It has been a while since I updated you on my Apple-related collection. Since the last time, I’ve added a couple of interesting items. They might not be super significant in Apple’s history (although one definitely is), but they are meaningful to me. Thanks to these Macs, I am where I am today, and without them, my life would likely be very, very different.

The first computer is the Apple Power Macintosh 6100, also known as the Performa 6110. It is significant in Apple’s history because it was the first computer from Apple to use the new PowerPC processor created by IBM and Motorola. Even though it was the entry-level product in the PowerPC line, it was nearly state-of-the-art back then, especially with PowerPC CPUs outperforming Intel’s processors at the time.

The model I got is the 6100/66, a refreshed version from 1994 (the original had a CPU clocked at 60 MHz). Back in 1994, Apple wasn’t selling many computers, so not many of these remain in working condition. Those that do are usually quite expensive: there’s a listing near me on Facebook Marketplace where someone is asking $700 for a Mac with a display and a printer. I’m frugal, so I try to find good deals — this one cost me about $150 on eBay, including shipping.

Initially, it refused to boot, showing an error that the hard drive didn’t have a startup system installed. I found a bootable CD with the Mac OS 7.5.3 installation and was able to start the computer. The hard drive inside was named “ISIS2,” but I couldn’t see the files on it because the disk was formatted using a newer operating system, making its file system incompatible with 7.5.3. I decided my curiosity wasn’t strong enough to go to great lengths to recover the files on that mysteriously named hard drive, so I performed a full reinitialization and installed 7.5.3.

For video output, the Power Macintosh 6100 uses a proprietary HDI-45 connector — a sort of grandparent of modern HDMI and Thunderbolt connections, as it was designed to carry both video and audio signals to monitors. Because of this unusual connector, I had to find a special converter to connect it to the VGA monitor I use for older computers. (There were a lot of weird connectors back in those days, trust me.)

Since the Power Macintosh 6100 marked Apple’s first major CPU transition — from the 68k family of processors to PowerPC — much of the software created for the previous CPU architecture worked through a compatibility layer (a precursor to Rosetta, the binary translation layer used during Apple’s transitions from PowerPC to Intel and later from Intel to M-series CPUs). To showcase the “power of PowerPC,” Apple worked with developers to create popular apps and included them on a demo CD.

The insides of the Power Macintosh 6100:

While restoring this machine, I was reminded of the old shutdown alert that appeared after selecting the “Shut down” command. They don’t do that anymore — modern computers are so quiet and efficient that Apple even tries to hide the power button from users (see the latest Mac mini M4).

The second computer I acquired is the Macintosh LC 475, also known in the U.S. as the Macintosh Quadra 605 or Performa 475. Apparently, Apple named models based on their target markets: Quadra for business, LC for education, and Performa for home, adding to the confusion. These computers were also called “pizza boxes” because their small form factor resembled pizza packaging. For some strange reason, these machines have become very expensive lately, with some listings going for $300-$400 for a nice working example.

These computers were among the last models using the outgoing 68k-series CPUs. The LC 475 came with a 25 MHz Motorola 68LC040 processor. Its internals were pretty barebones:

Since I’m thrifty, I searched for a while and finally found one — in France! Luckily, the power supply is universal, so after some negotiation, I ordered it, and it surprisingly arrived in working condition. As a bonus, the Mac OS system was in French:

Today, we can easily switch between different languages on a device because they include multiple localizations. But back then, you needed a specific version made for each market. It seems this computer previously belonged to a software developer who created educational software, with some results still remaining on a hard drive — so now I can test my knowledge of France. Très excitant!

Since these computers didn’t have a CD drive, I also bought a set of recovery floppies in case I ever need to restore or perform an emergency boot. I haven’t needed them yet, as the computer booted right up, but I’m sure they’ll come in handy someday.

The significance of these two computers for me is straightforward: they were the first two Macs I encountered back in 1994, sparking my fascination with Apple. Without exposure to these machines during my formative years, I simply wouldn’t be where I am today (I’m not sure where I’d be, but definitely not here). So adding these computers to my collection felt important, and I’m happy I was able to make it happen. Given my growing collection of desktops, I might need to expand into vintage Apple monitors, though they take up so much space… Now I have a couple more items to hunt for.