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Good mac to start a collect

M

Macpropro80

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 31, 2009
408
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Since Friday when I got my first somewhat classic mac I have been taken over by the urg to collect old macs! I have already taken apart my 7100/66, inspected it, cleaned it, and bought software for it. In a sense it is my new baby. I have spent more time on it then my mac pro that sits next to it.


I want to collect more, it Is a beast inside me that feeds on the look, feel, and experience of using classic macs.

I really want to know what you all think is a good, cheap, pre-powerpcc mac I could easily find and maintain. I have almost no money but I still want a classic mac! What do you all recommend?

Thanks!
BTW:I typed this on my ipod touch, sorry if there are any typos.
 
Macpropro80 said:
Since Friday when I got my first somewhat classic mac I have been taken over by the urg to collect old macs! I have already taken apart my 7100/66, inspected it, cleaned it, and bought software for it. In a sense it is my new baby. I have spent more time on it then my mac pro that sits next to it.


I want to collect more, it Is a beast inside me that feeds on the look, feel, and experience of using classic macs.

I really want to know what you all think is a good, cheap, pre-powerpcc mac I could easily find and maintain. I have almost no money but I still want a classic mac! What do you all recommend?

Thanks!
BTW:I typed this on my ipod touch, sorry if there are any typos.
Click to expand...

Not mentioned much here but one of the most reliable motherboards you will get is the Quadra 700. They don't use the horrible little capacitors that leak and etch circuit traces. Instead they use solid tantalum capacitors. Plus, with the RAM and Video RAM maxed out, these are quite a speedy little 040 machine.

Collectible? Who knows?

just my 2c
 
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Pre-Powermac, you have a choice of 030 or 040 machines.

Of the 030's, my choices would be the SE/30 and the IIci, both popular at the time so still common enough to be available cheaply on eBay. The 040's take you into the LC and Quadra range, which MacTech68 mentions.
 
Well, actually where I started was with an LC 575 / Performa 575. It's a great little '030 machine with a CD-ROM and supports system 7.6.1.

Eventually, I upgraded it to a 33mhz 68040 processor, 68mb RAM, and downgraded to 7.5.5.

Runs everything up to DOOM-era games and plenty of classic programs, but still has a disk drive and that good old classic Mac feel. I love it. I was going to get a Color Classic, but they were a bit out of my price range and also quite slow.

For a black & white Mac, I'd still LOVE to get my hands on an SE/30. Or even better a 512k. Mm.
 
MacTech68 said:
Wasn't the LC520 the 030 and the LC575 was the 040?
Click to expand...

You are correct. :)

To the OP - when I collect, I do a little of each processor. Start anywhere! Everyone has their own reasons for collecting, so go with whatever interests you.
 
phreakindee said:
For a black & white Mac, I'd still LOVE to get my hands on an SE/30.
Click to expand...

You'll be wanting this one then:

Macintosh SE30 Loaded with Extras

In the last three years I've only ever seen one Daystar SE/30 PDS adaptor card offered for sale on ebay, and this SE/30 has one installed (along with the 040 Daystar processor upgrade card and a video card for an external display).

I would bid on it myself but it's the typical 'Ships to: United States' on American eBay listings, so the guy doesn't want my money.
 
phreakindee said:
Whoops, I stand corrected, sorry. I meant 68LC040, which I upped to a full '040 with the FPU.
Click to expand...

That's ok. I'd just about forgotten about the LC and vanilla 040 difference, so you jogged my memory too! :)

We used to call them the "Low Cost" and when customers weren't around the "Lacks Calculator" 040. :D
 
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Try to find yourself a really nice IIfx on eBay. They are extremely hard to come by, and it was the fastest Mac of its time, and the fastest Macintosh II based Mac. It has a 40/80MHz 68030 and is a screamer. They are hard to find now, and I just saw one go for about $227 on eBay last week. Still want one for my collection.

A few macs I would really like to get:

Developer clear-case Macintosh Portable

Macintosh IIfx

Nice, clean Lime clamshell iBook w/working battery, no scratches

Rare PowerBook 550c Japanese model PowerBook

Macintosh Color Classic II (rare)

----------------------
Those are the only ones on my top list that I search everyday for. I already have two working Mac Portables (backlit/non-backlit), about 15 vintage PowerBooks (100/145b/165/170/180), a PB 1400c/117, a PB 520 and a 540, a 190cs, a 280c Japanese model, a PowerBook G3/550 Pismo, a MacBook 1.83 and a MacBook Pro. Those at the moment, but at one time I have owned everything in between. I also have a Color Classic, a Desktop PowerMac G3, a 6500/275, an LC II, a Newton MP 2000/2100, a Blueberry iMac, an iMac 20" Aluminum, and a Mac Pro.

That's about everything I can name right now in my Mac systems collection (23 Macs). Hahaha...been a Mac Addict my whole life and still loving it everyday!
 
WardC said:
Try to find yourself a really nice IIfx on eBay. They are extremely hard to come by, and it was the fastest Mac of its time, and the fastest Macintosh II based Mac. It has a 40/80MHz 68030 and is a screamer. They are hard to find now, and I just saw one go for about $227 on eBay last week. Still want one for my collection.

A few macs I would really like to get:

Developer clear-case Macintosh Portable

Macintosh IIfx

Nice, clean Lime clamshell iBook w/working battery, no scratches

Rare PowerBook 550c Japanese model PowerBook

Macintosh Color Classic II (rare)

----------------------
Those are the only ones on my top list that I search everyday for. I already have two working Mac Portables (backlit/non-backlit), about 15 vintage PowerBooks (100/145b/165/170/180), a PB 1400c/117, a PB 520 and a 540, a 190cs, a 280c Japanese model, a PowerBook G3/550 Pismo, a MacBook 1.83 and a MacBook Pro. Those at the moment, but at one time I have owned everything in between. I also have a Color Classic, a Desktop PowerMac G3, a 6500/275, an LC II, a Newton MP 2000/2100, a Blueberry iMac, an iMac 20" Aluminum, and a Mac Pro.

That's about everything I can name right now in my Mac systems collection (23 Macs). Hahaha...been a Mac Addict my whole life and still loving it everyday!
Click to expand...

Agreed. Certainly the rarer ones are, as you mentioned:

Color Classic II

PowerBook 550

Lime iBook (only sold on the online store)
 
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WardC said:
It has a 40/80MHz 68030 and is a screamer.
Click to expand...

Not to be TOO nitpicky, but the '030 wasn't internally clock doubled like the '040 was - so the IIfx was just a straight up 40MHz machine. But you're right - it's a screamer. :)
 
dmr727 said:
Not to be TOO nitpicky, but the '030 wasn't internally clock doubled like the '040 was - so the IIfx was just a straight up 40MHz machine. But you're right - it's a screamer. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah I see what you mean. Technically the Quadra 840av is also 40MHz, but it's an 040 and it is a ton faster.

But that is comparing 1990 to 1993 and there was a leap there.
 
I love '98-'02 designs. I would pick up the iMac g3. It saved apple in the late '90s and Is probably common. I know of three of these (2 working) for free in my neighborhood. I think these are cool with the cool colors and the translucent plastics. As a favorite commercial of mine said:"Do you decorate a room around your iMac, our pick your iMac to fit into your room"?:D:D:apple::apple:
 
WardC said:
Yeah I see what you mean. Technically the Quadra 840av is also 40MHz, but it's an 040 and it is a ton faster.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, the 840av is light years ahead of the IIfx. But the IIfx has one thing going for it - it can run System 6. :)

System 6 on a IIfx is ridiculously fast. I have a IIci with a 50MHz '030 in it running 6.0.8, and it'll go from a happy Mac to the desktop in just two seconds. It's one of my favorite systems.
 
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