Vintage Mac Living

Old Macs Are Still Fun to Use and Productive Tools

- 2006.05.15

One year ago my first article - Bigger, Faster, More: Enough Already! - was published on Low End Mac. Since then, 13 more of my articles (not counting this one) have been published.

Together we've touched of subjects ranging from how to make your old 68k Mac useful again to what it's like upgrading from an aging Beige G3 to a much faster Sawtooth G4.

In all of my articles (the ones related to computers anyway) the point is that most of us don't need to go out and buy a $30,000 Power Mac G5 setup to be productive. That would be like buying an RV just for you daily commute (with today's gas prices, I don't think anyone will do that).

I must confess that over the course of the last few months I haven't been following my own advice.

Ever since I upgraded my from my Beige G3 to my G4, I have acquired several Macs that are much better than the ones I had, including a Blue & White G3/400 (I got that one for free, it replaced my Sister's old Beige G3), an iMac 400 (also free - it replaced my Mom's old 5500/225), and a Lombard PowerBook G3 (that one cost me $10, it replaced the old AIO G3/233 in my room).

Because I've been so busy with these new Macs, I haven't had time to use any of my really vintage Macs that I keep in the house: 512K, SE, SE/30, Classic II, IIci, and PowerBook 170. I've been so busy setting up these new machines that I haven't had time to even touch my old machines.

I was looking at these vintage Macs, and it was almost like they were looking back at me - and they were upset. So today I decided to power a few of them up and do something with them.

I wrote this article on the 512k, sent some email with the SE, played Brickles on the Classic II, and made a Mother's Day card on the PowerBook 170 using Kid Pix (I wrote this article on Mother's Day).

It's been so long since I used them that I forgot just how fun they are. They're still easy to use, and even today they're still powerful tools.

I really do love using these old machines. I got so caught up messing with the new stuff trying to make it just right that I forgot how much you can really get done with the old stuff.

So to those of you who emailed me last year and told me I was wrong, take my advice: Dig out that old SE (or even that old 9600 or beige G3) out of your closet and use it. You just might be surprised at what you can get done.

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Recent Vintage Mac Living articles

What a waste! Some schools would rather store old computers than put them to use, 2007.09.12. Denver Public Schools is one example of a school district so ready to buy new computers that it has tens of thousands of old, usable computers sitting in storage.
My incredible $110 Lombard and Power Mac G4 deal, 2007.07.11. Sometimes pawn shops can be a great source for older Macs, such as turning up a Lombard PowerBook and a very upgraded Power Mac G4 Digital Audio for just $110!
Too stressed to even think about computers, 2007.05.16. "I've been so preoccupied that I haven't been able to think about computers, much less write about them."
More in the Vintage Mac Living index.

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Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
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