Embracing Early Intel

[bobesch]

One of the major issues with these early MacBooks, for me, is the smell. I’m pretty sure it’s some kind of adhesive in the keyboard or somewhere else in the body, but they stink. I just can’t get over it.

Just not going to the bathroom for a few weeks will make one more comfortable with the Book - but not with one's friends and family ... 😄
Yes, it's the adhaesive below of the plastic sheet below the keyboard. - I wasn't aware, that the early MacBooks also suffer from this smell, but only the line of early G3/G4 iBooks and the G4 PowerBooks ...
On the PowerBooks leaving open the lid reduces smell significantly and it's back, once the Book has been tucked away for a while. For the G3-iBooks there's really no help. I've even heavily tried Ozone on one of them with zero effect.
Hopefully it's not only a matter of time until the early-intels start to smell too ... 😳

 

[bobesch]

My 17" MBP has given me a slight sign of concern this morning. Was transferring some files off of it (Booted into Tiger) and once I was done I was too busy to think to shut it down right away, so it went to sleep. Not really a problem, but about 25 minutes later, I heard an Apple chime and turned around to see my MBP rebooted into Mavericks. I have no idea what happened to cause this random reboot. Didn't think to check the log as I was still in the middle of what I was installing on the rack. I'm suspect that it's the battery, as it is getting weaker and it shows Service Battery, so perhaps something happened that caused a random restart. Other than that, I fear something serious. First time this particular issue has happened to me in years. Mostly experienced this on Windows desktops.

Did you close the lid, after you finished work and while it was supposed to go to sleep it might have overheated by this way? (I think, I had such a problem once, when I closed the lid to make the MBP go to sleep, and it probably didn't ...)
Have a look at the PCIe-Lane-Width (still x16?) under the GPU-section of the system-information to check, if the GPU is still ok.

 

[retta283]

Did you close the lid, after you finished work and while it was supposed to go to sleep it might have overheated by this way? (I think, I had such a problem once, when I closed the lid to make the MBP go to sleep, and it probably didn't ...)
Have a look at the PCIe-Lane-Width (still x16?) under the GPU-section of the system-information to check, if the GPU is still ok.

It's *probably* not a GPU problem, the lid was open. I make sure to keep the fans revved pretty high on this thing most of the time, the case is usually cool to the touch and I get good internal readings. I will have a look still though.

 

[bobesch]

It's *probably* not a GPU problem, the lid was open. I make sure to keep the fans revved pretty high on this thing most of the time, the case is usually cool to the touch and I get good internal readings. I will have a look still though.

Sometimes I noticed on some of my early and late 2008 MB(P), that the MagSave-connector looses connection and the LED is off. Such a thing might cause distress to the MBP's battery and power-supply may have a short breakdown, causing the book to halt and reboot - especially when under heavier load by progs and fans.
Just another idea, about what might have happend ...

 

[retta283]

Early Intel Forum

I would appreciate it if other people interested in an Early Intel forum could help answer the question of what the cutoff should be for it so we can get this ball rolling. Thank you.

 

[Raging Dufus]

Early Intel Forum

I would appreciate it if other people interested in an Early Intel forum could help answer the question of what the cutoff should be for it so we can get this ball rolling. Thank you.

I gave my two cents. I also think this particular thread should be moved over there, once it's created. Would be a nice start to things.

 

[MacFoxG4]

I gave my two cents. I also think this particular thread should be moved over there, once it's created. Would be a nice start to things.

I agree

 

[retta283]

I gave my two cents. I also think this particular thread should be moved over there, once it's created. Would be a nice start to things.

Agreed. Already a lot of great discussion here and it sets the tone.

 

[TheShortTimer]

I agree

Same here.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

I gave my two cents. I also think this particular thread should be moved over there, once it's created. Would be a nice start to things.

I agree, chances are we'll see a lot of familiar faces over there

 

[TheShortTimer]

The more people from here who voice their support for the forum to be created, the greater the likelihood that the mods will make it happen.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

The more people from here who voice their support for the forum to be created, the greater the likelihood that the mods will make it happen.

Just gave my input a little bit ago

 

[z970]

@TheShortTimer In all honestly I've cared less for forum life since January 6, but in that case, let the record show that I voice my support for an Early Intel forum to be created.

 

[bobesch]

I'm in too! 👍
Would be great to have a kind of "Legacy Forum" that includes the "Apple Collectors (for 68k Macs)", "PowerPC Macs" and the then new "Early Intel Macs" sub-forum.
Since the PPC-forum includes the whole range of G3 to G5 machines, I'd like to include CoreDuo, Core2Duo and also the i-line pre-Retina MacBooks(Pro) with replaceable RAM and Harddrive.

 

[m1maverick]

Doesn't seem like this site is very interested in the concerns of its users who use older computer systems or else they would have already created this forum. Creating a new forum isn't difficult yet they haven't done it.

 

[bobesch]

Doesn't seem like this site is very interested in the concerns of its users who use older computer systems or else they would have already created this forum. Creating a new forum isn't difficult yet they haven't done it.

You may be right ... - Last year I wrote PM to a MR staff member about this request and I didn't get any response.
😢

 

[TSE]

I will never embrace the Intel Mac community! They laughed in our faces, saying we were obsolete and destined for the trash bin... how dare you embrace them! Traitor!!!

 

[bobesch]

I will never embrace the Intel Mac community! They laughed in our faces, saying we were obsolete and destined for the trash bin... how dare you embrace them! Traitor!!!

Hu, I don't share that opinion. There are situations, where there's no other choice (for me) but to use an intel-Mac machine ... Using/caring about one doesn't mean disregarding the other.
Having a "Legacy" forum is also save haven for people, that like to use legacy intel Macs and are upset about those "buy a new Mac" comments...

 

[Raging Dufus]

I will never embrace the Intel Mac community! They laughed in our faces, saying we were obsolete and destined for the trash bin... how dare you embrace them! Traitor!!!

Well, the very things you're complaining about are the reasons why Intel Macs get discussed here. And the people you're complaining about aren't really an "Intel Mac community" - more like a bunch of snobby Apple sycophants. Within just a few years they'll all have abandoned Intel Macs to go wherever The Great Apple leads them. Then it'll just be people like us still using Intel Macs, and we will be the Intel Mac community. And the PowerPC community. And the whatever-the-hell-else-we-want-to-be community, because we're the cool kids

 

[TheShortTimer]

Well, the very things you're complaining about are the reasons why Intel Macs get discussed here. And the people you're complaining about aren't really an "Intel Mac community" - more like a bunch of snobby Apple sycophants.

Exactly and most - if not nearly all of us who post in here also own early Intel Macs: as I type this reply, I'm surrounded by 1st generation Intel Macs, so why are we traitors when this development will be to our own benefit? If anything, the forum will be a companion piece to this one because we'll be able to freely discuss our early Intel Mac tech without running afoul of the mods and the absurd, sneering posers will largely steer clear anyway.

Within just a few years they'll all have abandoned Intel Macs to go wherever The Great Apple leads them. Then it'll just be people like us still using Intel Macs, and we will be the Intel Mac community. And the PowerPC community. And the whatever-the-hell-else-we-want-to-be community, because we're the cool kids

Precisely. ✊

 

[mdgm]

As time goes on using Rosetta to run PowerPC apps on early Intel Macs will be the way more and more of those still using PowerPC apps will run those apps.

Replacement parts for PowerPC machines will become harder and harder to find and there will be fewer and fewer still in working condition.

 

[uller6]

IMO, early Intel era ends with the start of the aluminum Unibody era, c. ~2008-2009. I count all plastic MacBooks as early intel, even the redesign in 2010. I think the unibody MBPs and full aluminum iMacs are where the Intel macs really came into their own.

I used to do a mean business on Craigslist flipping PPC and early Intel macs. It helped me pay my way through school. They’re still great macs, and at this point the only people still running them are probably the die-hard fans. It would be great to have a dedicated early Intel forum to keep the dream alive, and as a few other posters said to help keep the discussions focused and productive.

 

[bobesch]

Here's a rough description about how I do use the range of early macs in my working environment (bold topics are the essentials):

68k (experimental)
early MSOffice / AppleWorks 3-4 / Print2PDF
Database
68k fun-stuff
reduced connectivity: FloppyDisk, PCMCIA/CF-Card; LocalTalk(Hardware)/AppleTalk(protocol) [...]

PPC os9
MSOffice'01 /PDF
Database, Fax-machine (FaxSTF)
very basic web (Classilla)
image-editing
very low-res video editing (experimental)
os9 fun-stuff
Connectivity: IMAP, webDAV, FTP, AFP (up to Tiger/Leopard), VNC

PPC OSX
MSOffice '04/'08 / PDF
Database; Fax-machine (PageSender); DEVONthink
normal-speed scanning & very slow OCR
basic web
basic 480p-780p video streaming (YouTube); no streaming-services
image-editing
low-res video editing
PPC/OSX fun-stuff
IMAP, webDAV, FTP, AFP, SMB, VNC, ScreenSharing, RDP
VM: Win2k (ok); WinXP (distressing)
OSX: Tiger/Leopard

"early" early intel (core-duo/core2-duo)
MS Office '08, LibreOffice / PDF
Database / DEVONthink
normal scan & slow OCR
normal web
video streaming (web-streaming services, up to 1080p - no 4k)
image-editing
reasonable but slow HD-video editing (no4k)
IMAP, webDAV, FTP, AFP (modified down to OSX 10.5), SMB, VNC, ScreenSharing, CiscoVPN/RDP, Dropbox
VM: Win68/Win2k (fast); WinXP (bearable); Win7 (distressing); Win10 (possible, but unbearable)
OSX: SL // Lion // ElCapitan --- patched: Sierra // HighSierra // Mavericks
USB3 (through PCExpressCard)

"late" early intel (pre-retina i-generation) here: mid2012 x4 2,6GHz 15" MBP
+ fast OCR;
+ faster Video-editing
+ faster web / streaming-video
+ 4k-video
IMAP, webDAV, FTP, AFP (modified down to OSX 10.5), SMB, VNC, ScreenSharing, CiscoVPN/RDP, Dropbox
VM: Win10 (ok)
macOS (patched or supported): ElCapitan // Sierra // HighSierra //.Mojave (32/64bit)
USB3

So my wish is to have the "late"-early-intels (without soldered components/harddrive), e.g. the mid-2012 15" MBO included in a future early-OSX subform.

____________________________________________
my current no-go-area: Catalina(64k) / BigSur ...

 

[repairedCheese]

68k (experimental)
early MSOffice/Print2PDF
Database
reduced connectivity: FloppyDisk, PCMCIA/CF-Card; LocalTalk(Hardware)/AppleTalk(protocol) [...]

You certainly have my attention, and I'd love to see how your experience with 68k Macs shakes out.

 

[bobesch]

You certainly have my attention, and I'd love to see how your experience with 68k Macs shakes out.

Oh, there is 68k Macintosh /w attached needle-printer, LocalTal/PhoneNet-equipment, a PowerMacG3 Wallstreet/PDQ (os9) as the LocalTalk/Ethernet Bridge in the middle, connected PPCs & early intels ... but I ran out of space to display and run the "whole" network permanently.