[comp.sys.mac.hardware] Mac Kits/clones?!?!!?

kudlacek@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (03/18/90)

I recently saw an ad for a Macintosh kit that cost $500 or something
like that... Anyway, I can't find the ad and am interested in 
any info/experience that anyone has on these kits. Please let
me know If I can get a half-decent mac together for cheap!

Thanks
----> Kale

IN%"Kudlacek@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu"

ira@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Ira Lee) (03/19/90)

I really hope that there won't be any successful mac clones out there
publicly.  Apple computer should be the only one making macs. Once other
companies other than Apple start making roms, then I suspect trouble
with the integrity of Macintosh software.  --stuff like incompatible
roms, the idea of clean code will be destroyed.  With more than one
standard out there there will be lots of trouble.

As for building a mac clone, any roms you will be able to find out
there (your kit probably doesn't include roms) will be very old
and wont be able to run any of the new software-definately not
System 7.0 when it comes out.

anyone else agree?
 
bye
Ira Lee
iradx7@pawl.rpi.edu			ira@iear.arts.rpi.edu
(518) 276-IRAS				(718) 279-4814

ifan572@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Allen Wessels) (03/19/90)

In article <BC?#&S+@rpi.edu> ira@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Ira Lee) writes:
>
>As for building a mac clone, any roms you will be able to find out
>there (your kit probably doesn't include roms) will be very old
>and wont be able to run any of the new software-definately not
>System 7.0 when it comes out.
>
>anyone else agree?
> 
>bye
>Ira Lee

Well, I certainly don't.  I do know that 128k ROMs (i.e. Mac Plus ROMs), are
available.  Everything I've read says that a Mac Plus with 2 meg will run 
everything in System 7.0 except virtual memory, so a "hackintosh" would also
be able to run System 7.0.

Your statement is worded as fact, but your "anyone else agree?" suggests it is
only opinion.  If you don't know, ask.  Stating something as fact in hopes that
if you're wrong you'll be corrected is a damned annoying way of getting your
facts straight. 

paryavi@harris.cis.ksu.edu (Saiid Paryavi) (03/19/90)

In article <22521.2602bf21@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> kudlacek@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>
>I recently saw an ad for a Macintosh kit that cost $500 or something
>like that... Anyway, I can't find the ad and am interested in 
>any info/experience that anyone has on these kits. Please let
>me know If I can get a half-decent mac together for cheap!

The January or February (I am not sure which one) issue of the Computer Shopper
had an article about a Macintosh kit.  As I remember, the kit included a 
slim case with power supply, video adaptor, floppy drive, and all the necessary
cables, etc.  I think the price was around $350.  They also sell a 14" monitor
for $159 to go with it.  I also seem to remember that this kit was only for
Mac 128 through Mac 512KE motherboards.  

If you have a motherboard laying around, this may be a good deal for you, if
not, I know of at least one place that sells 128K motherboards for about $50
and Mac Plus motherboards for about $200  - without the ROM and RAM of course.
They sell the ROM separately.

If you need any more detail, I could probably dig them out and post here.



--
Saiid Paryavi                      			CIS Department
Internet:  paryavi@harris.cis.ksu.edu			Nichols Hall, KSU
UUCP:      {rutgers, texbell}!ksuvax1!harry!paryavi	Manhattan, KS  66506

dan@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Dan Schwarz) (03/19/90)

In article <2603FFA0.2C1B@deimos.cis.ksu.edu> paryavi@harris.cis.ksu.edu (Saiid Paryavi) writes:

>had an article about a Macintosh kit.  As I remember, the kit included a 
>slim case with power supply, video adaptor, floppy drive, and all the necessary
>cables, etc.  I think the price was around $350.  They also sell a 14" monitor
>for $159 to go with it.  I also seem to remember that this kit was only for
>Mac 128 through Mac 512KE motherboards.  
>
>If you need any more detail, I could probably dig them out and post here.
>Saiid Paryavi                      			CIS Department
>Internet:  paryavi@harris.cis.ksu.edu			Nichols Hall, KSU

Yes, please do post the info here!  $350 INCLUDING floppy drive?  That's
a great deal, considering Apple-branded 800k disk drives retail for $250 or
so.  And it's pretty easy to get ahold of old motherboards these days. I
was thinking of building a Hackintosh to go along with my real SE, but
didn't feel like building harnesses and other stuff just so I could hook up
the motherboard to an IBM power supply.  
-- 
| ...space people think| Dan Schwarz, MB 2926 Brandeis U. | RECYCLE YOUR JUNK|
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joe@amos.ucsd.edu.ling.ucsd.edu (Joe) (03/19/90)

In article <BC?#&S+@rpi.edu> ira@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Ira Lee) writes:
>I really hope that there won't be any successful mac clones out there
>publicly.  Apple computer should be the only one making macs. Once other
>companies other than Apple start making roms, then I suspect trouble
>with the integrity of Macintosh software.....
>
>anyone else agree?

I specifically disagree. The reason Apple's prices are so high is not
because their manufacturing costs are high; it is because they have no
competition. 

Frankly, if competiting mac-clone manufacturers could not or did not
design fully-compatible, high-quality hardware, I don't think anyone
would buy their products. Or even if they did, I sure wouldn't.

Don't forget that competition also leads to _improvements_ in quality
as each manufacturer attempts to beat out the other and sqeeze more
product into a tighter case. For less $$.

Look at the IBM clone market. You don't find incompatibles there.
That's why they call them "compatible." 

On the side, I seriously hope Apple _loses_ its current lawsuit with
Microsoft. Apple has become very arrogant lately, and their prices are
begining to soar out of the "personal" market.

All because they have no competition.
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