Getting FREE Apple Products!

[Gamer9430]

i just got done talking to the coordinator, and he said I could take it home on Thursday. Thus, I can check for the wireless card when it gets to my house. Any suggestions for what I can use it for...

Also, I figured out how to changed the title of the thread... it is now Getting FREE Apple Products! 😉. I've also updated the first post to reflect the new changes.

 

[bunnspecial]

Not to detract from your finds, but since the title is now "free Apple products" I thought I'd add my own "find of the day."

Our department instrument tech said the magic words to me today that I always like to hear..."Dr. ... needs to have his office cleared out and sent me a list of computers to get rid of." I went up to the office with him, and found am eMac which I'm assuming he's keeping(it was not explicitly mentioned in the email), a couple of crummy Dells, and then some real prizes.

The first was a Silicon Graphics workstation. I'm actually not sure about the details of it, but do know that it's running as it's still turned on and woke up when I wiggled the mouse. I need to look at it a little bit closer-if it's x86 I may pass on it, but if it has some other oddball processor(an Itanium or one of the other processors that SG used during the 90s-2000s) I might have to grab it.

There were also two Macs explicitly mentioned, one of which has me sort of excited and the other really excited(even though it's not PowerPC). The first is a beige G3 desktop. I have one of these, but it's nicer than the one I have and of course I can't pass it up.

The real prize, though, is the Quadra 700. I don't have any higher end 68K Macs, so I'm actually very excited about this one. The Quadra has a 12" color monitor on it, as well as an AEKII and ADBII mouse. The 12" monitor doesn't do a lot for me(other than the fact that it is a natural match for the computer) but getting another AEKII excites me. The G3 has one of the crummy Appledesign keyboards, but does have a nice color 15" multiscan monitor.

I also mentioned that I was looking for an x86 computer with an AGP port and a floppy drive to start flashing cards. He took me up to another lab-a former computational Chem lab-that he's cleaning out, and told me to have at it. There two beasts of workstations in there with 4x 450mhz Pentium II Xeons. I passed on those, but they each gave up 16 sticks of 128mb PC100 SDRAM, as well as a couple of decent sized 68-pin SCSI drives apiece.

I also got my wish on an x86 Tower with an AGP slot. That same lab yielded a tower with a pair of 800mhz Pentium III Xeons and two Seagate Cheetah 68-pin SCSI drives. A second "parts" tower gave me some memory, hard drives(SCSI also), processors, as well as Zip and Jaz drive.

 

[Gamer9430]

Not to detract from your finds, but since the title is now "free Apple products" I thought I'd add my own "find of the day."

Our department instrument tech said the magic words to me today that I always like to hear..."Dr. ... needs to have his office cleared out and sent me a list of computers to get rid of." I went up to the office with him, and found am eMac which I'm assuming he's keeping(it was not explicitly mentioned in the email), a couple of crummy Dells, and then some real prizes.

The first was a Silicon Graphics workstation. I'm actually not sure about the details of it, but do know that it's running as it's still turned on and woke up when I wiggled the mouse. I need to look at it a little bit closer-if it's x86 I may pass on it, but if it has some other oddball processor(an Itanium or one of the other processors that SG used during the 90s-2000s) I might have to grab it.

There were also two Macs explicitly mentioned, one of which has me sort of excited and the other really excited(even though it's not PowerPC). The first is a beige G3 desktop. I have one of these, but it's nicer than the one I have and of course I can't pass it up.

The real prize, though, is the Quadra 700. I don't have any higher end 68K Macs, so I'm actually very excited about this one. The Quadra has a 12" color monitor on it, as well as an AEKII and ADBII mouse. The 12" monitor doesn't do a lot for me(other than the fact that it is a natural match for the computer) but getting another AEKII excites me. The G3 has one of the crummy Appledesign keyboards, but does have a nice color 15" multiscan monitor.

I also mentioned that I was looking for an x86 computer with an AGP port and a floppy drive to start flashing cards. He took me up to another lab-a former computational Chem lab-that he's cleaning out, and told me to have at it. There two beasts of workstations in there with 4x 450mhz Pentium II Xeons. I passed on those, but they each gave up 16 sticks of 128mb PC100 SDRAM, as well as a couple of decent sized 68-pin SCSI drives apiece.

I also got my wish on an x86 Tower with an AGP slot. That same lab yielded a tower with a pair of 800mhz Pentium III Xeons and two Seagate Cheetah 68-pin SCSI drives. A second "parts" tower gave me some memory, hard drives(SCSI also), processors, as well as Zip and Jaz drive.

I think that is a great idea for this thread, that people can tell stories of picking up free apple products!

Also, that is an impressive find. My tech coordinator told us a story of when they got to raid a Samsung office here in NJ, where Samsung USA's headquarters are. He takes jobs from companies to move their tech between offices and then whatever they don't want, whoever is helping out, get to keep the leftovers. To me, that sounds like the best job in the world 😀.

 

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

I also got my wish on an x86 Tower with an AGP slot. That same lab yielded a tower with a pair of 800mhz Pentium III Xeons and two Seagate Cheetah 68-pin SCSI drives. A second "parts" tower gave me some memory, hard drives(SCSI also), processors, as well as Zip and Jaz drive.

Man, you are very lucky 😉 Nice finds.

 

[macmannate]

This has been a great little thread to read whilst at work (I.T Systems and corporate engineer) Reminds me of when i was a little younger, even now.

Ive had my fair share of macs and pc's.


Ive had everything from 68k mac, hell had a SE/30 and a LCII , Had power books from 92 up, hell when i was 17 i got my first PowerPc G5 dual 2Ghz for free, Thing was a beast, was riddled with little issues changed the cpus out and she was sweet. One of my most loved machines was my last model power look G4

Used to work as a apple engineer here in aus, picked up a far few free machines!,

Were I've been in I.T lately is all higher end corp (pc etc) But hell I'm not changing from my apple equipment! Im known as the guy that can get macs todo anything, a client of mine the other day gave me a mac pro with 32gb ram twin 2.66 full 8gb raid and 4870 Mp 1,1.

Same client also gave me a mac min 2012 i think i7 sever with the 2x 1tb black westerns in raid!.

Was Bored the other day and was chatting to a old mate of mine who goes you keen on another apple (he's a big apple fan him self), I go yeh what is it... He goes a early 08 mac book pro, i go how much he goes just take it for 50, currently using it to type this!.

If you look at my sig thats my current machines, I've got rid of a lot (i miss all my old g3, g4 and etc i still have a first gen PPC G4 at my brothers down south).


Good to see you guys that are part of computer clubs and etc going for it, remind me of myself quite a few years ago!....

 

[reco2011]

The first was a Silicon Graphics workstation. I'm actually not sure about the details of it, but do know that it's running as it's still turned on and woke up when I wiggled the mouse. I need to look at it a little bit closer-if it's x86 I may pass on it, but if it has some other oddball processor(an Itanium or one of the other processors that SG used during the 90s-2000s) I might have to grab it.

Here's a good reference site for SGI systems:

http://www.futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/sgi.html

Below the "SGI Advice and Technical Data" graphic are a bunch of links to various SGI models. You're most likely looking at a PI, Indy, Indigo, Indigo 2, O2, or Octane. Given the age of the Mac systems you mentioned I think Indigo, Indy, or Indigo 2 are the most likely candidates. If you can locate the OS media I highly recommend you grab it.

 

[bunnspecial]

Here's a good reference site for SGI systems:

http://www.futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/sgi.html

Below the "SGI Advice and Technical Data" graphic are a bunch of links to various SGI models. You're most likely looking at a PI, Indy, Indigo, Indigo 2, O2, or Octane. Given the age of the Mac systems you mentioned I think Indigo, Indy, or Indigo 2 are the most likely candidates. If you can locate the OS media I highly recommend you grab it.

Thanks-I googled the models you suggested, and-working on memory-I think it's an Octane.

There were three user accounts on the system, and one was for a graduate student who is now a professor in the department, and I think was around as a student from roughly 2000-2006. If I end up taking it, I may ask her to at least log onto it(if she remembers her password).

Given the condition of it, I'm guessing that the install media is very likely around somewhere.

 

[CYB3RBYTE]

I grabbed my PowerMac G4 Quicksilver off of a road near my house for free. It was laying on the curb, and clearly someone wanted to recycle it. So, I picked it up, threw it in the trunk along with the Sawtooth sitting next to it, and took it home, where it is now fully restored and is my main desktop machine!

 

[reco2011]

Thanks-I googled the models you suggested, and-working on memory-I think it's an Octane.

There were three user accounts on the system, and one was for a graduate student who is now a professor in the department, and I think was around as a student from roughly 2000-2006. If I end up taking it, I may ask her to at least log onto it(if she remembers her password).

Given the condition of it, I'm guessing that the install media is very likely around somewhere.

That would be a nice find. I can't stress enough if you can get the OS media be sure to do so. It's not easy to find. Ian sells it but he is located in the UK (one of the few times where being located in the UK is advantageous to living in the US when it comes to used computer equipment):

http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/sgidepot/

 

[bunnspecial]

That would be a nice find. I can't stress enough if you can get the OS media be sure to do so. It's not easy to find. Ian sells it but he is located in the UK (one of the few times where being located in the UK is advantageous to living in the US when it comes to used computer equipment):

http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/sgidepot/

Got it-I will definitely search for it! I'm guessing that it will more than likely be in one of the drawers of the desk that the computer is sitting on.

I'll try to go up and investigate some more today(although I don't know if I can get it, as I probably need to clean out the trunk of my car first).

I'm judging the model ID on the fact that the case was green. There was a paper sign taped over the top half(where I think the model name would have been written) stating not to turn it off.

In all honesty, I'm at a bit of a loss as to why this professor would have had this sort of computer-he's an organic chemist, and as far as I know would not have done any computational or graphics-intensive work.

 

[reco2011]

In all honesty, I'm at a bit of a loss as to why this professor would have had this sort of computer-he's an organic chemist, and as far as I know would not have done any computational or graphics-intensive work.

It doesn't surprise me at all as SGI systems were very popular in academia.

 

[weckart]

That would be a nice find. I can't stress enough if you can get the OS media be sure to do so. It's not easy to find. Ian sells it but he is located in the UK (one of the few times where being located in the UK is advantageous to living in the US when it comes to used computer equipment):

http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/sgidepot/

I was seriously tempted by a tidy looking Octane in working condition that went the other day. Irix and a lot of software was left installed on it. It only fetched £96 but the 25kg load put me off as I am pushed for space with the Macs I have accumulated.

This seller has a fair amount of old SGI software for sale. I have bought Apple stuff from him before.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-S...y-Collection-6-5-6-5-13-36-Sets-/151477935880

 

[reco2011]

I was seriously tempted by a tidy looking Octane in working condition that went the other day. Irix and a lot of software was left installed on it. It only fetched £96 but the 25kg load put me off as I am pushed for space with the Macs I have accumulated.

This seller has a fair amount of old SGI software for sale. I have bought Apple stuff from him before.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-S...y-Collection-6-5-6-5-13-36-Sets-/151477935880

Years ago I used to have a number of SGI systems. I ended up disposing of them as the specialized nature of the software didn't fit my needs. Older Windows, Macs, and Linux systems have software available for them that are useful to the common user. Irix systems lack that software support. Unless one wants to work with the specialized software or learn SGI / Irix (typically not worthwhile these days given the entire package has been discontinued) they're typically not worth grabbing. I hate to say it because I love older systems...especially those with different architectures than what we have today. But I had no practical software to run on them and I couldn't find anyone else who wanted them so I sent them for recycling.

 

[poiihy]

UPDATE: Much has changed since this thread has started, I have gotten a Power Macintosh 6100/66 and an eMac. Instead of the thread being about only my G5, it is now about my adventures in getting Apple Products from my school that they don't use any more for free!

YOU GOT A EMAC AND PMAC NOW?!?! FOR FREE?! 😱 WHAT KIND OF CLUB IS THAT 😱 *extremely boiling hot envy*

 

[Gamer9430]

This has been a great little thread to read whilst at work (I.T Systems and corporate engineer) Reminds me of when i was a little younger, even now.

Ive had my fair share of macs and pc's.


Ive had everything from 68k mac, hell had a lisa and apple II, Had power books from 92 up, hell when i was 17 i got my first PowerPc G5 dual 2Ghz for free, Thing was a beast, was riddled with little issues changed the cpus out and she was sweet. One of my most loved machines was my last model power look G4

Used to work as a apple engineer here in aus, picked up a far few free machines!,

Were I've been in I.T lately is all higher end corp (pc etc) But hell I'm not changing from my apple equipment! Im known as the guy that can get macs todo anything, a client of mine the other day gave me a mac pro with 32gb ram twin 2.66 full 8gb raid and 4870 Mp 1,1.

Same client also gave me a mac min 2012 i think i7 sever with the 2x 1tb black westerns in raid!.

Was Bored the other day and was chatting to a old mate of mine who goes you keen on another apple (he's a big apple fan him self), I go yeh what is it... He goes a early 08 mac book pro, i go how much he goes just take it for 50, currently using it to type this!.

If you look at my sig thats my current machines, I've got rid of a lot (i miss all my old g3, g4 and etc i still have a first gen PPC G4 at my brothers down south).


Good to see you guys that are part of computer clubs and etc going for it, remind me of myself quite a few years ago!....

(Forgot to press submit yesterday, lol)
That sounds like an awesome job! Does the Lisa, 68k, or ][ work?

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YOU GOT A EMAC AND PMAC NOW?!?! FOR FREE?! 😱 WHAT KIND OF CLUB IS THAT 😱 *extremely boiling hot envy*

lol... Did you read the original post? It mentioned all the other stuff I got, including the G5, where is why this post started.

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also, all those who are talking about SGI systems, what are they and what are they used for?

 

[bunnspecial]

Here's the two Macs I spoke of earlier-the Quadra 700 and the Beige G3.

Before removing them, I powered both on. The Quadra booted right to a System 7.5 desktop. The G3 got stuck on the "happy mac" but I'm sure it's nothing insurmountable to fix.

As I mentioned, the Quadra had an AEKII with it, and the G3 and Appledesign keyboard. The Quadra also was attached to an AAUI to 10baseT bridge, as well as a SCSI ZIP drive. Plus, both computer had Appletalk boxes and cables attached, so I can network them to my other old Macs 🙂

I also checked out, but did tamper with, the SGI system, and it is indeed an Octane. I talked to two of the users with accounts on it, and both said that they probably hadn't used it in at least 10 years and didn't remember their passwords. The third user is in Poland now.

I probably should start a new thread for this, but as I understand it I can install OS 8 on the Quadra. I have a factory install CD, but the big issue is that the Quadra doesn't have a CD-ROM drive(and I don't have any external SCSI drives). If I made an image of the CD-ROM I have, does anyone know if it would be small enough to restore to a 100mb ZIP disk?

And, since this thread has turned into "pics or it didn't happen" 🙂, here they are:

 

[Gamer9430]

Here's the two Macs I spoke of earlier-the Quadra 700 and the Beige G3.

Before removing them, I powered both on. The Quadra booted right to a System 7.5 desktop. The G3 got stuck on the "happy mac" but I'm sure it's nothing insurmountable to fix.

As I mentioned, the Quadra had an AEKII with it, and the G3 and Appledesign keyboard. The Quadra also was attached to an AAUI to 10baseT bridge, as well as a SCSI ZIP drive. Plus, both computer had Appletalk boxes and cables attached, so I can network them to my other old Macs 🙂

I also checked out, but did tamper with, the SGI system, and it is indeed an Octane. I talked to two of the users with accounts on it, and both said that they probably hadn't used it in at least 10 years and didn't remember their passwords. The third user is in Poland now.

I probably should start a new thread for this, but as I understand it I can install OS 8 on the Quadra. I have a factory install CD, but the big issue is that the Quadra doesn't have a CD-ROM drive(and I don't have any external SCSI drives). If I made an image of the CD-ROM I have, does anyone know if it would be small enough to restore to a 100mb ZIP disk?

And, since this thread has turned into "pics or it didn't happen" 🙂, here they are:

I'm not able to answer your question, but the computers are very impressive! Good luck with them.

 

[MagicBoy]

The MacOS 8.1 CD is about 400Mb if memory serves...

Got an internal SCSI CD drive you can borrow from another Mac? Obviously not the G3 as that's IDE...

 

[bunnspecial]

The MacOS 8.1 CD is about 400Mb if memory serves...

Got an internal SCSI CD drive you can borrow from another Mac? Obviously not the G3 as that's IDE...

My 7100 and 8500 both have internal SCSI CD-ROMs. I also have an(internal) 2gb Jaz drive, although I'm not sure if I have any media for it.

How would I go about hooking an internal SCSI CD-ROM to the 7100? Would I just have to wire it in with the cover off long enough to install the OS?

 

[MagicBoy]

Just pull one out and hook it into the SCSI chain on the Quadra. Doesn't really matter that there isn't a bay for the drive, as long is it's stable...

 

[macmannate]

(Forgot to press submit yesterday, lol)
That sounds like an awesome job! Does the Lisa, 68k, or ][ work?

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lol... Did you read the original post? It mentioned all the other stuff I got, including the G5, where is why this post started.

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also, all those who are talking about SGI systems, what are they and what are they used for?

I edited, wrote the wrong models, i was half a sleep in the office.

 

[poiihy]

UPDATE 2: I think it would be awesome for this thread to become a collection of stories of people who got older apple products for free! As a community of mostly collectors, I'm sure there are plenty of stories of people getting free stuff. Also, as I did in this thread, it would also be a great place for those who got free stuff and need support with it.

I recommend you do not do this. Make a new thread. If you change the subject of the thread, you mess up the whole thread. I tend to do this sometimes. Each thread should stick with their own topic, if you change it you mess it up and then you have a confusing mess.

 

[Gamer9430]

I edited, wrote the wrong models, i was half a sleep in the office.

ah ok... do those work?

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I recommend you do not do this. Make a new thread. If you change the subject of the thread, you mess up the whole thread. I tend to do this sometimes. Each thread should stick with their own topic, if you change it you mess it up and then you have a confusing mess.

ok... I'll remove that part

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ok... reverted the thread back to just Getting FREE Apple Products! (I'll make a new thread about telling stories.)

 

[macmannate]

ah ok... do those work?

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ok... I'll remove that part

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ok... reverted the thread back to just Getting FREE Apple Products! (I'll make a new thread about telling stories.)

Yeh they do funny enough, from last time i tried booting them they did... Nearly bought a powerbook 1400 last night.

 

[Gamer9430]

Yeh they do funny enough, from last time i tried booting them they did... Nearly bought a powerbook 1400 last night.

nice! why didn't you?

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So I got my eMac, and it's the original 2002 model. I was attempting to run the initial setup using a tutorial I found online, and I think I broke something. After I finish the tell us about yourself page, I press continue and all it gives me is a line across the setup window. If i press back and then move forward again, it doesn't do anything. I can't go back after doing that, either. If someone could help, that would be great!

Also, I'm using my hockey puck mouse with it, as well as the white Apple Pro Keyboard (it appears to be a crossbreed between the Apple USB keyboard and the other white keyboard, which I think was the last plastic keyboard apple made).