Thread

Smallest 68k Mac?

68kMLA 68k 14 posts Jan 13, 2015 to Jan 14, 2015

#1 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 16:49 68kMLA

Hey, do you know what is the smallest 68k Mac? I'm going to a demoscenenparty on March and trying to get a portable 68k desktop. Or should I stick with IIc+ or Powerbooks? Would IIGS be easy to transport?

#2 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:09 68kMLA

The LC475 or Quadra 605 would be the smallest m68040 desktop. The LC III would be the smallest m68030 desktop.

#3 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:15 68kMLA

Anything in the LC pizzabox desktops were the smallest 68K macs Apple made. You got your choice of CPU's and memory out of them as well.

#4 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:19 68kMLA

The Mac 128K to Color Classic II are all the same size, nothing is smaller in the Mac desktop. A IIGS with a monitor would be bigger; an LC with a 12in monitor would be smaller than the IIGS but bigger than the Mac 128K.

Of the Powerbooks, only a PowerBook Duo series is the smallest, though if you need a floppy drive, it needs to be separate. Only an iBook or Powerbook 12in is the exact same case size and the MacBook Air is the same length and width but 1/2 the height - none of those are 68K. The regular PowerBooks are bigger but most have a built-in Floppy Drive and a larger screen. The Mac Portable is the biggest of the Apple Laptops.

All of this would depend on what you want to demonstrate.

BTW - the PB 190 is a little larger than a PB Duo in length and width but twice as thick.

#5 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:33 68kMLA

I'd say a PowerBook, simply because the monitor is included. Then, afterward, a toaster Mac like the SE.

#6 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:42 68kMLA

I have a Duo 2300c with 7.5.3 installed but afraid to use it. I don't have a media to reinstall the OS. I need a device with color support, gonna work on pixel art. Would LC475/IIGS+mini LCD monitor would be that big?

#7 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 17:55 68kMLA

I'd say a pizzabox would definitely be the smallest desktop form factor (excluding the monitor), but if you want a built-in monitor for convenience then you should take a compact Mac (128k, 512k, Plus, SE, etc.). Color Classics are larger than the other compacts but your requirement for colour output makes them the only compact that you could take. Personally I would take a slightly larger Mac in order to get a better monitor than to take a Powerbook and have to make do with the small screen size and narrow viewing angle, but the choice is yours.

#8 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 21:20 68kMLA

Quadra 950

#9 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 21:58 68kMLA

Haha, that would be a intresting choice....

But yeah, as others have suggested I would go with a pizzabox. They are small, light and seem to play well with morden LCD's (im my experiance at least)

#10 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 22:25 68kMLA

Nebraska82 said:
I have a Duo 2300c with 7.5.3 installed but afraid to use it. I don't have a media to reinstall the OS. I need a device with color support, gonna work on pixel art. Would LC475/IIGS+mini LCD monitor would be that big?

That monitor has a 12 inch screen, compared to a classic Mac which has 9 inch screens, including the Color Classics. The Color Classics are about equal in size to the Classic Macs with 9 inch screens, it is the 500-68K and 5000-PPC Macs that have the huge 13 inch screens.

You stated 68K, the Duo 2300 is PowerPC. All the Duos from the 210 to the 280 are 68K. But within that realm, it is the smallest Mac of the series. If you are afraid in using it, you can get a 4-8GB CF with a CF-to-IDE adapter or a small 4-8 GB IDE SSD (note: not all will work with it) for and make it solid state. It would also make it faster. Just remember, that screen is a bit on the small side. If you can use a PowerPC, go with a 1400, with the same CF/SSD set up - it would be faster.

LCs are the smallest Macs if you do not consider a monitor for them. Add a monitor and all that business about "small size" goes out the window. Now if you can get an LCD screen to work with it... then maybe...

#11 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 22:58 68kMLA

Well if you put the lcd and LC back to back.....

#12 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 23:01 68kMLA

Mount or Goop a LC-II main board and PSU to the back of a older 15" LCD monitor.

Then run it with your Floppy Emu/HD20 emu

#13 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 - 23:20 68kMLA

Forgot it was a PPC, I might get a color screen powerbook to do the pixel art etc.

#14 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 - 17:59 68kMLA

I'm giving the nod for smallest effective cubic (I just Jenga'd it back apart) for a powerful, portable 68k to the Quadra 605.

With my Mac_Res/Refresh_Rate friendly KDS/Radius 17" LCD fitting perfectly face down on top and the Chicklety IIgs ADB KBD, Rodent and Cables nestled perfectly within the footprint stem-to-stern between its four feets, I can't think of a smaller cubic setup. LC series, with its monolithic front feets assembly in the way, doesn't even come close. Maybe a tiny LCD might fit, but my 15" KDS/Radius LCD sticks out the back or side.

Are you intending to hook up to a handy LCD located wherever you port the equipment setup? In that case I'd skip the LCD for the ability to do 60Hz friendly VGA at 640x480/16-bit and 800x600/8-bit with a Quadra 630. Full on AV Setup a/o B1g@$$ IDE drive optional, CD/Stereo Output are standard equipment. That gives you a native 68040/33, you can transplant that upgrade into the LC versions an 6xx or into the aforementioned Q605 (30 or 33MHz for the overclock?) as well. ;D

edit: For the LCD version of either, I'd probably build it into one of he empty ToolBoxen (maybe two smaller boxes?) with the LCD bolted up to/kickstanded in the cavern or lid and the 605 or 630 holding the other side down. Custom, faux-MilSpec Portable Plywood rack or nicely crafted dovetailed box optional.