Power Mac 9600 needs help

[beirutman]

I had this old Power Mac 9600 since 1997. I used it for games, homeworks, etc. But when I got my ibook two years ago, I shelved my 9600 in the storage. Now I want to give it to my little sister so she can use it for schoolworks. The problem is I didn't have any internet connection before so now I don't know how to connect it to a regular modem because it has a different port. Its not the regular modem port (square), its more like a circular serial port (like the one they use for the old mouse before USB)

I still want my sister to make use of this reliable machine. Can anybody please help me contact anybody who sells a converter so we can connect this regular modem on my old mac?

I heard there is a guy here who buys and sells Apple products, old or new. Can anyone refer him to me? Thanks a lot in advance.

You can contact me on this email: beirutman02@yahoo.com

[Edited on 05-12-2004 by beirutman]

[Bob Serrano]

I used to own a 9600 myself--a true work horse. Unfortunately, it was one of those older Macs which did not come with a modem standard.

There are still a number of modems/Geoports that can be had for a tiny sum, I'm guessing, over at good ol' HMR. The circular port you are talking about is an 8-pin serial port, which would come side-by-side with the serial printer port. Functionally, they are almost identical. You can very well connect an old Stylewriter or Epson printer with a Mac serial port in the Modem port and just specify it in the chooser and you're good to go. The only functional "difference" i can think of is that the printer port is the default for any LocalTalk connections--say, connecting to an old LaserWriter--something i don't think the Modem port will allow--I could be wrong.

Anyway, having said that, you may not even need a serial-port modem. Why not explore broadband? If your niece/nephew has cable at home, ask how much it would cost to connect a cable modem. That way, you would be using your ethernet port--which comes standard on the 9600.

Just a suggestion.

[El CaMOTe]

Beirutman,

Are you (& 9600) in Manila now ?

According to my MacGuru, any US Robotics, Supra modem will work on it. All you have to do is get a Mac Serial adapter cable found at PowerMac or other Mac sellers.

FYI, this will work only in OS 9. I do not think you are on OSX via XPost Facto right ?

Best of luck,

[penmanila]

i did use many different modems with my old powermacs, using the serial adapter that tom describes (i got mine from an old palm "macpac" bundle that allowed you to mate your palm pilot with your mac). still, the ethernet option seems the best, if your sister hasn't taken the DSL plunge yet.

[beirutman]

Originally posted by El CaMOTe
Beirutman,

Are you (& 9600) in Manila now ?

According to my MacGuru, any US Robotics, Supra modem will work on it. All you have to do is get a Mac Serial adapter cable found at PowerMac or other Mac sellers.

FYI, this will work only in OS 9. I do not think you are on OSX via XPost Facto right ?

Best of luck,

I'm here in Beirut, Lebanon but the 9600 and my sis are in Cubao,QC . She already purchased a US Robotics modem so I'll just tell her to go to PowerMac and get the Mac Serial adapter. The poor machine still operates on OS 8.1, so maybe I'll ask her get a copy of the OS 9.1 as well. Where is this PowerMac Store located again? Thanks.

[El CaMOTe]

4th Floor Cyberzone, SM MegaMall. It is the building with the SM grocery on the ground floor, not the Cinema Bldg.

Good luck Beirutman, watch out for those Syrian spies ... and Salaam & God bless !

[peter_ob]

I have a US Robotics 56K Message Modem with a Mac serial cable I used to use with my mini tower. U2U me or call 6552765 if interested.

[Gomi]

look for "lowender"...

[Maccess]

A PC standard modem and a hardware handshaking mac modem cable should be what you need. Make sure the modem cable you get is hardware handshaking, it wired differently. Without it your computer won't be able to connect faster than 14.4Kbps.

Another alternative is to add a USB card (which you'll need anyway to connect to printers and flash drives), and a USB modem.

BTW, I had a Power Mac 9600. It's a physically impressive machine and a robust performer for its time. The big drawback is that it uses a lot of power, so unless electricity is cheap there, I would consider getting a Mac Mini instead.

[ratatatatatdingbat]

Nice to know there are pre-G3 units still in use out there. Had a 9500 myself.

In case you're still interested, I've got a Supra 56k modem I've used on a now-retired G3. Really have no use for it since I went broadband, which ain't a bad idea..