Got a free 128k and some other things....

[Theclamshell]

I saw an ad on craigslist saying,

"I have an old Mac - 1984 with a couple of external drives. (Also have a "case" - this is the enormous backpack case.) Also an eMate with all the manuals/info. All for $25.00. (Would like to sell it to an interested Mac person.)"

I gave him a call and he said it was a 128k. I was in shock. My dad and i there and met a really nice older gentlemen. He had a lovely house on the river and had been a teacher. His wife had passed away so he was trying to get rid of his possessions.

He had also dug up an old powerbook 170 in a nice teal case he also gave me. There is an odd connector sticking out of the hinge on the powerbook. Can anyone identify it? I went to hand him the $25.00 and he would not accept it. He told me to keep it.

I have included some pictures of everything. Not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. I'm probably going to turn the 128k into a fish tank or iPad holder, it is so old there is really no practical use for it.

I am just kidding!! I would never turn a 128k into a fish tank or iPad holder. That would be sick! I know what they are.

 

[Theclamshell]

Some more

 

[TwinCities Dan]

Good score, congrats fun! For free even!

 

[Theclamshell]

Thanks TCD!!

Some more...

 

[MBP13]

If the 128K Macintosh works, why turn it into a fish tank/iPad holder? I think if it works, even though it's obsolete, keep it as a computer.

What a nice man to give you all of that stuff for free!

 

[DustinT]

If the 128K Macintosh works, why turn it into a fish tank/iPad holder? I think if it works, even though it's obsolete, keep it as a computer.

What a nice man to give you all of that stuff for free!

Ya, thats a classic. And, it going to only become cooler and more classic as time passes. I'd keep it up and running.

 

[parapup]

Love the "Made in U.S.A"

 

[Theclamshell]

It was a joke guys! check the white text under my post it says,

"I am just kidding!! I would never turn a 128k into a fish tank or iPad holder. That would be sick! I know what they are."

 

[MBP13]

It was a joke guys! check the white text under my post it says,

"I am just kidding!! I would never turn a 128k into a fish tank or iPad holder. That would be sick! I know what they are."

I don't see where you posted that, so I didn't know it was a joke.

 

[Theclamshell]

I don't see where you posted that, so I didn't know it was a joke.

I know, I used the white text trick I just did it to have fun. Anyone who would actually do that is one sick mo fo

 

[MBP13]

I know, I used the white text trick I just did it to have fun. Anyone who would actually do that is one sick mo fo

Oh hardy har har.

 

[Aleco]

I know, I used the white text trick I just did it to have fun. Anyone who would actually do that is one sick mo fo

Clever

 

[tyche]

He had also dug up an old powerbook 170 in a nice teal case he also gave me. There is an odd connector sticking out of the hinge on the powerbook. Can anyone identify it? I went to hand him the $25.00 and he would not accept it. He told me to keep it.

That's the video out to display on an external monitor. Back then there was lots of "standards" for video connections. It was called an HDB15. Did a quick search on ebay and something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-VGA-Monitor-Mac-Video-Port-Adapter-Converter-/360189462385

Supports only 640x480 so keep that in mind when pushing the output to certain modern screens which might not like that size.

edit: you might even have the cable parts. Maybe it's that one with the on/off jumpers. You need to convert from 15 pin to down to vga.

 

[Theclamshell]

That's the video out to display on an external monitor. Back then there was lots of "standards" for video connections. It was called an HDB15. Did a quick search on ebay and something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-VGA-Monitor-Mac-Video-Port-Adapter-Converter-/360189462385

Supports only 640x480 so keep that in mind when pushing the output to certain modern screens which might not like that size.

edit: you might even have the cable parts. Maybe it's that one with the on/off jumpers. You need to convert from 15 pin to down to vga.

Awesome. Thanks very much for the info.

 

[MacTech68]

...He had also dug up an old powerbook 170 in a nice teal case he also gave me. There is an odd connector sticking out of the hinge on the powerbook. Can anyone identify it?...

As noted, it's a Mac display port. I remember fitting one of these years ago.

A little digging brings up a name I remember: "Envisio". This product shipped around 1991 and fitted the PB140/170 which shared a large amount of hardware.

It seems it's a "Envisio Notebook Display Adapter (NDA/30)"

GoogleBooks has a scan of InfoWorld 1991 announcing the product. Check that price!

I can't recall if this one needed a driver or not. Also, whilst the display connector may be fitted, IIRC there was an internal card that completed the upgrade.

BTW, well done on your acquisition and your ability to recognize what shouldn't be converted to a fish tank!

 

[840quadra]

Nice collection edition!!

I really wish I had an old powerbook. I think I am going to search local craigslist for some early OS X capable iBook or Powerbook that I can use at coffee shops I frequent.

I get enough strange looks wielding an old 3rd generation iPod, I can't imagine how people are going to react to an old Mac-Top! .

 

[Theclamshell]

As noted, it's a Mac display port. I remember fitting one of these years ago.

A little digging brings up a name I remember: "Envisio". This product shipped around 1991 and fitted the PB140/170 which shared a large amount of hardware.

It seems it's a "Envisio Notebook Display Adapter (NDA/30)"

GoogleBooks has a scan of InfoWorld 1991 announcing the product. Check that price!

I can't recall if this one needed a driver or not. Also, whilst the display connector may be fitted, IIRC there was an internal card that completed the upgrade.

BTW, well done on your acquisition and your ability to recognize what shouldn't be converted to a fish tank!

That is very cool. You could buy a new macbook air for that price! hanks for the information.

Nice collection edition!!

I really wish I had an old powerbook. I think I am going to search local craigslist for some early OS X capable iBook or Powerbook that I can use at coffee shops I frequent.

I get enough strange looks wielding an old 3rd generation iPod, I can't imagine how people are going to react to an old Mac-Top! .

The looks you would get would be priceless. If i ever get batteries that work on my eMate I'm going to take it out and see what happens.

 

[MacTech68]

That is very cool. You could buy a new macbook air for that price! thanks for the information....

Further, MacDriverMuseum has a disk image of the Envisio drivers:

http://www.macdrivermuseum.net/video.shtml