New to 68K Macs

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New to 68K Macs

I just got a Mac SE FDHD but I am new to the 68K Mac game. I have many 8 bit machines, some Amigas.

Can you guys point me in the right direction for:

1. How to transfer games/programs from PC to my Mac. On the Amiga we use something called Amiga Explorer with a null serial cable (and its easy). On the Apple II I have the ADT Proe etc
2. Are there any (ready made) modern hardware components that make 68K life easier. For example on my C64 I have a SD2IEC which allows me to store games on an SD cards. Amiga has an ACA 500 that can read Compact Flash drives etc.
3. I am worried that the SCSII drive in the Mac will die at some point in the future, there is a limit to these things. What are people doing to replace these, just ebay another or is there an easy Compact Flash or SD solution?

Thanks

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Re: New to 68K Macs

I've been wondering the same thing recently. And I found this: http://duxbridge.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/creating-ssd-for-my-macintosh-se30/

There is also a ton of networking information here: http://www.applefool.com/se30/

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Re: New to 68K Macs

Sorry, ignore please.

eeun's picture
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Re: New to 68K Macs

There aren't any third-party devices like sd2iec or Ami Explorer, which is unfortunate.

Easiest option for me is to get a more recent Mac - beige G3s are a good choice - and use that as an intermediary to move files to the 68K. You get floppy and Localtalk as transfer choices. The Localtalk Bridge software through the G3 will let the SE access your ethernet.

For scsi drives, I find 80-pin drives are cheap on ebay, and use an 80-pin to 50-pin adapter. There are generic scsi-to-ide adapters on ebay, but they're far more expensive than an actual drive.

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Re: New to 68K Macs

You can also get a floppy emulator and transfer files via SD card.
http://www.bigmessowires.com/macintosh-floppy-emu/

Cheers
javster

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Re: New to 68K Macs

I ended up setting up a daisy chain of devices (each device taking me further back in time),

1. Download Game Image to my Mac (PC can corrupt the file)
2. Copy to USB Stick
3. Read USB Stick using an old Windows 98 laptop with USB1 and Floppy
4. Transfer to a PowerBook 540c
5. Mount Image using Disc Copy in System 7 PowerBook 540c
6. Copy contents of the image to a floppy
7. Use floppy on the Mac SE

Now I was lucky enough to have all of these devices but OMG what a pain. The Amiga guys spoiled me by having such easy tools. Even the Apple II ATDPro is so easy compared to this. I do like that floppy emulator, I may go for that in the future. I would be nice if it also worked on my PowerBook 540c but I don't think it will.

But I did manage to waste a weekend happily installing System 6, Pirates and Sim City.

Now I have to find a long screw driver to open the Mac case and remove the battery (before it leaks)

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Re: New to 68K Macs

I've been wondering the same thing recently. And I found this: http://duxbridge.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/creating-ssd-for-my-macintosh-se30/

There is also a ton of networking information here: http://www.applefool.com/se30/

I am not sure I have the skills to build one of those, but if someone ever sells a kit I will buy it in a second.

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Re: New to 68K Macs


I am not sure I have the skills to build one of those, but if someone ever sells a kit I will buy it in a second.

I hear ya. The second link is a bunch of networking info that pretty much uses period correct hardware and software to get the job done. Going this route - like any other - has pros/cons but the biggest pro, I think, is the experience will teach you about various vintage mac/computing fundamentals.

Just last week I learned how subnets work because I wanted to pop my Power Mac G4 on a secondary WEP network.

Good times.

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Re: New to 68K Macs

Still looking for a good solution since it appears the hard drive in my PowerMacintosh 6100 died in the closet. I found this site today.

http://www.morriscooke.com/?p=1839

I am going to try and replicate this. I'll let you know.

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Re: New to 68K Macs

Here's one, called SCSI2SD. It's not the fastest but it's reasonably priced.
http://www.codesrc.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=SCSI2SD

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