Feed: Vintage Apple News - AggScore: 84.6

An article at Gizmodo, it begins:
"The fact that Grackle68k exists is wonderful for two reasons:
First, and most obvious, is because it makes for a bizarre juxtaposition between the ancient OS 9 (or OS 8, or Systems 6 and 7) and Twitter, and self-consciously modern online service that would've seemed ridiculous in the age of the Bondi Blue iMac. And second, because the tiny slice of the population who still earnestly uses OS 9 is either clinically paranoid, hasn't read a software review since the year 2000, or is stuck with a 10-year-old desktop by some truly bizarre or unfortunate circumstance, all of which would make for some top-rate tweeting."



Read More: Finally, a Twitter App for Mac OS Classic


Direct Link: Grackle68k - Twitter Application for Classic Macintoshes

Today we return to the informative "This Week in Apple History" series at The Mac Observer. The November 14-20 entry in the series by Owen Linzmayer & Bryan Chaffin is entitled, "McIntosh, IIe Killed, Butt-Head Astronomer".

November 14-20: McIntosh, IIe Killed, Butt-Head Astronomer

Another vintage Apple video from Vectronics Apple World's YouTube channel!



Apple G4 iMac Introduction Promo Video

Today we return to the informative "This Week in Apple History" series at The Mac Observer. The November 7-13 entry in the series by Owen Linzmayer & Bryan Chaffin is entitled, "Apple Goes Public, Windows, CHRP, & iPod Born".

November 7-13: Apple Goes Public, Windows, CHRP, & iPod Born

Some folklore for Friday with this bit of Macintosh history at Folklore.org by Andy Hertzfeld. It Begins:
"By the spring of 1982, the Macintosh project was considered more legitimate within Apple. It was beginning to transition from a research effort into a mainstream project. We had to get more organized as the team grew."

Read More:
Software Wizard

Clear Case PROTOTYPE Apple Macintosh Portable - Rare!!!
From the description:
"A rare chance to acquire a holy grail to us prototype collectors! Rarely do clear case prototypes come up on eBay, especially not for computers this rare. I've only seen two clear case Portables on eBay. The last one was a couple years ago and sold for nearly $8,000.
This is the original Macintosh Portable, model 5120 which cost $7,300 when released in 1989.
If you're unfamiliar with clear case protos, there were usually about 10 (or less) of each model made during the design process. They were used by engineers to check for fit of internal components. Nearly all plastic case components are clear plastic, including the handle & internal mounts for components! Like other clear case prototypes I have seen, there is no serial number on the case and the colored Apple logo insets are not present, although the space for them is.
Not unusual for a clear case prototype, especially one that's more than 20 years old, portions of the case show stress fractures (not cracks you can feel) when viewed at various angles and there's a fair amount of superficial scuffing/scratching. Other issues to note are that the hinge caps are not locked on, though this may have been intentional (the hinges work fine but can slide off), the spring-loaded handle is not working right on one side (though the case locks shut), and some of the right side plastic exterior (see photos) is broken off and not included.
Typical of many Portables, it does not currently power up. This may be just a battery issue, but I'm not technically savvy enough to diagnose or repair this. I'll leave that to the many people out there that do repair and restore these old Portables. To be clear, this is being sold as-is and does not include a power supply (you can use a PowerBook 100 supply or the original Portable adapter)."



What's on eBay - Clear Case PROTOTYPE Apple Macintosh Portable - Rare!!!

Today we return to the informative "This Week in Apple History" series at The Mac Observer. The November 1-6 entry in the series by Owen Linzmayer & Bryan Chaffin is entitled, "CompUSA, Monsters, Inc.".

November 1-6: CompUSA, Monsters, Inc.

APPLE II+ 2 PLUS WITH FLOPPY PADDLES EXTRAS SUPER NICE
From the description:
"Up for new ownership is this Apple II+ computer. The model is A251048. This unit is in excellant physical and working condition. One of our employees had it hooked and running acouple weeks ago and it was working great. It comes with a floppy drive model A2M003 as well and that is working too. There is also a set of Kraft brand paddles and another add-on card that I assume is for a printer and the module on that is "Fourth Dimension Board 2." There is also a "SUP R MOD II" card/cable for hooking to a tv. This unit will be well packed and ship same or next day.
SHIPPING IS FREE TO THE LOWER 48 STATES!"



What's on eBay - APPLE II+ 2 PLUS WITH FLOPPY PADDLES EXTRAS SUPER NICE

A new article at Cult of Mac by Nicole Martinelli.
It begins:
"On October 3, a collector bought a rare Apple 1 on eBay for $18,000. The computer, one of about 50 thought to be still in existence, had an estimated value of $14,000 – $16,000.
Back in July 1976, the Apple I sold for $666.66; there were 200 of them hand made by Steve Wozniak. Sold in a kit, it came with 4KB standard memory, you could bump up to 8KB or 48KB with expansion cards. You had to add your own case, keyboard and display. (If you’d like to see one, check out the Smithsonian.)
The seller of this Apple 1, Monroe Postman, wasn’t even sure if it would still work.
So, who would pay $18,000 for an Apple I?"

Read More: Cult of Mac Exclusive: Surprise! Apple I Buyer is a “PC”

Today we return to the informative "This Week in Apple History" series at The Mac Observer. The October 24-31 entry in the series by Owen Linzmayer & Bryan Chaffin is entitled, "Sculley's Gift to Microsoft, Panther Released".

October 24-31: Sculley's Gift to Microsoft, Panther Released