The original Macintosh had an 8mhz processor, my upgrades will boost it to a speed 200x faster than that. Giving us enough speed to install Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
My main objectives were.
- Do not alter, cut, deform, change, or break the original Mac in anyway, I wanted to be able to return it to its original state if I chose to.
- Not to let myself cut costs on the project just to make it more 'amazinger' (cheap instructables are great, but we do see a lot of 'wow make an awesome uber computer for like $10 dollars yeah'. This was an epic project, I cut costs where I could, and used recycled parts, but I spared no expense in making this the best I could. This 1984 Macintosh deserved no less.
Here are a few glory shots, then we delve into the bulk of it, I started this project in June '09, but getting married, and moving house did put a bit of a delay on finishing it.
Be sure to vote for me in the Dead Computer Contest, the Netbook prize would allow me to upgrade my 1984 Macintosh to being wireless, portable, and a 9inch screen to boot.
We all want to see pictures in the newspaper/on the internet of me sat on the train, or chilling in starbucks with a 1984 Macintosh now, don't we?
I also encourage creative constructive comments.
The first ten constructive comments get an ampersand vintage mac patch!
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials and Tools
Materials
- An original dead 1984 Macintosh (There was a wide range of this style of Mac, keep your eye out on ebay for a defunct one, because this one was broken, I got it for £25)
- Several A3 sheets of Styrene or Plasticard.
- Clear Perspex/Acrylic 3-6mm in depth
- Mini ITX Motherboard (I went for the low power Intel Atom single core)
- Small PSU (mine was salvaged from a dead Dell Optiplex, you could buy a new one, but thats not very green is it?)
- A harddrive and Ram
- A Nanovision Mimo USB 7" screen (you can get models that power off your PSU but use a VGA connection, the Nanovision uses USB for both power and signal)
- A pair of Apple Pro Speakers
- USB and Ethernet extension cables
Tools
- Drill
- Dremel type tool
- Hot air gun
- Stanley knife/Box cutter with plenty of spare blades
- Metal Rule
- Epoxy resin
- Superglue
- Double sided plastic tape (optional, but useful)
- Pliers


















































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Please, share more instructions!
happened across this site just yesterday. Wonderful romp thru old computers and companies history, etc LOVE IT. They also have people listing systems to sell or buy!
I hadn't looked close at cost, workability, etc; but thought it may be a good place to look.
Live in middle of USA, 2 miles from its dead center.
happened across this site just yesterday. Wonderful romp thru old computers and companies history, etc LOVE IT. They also have people listing systems to sell or buy!
I eventually made my 512kE into a cactus garden (a functioning aquarium was too difficult) and it looked great, with lights and everything.
I stumbled on here looking for completely the opposite -- some kind of shareware that would emulate on my MacBook the desktop of the original Macintosh . . . you know, desk accessories, trash bin, everything. Anyone seen anything like that around? Email nickATmontrealfood.com.
Good job, mate!
http://minivmac.sourceforge.net/screens/index.html
An emulator that runs on Mac OS and Windows, go check it out!
I was tempted to put some much cheaper slower hardware in the mac and just run this on it.
Thanks for the comment!
I got the original mac for a steal of £30gbp incl postage off ebay.
The PSU was a compact one from an old Dell, the entire dell was also £30gbp off ebay.
The motherboard was the first generation of the intel Atom mini itx boards, and was £60gbp incl ram from ebuyer.
The hard drive was given to me by my friend.
Add in a few other costs, £20 on cables/adapter/extenders, £15 on the iMac style speakers, £10 for perspex and styrene.
Total of £245 if you shop around a bit, and scrounge some parts from places.
I just recently swapped out the disc burner in my Macbook Pro for a second storage drive (An SSD) because I realised I had not used it once since buying the Macbook Pro!
Thanks!
Would love to see a mac plus double or triple size, now I think about it hehe, bung an old 20 inch CRT in there.
3D scanner, CNC cutter...
Hilarious.
http://www.instructables.com/id/A-PC-in-a-Mac/
and i thank you very much for your inspiration, i never would have tried this before.
The heart of my mac has already started beating.
of course on the way I'm having difficulties and the project is still incomplete for now.
the details are at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195441&id=701145747&l=23248ac568
:D I'll be posting new pics to the facebook album and will make an instructable in the end.
Thanks again, for the inspiration.
It looks like it is coming together very nicely, Good idea using a cheap netbook, Easy cheap way to get a compact computer with a built in screen.
Looking through your pictures on face book, I also have a few suggestions/criticisms, if you want to hear them. Might be best to do so via facebook, as I can comment on each picture accordingly, you should see a friend request, be sure to hit me up on facebook chat also.