sure because she doesn't follow computers like I do), but it's interesting how I can recall very specific memories and models and all sorts of other details about these things that I ended up collecting years later. And now I have memories of my own Macs and iPods, ones I was given from people who knew I'd use it more than they ever would anymore, ones I tracked down on Craigslist, ones I bought new and used for years. A lot of people really don't understand, but I'm glad to know I'm not alone in this interesting brain thing.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I played Pokémon growing up so much too...

 

[z970]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I played Pokémon growing up so much too...

Pokedex ahoy!

 

[1042686]

So I'm not the only one dreaming about computers after all!

Don't you hate it when you wake up and realize you don't actually have that MDD, or Quicksilver?

Yes but in those two instances I do have them. Multiples of them. It’s part of my diversified retirement portfolio.

 

[bobesch]

It’s part of my diversified retirement portfolio.

This is, I have to remember to bring into the field, next time discussion aims at the colored hoard of bubble-macs spawning from every corner ...