![]() The computer has a SCSI port, so we can connect an external storage. Floppy disk drive is the default storage device and it isn’t great at all - unreliable, slow and offering little space. Macintosh Plus, unlike the later models, comes without a built-in hard drive. #MAC CLASSIC USB EMULATOR PLUS#Using resources available in the internet, like this blog post and Mac Plus technical information I was able to create an Arduino-based converted that allows to use a PS/2 keyboard with Mac Plus. It also has a strange connector - the same as for old phone sets. As you may guess, it’s not a standard PS2/USB/ADB keyboard, but a device specific to Mac 128k/512k/Plus models. Still, sometimes it’s good to type something and my Mac lacked of the keyboard. In case of computers like Macintosh Plus, with its innovative GUI, the mouse is much more important than keyboard. The last part was a bit scary (what if the RAM doesn’t work?), but everything went fine and now I can enjoy 4 times bigger RAM: I’ve bought 4 such modules ($1 per module), installed it in the Mac and cut the resistor leg: All you need is a bunch of old 1MB SIMM modules (preferably with 8 or 9 chips). Mac Plus memory can be easily upgraded from 1 to 4 MB. Eventually, I’ve got the system disk (and the Lemmings game) from Paweł - thanks! Memory In a few hours I was contacted by a few people offering their help. I took a different path and asked on a Polish Facebook group dedicated to the old computers and game consoles. One option is the Rescue My Classic Mac webpage offering a complete set of floppy disks, containing system, games and disk utilities. In order to move things forward, I needed a system. FloppiesĪt this point I was able to move the mouse pointer on an empty screen with a blinking floppy icon. Jerry and the custom DB9 pinout as above). I guess that you can also connect an USB mouse, using the USB-to-Amiga mouse converter (eg. Mac Plus Amiga mouse Mac Plus Atari mouse Two DB9 male connectors and a bunch of cables did the trick: However, it seems that it’s much easier to use Amiga or Atari ST mouse - it have the same internals, the only difference is pinout. Some people were able to convert an old, ball mouse so it’s compatible with Mac Plus. The Mac Plus uses a different kind of mouse than PCs or even later Macs. You can’t do much on a Mac without a mouse. I’d never been happier in my life and danced around the room seeing this icon :) An interesting thing that I also found in the Mac was this box of old batteries:Īpparently the previous user tried hard to keep the internal clock powered, without the original battery. It had broken display and I've just fixed it with the soldering iron like a freaking MacGyver! /0FkbgleC8k- Tomek Rękawek November 10, 2016 ![]() I get all of my engineering skills and touched the offending pins with the solderning iron:Īfter switching the Mac on, it presented a beautiful icon of floppy disk with blinking question mark: ![]() #MAC CLASSIC USB EMULATOR UPGRADE#Internet forums and the amazing book about fixing classic Macs - Macintosh Repair and Upgrade Secrets - suggested that the black screen is often a symptom of the cold joints in J4 connector. I hoped that it’ll be enough to turn the brightness knob, but it wasn’t the case. So, the first thing to fix was the screen. ![]() The worst case scenario - I’ll get a modern art sculpture. However, the low cost was justified - according to the description, the screen was dead, it also lacked of the mouse and the keyboard. That’s why I was really happy to find a Macintosh Plus in an attractive price. Sometimes you may find something on the local auction portal, but usually it costs a lot. Unfortunately, they are not so common in Europe as in the US and the costs of the shipment are often higher than the computer itself. ![]() I wanted to extend my vintage computer collection with a classic, all-in-one Macintosh for a long time. ![]()
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