We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
Best Classic Mac OS Deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x, Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
Low End Mac’s Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn’t kept up with the changing internet. Which Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to 9.2.2.
WiFi cards for PowerBooks with PC Card slots, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.08.12. PC Card and CardBus 802.11b and 802.11g cards known to be compatible with Apple’s PowerBooks.
Environmentally Responsible Retirement for Old Macs, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in Mac Development, 2008.06.13. After you’ve scavenged what useful parts you can from your old Mac, what’s the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of the rest?
Mac ‘Book Power Management Adventures, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2009.05.19. If your ‘Book won’t power up, shuts down while your working, or has other power issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear things up.
Notebooks and blackouts, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.12.23. When the power goes out, a notebook computer with long-lasting batteries lets you keep working for hours and hours.
Why You Should Partition Your Mac’s Hard Drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. “At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the ’emergency’ partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics.”
Every working computer is useful to someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 2008.11.19. Whether it’s a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
Creating Classic Mac Boot Floppies in OS X, Paul Brierley, The ‘Book Beat, 2008.08.07. Yes, it is possible to create a boot floppy for the Classic Mac OS using an OS X Mac that doesn’t have Classic. Here’s how.
The Compressed Air Keyboard Repair, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn’t working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
Solving Mac Startup Problems, Adam Rosen, Adam’s Apple, 2007.12.12. When your old Mac won’t boot, the most likely culprits are a dead PRAM battery or a failed (or failing) hard drive.
The incredible transforming PowerBook 1400, Leo Titus LeBron V, Collection Spotlight, 2007.11.07. You can change the look of the PB 1400 with its BookCover, upgrade RAM to 64 MB, add a video card, upgrade to G3, boot from flash memory, and more.
My PowerBook pilgrimage, 1996 to present, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.09.24. Starting with a grayscale PowerBook 5300 bought end-of-life in late 1996, the author has used six different ‘Book models over the past 11 years
Mac Networking Using AppleTalk, Alex Paterson. How to mount a PowerBook’s hard drive on another Mac using AppleTalk so you can install software or Mac OS from a CD.
PowerBook 1400 Madness, Tom and Lisa’s Weird Web Page. Lots of useful info on overclocking, repairing floppy and CD-ROM, and more.
Format Any Drive for Older Macs with Patched Apple Tools, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2007.04.25. Apple HD SC Setup and Drive Setup only work with Apple branded hard drives – until you apply the patches linked to this article.
Mac OS 8 and 8.1: Maximum Size, Maximum Convenience, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2006.09.11. Mac OS 8 and 8.1 add some useful new features and tools, and it can even be practical on 68030-based Macs.
Productive at the low end: 3 Mac users share their tales, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2006.08.29. Whether it’s using WordPerfect 3.5ep on a PowerBook 1400, writing and surfing on a clamshell iBook, orplaying around on a Power Mac 9500, these users find old Macs the right solution.
Customizing Mac OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling with themes, picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work just the way you want it to.
PowerBook 1400 one of the best PowerBooks ever, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.07.21. “How embarrassing for me to be so taken my a computer, but I am greatly impressed.”
PowerBook 1400 still a favorite nearly 10 years on, Heather Anne Hurd, My Turn, 2006.06.07. “Even as I type this, I am amazed by this old PowerBook. It’s keyboard feels great, and I love the 1400’s small form factor.”
The Volvo of Laptops, Marko Kloos, The Munchkin Wrangler, 2006.06.01. “When you type a lot, your choice of keyboard becomes a deciding factor when it comes to hardware decisions, so it’s no surprise to me that the PB 1400 is a sought-after machine among writers.”
System 7.6.1 is perfect for many older Macs, John Martorana, That Old Mac Magic, 2006.03.24. Want the best speed from your old Mac? System 7.6.1 can give you that with a fairly small memory footprint – also helpful on older Macs.
System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6: The beginning and end of an era, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2006.02.15. System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6 introduced many new features and greater modernity while staying within reach of most early Macintosh models.
Web browser tips for the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
The Penny-Pinching PowerBook, Michael J Norton, MacDevCenter, 2003.07.22. Diehard Mac user Michael Norton describes his penny-pinching Odyssey that explored the PowerBook 280c and the 1400.
Flash memory improves PowerBook, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2002.11.14. Using Compact Flash to boot, save files, run silently, extend battery life, and as virtual memory on a PowerBook.
PowerBook 1400 Adventures, Charles W Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2002.05.21. “I’ve been a longtime admirer of the PowerBook 1400, but we have never had one in the family until now.”
PowerBook 1400: A very likable legacy ‘Book, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2002.05.20. The PB 1400 is a solid machine, a decent performer, and a practical value.
Does a 466 MHz PowerBook 1400 make sense?, Charles W. Moore, Road Warrior, Mac Opinion, 2002.03.19. Low RAM ceiling, cost of used WallStreets probably best argument against it.
SCSI and FireWire Disk Modes, Paulo Rodrigues, Tangerine Fusion, 2000.11.29. How to use SCSI Disk Mode and FireWire Target Disk Mode for ultrafast file transfers.
How to get a G3 PowerBook for under US$1,000, PowerBook Central, 2000.08.24. Start with a PB 1400 (still one of my favorites) and add a G3 upgrade. Improved battery life and impressive performance at bargain basement prices.
