Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

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Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

So, obviously I have a number of questions.
This machine is the 80mhz version, with a one gig hard disk and 24 megs of ram.
I would love to use this machine to write with and maybe even check email. My main computer is a Macbook Pro.
But there is something to be said about getting away from the feature creep and going back to the basics.
I really like the vintage feel of an old mac. That said, the Power Mac is running os 8.1.
I don't think I should load os 9 onto it, and I have even had thoughts about putting 7.6 on it. What would you guys recommend? 8.6?

But perhaps the most important question is how do I get documents off of this computer? It has a floppy disk drive, but I feel that setting up a little network or just using a crossover cable would be faster (plus my macbook doesn't have a floppy drive)...but an Ethernet cable doesn't just plug in. Do I need some kind of adapter?

I've got it set up with a really loud neat-o clickity clack apple keyboard and a Kingston trackball mouse (which is awesome) and a 14inch Apple CRT display. Which reminds me, can you adjust the actual size of the picture on this monitor? I looked around for a nob and I haven't yet found one that corresponds to that function. I also came into a Stylwriter II (I think) printer that I've not tried out yet. Is this printer dead on arrival due to lack of supplies?

Thanks!

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

Yes, there is some sort of Ethernet adapter. And here's one of them.

As far as screen size, it's been so long since I worked with the Apple 14" I couldn't say for sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

The StyleWriter II also used Canon ink cartridges (it was built by Canon after all) -- don't remember exactly which one. But if it's been sitting for months -- years -- decades without a cartridge, the old ink is likely fossilized. It may very well never print again. YMMV.

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

specify "your" mac
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac/index.html

Power Mac 8100/80 ?
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac/stats/powermac_8100_80.html

AAUI-15 Ethernet
APPLE ETHERNET TRANSCEIVER - APPLE MODEL M0437
Connects to AAUI-15 Ethernet ports 10 BASE-T

IMAGE(http://park6.wakwak.com/~hama/IMAGE/GALLERY/NETWORK/m0437_01.jpg)

Asante FriendlyNet AAUI Ethernet Adapter

IMAGE(http://toronto.lowprice.ca/_images/toronto/224214_s.jpg)

Apple AAUI-15 Ethernet Connector Pinout
http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Apple_AAUI-15_Ethernet

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

As far as screen size, it's been so long since I worked with the Apple 14" I couldn't say for sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

Likewise. There are adjustments for screen size available, but on internal pots only reachable if you take the back off. If I recall, you might not get much of an increase before you hit the max. Also note that that with its age, internal adjustments, old contacts and drying caps might lead you into monitor adjustment hell, in which you'll never be able to get the screen looking "just right" ever again.
If you've got a good picture with even colour and good focus, you've already got a 14" monitor in better operating condition than most of the ones I saw when they were retired at my work a decade ago.

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

Well, the picture is really sharp and bright with no burn in. But the picture has a lot of black around it to the edge. I can learn to live with it.

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

Well, the picture is really sharp and bright with no burn in. But the picture has a lot of black around it to the edge. I can learn to live with it.

They came like that from the factory -- it's typical for there to be a 3/8" or so black border.

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

the machine won't read CDs... audio or data. Recommendations?

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

Are these CDs ones you've purchased, or ones you've burned?

I've never had much luck with burned discs in those old internal drives. You might need to locate an external SCSI CD-ROM drive. They do exist: I have several (if I can ever find them).

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Re: Just got a new (old) mac...and I have a ton of questions!

I started with one I burned, and thinking that it might be the problem and not the drive, I popped in an audio CD. Still nothing.

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