The Perfect Mac?

[repairedCheese]

We are all here for different reason, but those reasons have gotten us to generally try to do something modern with our machines. Of course, that’s quite the challenge due to the very not-modern things one might want to do with the hardware, particularly when it comes to OS 9 support.

Even if one wanted to play 20-25 year old games properly, and never mind the 30-35 year old ones, simply posting here from the same hardware can be near impossible without a 1ghz+ machine, without considerable effort and knowledge. And I say that having typed this on a 700mhz eMac. With the death of 32-bit Intel support, and the rumors of ARM Macs coming in 2021, we are at a point of transition not unlike OS 10.5, and depending on what Apple does, another 15 or so years of software could end up tossed away.

Which is all to say, I don’t believe there is a objectively perfect Mac. Through the 2000s, change and lack of backwards compatibility was the norm. That means there really isn’t a right answer. And that tends to turn us all into collectors, to some extent, as we try to cover different parts of the OS 9 PPC to OSX Intel transition.

Still, the eMac would have to be mine. Oh, sure, it’s underpowered for my taste, but I’ve yet to find an OS 9 task it can’t handle with flying colors. Well, other than those 30 year old 68k apps that ask for 16 colors or fewer. But the real clincher for me is that CRT. Sure, I have a couple others, and I know the ones Apple used in their all-in-ones were hardly world-beaters, but compared to a cheap lcd? It’s a whole different world of visual clarity.

So, I’m curious, what’s your perfect Mac? What systems keep you coming back? And why do they have that pull kind of pull?

 

[reukiodo]

Well, there are a few things to consider...
68k:
mobile: PowerBook 550c because it is the most powerful 68k portable, and can run anything with ease (and its black!)
desktop: SE/30 because because it's what I have, and it is the most powerful compact classic, and still runs up to 8.1 with some hacks
ppc:
mobile: PowerBook G3 Pismo because of the ports and bays available, and with G4 CPU upgrade can run 10.5 reasonably well (and its black!)
desktop: Power Macintosh 9500 because of the number of expansion slots and can run every MacOS from 7.5 up to 10.5 (with G4 CPU upgrade)

 

[eyoungren]

I think use case is a big factor here as well as economics.

I don't use OS9 so there isn't a need for a model that must run that OS. I do use PowerPC Macs because when I needed a new Mac they were in my price range.

As I've said more than once, as the older Intels move into my price range I will slowly move up. That's already happening. My first 2009 Mini entered the house this year. Cost me $75. I'm typing this on a 2008 MBP, which was free. And I've had a 2006 17" MBP for a couple of years now. As my main PowerPC Macs die off they will be replaced with Intels.

But for now, the Quad G5 provides what I need.

 

[z970]

Five years ago now, I decided to integrate PowerPC machines into my life for what became five reasons:

I came for the novelty, and ended up staying for the community, abundance of abandonware / discarded hardware, superior processor security (ME / PSP are not present), and the epic, everlasting quest for greater performance.

My two favorites in particular are the Power Mac G5, for the raw power it contains thanks to its server-class CPU and ridiculously high throughput (relative to the machines being discussed here), and G4 MDD (even though I do not currently own one), for its design, compatibility, expansion, also server-class CPU taken from the Xserve, and most everything else. I also have a severe soft side for iMac G4s and iMac G5s.

 

[Raging Dufus]

Nice thread. Thus far, my favorite Mac has been my dual 1.42 MDD, largely for sentimental reasons. It became the flagship of Apple's pro desktop line shortly after I first came to the Mac, and I badly wanted one. Finances weren't up to it, at the time I was working in the airline business and 9/11 had pretty much scuttled the industry. I was worried about keeping my job; getting a new Mac - heck, even an old Mac, any Mac - wasn't something I could consider. Soon enough my fears were realized, and then things got even worse with a divorce. But once Apple started cranking out Intel models, the bottom fell out of the used G4 market and I was able to score my dream machine for a comparative song. It worked great until it died a few months later with a loud POP!, and I knew the PSU had gone. Time to tinker! It sat idle for a few months while I scraped up some cash, bought and rewired an ATX PSU using instructions I found online, added SATA and USB 2.0 cards, and a new SATA HDD. When I powered it back up, it felt like such a hot rod!

Tinkering with that machine, and learning how to use, repair and upgrade a Mac, got me through some pretty dark days post-divorce. I landed on my feet and I still have that MDD, although for a while now it's been sidelined in need of some repair because of my dufusness. I'll get to it, and I'll use it again. Can't see myself ever getting rid of it.

A recent acquisition, though, has become my all-time favorite in terms of all-around usability and performance: my 2006 17-inch MBP. Can't believe how much I enjoy using this thing. Shoehorned 10.8 Mountain Lion onto it using dosdude1's patch, and it runs like a dream. It's so much nicer having a large screen to use when I'm mobile. Unfortunately, I may have to sell it soon, because of a newly-arisen financial challenge; but the good news here is that unlike the MDD, I can almost certainly acquire another one later. There's hardly a shortage of Intel Macs, even 17" 'Books, and we'll be out of these particular troubles pretty soon. Job changes, kids in school, me in school, yada yada... stuff happens.

 

[defjam]

I came for the novelty, and ended up staying for the community, abundance of abandonware / discarded hardware, superior processor security (ME / PSP are not present), and the epic, everlasting quest for greater performance.

The community within the PPC forum is, IMO, the best community within MR. I participate in other MR forums and I find the knowledge and discussion in the PPC forum much better than the others.

 

[weckart]

I'll toss in a coin for the Wallstreet/PDQ. Ok all rounder as far as notebooks go. Nice enough keyboard and the last PPC notebook to support full-fat floppy drives capable of writing 400kb through 1.44Mb floppy disks. Handy to have if you lack the room for a desktop.

I will always have a lot of time for the 1st gen Mac Mini although the G4 was for a few reasons not the best iteration of that design. Now that it boots OS9 there is even less reason to get rid of it.

 

[2984839]

The community within the PPC forum is, IMO, the best community within MR. I participate in other MR forums and I find the knowledge and discussion in the PPC forum much better than the others.

Absolutely. This is by far the best subforum on this site and the only one I actually enjoy reading.

 

[AL1630]

I've always liked the iMac G3 and Power Mac G4 towers, those are some of the coolest looking computers ever IMO, and the towers still offer pretty good expandability.

I agree that this is the best MR subforum, everyone here is friendly and everyone tries to help each other whenever they can. There's always something new and exciting going on around here.

After all, we're all in this old computer craziness together!

 

[z970]

The community within the PPC forum is, IMO, the best community within MR. I participate in other MR forums and I find the knowledge and discussion in the PPC forum much better than the others.

Absolutely. This is by far the best subforum on this site and the only one I actually enjoy reading.

I agree that this is the best MR subforum, everyone here is friendly and everyone tries to help each other whenever they can. There's always something new and exciting going on around here.

After all, we're all in this old computer craziness together!

Go team!

 

[eyoungren]

After all, we're all in this old computer craziness together!

I'm not crazy…people just look at me and my old Macs in a strange sort of way. I don't understand it. I'm very rich in logicboards!

 

[repairedCheese]

Personally, I think this is a great community, and if I can get people to talk about their favorite old hardware, I'm all for that. It also feels like each piece of hardware that gets any kind of regular use around here probably has a story. The best thing is, these old computers get used. And it's not a community just looking towards the past, too.

You guys are wonderfully ambitious and it's pretty great.

 

[z970]

You guys are wonderfully ambitious and it's pretty great.

No ...

Insanely great!

 

[Amethyst1]

Among those I have, my PPC favourites are...

Desktop: 1.33GHz Mac mini G4 because it's tiny yet reasonably powerful and can run OS 9, and was also the first Mac I've ever bought myself.

Portable: 17in 1.5GHz PowerBook G4 because of the screen estate. The 12in is a very close second, however.

Among those I don't have (yet):

Desktop: G5 Quad because it's the most powerful PPC Mac out there.

Portable: 17in 1.67GHz DLSD PowerBook G4 because the higher the resolution, the better.

 

[1042686]

Frankly I can’t stand PowerPC & you all are a bunch of nerdy weirdos.
.
.
.
Juuuuust kidding!

I liked the Powermacs starting with G3 B&Ws. 1998/9 was when I first noticed macs honestly and was surprised/taken back by the price so never bought in at that time.

I then forgot about them in a frenzy of PC windows driven gaming madness.
Then Around 2006 I was at a studio laying down some bass work & they were running their daw off a g1 Intel 17” imac.

I was sold. Form & factor came together with at the time a OS laden with neat features that I just had to have: Tiger.

That is where I purchased my first Mac with my own dough - a used white iMac 21”. Still have it. Beautiful machine. Ok it’s not all imac love - the G5 cheese grater I loved looking at and remember thinking what an epic beast in performance & elegant looks but NO WAY I could afford that on a Sweaty sous chefs wage so the white intel iMac it was.

This is really hard actually. I’d have to say for me historically the perfect Mac was the dual core/quad core Powermac G5 or the g1 white Intel imac.

Right now I’m still and always will be fond of my Quicksilver PMG4 as I rescued it from the side of the rainy road & is why I am here actually - decided to stick around 3 or 4 years or whatever after the fact. Yeah, great place.

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

If I could pick half a dozen vintage Macs to add to my collection I'd firstly choose the Colour Classic II, because it looks cute, it's slightly more practical than the monochrome models, and it was the final evolution of the original Macintosh. I'm not counting the later all-in-one Performas - they looked unbalanced. I'd also choose the last 12" G4 PowerBook, again because it looks cute and packed a lot of computer into a tiny shell.

Plus the PowerBook 100, because it's a design classic. It would sit on a shelf forever. I would also choose the fastest non-liquid-cooled Power Macintosh G5, again because it's a design classic, and also because it's still a little bit practical. And the anglepoise G4 iMac, which is almost a design classic - I've just never responded to the design on an emotional level - but has aged well and makes for a decent object d'art.

And the G4 Cube because again it looks great and is almost a design classic. I say "almost" because it has an air of failure about it, on account of the timing - I will always associate it with Aeron chairs and Pets.com. And people moaning about cracks in the plastic. Etc.

I feel sorry for the Colour Classic. I didn't even know it existed until several years after it was discontinued. There isn't all that much about it on the internet even today; I learn that it was intentionally hobbled by Apple and only sold well in Japan.

 

[defjam]

And the G4 Cube because again it looks great and is almost a design classic. I say "almost" because it has an air of failure about it, on account of the timing - I will always associate it with Aeron chairs and Pets.com. And people moaning about cracks in the plastic. Etc.

The Cube was competing against the G4 tower which offered better expansion at a lower price. Someone considering the purchase of a Cube had to place more weight on style than functionality / price. Many didn't do that and opted for the tower instead. This might explain why Apple didn't release a tower in addition to the 2013 Mac Pro.

 

[MacFoxG4]

My favorite Mac that I personally use would have to be my Sawtooth. I love how easy it is to get inside and install upgrades. It has a 1.5ghz CPU upgrade installed, which is what tempted me to buy it on eBay. I've added my own upgrades such as USB 2.0, maxing out the RAM to 2GB, and upgrading the graphics card from the Rage 128 pro to the Radeon 9000 pro. OS 9 flies on this machine and Leopard runs pretty good too.

 

[1042686]

Yanno in regards to the cube, I think it was a fantastic machine in design, fitting right in with what Apple was trying to accomplish. I think what killed it was the wonky price structure, pushing folks to cheaper towers. Consumers equated (and still do to a degree) size with value. When you consider the Mac mini (I think the cubes natural successor) and how it has been very successful with a more modest price point moving from ppc to intel through many design iterations - where Apple goofed up on the value perception & attached price point of the Beautifully designed Cube, they absolutely nailed it with the mini.

The mini for me was third on my list(Yanno if I was going to put one on there). I really like the bookend form factor.

 

[eyoungren]

Yanno in regards to the cube, I think it was a fantastic machine in design, fitting right in with what Apple was trying to accomplish. I think what killed it was the wonky price structure, pushing folks to cheaper towers. Consumers equated (and still do to a degree) size with value. When you consider the Mac mini (I think the cubes natural successor) and how it has been very successful with a more modest price point moving from ppc to intel through many design iterations - where Apple goofed up on the value perception & attached price point of the Beautifully designed Cube, they absolutely nailed it with the mini.

The mini for me was third on my list(Yanno if I was going to put one on there). I really like the bookend form factor.

The problem I had when the Cube launched was that it was underpowered. At the time we were using G4 towers that were equivalent or faster. It looked great, still does, but for a production machine it was very lacking. Apple was known then for being what pros used and the Cube was more of a home computer/art piece.

Our company ignored it.

It's nice to look at, and I may have one someday, but it's just never been a model I was after.

 

[1042686]

That certainly speaks to my point - it was priced at or above professional machines, which it was not. They had a headless entry mac and didn't realize it. Professionals ignored it and people looking for a family computer loved the look but couldn't justify the price.

Apple fixed this with the mini IMO.

 

[repairedCheese]

That certainly speaks to my point - it was priced at or above professional machines, which it was not. They had a headless entry mac and didn't realize it. Professionals ignored it and people looking for a family computer loved the look but couldn't justify the price.

Apple fixed this with the mini IMO.

And this just means that even Apple struggles with the perfect Mac!

 

[Amethyst1]

Apple fixed this with the mini IMO.

They sure did, even though the G4 one was very underpowered for 2005. But you get what you pay for. The Intel switch took care of that fortunately.

 

[Bug-Creator]

For me its the 20" iSight G5 and the PowerBook5.9, the last and best when it comes to PPC and since it has to be PPC (atm) for MorphOS thats where I stay.

As I've said more than once, as the older Intels move into my price range I will slowly move up.

While price isn't the main issue for me, once Intel (or more likely AMD) becomes an option, I'm gone. But that won't be a Mac at all.

For boring stuff I have been MacIntel long before I touched anything PPC (started with a 2006 MacMini, not Apple's best moment).

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

My personal theory is that the thing that drove the final stake into the Cube's translucent plastic heart was the titanium G4 PowerBook, which was launched roughly midway through the Cube's life. The PowerBook was more expensive, but it had a similar spec and was much more practical as a status symbol because you could carry it around. You could casually pull it out while sitting in Borders or Ottakar's.

Imagine whipping out a TiBook in 2001 to type up a blog post in an airport departure lounge, with everybody watching you. Or on the aeroplane itself. Imagine using one at work to deliver a presentation about the prospects for mobile internet in the age of 3G. Etc. You would be a God. More than a God. You would be the God of Gods.

I remember thinking at the time that the standard reasons given for the Cube's failure - cost and a lack of expansion potential - didn't make sense, because the Cube was aimed at people who had a lot of money and were unlikely to tinker with their computer. It would be interesting to see a graph of the Cube's sales over time; my hunch is that it tailed off after the G4 came out.

This is purely a personal theory, backed by no facts at all. The Cube vexes me because I worked as a copywriter for a website at the time, in London, during the height of the dot-com boom. It felt like the right product at the time, but seemingly overnight it was discontinued. There was the dot.com crash, but the Cube felt as if it was aimed at the kind of people who already had money. It reminds me a bit of the Sega Dreamcast, which also didn't seem unpopular enough to be killed off.

Back on topic - if we're allowed to pick Intel machines I would pick the last Aluminium Unibody 17" MacBook Pro if only because it's big. That would be a late-2011 Core i7, which would still be perfectly usable today. With the optional matte display. Ironically it would have a lower resolution than next year's 13" Retina MacBook pro but, dammit, seventeen inches.