Let's face it...those old Macs have a certain timelessness about them...and, since they don't seem to realize that they're out of date (c'mon, for crying out loud...break down sometime, wontcha?), it hurts just a little to put 'em out to pasture. If only they were good for something...

To quote Bob and Larry, "Have we got a show for you!"

If you're searching for just the right stuff to get an old Mac talking on the Internet, your search is over. You can take a Mac Plus, SE, Classic, Portable, PowerBook 100--any venerable old 68000-based workhorse--and turn it into a functional Internet client. It won't be running Java apps or the latest version of Netscape, of course, but it'll be able to handle email and web browsing--including forms--with aplomb, panache, and several other fancy fifty-cent words.

Note: If you experience problems downloading files, try again during "off-peak" hours...very late night or early morning (U.S. Central time) is the best. Why is this, you ask? Because this site is, unfortunately, housed on a Windows NT server (not my fault). Maybe I should move it onto a Mac SE running MacHTTP and NetPresenz, eh?

If you have a Mac Classic with at least a 20Mb hard drive, you can download a complete Internet-ready system...here's the drill:

• If you haven't done so already, upgrade the old Mac to 4Mb RAM (8Mb if the system is able)
• Sit down at another Mac and connect to the Internet
• Download Apple Disk Copy
• Download the Network Access Disk image and make a floppy from it
• Download the complete Internet-ready system (12.8Mb)
• Boot the Classic using the Network Access Disk
• Connect to the other Mac's hard drive with standard file sharing over LocalTalk
• Mount the Classic_HD.img disk image on the Classic and copy the contents of the image onto the Classic's hard drive (you may wish to format the drive first, but that's up to you)
• Reboot the Classic, configure the Internet settings, and go to town!

What's on the disk image? Exactly what an old Mac needs to access the Internet successfully...download the pieces here, if your old Mac isn't a Classic or if you'd just rather build it yourself. Unpacking these packages requires Stuffit Expander™, of course:

• System 7.0.1 w/ Thread Manager 2.0.1 (6.9Mb)
• MacPPP 2.0.1 / MacTCP 2.0.6 (126Kb) -- need help configuring it?
• Internet Config (188Kb)
• Eudora 1.5.5 (653Kb) with online manual (432Kb) -- or use the web version
• MacWeb 2.0 (601Kb)
• NCSA Mosaic 1.0.3 (454Kb)
• NCSA Telnet including docs (968Kb)

These old Macs are capable of running System 7.5, but it takes the spring out of their step. Running System 7.0.1, a 4Mb Classic almost feels zippy--and you can't beat the price! Set one up and keep it in your trunk for emergencies. Give one to your computerphobic parents or grandparents and get them started using email. If you have kids who can email, I guarantee that will be enough motivation for grandma to learn how to work a mouse--especially if she lives over the river and through the woods! They might like it so much that they decide to buy themselves an iMac or one of those cool new Titanium iBooks...at which point, you can strategically redeploy the old Mac at another unconnected relative's house...

Another great resource for Internetting old Macs is Jag's Classic Mac page, and there are numerous other sites dedicated to the geriatric Mac. For the adventurous, MicroMac offers a 32MHz 68030 upgrade card and other embellishments available for the SE, Classic, Plus, and Performa 200. Sonnet Technologies has a similar offering for the SE. Smokin'!