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Floppy disk drive and new Mac's

Greysquirrel

Greysquirrel

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2009
54
0
This is probably a question for the greybeard's out there, like me.
I have a Sony Mavrica camera that uses floppy disk to record images and have a floppy disk drive hooked up to my old G3 iMac and it works with no problem, running OS X.3.
My question is will I be able to hook this up with the new mini or iMac with no problem, or am I SOL if I buy an new machine? Really don't want to buy another camera for around $400 as this is still a good piece of equipment, but this would give me an excuse to do so.
This disk drive has no driver, it was just plug and play and is 10yrs old like my G3.
I asked this question in the Apple chat link and I don't think the guy knew what I was talking about.
 
Greysquirrel said:
This is probably a question for the greybeard's out there, like me.
I have a Sony Mavrica camera that uses floppy disk to record images and have a floppy disk drive hooked up to my old G3 iMac and it works with no problem, running OS X.3.
My question is will I be able to hook this up with the new mini or iMac with no problem, or am I SOL if I buy an new machine? Really don't want to buy another camera for around $400 as this is still a good piece of equipment, but this would give me an excuse to do so.
This disk drive has no driver, it was just plug and play and is 10yrs old like my G3.
I asked this question in the Apple chat link and I don't think the guy knew what I was talking about.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you are talking about & yes it will work just fine.
 
Greysquirrel said:
This is probably a question for the greybeard's out there, like me.
I have a Sony Mavrica camera that uses floppy disk to record images and have a floppy disk drive hooked up to my old G3 iMac and it works with no problem, running OS X.3.
My question is will I be able to hook this up with the new mini or iMac with no problem, or am I SOL if I buy an new machine? Really don't want to buy another camera for around $400 as this is still a good piece of equipment, but this would give me an excuse to do so.
This disk drive has no driver, it was just plug and play and is 10yrs old like my G3.
I asked this question in the Apple chat link and I don't think the guy knew what I was talking about.
Click to expand...

It would likely work. Having said that, wouldn't most modern $100 cameras take better pictures than a old floppy disk Mavrica?
 
If by "good piece of equipment", you mean the power still turns on...:p

Seriously, it's time for you to upgrade your camera. Costco has 10 megapixel cameras on sale for $99 that will BLOW your camera out of the water in terms of picture quality. Besides your camera being out of date in terms of just about every spec imaginable, it is clearly out of date in terms of compatability (hense your problem to begin with).

I'd say, if you're willing and able to buy a $1.5-2k computer, you should be able to buck up and spend an additional $100 to upgrade your camera too. Imagine looking at those new high-res pics on your new 27" screen. :D
 
+1 for camera upgrade.

Sony Mavicas are nothing compared to todays quality of camera. (I feel old cause I used to sell Mavicas.)

For $150 you can get a much better camera.
 
You could always buy a cheap Floppy USB drive if you really don't wanna buy a new camera.

edit: Sorry I went and re-read the OP :eek:
 
Aadhil said:
You could always buy a cheap Floppy USB drive if you really don't wanna buy a new camera.
Click to expand...

Uck, what a total waste of money. A USB floppy drive costs about the same as a 16GB USB stick and every pack of floppys you buy would get you another 4gb stick.

The floppy is dead. Throw $100 at a real camera and keep it for a few years until USB is phased out by Light Peak.
 
Thanks for the replies about the floppy drive, and I haven't seen any camera at $100 that I would want, they are all small, small screen, but have to admit the screen is readable outside. If I am going to buy a new camera it will replace my 35mm which is a quality camera.
I know, I know I have to get into the 21st century but a new computer is my first priority, then when the pictures look lousy on the monitor I can point out I really need a new camera "To She Who Must Be obeyed."
Anyhow thanks everyone for your input.
 
what is the resolution of those pics if they can fit on a floppy? I guess you use the 35mm for better pics :) If you pay a lot for development costs then you can tell your "boss" that it will save money in the long run to get a better digital camera.
 
Greysquirrel said:
I asked this question in the Apple chat link and I don't think the guy knew what I was talking about.
Click to expand...

LOL. Sorry, I just had to laugh that the Apple guy/girl didn't know what a floppy drive was! I'm not that old (I don't think. I'm 29) and I know what it is! I even have used 5 and 1/4 inch drives! Cracks me up.
 
psingh01 said:
what is the resolution of those pics if they can fit on a floppy? I guess you use the 35mm for better pics :) If you pay a lot for development costs then you can tell your "boss" that it will save money in the long run to get a better digital camera.
Click to expand...
I use the digital for pics for e-mail, posting pictures on forums such as this, pictures of my dogs, e-Bay etc. never blow them up larger than 5x7, nothing larger except for desktop pictures which I have to admit loose a lot of clarity when that large. It suites me fine right now for what I am using it for. Use my Topcon 35 for anything I want a quality reproduction. A good digital is something I'm due for but those small cameras that you hold between your fingers are not for me, I like a camera I can get hold of and a new computer is my first priority.
I was only jesting about convincing my "boss" as you call her, she couldn't care less what I buy unless I am spending a few grand, and then she only asks, "Where did you take the money from?" I'm still not going to buy the most expensive just to say I have it, the most basic new mini will have more power that I need for what I do today. I ran a business with this old thing, using Quicken and FileMaker Pro, Appleworks, and had no problems but those days are gone. I just think after 10yrs. I am due to upgrade.
 
StingerT125 said:
I was just thinking that on the Office apps I use a work, the save icon is a floppy disc image. It's funny; but some people using these probably have never even used a floppy disc!
Click to expand...

That's nothing - look at the folder icon - it represents a tabbed filing folder ..

I'm sure that more and more people have never seen or used these in the real world. It was probably appropriate when computers were strictly office machines, but that era passed a long time ago.

Many photo and film editing apps still use icons with images of film reels on them. Photographic film reels are now as niche as vinyl discs; most people who use film editing apps have never held or seen a genuine 8mm / 16mm / 32mm film reel.
 
StingerT125 said:
I was just thinking that on the Office apps I use a work, the save icon is a floppy disc image. It's funny; but some people using these probably have never even used a floppy disc!
Click to expand...

RedTomato said:
That's nothing - look at the folder icon - it represents a tabbed filing folder ..

I'm sure that more and more people have never seen or used these in the real world. It was probably appropriate when computers were strictly office machines, but that era passed a long time ago.

Many photo and film editing apps still use icons with images of film reels on them. Photographic film reels are now as niche as vinyl discs; most people who use film editing apps have never held or seen a genuine 8mm / 16mm / 32mm film reel.
Click to expand...

Oh so true... These things have become new entities in themselves though. The fact that a "folder" is always represented as it is and recognized by those who have never used the original is a sign that it's now a symbol for something else. Same with the "diskette" image being symbolic of Saving. I mean... If we updated these images as technology improved we'd never have anything recognizable. The Hard Disk images would be switching to SSD images. Floppies to CD's to DVD's to USB/Blueray. Think about it? Recognizability is huge!

Also... On the Floppy camera... The drive will probably work. If not right away, then with a download. Bring it to an Apple store and check if you want.

In all honesty though, my friend had one of those years ago and the picture quality of a pocket camera is better now :p. How many photos fit on that 1.44mb? Most point and shoot cameras take pictures that would take 5 disks to hold one image! Zoom would be the only thing you'd be lacking and there are some decent cameras with 10x for around $150.
 
Sheesh. My camera takes 21MB RAW files. I would need to carry around a trunk full of floppies!!
 
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