Manuel Mejia Jr
- 2001.08.24
After ten years of using my 1990 vintage System 6/7 Macintosh
computers, circumstances have prompted me to consider the
unthinkable - retire all of my current systems and upgrade to
System 9/X (er, ah, OS 9 and X) and buy an indigo iMac.
That would mean retiring my Mac LC,
IIcx, and perhaps my PowerBook 145b.
The process that ultimately led the decision to a new Mac
started a few month ago when my Apple Performa Plus monitor
developed a mechanical fault. After years of use, the on/off DPDT
(Double Pole, Double Throw) switch wore out. The switch simply
would not engage the metal contact that delivered power to it. It
is no longer practical to replace that particular switch.
To overcome the problem, I had my father install two metal SPST
(Single Pole, Single Throw) switches to the plastic case next to
the dead button. He disconnected the wires from the pushbutton and
attached them to the toggle switches. Presto! The monitor came back
to life and is in use.
While the monitor is operating well, the IIcx is a different
matter. The computer no longer shuts down upon command. It chooses
to restart after shutdown. I took care of this matter by shutting
the computer down using the power strip. When I try to turn the
machine on, it can take up to 20 minutes for it to boot up.
It seems that the power supply is not working like it used to.
Since replacement parts for this Mac are as old as the IIcx itself,
I have elected to leave the problem unresolved. I was fortunate
enough to salvage the computer monitor. I then made the decision to
upgrade.
Upgrading Due to Peripherals and Software
The reasons behind a decision to buy a new Mac may have to do
with issues that have nothing to do with the computer itself.
Important accessories such as printers, software, and even storage
media will wear out or otherwise become unavailable.
For instance, it has been over six years since a Mac user could
simply buy a new printer and just plug it into a Mac Plus or SE/30. The new USB plugs and new software
drivers for these printers are simply not compatible with Macs this
old. Classic Mac users often have to buy refurbished peripherals
like a LaserWriter II or even an ImageWriter II in order to replace
a dead printer. The price for the ink ribbon or cartridge used by
these printers is usually higher than the value of the computer or
printer itself!
Software is another problem that classic Mac users often face.
Although one can find many freeware and shareware programs to run
on an old Mac, many key programs - like word processors - are often
secured by one means of "skullduggery" or another. In other cases,
software is inherited from the computer's previous owner who
happened to be the last person to have a valid license for that
program. Given the "Fahrenheit 451" policy of the Software
Publisher's Association, until some form of abandonware policy is
adopted (see Legal Software for Older
Macs), it is just easier for someone to buy a new Mac carrying
new software than it is to buy an old Mac and then procure the
appropriate software. For more insight on the software issue, refer
to Michael Munger's Avoid Mac
Obsolescence.
In terms of storage media, it is amazing to see people operating
Macs like the Classic and the
Mac II with 800K floppy drives. Those
floppy disks are getting harder and harder to find. Most of the
time, I have to collect double sided, double density floppies from
boxes of old Windows software and reformat the disks for Mac use.
Most vendors do not even carry 800K floppies. When the last 800Ks
wear out, the Mac Plus and other 800K floppy machines will join
their Apple IIe predecessors in oblivion.
The Transition Period
Even when I do upgrade to an indigo iMac, my Mac IIcx and other
classic Macs will still be doing work for me. I am lucky enough to
have the software I need for the machines as well as spare parts
like an extra floppy drive and hard drive. I can also do
contemporary tasks with these Macs. Besides word processing and
email, I can do relatively complex tasks like desktop publishing
and photographic downloads.
Given the fact that I still have working equipment, it can be
hard to rationalize an upgrade. However, these machines are just
getting too old. I will gradually transfer my files from the old
machine to the new via floppy. My goal is to have the iMac up and
running while its predecessors are still functioning.
It will be nice to advance a decade in terms of Mac technology.
People will also stop gawking at me every time I make a reference
to my vintage computers.
