This webpage is, of course, simple compared to everything else on my site. There is a reason for that. The 40 MHz PowerBook 540c I am using is running Netscape Communicator 3.0.4, and given only 36 MB of RAM, I am limited in the amount of modern graphics and content that can be used.

In fact, this entire portion of the webpage is meant for the 68k Macintosh user , which isn't as rare on the internet as one might think. Here, I will try to supply as many links to reference pages and online retailers who offer what the 68k Mac user requires.


Question #1: I have an old 68k Mac, and only a floppy drive to install software. What do I do?


This is actually where freeware and a lot of creativity come into play. If you are fortunate enough to have an RJ45 ethernet port on your machine, which is highly unlikely but still an option, you could simply connect to your local ethernet network, get on the web with your more modern equipment, and using an FTP client such as Fetch 3.0.3, download the installers, as well as Stuffit Expander 3.5.1, and Expander 5.1.

If, however, you are in the more likely situation like me, of having an AAUI ethernet port, you are dependent on finding an Apple AAUI to RJ45 Ethernet Transceiver. I purchased mine through KP's Surplus Inc, a store on eBay. However, I have been informed there still are old Mac accessory retailers who can order the ethernet transceiver for you.

Don't, I repeat, DON'T try ordering through the Apple Store or the Mac Store. The ethernet transceiver isn't even kept as NOS (New Old Stock, or inventory which never sold from the warehouse) by Apple, so you have to find someone who bought the parts a while ago, and keeps them on hand.

Once you get the ethernet transceiver, you just follow the steps I listed above, downloading the freeware you want.


This is an important time to mention that Apple has made OS 6.0 to OS 7, and 7.5.3 to OS 7.6.1 free for download. Here is the Low End Mac webpage for getting a direct download directory for OS 7.5.3 (you need to download all 19 parts, and open the first file, which serves as the "Easy Install" menu). If you manage to find another link for more Mac OS upgrades, let me know via e-mail.


As of 8/27/2006, the PowerBook is now running on System 7.5.5, as downloaded by the link provided above

For those of you in the category that do not have an ethernet port, but are running a laptop Mac, or a Mac where you can easily plug into a PCI slot, you may want to try your luck at a PCMCIA card. As for the rest of you, your best option is to find an obsolete Mac CD-ROM drive that still connects through ADB cables or some of the more interesting ports earlier Macs used.


Question 2: What should I download for software?

If you're just trying to get your 68K Mac up to the point you can get on the web and play with it on occasion, Jag's House is a great place for software suggestions and direct downloads. That is where I am on my project PowerBook 540c.

Of course, there are some obvious bits of software you want to download, like Stuffit Expander, which is required to download any other freeware you come across. Other suggestions would be Disinfectant, an anti-virus application that is up to date with most of the viruses present in 1998 (you probably dont' have to worry about anything more advanced with a 68k or PowerPC Mac running anything older than OS 8.1), and if you can find it, HyperCard or HyperCard Player (there are STILL tons of amusing HyperCard stack "games" out there on the web, as well as more utilitarian stacks).

That's all for now, but I'll see what I can come up with later.