Table of Contents for this issue:
RE: BASIC for Plus
Re: A BASIC program
RE: Classic Macs Digest 12.19
Re: Switcher
old manuals, software & parts
Re: Classic Mac takeapart.

My Rocketed II and I are all set (for now :-) ) but a coworker is looking for a BASIC program that will run on a 1 meg Plus. Any Ideas?

I would suggest Future Basic from Staz Software. It will run on a Plus so long as you are using System 6.05 or higher, and have at least 750K of free memory. Staz Software's email address is STAZology@aol.com

Regards,
Robert C.

Subject: A BASIC program.
From: David Emmons

Here are some of the "basic"s out there.

FutureBASIC 1.02
chipmunk-basic-3.5.0, 9/5/96. Shareware
VIP-BASIC 2.0
Microsoft QuickBASIC (d), 5/7/92. Not supported since release. Will NOT work on machines with over 8 meg of RAM.

Bob Poland

It's impossible unless you change your SE motherboard. (adding a 1.4 floppy)

It is possible, but you need the SWIM chip and ROMs from a 1.4meg equiped SE, the case was marked FDHD, or there used to be a thing called a Raport(?) which plugged into the floppy port on a Mac and enabled the internal drive to access 720k PC disks, is this magic or what!, and it had an external drive that could access 1.4 meg floppies. It was supposed to work on Mac Pluses and SEs. circa 1990

Subject: 32 Bit Color QD Extension
From: Andrew Ludgate

I'm busy trying to fix up my parent's Mac+, and am having troubles getting the 32 bit color Quickdraw extension (it comes with the StyleWriter II install package) to load. Its original type was QD32, and I tried it with this in the system, and extension folders, along with type scri, zsys, and FONT and ffil (the last two in the fonts folder). None of these settings actually seem to load 32 bit quickdraw, even though I know the code is there (I checked with ResEdit). Does anyone know how this code is installed? Does it only work with system 6?

Mac Pluses and SE cannot support QD32!!. But the original version of the QD32 did say that it had loaded, shows the icon at start up, but did Nothing, Zero, Zilch! You don't need it for a StyleWriter II anyway. It may work with some '020 or '030 cards, but I doubt it.

Subject: Switcher
Paul Jones wrote:

Another little goody is Switcher, it allowed Multiple apps to run on Classic Macs, eg MacWrite and MacPaint, you could then switch between the 2 or more apps without going back to the Finder.

I wonder if there are two programs called Switcher out there? I use a program called Switcher that lets you choose between two or more systems to boot from. In my case, I have two system 6.0.7 folders on my SE hard disk - one is English and one is Japanese. By using Switcher, I can switch between the two. I know this goes against Apple's official warnings not to have two systems, but it works. Another use would be to have something like System 7 Extension Manager functions. Have several systems with different configurations for different tasks and switch between them as needed.

later,
george

You are thinking of System Switcher, which is still around and still works OK. The original Switcher went to version 5.1 and predated MultiFinder. I managed to get an original book and disk.

Merry Xmas to all

The orignal Switcher from Apple was the predecessor to system 6's MultiFinder. It allowed you to switch between applications, but it's been so long I don't remember much more about it.

The "Switcher" to which you refer is actually called System Switcher, and it does exactly as you say. It is best to put the system folders on seperate drives, or at least separate partitions/volumes on the same drive. System Switcher selectively "blesses" whichever system file is selected.

I believe you have to reboot the machine to get the selected system file to boot, yes? There is another app called System Picker that I believe works at boot-time to allow to select which system folder on which drive to use for start-up. No need to re-boot the machine unless you want to change versions of the OS.

It should be at Info-Mac or similar free/share ware archives.

Regards,
Bob Eye

Subject: Switcher
From: George Crane

Paul Jones wrote:

Another little goody is Switcher, it allowed Multiple apps to run on Classic Macs, eg MacWrite and MacPaint, you could then switch between the 2 or more apps without going back to the Finder.

I wonder if there are two programs called Switcher out there? I use a program called Switcher that lets you choose between two or more systems to boot from. In my case, I have two system 6.0.7 folders on my SE hard disk - one is English and one is Japanese. By using Switcher, I can switch between the two. I know this goes against Apple's official warnings not to have two systems, but it works. Another use would be to have something like System 7 Extension Manager functions. Have several systems with different configurations for different tasks and switch between them as needed.

later,
george

I've been reading with great interest for weeks now, and my first posting:

I would love to get hold of some old *repair* manuals for classic-style macs. My first project is a very old mac, a 128k. A good recommendation for just what one needs in a starter toolkit would be appreciated. And of course, parts, parts, parts and machines in different stages of decay!

Email me if you have any of these things i can take off your hands. I'll pay postage, shipping, and even a few $ if necessary.

Jen Huebert

Jason Ramsey wrote

A good practice is to let your Mac sit overnight unplugged, then flip the power switch to drain any AC power still remaining.

Mr Ramsey wrote an informative and useful note. I am only making this technical correction for completeness. AC (alternating current) is not stored in a computer. Current storage components (batteries, electrolytic capacitors) are inherently DC (direct current). But make no mistake about it, a sufficient amount of either style of current can knock you across the room. The cable to the side of the CRT (picture tube) has such a capability. I have worked on dozens of these machines, but only one time did I have to remove the CRT wire. Disks can be changed without disconnecting this wire. But if you have to, do as Mr Ramsey said and let the machine sit overnight unplugged.

The second hazard in a classic case Mac is mechanical, not electrical. The connector to the logic board on the bottom from the analog board on the side has a locking clip. This connector must be squeezed and pulled up. If it comes off suddenly, your hand will travel upward breaking off the neck of the picture tube and possibly giving you a nasty cut. Gentle does it.

The third hazard is electrical: static electricty. Here is a trick: Plug the power cord into the Mac, but not into the wall. Get a short, 3-prong extension cord and plug that into the wall. Plug only the round ground prong of the Mac power cord into the extension cord. Let the two flat prongs in the open. (If that worries you, cover them with tape.) This insures that your machine is totally grounded. (If your wall plug in properly grounded, that is.)

Bruce
- via Productivity OnLine
- Cincinnati, OH

CMD Home | Subscribe | Index | 1996 Index | CM Trading Post