So many options...

8 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 16 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 21 2004 - 10:56
Posts: 82
So many options...

So, I need some help making a decision...
I can't decided which 'road' I should take. I've got a Mystic, full 33MHz, 132MB RAM, 700MB HDD, 640x480, running System 8.1 with an optical mouse (Mouse Systems, 9-pin...way way way ahead of the times!)

I've got a 636, a 6300/180 and a 5500/250 motherboard. The various bits and pieces include:
various CommSlot Ethernet NICs and modems,
PCI NICs,
Apple A/V,
Focus Enhancements video card.

My issue...Should I take advantage of the PowerPC 250? I've already have a couple of PowerMacs and don't have a native '040 system. It sure would be nice to play my Allied General and other older software rather than running emulation. Plus, the Takky surgery is just going to take more time than I have right now.

OTOH, a little Compact Mac with video record and playback would be sweet as well.

So, what do you think?

Jack

tmtomh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 568
Stick with what you got

Not to go against the Applefritter Way - hack for the happiness of hacking - but I've got a Takky and a Mystic, and I use the latter as much as I use the former. The Takky's certainly faster - I've got a 6500/300 mobo in there - but it actually has a 128MB RAM limit, slightly less than your maxxed-out Mystic. In fact, I also used to have a G3/400 Takky, and I sold it because the extra heat, noise and complexity of the machine made it less fun for me to play and work with than my 300MHz 603e-based machine.

Generally, I've found simpler is, if not better, then at least really nice when it comes to CCs. Mystics tend to have fewer power issues, and if you've got functioning Power Macs, there's not much need for a PPC CC in your life.

I realize there are many reasonable counter-arguments and other perspectives on this. This is just my personal $0.02.

Matt

Offline
Last seen: 16 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 21 2004 - 10:56
Posts: 82
Re: Stick with what you got

I'm leaning towards the '040 as well, but what I'm hearing you write is that you didn't care for the Takky conversion as well as the Mystic? (636 v. 575)

Thanks for your input!

tmtomh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 568
Yeah

If one is committed to an '040-based machine, there's really no reason to go to all the trouble of making a Takky when you can just slide in a 575 board for a Mystic with the same horsepower and similar RAM and VRAM capabilities.

The only thing a 580/630 board would provide over a 575 based Mystic would be the ability to use some A/V cards. But in that case you'd be much better off to go the PPC Takky route, using a 5500/6500 board, which is much faster than a 630 board and can use the same A/V cards.

Aside from that, there's the possibility you could track down a 640DOS board and make an '040-based Takky from that. Then you could have a Mac that could also run DOS - or Windows 3 - natively in hardware. But again, I'm willing to bet a fast 6500 mobo could run Windows under software emulation about as fast as the 33MHz 486 CPU in the 640DOS - and with the PPC board, you could run Windows versions above 3.1.

Matt

Offline
Last seen: 16 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 21 2004 - 10:56
Posts: 82
Re: Yeah

Excellent point. I think the '040 is really the best way for me to go. I've got a Centis 650 with a Houdini in it, so I don't think I need a CC with DOS capability, and I've got an upgraded 6100 and a 17" PB for my 9.1 and OS X needs.

I guess if I could find a Focus L*TV Pro (LC PDS), I think that the Takky would be a truly moot point.

Jack

Offline
Last seen: 16 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 21 2004 - 10:56
Posts: 82
Re: Yeah

I hope this isn't bad form to reply to myself...
Well, I did find a Focus L*TV Pro for my CC from Operator Headgap. If the Focus card works well enough for me, I'll leave it as a Mystic. I'll probably keep my 636 motherboard in case I go for the Takky upgrade with the Apple Video System board plus the L*TV Pro, but we'll see, won't we.

Offline
Last seen: 10 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 180
Stick!

With the right software, a Mystic is a lovely little Mac. I really feel that it's soo much more elegant than the Takky / Taco upgrades. I'd stick with it.

But you could clock it at 40MHz!

Stuart

Offline
Last seen: 16 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 21 2004 - 10:56
Posts: 82
Thanks, Stuart

I probably will o'clock it and probably add the second speaker.

Log in or register to post comments