Thread
Rom-inated 512K
I like my 512K a lot… it’s a pretty nice little machine that I got locally. The story is somewhere in the Conquests forum. It had it’s issues, but after getting the analog board cleaned up, for the most part it has worked fine. The floppy drive is pretty loud. But… when I saw BMOW’s Rom-inator, I thought, well, that’s pretty darn cool. What if…
The Rom-inator comes as a neat little kit, but I knew I didn’t have the skills necessary to assemble it, so I asked Uniserver if he’d be willing to do it. He agreed.
So then I ordered up the kit and once I got it, shipped it all off to Uniserver. I just got it back...
It’s a masterpiece. I really want to take this first post to show off his stuff. If anyone wants one of these Rom-inators (which are really cool) but don’t want to mess around with logic board soldering, email him. He (and Steve, of course) can answer questions about install as well.
Check these pictures out.
The Rom-inator comes as a neat little kit, but I knew I didn’t have the skills necessary to assemble it, so I asked Uniserver if he’d be willing to do it. He agreed.
So then I ordered up the kit and once I got it, shipped it all off to Uniserver. I just got it back...
It’s a masterpiece. I really want to take this first post to show off his stuff. If anyone wants one of these Rom-inators (which are really cool) but don’t want to mess around with logic board soldering, email him. He (and Steve, of course) can answer questions about install as well.
Check these pictures out.
Cool, I'm glad it's working, and great photos! I noticed you left out the sockets for the flash chips, and soldered them directly to the PCB. Was that to reduce the board height? Having the chips socketed means you can remove and reprogram them externally, if you ever accidentally trashed the contents with a bad update. I would feel a little nervous with them soldered in like that - a bad update would basically brick your computer until you replaced the original ROMs. I guess the chances of that are pretty low, but I sleep better at night knowing mine are socketed.
There's a tutorial on changing the contents of the ROM disk, if you want a different built-in OS or programs: http://www.bigmessowires.com/2015/02/13/rom-inator-disk-setup-tutorial/
There's a tutorial on changing the contents of the ROM disk, if you want a different built-in OS or programs: http://www.bigmessowires.com/2015/02/13/rom-inator-disk-setup-tutorial/
yes
1.
He doesn't have a programmer, nor does hardly anyone.
- if he did have a programmer, i doubt him or hardly anyone would know how to use the damm thing.
2.
He will probably leave the image as it is.
as most people probably will.
you shouldn't... your software is pretty decent by now.
Even if someone doesn't have an external programmer, I don't see a reason not to use the sockets. At least that way you have the option if you ever need it. Just my 2 cents.
Oh man, customizing it is where the fun is! Maybe change the startup beep to a recording of your 2 year old laughing.I don't have a programmer and I'm not messing with the image; I'm real happy with it the way it is.
And I have a 2 year old and a newborn, so I don't sleep well anyway
I'd probably be more inclined to try to get the Inception sound on there... maybe when I get the nerve up some day.Oh man, customizing it is where the fun is! Maybe change the startup beep to a recording of your 2 year old laughing.
But right now it's real cool the way it is.Socketed or unsocketed, this is pretty much the coolest little thing.
I've been thinking about your Target Market. Right now it seems you gear it towards the guy/gal who likes to tinker/solder and spend hours messing around.
Then there's people like me... yeah, I've got a Master's degree in CIS, but I'm not going to be doing all of that. But I could see myself getting one of the million Mac Plus's floating around and a Rom-inator, having Uniserver install it, and giving it to my Dad for Father's Day. I mean, pretty much every person in their 50's/60's who has seen my collection has gotten the greatest kick out of it. It brings them back to the good ol' days. But these people don't want to be bothered with maintaining floppy drives and using floppies. Give them this, they flip the switch, smile when they press R, play around for an enjoyable 30 minutes, then go about their day.
A lot of people on this site can probably hack this thing, but a lot more people would enjoy it if it was put in front of them, even in it's base state. Everyone here should buy a Plus, throw this in it and give it to their Mom or Dad, older friend, whatever.
Just sayin.
Yeah, that true. I would sell pre-assembled kits if it made sense. But since installation requires soldering anyway, a kit is the only practical solution. Rob Braun is selling Mac Plus systems with his version of a ROM kit already installed, if you're looking for something like that.
Well, I just couldn't leave it alone... curiosity got the best of me. I followed Steve's directions and changed the startup sound to... a turkey gobble.
lol!
this thing is too cool.
lol!
this thing is too cool.
I don't think I can pull off the video tonight... because I haven't shared videos. Ever. In my life. lol (that would require youtube right??)
But here's the .6sec file I used if you want to hear what it sounds like
TurkeyGobble
But here's the .6sec file I used if you want to hear what it sounds like
TurkeyGobble
I think I may try to do the Pirate "arrrrr" sound so it goes with the Pirate icon.
Unfortunately all the Pirate sounds on the web I came across seem to cost real-life money, so i may have to try and create it myself. The horror!
Alternatively, I do have a clip of a Zombie going "brainzzz" which would be fun to use if I updated to icon to the zombie. LOL.
EDIT: My co-worker just helped me out with recording an ARrrrr on iPhone, so I'm all set with that lol. Good use of work time.
Unfortunately all the Pirate sounds on the web I came across seem to cost real-life money, so i may have to try and create it myself. The horror!
Alternatively, I do have a clip of a Zombie going "brainzzz" which would be fun to use if I updated to icon to the zombie. LOL.
EDIT: My co-worker just helped me out with recording an ARrrrr on iPhone, so I'm all set with that lol. Good use of work time.
OK, I updated it with the Arrr we made earlier. lol. here's the video link if anyone seriously cares.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pxm8snjgbeq3wow/Arr.MOV?dl=0
There's a very brief hiccup at the end of the arrr... not sure why. The recording is .65 seconds in length. I don't think I noticed it with the TurkeyGobble because it sounds kind of like the gobble. not sure right now. I might shorten the recording to see if that gets rid of the blurp.
EDIT and now Dropbox seems inaccessible. sigh.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pxm8snjgbeq3wow/Arr.MOV?dl=0
There's a very brief hiccup at the end of the arrr... not sure why. The recording is .65 seconds in length. I don't think I noticed it with the TurkeyGobble because it sounds kind of like the gobble. not sure right now. I might shorten the recording to see if that gets rid of the blurp.
EDIT and now Dropbox seems inaccessible. sigh.
That would be awesome!Well, if I ever get a fancy upgraded 128k or 512k, my goal would be to load Color QuickDraw, SCSI, and HyperDrive support in-ROM, then I'd install a HyperDrive, external SCSI, and a Radius PowerView for a super fast, SCSI based, color Macintosh 512k.
haha!AWESOME!!! Sounds like a plan. haha.
As far as the miserable thing, Well, too late. I am well past that point
I'LL START WITH ALL CAPS
Then I'll mix in some COMIC SANS
AND THEN I'LL START CALLING YOU TK421 and ask you in every thread
Why aren't you at your f'ing post?!!!!!!
oooo hahaha
you aren't a Star Wars nerd. wonders never cease. lol
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=TK421
I don't know whether to be appalled or unduly impressed. Honestly, that should be your pick up line. "Hey I'm Mike, and if you like Star Wars, this conversation is over."
Honestly, there are probably tons of more chicks out there who hate Star Wars then like it. I think we've found your differentiating factor. We can work with this.
(See how we've gone completely off topic here.... are you itching yet?)
Honestly, there are probably tons of more chicks out there who hate Star Wars then like it. I think we've found your differentiating factor. We can work with this.
(See how we've gone completely off topic here.... are you itching yet?)