Hey, chris

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

What were those B&W Macs called that had the monitor built in? I'm thinking maybe they were the first Macs ever. They were really kinda small, almost like a Vectrex machine. Do you remember what model they were?

[pinback]

I think they were called "Macs".

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Oh.

Not that I am able to buy stuff like an old Mac since I quit my job and quit growing an ulcer but some guy at work had one on his desk. They were very cute and you can play "Solitaire" on it when you visit him.

[pinback]

I remember playing this one game on there in the computer room of my high school, back in 9th grade. It was... I dunno, you moved a little thing around a playing area, and there were mines, or stars or something, so you bounced this little thing around and... I dunno. You did something with it. It was very popular. And I was by far the greatest one ever at it. The high score on the Mac was like 80,000 until I came in and blew it up to about 10 million.

Anyone know what that game was? That thing with the thing?

[Maybe]

MacPaint.

But at least you had fun.

[chris]

What were those B&W Macs called that had the monitor built in? I'm thinking maybe they were the first Macs ever. They were really kinda small, almost like a Vectrex machine. Do you remember what model they were?

Apple made compact Macs like that from 1984 (when they introduced the first Mac) until about 1993. They didn't start making "desktop" Macs with separate monitors until 1987 with the introduction of the Mac II.

Here's a site that details all of the "compact" Macs Apple made:

http://www.mac512.com/system.htm

FWIW, I have a Classic II in storage here at work. It wasn't the one I bought in 1992, but I held onto it for sentimental reasons. You lookin' to get one?

BTW, did you really quit your job?

[bruce]

The original Mac, the Mac Plus, the Mac SE, and the Mac SE/30 all have basically the same form factor, and yes, they are almost the same size as the Vectrex; I have my Mac SE sitting next to my Vectrex for precisely that reason. I'll take a picture later if I can be arsed, which isn't likely.

I think the game was called "Crystal Quest" maybe? It and "Shufflepuck" are the Mac games I recall from that era.

Bruce

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Apple made compact Macs like that from 1984 (when they introduced the first Mac) until about 1993. They didn't start making "desktop" Macs with separate monitors until 1987 with the introduction of the Mac II.

Oh, cool. They are quite adorable!

Here's a site that details all of the "compact" Macs Apple made: http://www.mac512.com/system.htm

Aces!

FWIW, I have a Classic II in storage here at work. It wasn't the one I bought in 1992, but I held onto it for sentimental reasons. You lookin' to get one?

Picture this, if you can: you have yourself this little nook you and your significant other eat dinner within. It is so warm colored! And cozy!! And right within view is this slight little mini-computer that, I don't know, will play Solitaire or Space War or Asteroids with you. In black and white... awww! It's a relic, but it has now been given a good home.

You sure can't do that with a PCjr. A PCjr would require a bigger footprint than any three people trying to relax in their sanctum sanctorum. But a little system like that would be pretty damn cool.

BTW, did you really quit your job?

I'm here for another two weeks, but yeah, I did. It's getting pretty bad here. I would expect that half my co-workers in my particular group of nine will leave in the next six months.

[chris]

Picture this, if you can: you have yourself this little nook you and your significant other eat dinner within. It is so warm colored! And cozy!! And right within view is this slight little mini-computer that, I don't know, will play Solitaire or Space War or Asteroids with you. In black and white... awww! It's a relic, but it has now been given a good home.

Get yourself a Mac Mini and a small LCD display, and you'll be able to actually DO something with the computer.

You sure can't do that with a PCjr. A PCjr would require a bigger footprint than any three people trying to relax in their sanctum sanctorum. But a little system like that would be pretty damn cool.

Well, next time you come to town, you're welcome to the Classic II I have here.

I'm here for another two weeks, but yeah, I did. It's getting pretty bad here. I would expect that half my co-workers in my particular group of nine will leave in the next six months.

Well, I'm happy and sad for you at the same time. Any thoughts about coming back to Rochester, or are you going to find another job out in CO?

[pinback]

I think the game was called "Crystal Quest" maybe? It and "Shufflepuck" are the Mac games I recall from that era.

Naw man, this was WAY before "Crystal Quest" (released: 1994). This was... well, let's see, I woulda been about 15, which would have made it 1986, maybe 1987. Way the hell a long time ago, man.

[nessman]

I'm waiting for the day when the price on a TRS-80 Model III comes down low enough so I can run Scripsit and VisiCalc.

[bruce]

I think the game was called "Crystal Quest" maybe? It and "Shufflepuck" are the Mac games I recall from that era.

Naw man, this was WAY before "Crystal Quest" (released: 1994).

Put down the crack pipe.

http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za/t ... quest.html

talks about the port, *to* the //gs, of Crystal Quest in 1989. Which makes it totally reasonable that the original would have been '86 or '87, and since that page claims it was the first color Mac game, that'd be 1987, for the Mac II.

Bruce