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Five uses for an older Mac

sethirtyI love old, beige Macs, and I keep them around for various reasons. Everything from "I'll use it as a backup machine" to "it looks cool" is good enough for me.  LowEndMac recently posted an article entitled, "Five Ways to Use Your Old Compact Mac." They're specifically concerned with the SE, SE/30 (a GREAT Mac!), Classic and Classic II. Here, in brief, are their five suggestions:

  1. Keep a personal log
  2. Keep track of your schedule and appointments
  3. Play games
  4. Go online
  5. Run After Dark 2.0's Randomizer Module

Check out the article for full details. I love my Classic II, as Microsoft Word 6.0 is all the word processing I need. Plus, that machine is wicked responsive, boots in seconds and is simply fun to use! I've also placed a 2nd hard drive in my G3 All In One (in place of the Zip drive), and that acts as my backup machine. Also, I've got recipes on an SE via Filemaker and a 4400 running SETI @ home (doesn't every geek need to run SETI?) So dust off your old Macs. They're still useful.

Post script: Engadget has found yet another use for a beige Mac: trashing your leftover Jack-O-Lanterns. Check it out.
 

I love old, beige Macs, and I keep them around for various reasons. Everything from "I'll use it as a backup machine" to "it...
 

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Roberth Rodriguez

I just inherited a Powerbook 5300cs. My university was tossing out old computers. I already own a G4 iBook. Any ideas what I can use this old Powerbook for?

November 12 2005 at 12:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wes

I miss WC2

November 12 2005 at 4:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tobias Butler

You forgot "install debian and make a webserver"

November 12 2005 at 1:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron Yates

I got an old 7100/80 with maxed out RAM running Dark Forces, Warcraft 2, the Marathon Trilogy, Escape Velocity, and last but definitely not least After Dark's Lunatic Fringe. And that is just the tip of the iceberg on the 8 GB HD

November 12 2005 at 12:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
narco

The 'keeping a personal log' one is a good idea. I've been meaning to do that, plus I can pretend I am Doogie Howser when I do it. Fishes, narco.

November 11 2005 at 6:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
max

man, i remember those old IP configuration screens. Good times, good times.

November 11 2005 at 5:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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