My First Mac

Mac in the Middle Ages

James Brock Clark - 2001.02.20

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.

OWC: OWC Mercury On-The-Go FW400/800/USB2/eSATA Portables High Performance A/V Rated, **Bus Powered** **Up to 500GB in the Palm of your Hand** Macworld Editor's Choice, CNET 'Very Good' - from $75.99!

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

MacPro Memory 667Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $90 / 4GB $134 / 8GB $264. Click to Maximize your Macs...

It has been more than 30 years since pop singer Captain Beefheart exhorted the space age couple to "flex your magic muscle." And we've been doing that, my spouse and I, here in rural Nova Scotia. We've successively turned our hands to whatever tasks were required to wring a livelihood from this chronically under capitalized region. Being city bred, the learning curve was steep. There have been few dull moments.

So I shook my head when I recently read, "life is short but the hours long." Why that poor soul! I've never found life that way. I can't remember the last time I was seriously bored. There is always so much to do. And I see to it that most of it is interesting.

What interests me? One thing: learning. I've always got to be learning (though when you get well into your 50s, it's not always something new). Maybe it's that "toolmaker" instinct that has made our species so dominant, I don't know, but love of learning is certainly the key.

We constantly hear grumbling about computers, especially among older people. Cursed things! Yet it seems everyone has bought one. They bring them home and then swear at them. Do they ever ask themselves why they are buying a computer in the first place? You can buy a lot of stamps for $2,000, and there are plenty of cheaper (and more secure) sources of "adult entertainment." I suspect that within months many of those computers become mere ornaments, a sign that says, "Yes, we were with it." The badge of the dutiful consumer.

What a shame. Under the heading of "use it or lose it," we have a near perfect exercise machine for the human mind. quoteThere is nothing quite like the process of discovery to revivify one's outlook on life. A supple mind will do more for health than a whole cabinet full of drugs. Mastering the intricacies of an operating system not only stretches the mind, it opens the door on a world of opportunity for learning. Whether building on what you already know or venturing off into the brave new world of live cams in space, the return in satisfaction seems well worth the price in time.

Learning is one of the reasons I've always loved writing. I don't think I'll ever master it, but I do get better if I apply my wits. Perhaps the situation is analogous to the man/horse relationship. If you want to have a happy time with a horse, you have to be constantly tuning it up. Everyday is school day. Do that, and your horse will respond almost intuitively to your every command. Leave the horse out to pasture too long, and you'll have a balky brute.

Learning, it seems, will always require an effort. Forgetting pretty much takes care of itself.

I bought an Olivetti dedicated word processor to help me with writing. When my older brother handed down his Mac IIsi, it was a big development in terms of facility. I discovered the pleasure of email. Perhaps I get into the mail a bit too much at times, but I know that with every sentence I write, whether e-message or essay, my ability to express myself improves.

There is the Internet, too. That can be fun if used judiciously. However, the IIsi had to give way to my current LC 520 before I could really get my feet wet. Low-end Mac users won't scoff. Those lengthy downloads are great for catching up on reading. And it is amazing what you can come up with when you need information. Low End Mac, for example.

Since discovering LEM, I've decided on acquiring a Power Mac 7600. I was able to discover a lot about the machine and its capabilities, and in the end I became convinced that I could get where I want to go more easily and cheaply by that route. Yes, there were a lot of variables to balance out, but I found excellent articles on LEM to help me answer the crucial questions. Given the 26.4k limitation of our antiquated phone lines, for example, does it make sense to spend the extra money need to buy a machine with a superfast CPU? Being into photography, I'm excited about the prospects of adding a scanner. It looks like I'll need to upgrade the RAM. Most of the information I need is out there somewhere - a lot of it on or linked to LEM. The 7600 will allow me to use a 17 inch monitor, a development I think I will enjoy.

Most of all, I will enjoy learning to use the newer OS and exploring other bits of software. When I think back to the total immersion of learning the IIsi, I feel satisfied that I've gained not only knowledge but also confidence in my ability to learn. It has been fun. I'm sure the fun will continue.

Links for the Day

  • Mac of the Day: Quadra 700, Oct. 1991 - The successor to the Mac IIci ran a 'wicked fast' 25 MHz 68040 processor.
  • List of the Day: Apple TV List The Apple TV List is a forum to discuss the Apple TV.

Recent Content on Low End Mac

  • 10 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.28. A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
  • Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28. Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
  • Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 1.83 GHz, $799; 2.0 black, $875; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 22, $1,094; 2.4, $1,219 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
  • Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
  • Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
  • CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
  • MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
  • Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
  • Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
  • Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
  • Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. 500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
  • Does Running OS X System Maintenance Routines Really Do Any Good?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
  • Purposeful Reincarnation for Old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 08.26. The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
  • Best Power Mac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 1.6 GHz single SuperDrive, C$499; 1.8, $569; dual, $675, 2.0, $800; 2.3, C$899; 2.5, C$1,199; 2.7, $1,225; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
  • Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 C2D, $1,689; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $2,099; 2.5, $2,558 after rebate; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,399 a/r; more.
  • Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Refurb 3G 1 GB, $39; new 3G, $45; refurb 2 GB, $59; new, $68.
  • More links in our archive.

Go to the My First Mac index.


Have a question?
Ask an expert!

Navigation

Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
   Museum

DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
   Mac FAQ

Abandonware
   Petition

Mac vs. PC Info

Affiliates

The Apple Store
Mac Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com

Advertise

Open Link