Mac Reunion
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A friend of mine reached out to see if I wanted my old computer(s) back. The answer was, of course, yes.
This particular Blue & White G3 was my first real Mac, bought barely used right after the first G4 came out. I think I traded this, a camera, and probably some cash to him for a Colnago cyclocross bike a few years later, when I got a new computer. This machine started life as a G3/300 (I think I eventually bought a G4 upgrade), which means it has a slow and limited IDE controller.
The 8500/150 is one of the many old Macs I somehow ended up with back in the day. Some came from various jobs (cleaning out the storage closet), people gave them to me, a few came from the Ohio University surplus auction (bundled a bunch of beige Macs as a lot, end up with many because I needed the one good one or a few nice keyboards). I usually found things to do with them, back when Macs didn't multitask all that well - I think this particular machine ran router software, and might have been my web server for a little while. Usually I combined the best of the working parts from the various machines and sold them cheap/gave them to people who could use them. I think I gave this computer to the same friend when I gave him my old SCSI scanner, since the G3 didn't have a SCSI port.
No idea what I'm going to do with these, assuming either of them still works. The G3 has the nostalgia factor and has always been one of my favorite Apple case designs (aesthetically and functionally), so it might end up on display if I ever get an office with shelves. I have a pair of work-given dual 450 G4s in the basement, which will do all the retro computer stuff this world do - but better. The 8500 is kind of rough, though I very well might have the missing trim and optical drive in my old computer parts bin. I don't have any beige-era desktop PowerMacs (only a few laptops), so there might be some value in having all the legacy ports for...something.
What does have actual value for me are the keyboards. The G3 has an ADB port, so I used an Apple Extended II with it since the included clear keyboard (and hockey puck mouse) sucked. Those keyboards slash felt great to me, so I still use an AEK II with a USB dongle. My current one is starting to show the 15-20 years of daily use (period key double taps sometimes, dead caps lock, other glitches). Hopefully this one is better once I clean it up. The Apple Design isn't mechanical and isn't as good otherwise, but should be a solid choice to have on hand for various retro computer needs.
This particular Blue & White G3 was my first real Mac, bought barely used right after the first G4 came out. I think I traded this, a camera, and probably some cash to him for a Colnago cyclocross bike a few years later, when I got a new computer. This machine started life as a G3/300 (I think I eventually bought a G4 upgrade), which means it has a slow and limited IDE controller.
The 8500/150 is one of the many old Macs I somehow ended up with back in the day. Some came from various jobs (cleaning out the storage closet), people gave them to me, a few came from the Ohio University surplus auction (bundled a bunch of beige Macs as a lot, end up with many because I needed the one good one or a few nice keyboards). I usually found things to do with them, back when Macs didn't multitask all that well - I think this particular machine ran router software, and might have been my web server for a little while. Usually I combined the best of the working parts from the various machines and sold them cheap/gave them to people who could use them. I think I gave this computer to the same friend when I gave him my old SCSI scanner, since the G3 didn't have a SCSI port.
No idea what I'm going to do with these, assuming either of them still works. The G3 has the nostalgia factor and has always been one of my favorite Apple case designs (aesthetically and functionally), so it might end up on display if I ever get an office with shelves. I have a pair of work-given dual 450 G4s in the basement, which will do all the retro computer stuff this world do - but better. The 8500 is kind of rough, though I very well might have the missing trim and optical drive in my old computer parts bin. I don't have any beige-era desktop PowerMacs (only a few laptops), so there might be some value in having all the legacy ports for...something.
What does have actual value for me are the keyboards. The G3 has an ADB port, so I used an Apple Extended II with it since the included clear keyboard (and hockey puck mouse) sucked. Those keyboards slash felt great to me, so I still use an AEK II with a USB dongle. My current one is starting to show the 15-20 years of daily use (period key double taps sometimes, dead caps lock, other glitches). Hopefully this one is better once I clean it up. The Apple Design isn't mechanical and isn't as good otherwise, but should be a solid choice to have on hand for various retro computer needs.
https://mltshp.com/p/1PIK9