Thread

New Photonics Wireless LocalTalk Starter Kit for Macintosh

68kMLA Software 11 posts Jan 18, 2011 to Jan 22, 2011

#1 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 02:26 68kMLA

Found this gem at an electronics surplus, new in box. Two little adjustable gray transceivers (look like infrared) that plug into the serial port and ADB port for power. Really cool. Offers wireless AppleTalk.

It includes an optional base unit for the transceivers that can be powered by either 3 AA batteries, or an AC adapter, presumable to save power on your PowerBook.

Also contains a free copy of PowerMerge synchronization software for Macintosh for synching multiple PowerBooks.

Includes a CD-ROM with Marathon and a demo of Pathways into Darkness.

#2 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 03:20 68kMLA

Now THAT I want to see a picture of.

#3 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 06:38 68kMLA

Found my old camera. Had pictures of my LC on it, too. Here's the cool wireless AppleTalk:

http://olepigeon.trolans.net/wa/01.jpg

http://olepigeon.trolans.net/wa/02.jpg

http://olepigeon.trolans.net/wa/03.jpg

http://olepigeon.trolans.net/wa/04.jpg

#4 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 07:58 68kMLA

Very nice...never knew such a thing existed!

#5 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 15:13 68kMLA

:O Neither did I! Those little Powerbook grey transceivers are sexy as heck.

Now, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong here, but weren't the IR-equipped Powerbooks (like the 1400) and the Rev. A iMac compatible with wireless Appletalk?

#6 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 - 18:50 68kMLA

Yes, AppleTalk was implemented over IR, so presumably this technology is the same thing.

I wonder if the external units were earlier than Apple's implementation or if they were later add-ons for folk who couldn't afford a new machine. If the former, then it wasn't invented by Apple but was possibly bought by the company, like so much else in the same era. That is not only true of hardware, but also of software — a good deal of System 7.5 has its roots in Shareware additions to 7.1.

#7 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 - 08:44 68kMLA

Wow, OP your life these days is a LocalTalk dream come to rampaging life! Congratulations on another excellent score. I have never seen these before but they look great. I wonder if they really are IR, and how speed compares to serial cable.

:approve:

#8 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 - 09:45 68kMLA

Wow, OP your life these days is a LocalTalk dream come to rampaging life! Congratulations on another excellent score. I have never seen these before but they look great. I wonder if they really are IR, and how speed compares to serial cable. :approve:

Armchair linguistic pathologists could have a field-day with my previous post! All the Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmund Freud's Wife Was Your Mother...

#9 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 - 22:15 68kMLA

... um .... what?

#10 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 - 23:12 68kMLA

I think what Bunsen meant to say was that we do not have a particular propensity to burden ourselves around here with concerns over demotic infelicity.

#11 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 - 06:33 68kMLA

... um .... what?

I think what Bunsen meant to say was that we do not have a particular propensity to burden ourselves around here with concerns over demotic infelicity.

I do not infrequently exhibit such a propensity, myself! Ah, yes - I will try to reduce the critical self-analysis spilling over into the board. I work difficult hours which has the effect of me being surprised by what I wrote, at times.