Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Getting FREE Apple Products!
- Thread starter Gamer9430
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
They're still on the site, but they don't come through Software Update. You have to manually go through the updates to get what you need. I can't remember what OS is the breaking point now where NOTHING will come through SU and you have to dig through Apple's site to find the necessary updates.
Yeah, that's a problem. I have rebuilt a few PB's over the last few months, it's like therapy. Fun to do, but what to do with them when you are done.
10.4 and up is still supported by Software Update currently. OS X 10.3 and below are no longer supported and all updates must come through the Apple Support site.
Ah, thanks. For some reason, I thought it was 10.5 now. Of course, I haven't had a reason to run SU on my PPC's in a very long time!
I really hope there isn't a day in the near future that they would do that since Intel Macs also ran Tiger and Leopard.
Me too! However, I have to be a realist here, since Apple has told anyone using 10.5 to go to iHell with the Bash Bug issues.
So... I have another piece of Apple history on the way... I'm getting 2 Power Macintosh 6100/60s(it could be any of the 6100/xx models, but it think this is the right one). I will be fixing and restoring them, then keeping one and selling the other. Is that a good plan? It would be kinda silly to have 2 of the same computer (I'll be raising the one that comes out better, lol). I expect to receive a keyboard with both of them, and most likely 2 mice.
Ik these are from Apple's dark days, but are these of any rarity? I'm probably going to think no, but I'm not one to know.
Ik these are from Apple's dark days, but are these of any rarity? I'm probably going to think no, but I'm not one to know.
Last edited:
The 6100 is part of the first series of PowerPC based Macintosh computers(along with the 7100 and 8100).
These are interesting computers, but you do need to bear in mind that they are very much un-IBM like and have their quirks. The hard drive and CD-ROM drive are going to be SCSI, which brings its own challenges if you have to source replacements. Also, they are much less "plug and play" than SATA or even IDE devices. Each device must have a unique ID number(0 through 6) set by jumpers and the last device in the chain needs to be terminated. The default set-up I've found is that the main hard drive is usually device 0 and terminated(HDDs usually have an internal terminator) and the CD-ROM drive is device 3.
It's good that you're getting a keyboard and mouse, as the only connection method you'll have for these devices is the ADB port on the back of the computer.
The standard video connector on these is a DB-15, which is(mostly) pin compatible with VGA. For the fewest headaches, see if you snag an Apple monitor or two from this era. If you can't get one, there are DB-15 to VGA dongles available for about $10, although they are a bit of a pain to use.
The 90s Macs can be really fun to play with, although with the difficulty of finding parts you may find that you need both computers to get one working one.
Your 6100 can officially run anything through Mac OS 9.1, although it is possible to install 9.2.2. I find OS 8 or 8.5 to be sort of a "sweet spot" for this age computer.
These are interesting computers, but you do need to bear in mind that they are very much un-IBM like and have their quirks. The hard drive and CD-ROM drive are going to be SCSI, which brings its own challenges if you have to source replacements. Also, they are much less "plug and play" than SATA or even IDE devices. Each device must have a unique ID number(0 through 6) set by jumpers and the last device in the chain needs to be terminated. The default set-up I've found is that the main hard drive is usually device 0 and terminated(HDDs usually have an internal terminator) and the CD-ROM drive is device 3.
It's good that you're getting a keyboard and mouse, as the only connection method you'll have for these devices is the ADB port on the back of the computer.
The standard video connector on these is a DB-15, which is(mostly) pin compatible with VGA. For the fewest headaches, see if you snag an Apple monitor or two from this era. If you can't get one, there are DB-15 to VGA dongles available for about $10, although they are a bit of a pain to use.
The 90s Macs can be really fun to play with, although with the difficulty of finding parts you may find that you need both computers to get one working one.
Your 6100 can officially run anything through Mac OS 9.1, although it is possible to install 9.2.2. I find OS 8 or 8.5 to be sort of a "sweet spot" for this age computer.
Sounds interesting... Lucky me, they have a few 21" Apple Studio Displays (Blueberry - CRT) (http://www.everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple_studio_display_21.html) so i can just take one of them. Also, they have an eMac, but idk if that is worth taking... if it is please tell me and I'll arrange to take it as well. As for keyboards and mice, i believe the keyboard is an apple keyboard II and the mouse is probably an apple desktop bus mouse II, since these were available at the time and if i recall they weren't anything special when I saw them when picking up the G5.
If the 21" Blueberry displays are anything like the 17" that came with my B&W, they will have a VGA cable on them rather than DB-15. There probably was a VGA to DB-15 dongle in the box with them when new(mine had one), so you might look around and see if they are in a drawer or near the monitors.
As for the keyboards, there were a couple made during this period. I think that in the early to mid 90s there was the Apple Keyboard II and the Apple Extended Keyboard II. The Apple Keyboard II is a sort of a compact design. The Extended Keyboard(AEK) and AEKII are huge and have mechanical key switches. The AEK/AEKII is a real jewel of a keyboard(IMO probably the best Apple branded keyboard ever made). I like them so much that I have one connected to my G5 at home via a Griffin iMate adapter.
There's also the Appledesign keyboard, which uses rubber dome switches and is more "normal" sized.
The AKII and AEK/AEKII will have an ADB plug at each end of the keyboard toward the top. You will need an ADB cable to connect one of these ports(it doesn't matter which one) to the computer, and then the mouse plugs into the other port. If you don't have an official ADB cable, it's actually the same thing as a readily-available 4 pin S-Video cable. The Appledesign keyboard has a permanently attached ADB cable, and an ADB plug in the middle on the bottom of the keyboard. If you have a trackball, joystick, graphics table, or any other ADB peripheral you can also daisy chain them anywhere along the way as long as you don't exceed 5 devices. The only caveat is that the mouse(generally) must be the last device for obvious reasons(it doesn't have the pass-through circuitry).
I'll also add that I still think the ADBII mouse is probably the most comfortable mouse Apple has ever designed-I also use one of these with my G5, although I have a Mighty Mouse plugged into it as well.
ADB really is a brilliant design, and probably one of the last examples of Steve Wozniak's genius at Apple.
As for the eMac-I've actually been offered a few and turned them down recently. They're decent computers, but are big and heavy(~50lbs) and also a pain to work on. I have a 700mhz one. Mine has Leopard installed and 1gb of RAM and runs okay, but it's no speed demon. I actually stuck it in the closet and a month and a half back and haven't touched it(other than to pull the airport card out of it for my Pismo laptop) since getting my iMac G4. The only eMac I personally would be inclined to take would be a last generation 1.42ghz model. That's just my take on it, though.
I hope I get that keyboard with it, lol! I will take a look for the cable while picking it up later. As for the eMac, i guess it isn't worth it. I'll see if it has a wifi card so i can just stick it into my G5.
Should be interesting when I get them and see what is in store for me.
Depending on which model eMac it is, the WiFi card may or may not work in your G5.
You need an Airport Extreme card for your G5-these are typically silver/gray and have a row of contact sort of like what's on a PCI card.
Some eMacs use an Airport card, which looks a whole lot like a PCMIA card(although it is not). These usually have a white label, and the contacts are in the form of a double row of holes that interface with pins in the computer.
As per Wikipedia(not always the most reliable source) the first generation eMacs use an Airport card and all subsequent ones use an Airpot Extreme.
Ok... So I got it! It is a Power Macintosh 1600/66 (PPC only). Sadly, I didn't go to the room with the tech coordinator, so he grabbed an old (and broken) Windows keyboard, no mouse, and no monitor adapter, let alone the monitor. So basically I just have the computer for the time being. From what I can tell from opening the case, it has a 1GB hdd, which I don't think has an OS installed because it initially spins up and then doesn't continue to as if it is booting up. It also has an AMAZING speaker on the bottom. Nothing was in the floppy drive, expansion port, or in the CD drive. So what adapter do I need to hook this thing up to a monitor?
I have one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD15-VGA-Mo...=US_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item5aef1515e6
(No affiliation with seller-only posting because I bought one and it works). If you're shopping elsewhere, look for an adapter with DIP switches on it. Apple monitors with DB-15 plugs communicate their size, resolution, and frequency with the computer on boot-up, and the DIP switches(when set correctly) allow you to replicate this with whatever monitor you're using.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD15-VGA-Mo...=US_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item5aef1515e6
(No affiliation with seller-only posting because I bought one and it works). If you're shopping elsewhere, look for an adapter with DIP switches on it. Apple monitors with DB-15 plugs communicate their size, resolution, and frequency with the computer on boot-up, and the DIP switches(when set correctly) allow you to replicate this with whatever monitor you're using.
It may only have the HDI-45 port which is a completely different animal, the first ADC like port.
Edit: Not really like ADC, it was only A/V not power.
----------
You should probably start a new thread for advice on a 6100.
Last edited:
Good point on the HDI-45. My 7100 has both, but I don't know about the low profile "pizza box" 6100.
Apple did make an HDI-45 to DB-15 dongle-I was ecstatic when I was walking down the hall at school one day and saw one lying on top of a garbage can!(and yes, I grabbed it)
EDIT:
Looking at a few 6100s on Ebay, it appears as though HDI-45 is the only display connector on them.
Here's what the dongle looks like (no connection to seller)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-HDI45...mputing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27efcb5f02
ok... i guess i can take it if its a good idea to... im starting to be pulled in to collecting
----------
Yeah, but I don't want to abandon this mega thread. Is there any way to change the title to be more appropriate? Like "Getting Free Macs" or something?
----------
I was actually given that dongle... I will be writing a large update reply as soon as I'm done writing this, which will explain more stuff.
Updates on the 6100/66
As I just mentioned in my previous reply, here is a lengthy update on the 6100/66. On Friday, i went to the storage room during lunch and got lots of stuff. I was given an Apple Extended Keyboard II (which I LOVE!), an Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (it had a mouse ball, but no cover, so i improvised with a cover from an old microsoft mouse and some tape), 2 Gray Apple USB Mice (The hockey puck ones), and an extremely special item, a Macintosh Essentials box that came with a Macintosh LC II, complete with all the manuals and install disks, as well as an brand-newish Microphone in the box. I also ordered the DP-17 or something adapter to attach to the dongle to make it VGA. I didn't get one with switches, however, I believe it is an Apple branded adapter. Lastly, the 2 hockey puck mice were all sticky on the gray clear parts, so I used a Clorox wipe and it came off. Now they are in beautiful condition. I gave one to my friend's brother because he really wanted one since he was in that teacher's class before he retired and left all of his computers and stuff here. Anyway, at some point I want to get that eMac, probably thursday depending on other things, but if for some reason I cannot take it home, I want to open it and check for the wireless card and see if it can be used in my PowerMac G5.
On two side notes, my uncle gave me his restore disk for his old MacBook Pro that shipped with 10.6.x, and I used the application restore disks to extract and install iLife '09. I needed to get into the hidden files and get the apps from their installers because it wouldn't let me install it using the .pkg files. I had no issues other than the fact that iMovie can't find the QuickTime plugin, even though I moved it into the corresponding folder.
Also, does anyone know anyone know how to hook up the 6100/66 to the internet, there is no ethernet, let alone a dial-up port. There is an opening in the back that looks like an expansion port, but when you open the lid, the only expansion port looking thing is aiming up towards the cover, so unless there is a sideways expansion card specifically made for it, I doubt that's what it is used for.
I hope to make a trip to the room again today to see if there is any other manuals, disks, or anything in the section that I found the LC II box.
As I just mentioned in my previous reply, here is a lengthy update on the 6100/66. On Friday, i went to the storage room during lunch and got lots of stuff. I was given an Apple Extended Keyboard II (which I LOVE!), an Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (it had a mouse ball, but no cover, so i improvised with a cover from an old microsoft mouse and some tape), 2 Gray Apple USB Mice (The hockey puck ones), and an extremely special item, a Macintosh Essentials box that came with a Macintosh LC II, complete with all the manuals and install disks, as well as an brand-newish Microphone in the box. I also ordered the DP-17 or something adapter to attach to the dongle to make it VGA. I didn't get one with switches, however, I believe it is an Apple branded adapter. Lastly, the 2 hockey puck mice were all sticky on the gray clear parts, so I used a Clorox wipe and it came off. Now they are in beautiful condition. I gave one to my friend's brother because he really wanted one since he was in that teacher's class before he retired and left all of his computers and stuff here. Anyway, at some point I want to get that eMac, probably thursday depending on other things, but if for some reason I cannot take it home, I want to open it and check for the wireless card and see if it can be used in my PowerMac G5.
On two side notes, my uncle gave me his restore disk for his old MacBook Pro that shipped with 10.6.x, and I used the application restore disks to extract and install iLife '09. I needed to get into the hidden files and get the apps from their installers because it wouldn't let me install it using the .pkg files. I had no issues other than the fact that iMovie can't find the QuickTime plugin, even though I moved it into the corresponding folder.
Also, does anyone know anyone know how to hook up the 6100/66 to the internet, there is no ethernet, let alone a dial-up port. There is an opening in the back that looks like an expansion port, but when you open the lid, the only expansion port looking thing is aiming up towards the cover, so unless there is a sideways expansion card specifically made for it, I doubt that's what it is used for.
I hope to make a trip to the room again today to see if there is any other manuals, disks, or anything in the section that I found the LC II box.
The 6100 has an AAUI port, which is a sort of general-purpose networking port that can be connected to different types of networks via different dongles.
You will need an AAUI to ethernet dongle. These are not terribly difficult to find-there are Apple branded ones and generic ones, and I've not noticed any difference between the two.
If you're going to try to get on the internet, I'd suggest at least OS 8.5 so that you can use Classilla.
You will need an AAUI to ethernet dongle. These are not terribly difficult to find-there are Apple branded ones and generic ones, and I've not noticed any difference between the two.
If you're going to try to get on the internet, I'd suggest at least OS 8.5 so that you can use Classilla.
The 6100 also had a DOS card option, basically a 486 on a card that plugged into a logic board connector. I bought one NOS a few years ago but never got it to work right. Sadly I think it was still in the 6100 I donated earlier this year. I still have the funky cable that came with it that allowed both to share a monitor.
If you look for a AAUI tranciever make sure you specify 10Base-T, they made others in the early days of Ethernet.
If you look for a AAUI tranciever make sure you specify 10Base-T, they made others in the early days of Ethernet.
While I've never opened an eMac I'd like to say use caution as there are extremely high voltages present in CRT based displays / computers.
"Opening" an eMac to check for an airport card doesn't actually require taking it apart in the sense of exposing the CRT, etc.
The Airport slot is located above the optical drive behind a bezel that's held in place with two screws. Basically, you open the external door over the optical drive, remove these two screws and lift off the bezel. The airport card antenna is then detached from the card, and the card simply pulls out.
The Airport slot is located above the optical drive behind a bezel that's held in place with two screws. Basically, you open the external door over the optical drive, remove these two screws and lift off the bezel. The airport card antenna is then detached from the card, and the card simply pulls out.