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The Usefulness Equation
Modding Your Old Mac to Make It More Useful
- 2008.10.09 - Tip Jar
Popularity: 
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del.icio.usAs our Macs mature and get newer software, they can lose the ability to perform even lightweight tasks with reasonable speed. Upgrading is one way to improve their useful longevity, as I discussed in Know your Mac's Upgrade Options.
However, there is another method: Modification (or "modding") is the practice of reengineering something to your own specifications.
Ambiguous as that definition might be, it really is as simple as that. The viability of your ideas is the limit to what you can do. Think of it as an art form: If there are things about your Mac that you've wanted to change or perhaps just spice it up a bit, this is the way to go.
I do realize the term's reputation. Your modded Mac doesn't have to be painted in bright neon colors with lights hanging out of every orifice in the case and be cooled by six thousand fans.
A good example of lightweight mods are sound enhancements. Some of Apple's models (The Mirrored Drive Door G4s, for example) came with quite loud power supply fans. A 45 minute modification process (which is well documented on Accelerate Your Mac), and the noise is significantly lower.
If you're like me, you love the aesthetics of some of your Macs. However, not all machines have the power to maintain themselves for what you need. My favorite method for solving this problem is building a faster Mac inside the vintage Mac's case. For working examples of this process, check out my Twenty First Century Mac and Charles Mangin's "Marvin".
It can be the
opposite: You may hate your Mac's case. (I'm sure there is somebody who
does.) Re-casing is also a popular mod for older desktops. Check out
the Silent ATX
G4 by Todd Anderson.
Crippled machines make great mod projects. Have a laptop with a cracked screen but don't have the heart to throw it out? Mod it, like Richard Hunt did with his MacMidi. Being that the machine is crippled, your mod's design must fit into certain guidelines to get around the problem. You could easily end up turning an inconvenient problem into a nifty feature.
If you're afraid to touch your expensive Mac Pro (or perfect condition Classic) with a Dremel and screwdriver (I deeply sympathize), I recommend starting with a cheap and easy machine. Wegener Media has Blue & White G3 towers for $9.99 (no hard drive, no optical drive, add shipping). I really don't think there is a better starter machine than the B&W G3. These will most likely be the Rev. 1s, so keep that in mind when purchasing.
Having an inexpensive, expendable machine allows you to jump in with more confidence. You will learn much quicker this way. Theodore Roosevelt said it best: "One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment. If it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along." You can always change your plans if you encounter problems along the way.
As I recommended with system upgrades, it's best to do copious amounts of research before beginning. Also, try writing or drawing your ideas out on paper before exercising them.
If you are looking for a starting
point or perhaps just want to take a look into some mods, I highly
recommend MacMod.com. They have a
multitude of guides to get started, as well as daily news in the
Macintosh modding community.
I just want to leave you with this last mod, the iBoy by sirljohns. The iBoy is proof that mods are not limited to computers, so keep that in mind.
On a closing note, if you love your Mac (old or new) in it's stock form, shoot me an email and tell me why you wouldn't change anything about it.
Good luck and happy modding! 
Recent Columns by Phil Herlihy
- Max Miller, Solo Musician, 08.21. An interview with Max Miller, solo musician and Mac user.
- Lombard PowerBook: Almost a Pismo for Less, 06.18. Although Pismo has the huge following, Lombard provides comparable performance of often sells for quite a bit less.
- 12" G4 iBooks and PowerBooks Are Mac Netbooks: Cheap and Powerful Enough, 02.05. Recent tests comparing a 1.33 GHz G4 iBook and a 1.6 GHz Atom-based netbook show the old Mac holds its own. It also has some advantages.
- Heat Management for 'Books and the Last Mac to Run OS 9.1, 01.08. Tips on keeping a first-gen MacBook Air from throttling back with CoolBook, using G4FanControl with a G4 PowerBook, and the fastest Mac that can boot Mac OS 9.1.
- More in the The Usefulness Equation index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: iMac Core2, Sep. 2006 - Apple introduced the biggest screen ever in an iMac with a 24" Core2 Duo model at 2.16 GHz.
- Group of the Day: G-List is for Power Mac G3, G4, and G5 users.
- March 21 in LEM history: 00: The compelling Mac - 01: All that for $129? - PowerBook 100 - 02: Improving AppleWorks - 03: The G3 ain't dead yet - Pismo a good value - Western Digital drive issues - 05: iPod halo effect - 06: Rip DVDs so you can watch them on your iPod - 07: Maximum drive size in older Macs - 08: Safari 3.1 fastest browser?
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Does iPhone OS Need Multitasking?, iCab Comes to iPhone, Canada's Proposed iPod Levy, and More, iNews Review, 03.19. Also the iPad paradox, Freescale demos $200 tablet, gardening apps, aluminum iPhone stand, steel iPhone case, and more.
- Could iPad Replace the Mac?, Mac Sales Up in 2010, Avoiding Windows 7 'Whenever Possible', and More, Mac News Review, 03.19. Also why your next Mac may be an iPad, science blogger abandons Apple, the benefits of standing while working, and more.
- The Mobile System Stampede, Lithium Battery That Can't Explode, Affordable SSD Options, and More, The 'Book Review, 03.19. Also June 2007 MacBook Pro external display issue, laptop stands, 1 TB ultraportable hard drive, Mini DisplayPort/HDMI adapter, and more.
- How to Zoom Your Browser for a More Readable Web, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 03.18. Instructions for zooming text and pages in Safari, Firefox, Camino, and Opera.
- CardBus WiFi, the Shiira Browser, Ridding the Web of Flash, and Macs vs. PCs, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 03.18. Mac longevity, Shiira speed, ambidextrous Mac and Windows use, and how Flash benefits Apple.
- How Ad Blocking Hurts Your Favorite Websites, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 03.18. Ad income keeps the Web free. Blocking online ads hurts your favorite websites.
- Taking Apart the 12" PowerBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 03.17. There are a lot of steps involved in disassembling a 12" PowerBook. Proceed with caution.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Intel iMac Deals, 03.17. Used 17" from $600; 20" from $750; 24" from $825; refurb 21.5" nVidia, $999; new, $1,099; refurb Radeon, $1,299; new, $1,399; refurb 27" 3.06, $1,499; more.
- Best G5 iMac Deals, 03.17. 17" 2.0 GHz, $380; 1.9 GHz iSight, $479 shipped; 20" 1.8 GHz, $509 shipped; 2.1 GHz iSight, $549 shipped.
- Best Time Capsule Deals, 03.17. Close-out 500 GB, $140; new 1 TB, $279; used 2 TB simultaneous dual-band, $400; new, $455. Shipping included.
- Best iPad Deals, 03.16. 16 GB iPad, $499; 32 GB, $599; 64 GB, $699; 16 GB with 3G, $629; 32 GB 3G, $729; 64 GB 3G, $829. Free ground shipping.
- Best iPod classic Deals, 03.12. Used 20 GB, $119; 40 GB, $139; 60 GB, $159; 30 GB video, $129; 60 GB, $159; 80 GB, $169; refurb 120 GB, $189; new, $214; 160 GB, $228 shipped.
- Best G3 iBook and AirPort Card Deals, 03.12. 366 MHz 12" clamshell, $89; 466, $125; 500 white CD, $100; 600, $199; 800 Combo, $239; 14" 900, $225.
- Best Xserve Deals, 03.12. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $499; 2.0 dual G5, $599; 2.3, $749; refurb 2.26 4-core Nehalem, $2,499; new, $2,699; 8-core, $3,449; refurb 2.66, $4,299; new, $4,799; more.
- More deals in our archive.
