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Vintage Mac Living

Why We Need Modern Browsers and Email Clients for Vintage Macs

- 2005.11.22

I managed to get my old PowerBook 170 to receive email using nerdshack's POP3 service, but now I am unable to send email because all of today's SMTP servers require SMTP authentication. (Although I was able to send email the other night, now I can't. I'm not sure why it worked once.)

Internet software for 68000 to 68040 Macs is getting harder and harder to come by these days, and I know there are still people out there who either want or need to use older 68k Macs.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one tired of using software on vintage machines that no longer works right, so I am here to ask something of you.

If you are a programmer, I'm asking you a favor: Please take some time to write a new web browser and a new email program with SMTP authentication for 680x0 Macs.

These programs will have to be small and should be able to run on a Mac Plus running System 6.0.8, but they should also look nice and be able to run on newer vintage Macs such as the Quadra 840AV with Mac OS 8.1 with no problems.

They should also be shareware or freeware.

I know I'm asking a lot, but I'm asking on behalf of the people that want or need to use their old Macs.

I know of a number of places that give away old 68k Macs to family's that can't afford new machines. Think how nice it would be for them to be able to get online with a Mac IIsi.

I know people that give their older machines to seniors, and some of them would like to get online with that Mac SE.

And then there are those who just want to use older machines, either because it's a hobby or they're just happy with that Quadra and don't want to buy a new machine.

If you are a computer programmer and you're willing to write these programs for us, please contact me. You can't imagine how much good it will do.

On behalf of everyone in the world who still uses vintage Macs and would like a modern web browser and email program to run on them, I thank you in advance. It means a lot.

Link: The Sorry State of Web Browsers for Classic Macs

Recent Vintage Mac Living articles

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Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: 15" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based MacBook launched at 1.83-2.0 GHz, had several teething problems.
Group of the Day: System 6 is the email list for those who choose System 6.
November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
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Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
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