Welcome, Guest | Home | Search | Login | Register
Profile Info
Summary Show Posts
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Messages - Bolkonskij
1 Off Topic Discussion / Re: Memorable TV moments
February 14, 2026, 12:54
Yesterday, the wife and I started watching the 90's US sitcom "Seinfeld" which some of you may remember. Right in the pilot episode, what is there lurking on a desk behind Jerry?

http://revontulet.org/2026/02/14/c34e3ad07b5243e28d427a7c22e7f449.jpg

The whole desk setup is sending strong 90's vibes! :-)
2 Development / Re: Experiments with Realbasic
February 09, 2026, 19:49
I presume @knezzen would know! He's pretty deep into RealBasic. I've sent him the link to this thread.
3 Off Topic Discussion / Re: Jokes Jokes Jokes
February 08, 2026, 16:34
Quote
A recently convicted felon was sitting in a cell with an old-timer in their cell-block.  The new guy says to the older guy "What do you guys do to keep entertained around here?"

"Oh, we tell jokes" says the old guy. Just then, from one of the cells in the block, comes a shout: "34!"
A few chuckles  are heard. "98!" comes another shout. A giggle comes from the next cell.

The new convict is confused. "I'm confused" says the new convict, "What's going on?" "Well", says the old timer, "we get to know the jokes so well that we number them, you'll catch on"

There's a lull for a while, then someone chokes out another number. "234!" The whole cell block erupts in laughter. "What was that one?", says the young convict. The old-timer stops gagging long enough to say, "Well, that's a new one, son"
4 Off Topic Discussion / Re: Jokes Jokes Jokes
February 08, 2026, 16:31
Quote
An old and wealthy man is dying.  He cannot accept the idea that his money will be left behind, and so decides to take it with him. He calls his three most trusted friends; his clergyman, doctor and lawyer.

"Each of you," he explains, "will be given ten million dollars in cash, to be buried with my body after I die.  By giving only part of wealth to each man, I know you will be able to avoid the temptation to keep my estate for yourselves."  They all agree, and not long after, he passes away.

The funeral is held, and the three men gather afterwards for a toast to the old man's memory.  Inevitably, the question arises:  Did each of them really place the cash in the coffin?

"Well," begins the clergyman, "I cannot lie to you.  The church so badly needed a new roof, that I kept some of the money for that purpose."

The doctor looks sheepish, and then admits "uhh, yes, actually I did hold back a bit.  Just to build a new clinic though!  Is that so bad?"

The lawyer looks shocked.  "I'm truly surprised," he tells them. "Why, I placed every cent of our old friend's money beside his body, and let me tell you, that check was good!"
5 Development / The "I've been programming lately and ..." thread
February 07, 2026, 13:59
As I'm getting back into coding for System 7 in (classic) Mac OS again, and I know some of you do as well, I thought it'd be fun to a have a no frills chat threads where we share our findings/thoughts/ideas.

So like I said, I've started dabbling with C in CodeWarrior again. This time I decided to tackle a topic I've always understood at a conceptional level, but never actually managed to write a program utilizing it. And that is utilizing QDOffscreen.h and using CopyBits() to copy bitmap graphics offscreen and then write that back for flicker-free screen updates. Got it to work now with a dummy program and it was fun to figure out! That next action game might be a long time off still :D but I think I'll next tackle the whole topic of animating sprites, another one I've never seriously dabbled with.

What are you people working on right now ?
6 Operating System / Re: Finally! 7.6.1 in my native language on my 8600.
February 07, 2026, 13:39
Wow, that's quite a journey indeed! Yeah, machines of that era can be picky about the System software used. I never got how anybody at Apple could find that a cool thing, except a few number pushers in Marketing perhaps.

Since you're Dutch, I'm kinda curious. How was the Mac doing in the good ol' Netherlands? Here in Germany, it was pretty much a niche market, almost exclusively for DTP/Graphics during the 90s. I don't know how many times I had to answer whether my parents are graphics artists because we had a Macintosh at home. I know the Mac did fairly well in Sweden and France. Was Apple's success closer to them or was it more exotic like in Germany?

Nonetheless, here in Germany we've had a little German-Mac-Community eco-system with a dealerships, a few software houses catering to the German market and a handful of committed shareware programmers churning out German language software. What was it like in the Netherlands? Did you guys ever get any software written in your native language?
7 Software / Wallops 2.2. released
February 05, 2026, 16:48
Joshua Stein released version 2.2 of his IRC client, running on systems from System 6 up to 9.2.2.

I like Wallops a lot, it's a no-frills IRC client that is very resource efficient.

URL: http://jcs.org/2026/02/02/wallops22
8 Development / Nice new 68k pixel editing tool for programmers released (SquirrelEDIT)
January 31, 2026, 17:31
Coming from the same source as the new game Operation Pew Pew! is SquirrelEDIT, a tool used for drawing the sprites in the above game. Runs on System 7 and allows to edit 1-bit 16x16 or 32x32 bitmaps / sprites on a 68k Mac.

Quote from: From The Author
SquirrelEDIT can place your PICT formatted drawing data onto the clipboard to paste directly into your resource file, as well as generate properly formatted C code, with custom definable array names, to copy / paste into your IDE.

Download: http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/squirreledit
9 Software / Operation Pew Pew - new side-scrolling shooter for 68k Macs
January 31, 2026, 17:27
Woohoo, another new game release. And it's not an interactive fiction one, but an action shoot 'em up type of game called "Operation Pew Pew".

Quote
Featuring...

- Horizontally scrolling parallax star field background like it's the 1989 Demoscene!
- Pumping MOD background music
- Digital sound FX (pewpew!)
- Custom sprites
- Fully commented source code and CodeWarrior PRO 4 project folder with libraries, etc.. available

According to the author, runs liquid smooth on 68040 based real hardware, a 68030 optimized version will be coming soon!

To be downloaded from the Mac Garden: http://macintoshgarden.org/games/operation-pewpew
10 Off Topic Discussion / Re: It was 40 years ago ... in Mac history
January 31, 2026, 07:40
Apple annouced the Macintosh Plus and the Laserwriter Plus along with it:


Quote from: Apple Computer
Apple Introduces the Macintosh Plus

The Macintosh Plus (P/N M2503) is the newest Macintosh personal computer. Its features include:

--  One Full Megabyte of Memory.  With one full megabyte of RAM available (expandable to four megabytes when larger capacity chips are available), the Macintosh Plus can accomodate memory intensive application programs. Large models, documents, and data bases are easily handled.

--  800K of Storage Capacity.  Twice the storage capacity of the 400K disk drive, the 800K drive stores more system programs and applications on a dual-sided 3.5 disk and still leaves space for data files. The 800K drive operates at twice the speed of the 400K drive.

--  A High Speed Peripheral Port.  Equipped with a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) port, the Macintosh Plus transfers data up to six times faster through the SCSI port. Up to seven peripherals can be daisy-chained to the Macintosh Plus at one time.

--  A Fast, Efficient Operating System. A new 128K ROM has been added to the Macintosh Plus. It offers a Hierarchical File System that allows the Macintosh Plus to operate faster and function more efficiently, improving overall system performance.

--  Cursor Keys and a Numeric Keypad. The Macintosh Plus features a keyboard with cursor keys and a numeric keypad designed to accelerate data entry.

Connecting the Macintosh Plus to Apple peripherals and third-party peripherals requires certain cables (See "Cables for Macintosh Plus" article).

To ensure that they get the best performance from the Macintosh Plus, users must install the Macintosh Plus system software on all their application disks. A program called the "Installer" on the Macintosh Plus System Tools disk makes installation quick and easy.  This diskette is bundled with every Macintosh Plus and Macintosh Plus Disk Drive Kit. Additional information about the Installer is included in the Macintosh Plus Owner's Guide, as well as in the 800K External Disk Drive Manual. Recommend to customers that they make a working copy of each application on a double-sided disk, and install the new system software on that disk.

Most Macintosh software packages do not have the Macintosh Plus system software. The January 16 dealer (AppleGram) mailing includes software box stickers that remind customers to use the Installer to update their startup disks.  Apple-labeled applications that must have stickers include: MacDraw, MacProject, MacTerminal, Macintosh Pascal, Switcher, and Macintosh 68000 Development System. MacWrite and MacPaint already have the new software and do not need stickers. Future shipments of Apple-labeled software will have the sticker already applied.

AppleCare is available for the Macintosh Plus. ----------------------------------------------------
Cables for the Macintosh Plus

The following cables connect the Macintosh Plus personal computer to Apple peripherals and third party peripherals:

--  Apple System Peripheral-8 Cable (P/N M0187). This cable connects the Macintosh Plus to the ImageWriter II Printer and the Apple Personal Modem. It can be ordered as a finished goods item from your Apple Support Center.

--  Macintosh Plus Peripheral Adapter Cable.  This cable allows users to connect the Macintosh Plus to popular third-party peripherals without discarding their old cables. It can also be used to attach peripherals previously used with the Macintosh 128K or 512K. This cable is included in the Macintosh Plus Logic Board Upgrade Kit and can also be ordered as a service part number (699-0372) from your Apple Support Center.

--  Apple SCSI System Cable (P/N M2556). This cable links the Macintosh Plus to the first SCSI peripheral.  Additional peripherals are linked together with Apple SCSI Peripheral Interface Cables (P/N M2557). If more length is needed between peripherals, the one-meter SCSI Cable Extender (M2558) fills the need. A SCSI Cable Terminator (M2559) is required in every SCSI configurationto help filter the line. With more than one peripheral daisy-chained to the system, SCSI Cable Terminators are used like bookends at the beginning and end of the lieof pripherals. SCSI cables can be ordered from your Apple Support Center.

--  AppleTalk System Connector Kit (M2052). This links the Macintosh Plus to the AppleTalk Personal Network. Customers who are upgrading their Macintosh to the Macintosh Plus can choose between buying the AppleTalk System Connector Kit or using the Macintosh Plus Peripheral Adapter Kit.

----------------------------------------------------
LaserWriter Plus Introduced

Available in February, the LaserWriter Plus has all the features and power of the LaserWriter, in addition to seven new typefaces including ITC Avant Garde(TM), ITC Bookman(TM), Helvetica Narrow, New Century Schoolbook, Palatino, ITC Zapf Dingbats(TM) and ITC Zapf Chancery(TM). The LaserWriter Plus has an additional one megabyte of ROM to enhance the power.

The LaserWriter Plus Kit (M0191) enables users to transform a LaserWriter into a LaserWriter Plus. The kit contains:

--  Sixteen 512K ROM chips containing 11 built-in type families;

--  A Printer Installation Disk with print drives for the LaserWriter, Macintosh 128K with the LaserWriter, ImageWriter, and the AppleTalk ImageWriter option soon to be available. All LaserWriter drivers on the system must be updated with the Printer Installation Disk;

--  A Fonts Disk that includes a copy of the Font/DA Mover and the screen fonts for all printer fonts shipped in the LaserWriter Plus Kit;

--  A revised LaserWriter Manual, describing all the new software features;

--  A LaserWriter Plus label you can affix to the outside of the LaserWriter after the ROMs have been installed.

AppleCare is available for the LaserWriter Plus. ----------------------------------------------------
Macintosh 800K External Disk Drive

The  Macintosh 800K Disk Drive (M0131), for the Macintosh Plus and 512K, features 800K of storage capacity. With the 800K Disk Drive, users can store multiple system programs and applications on a dual-sided 3.5 inch disk while still leaving plenty of room for data files. It operates at twice the speed of the 400K drive, and is fully compatible with the 400K drive.

In order to use the Macintosh 512K with the 800K External Disk Drive, it is necessary to update the system files. Software applications that do not have the Macintosh Plus System Software must be updated using the "Macintosh System Update" enclosed in the January 16 dealer (AppleGram) mailing.

An 800K External Disk Drive manual is included with the product, and AppleCare is available.

----------------------------------------------------

Macintosh Plus Upgrade Available

Three Macintosh Plus Upgrade Kits enable customers to upgrade from a Macintosh 128K or a 512K to a Macintosh Plus.

The kits are as follows:

--  The Macintosh Plus Disk Drive Kit (P/N M2516). Available at the end of February, this kit includes an 800K Disk Drive, 128K ROM, and Macintosh Plus Systems Tools Disk to update existing applications to work on the Macintosh Plus. This kit exchanges the ROM chip and disk drive in the Macintosh 128K or 512K for the new 800K Disk Drive and 128K ROM.

--  The Macintosh Plus Logic Board Kit (P/N 2518). Available at the end of February, this kit includes a digital board with one megabyte of RAM and a new back panel to accomodate the external SCSI port, and a Macintosh Plus Owner's Guide and information sheet. Also included is a Macintosh Plus Peripheral Adapter which allows connection to Macintosh peripherals such as ImageWriter and popular third-party peripherals. A Macintosh Plus Disk Drive is required in order to install the Macintosh Plus Logic Board Kit.

--  The Macintosh Plus Keyboard Kit (P/N M2519).  Available in January, this kit includes a keyboard with standard alpha layout, cursor keys, and a numeric keypad for easy data entry. It requires no dealer installation.

Customers who have purchased Macintoshes or a Macintosh Memory Expansion Kit between November 17, 1985 and January 15, 1986 will receive rebates off the purchase of a Macintosh Plus Disk Drive Kit and Macintosh Plus Logic Board Kit.

If customers purchase AppleCare for the Macintosh, and if they upgrade the system during the term of the agreement, the upgraded Macintosh is also covered under the current agreement until the end of the term. At the end of the term, customers must purchase AppleCare for the new upgraded system.


How interesting the official announcement is devoid of any pricing. The Plus will stay in Apple's product portfolio until October 1990 (!!) and become the perhaps most iconic Mac of the 1980's, being many people's first contact with the platform. (who doesn't remember Scotty in Star Trek IV trying to voice command the Mac Plus :-) )

Also note the extra length Apple went to allow upgrade paths to the Mac Plus. I think this was the last time they did it. You could (for a good 1000 bucks) get your 128k Mac updated all the way to a Mac Plus. Imagine something like that today in a world where Apple won't even let you change the RAM (it's soldered in) on their machines ...
11 Hardware / Re: Trying to get ethernet working on the LC III
January 31, 2026, 07:17
First, not that I expect this to be the game-changer, but if you haven't,  try the Open Transport 1.3.1 update for 68k (from our updates page).

The LCIII should be fine with Open Transport. Configuring MacTCP always felt like a pain. "OT" really is a helper on System 7! (took me a while to get MacTCP to work on System 6 on my IIci)

Can you ping your home router? MacPing should work fine on the LCIII and System 7.1, here's the page + download on System 7 Today. An alternative would be WhatRoute, essentially Unix's traceroute command. But it requires System 7.5.3. (you'd have to use a boot disk!) Let us know what it spits out.

P.S. The techinfodepot link you've supplied doesn't work for me. Classilla reports "Host not found". Is that a Classilla issue ?
12 Hardware / Re: Latest retro hardware acquisitions
January 31, 2026, 07:12
wow, I think these 128 MB RAM modules are worth their weight in gold now, at least close when I checked last time :D

Seriously though, why so much RAM? Unless you plan on doing video editing on your 7200, you'll likely never need as much even if you give your browsers a lot of room to breath?

I've basically always found 32 MB to be fine for faster 68k machines and 96-128 MB for beige PPCs. Everything above that just adds unneccesary startup time. At least for my liking :)

As for the monitor, they probably need some adjusting after those years. A good time to grab the manual :-) congrats on your acquisitions, post a photo of your setup if you can, always interested in seeing other people's System 7 setups :-)

And let us know how using the CRT feels for you. You may have seen my post on my experience some weeks ago ...
13 Software / Re: Help with TurboGopher
January 31, 2026, 07:04
Haha, I'm by no means a Gopher Guru. I'm using 2.0.3 as well and I have to admit that I've never even bothered to use the Home Gopher option. I just put all my stuff into the "Bookmark Worksheet" which opens up on application startup for easy access of my favorite Gopher pages.

I did, however, give this a try now and I can reproduce your problem. I tried floodgap at port 70 and connect on startup (see here) but all it gives me is a white page. Not sure why that is, it loads fine otherwise (via bookmarks). I've tried it with the protocol specified (makes no sense, but ...) yet gopher://bitreich.org/ won't load for me either. Potentially we've uncovered an age-old bug, ShinobiKenobi :)
14 Software / Re: Active newsgroups on usenet to check out
January 28, 2026, 16:47
haha, and we do enjoy. I think most of us remember these "magic moments" when we realized what the WWW could be. Of course, that was before the corporate take-over and heavy monetization.

I believe comp.sys.alt.mac is still there along with the other groups, I'll check next time when I connect. However, few groups are active anymore (I'm a regular in comp.sys.mac.vintage but it's been slow as well). Which is a true pity, because Usenet is actually such a wonderful platform to use with retro computers. It'd be the perfect forum that brings together owners of all different machines, be it Apple, Commodore or Atari. I don't know why it isn't more active.
15 Software / Re: Uploading a picture to my site corrupts it
January 25, 2026, 10:05
I've had this happening before to me, very rarely, and I think I've always just re-opened it in Photoshop and saved it again, which usually solved the problem for me.

P.S. nice chatting with you on Hotline yesterday. Come again ;-)
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 130

© 2021 System7Today.com.
The Apple Logo, Macintosh™, Mac OS™, and others property of Apple Computer, Inc.
This site is in no way affiliated with Apple Computer, Inc.