Are there archives of useful information about vintage/obsolete products?

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Level 1

10 points

Are there archives of useful information about vintage/obsolete products?

Most of the Apple computers I still use seem to be in the list of vintage or obsolete products (G4 Cube, Performa (need SCSI), 17" G4 iMac, 15" G4 Powerbook), and even my Power Mac dual G5 seems to be on the endagered list. It was always possible to get details (like access to the battery, remove the hard drive) from the support site, but now this information has disappeared.

It would not be reasonable to expect Apple to continually update this sort of info, but it seems a pity if it has just been deleted: are there archives available?

I'm unwilling to dump older design classics, perfectly able to do simple word processing and internet access/e-mail, just because they are no longer current models. It's not very green. I have got a new Macbook Pro, iPad, iPhone and iPod, so I am still supporting the company financially. Can I get some old files in return, please?

Gerald Freshwater

Shetland Isles

Posted on Nov 8, 2012 2:20 PM

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Answer 1

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Allan Jones

Level 9

68,966 points

Nov 9, 2012 6:30 AM in response to Gerald F

We are all end users like you so can't make anything change at Apple. I also keep a number of older Macs running and am not happy with their purge from ready access about a year ago.

However, this "Advanced Search" link helps me:

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&locale=en_US&q=

Be sure to use the option to look at archived articles

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Answer 2

Gerald F Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 9, 2012 1:13 PM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks for the info; I had not realised there was an option for searching archives. There is a lot of data thereonce you know where to look. I know this is a user forum, and I don't expect any changes, although I can hope someone from the company looks at it occasionally. The comments about supporting the company are merely to suggest I am not just a whining cheapskate! Meanwhile, I'm downloading promising looking stuff in case it all disappears completely.

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Answer 3

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Nov 10, 2012 9:32 AM in response to Gerald F

Some sites that might be of interest. Many have additional links.

http://lowendmac.com/vintage/

http://www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html

http://retromaccast.ning.com/

http://macpowerpc.com/recommended/

http://www.macmothership.com/

http://www.pure-mac.com/

http://noappleistoooldforus.com/

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Answer 4

Nov 23, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Gerald F

Gerald,

In addition to Apple Archives, there are still user groups out there that use and support the equipment you speak of, although you mention the cube and computers from Y2K and newer. This is the 'old folks home' of apple discussions. Some of us continue to use computers from the 1980's.

AppleFreak is from Germany, Grant is from Boston. Some participants are from Austrailia, Texas, and the some from the Orient.

Feel free to post your questions and we will dig through the hardware and archives to keep you green.

Our particular youth group dismantles older computers in a program called recycled science. We use past generations of equipment to teach future generations of kids about computer science and technology. Since Apple was ahead of the curve for consumer electronics, older Apple products provide ample educational components.

Stay green and use that older computer. We still surf the web with a G-4 mac mini. Configure your equipment to the optimal operating system rather than the latest system for best results.

Enjoy, and come back often.

Ji~m

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Answer 5

Limnos

Level 10

411,259 points

Nov 23, 2012 3:09 PM in response to Gerald F

Meanwhile, I'm downloading promising looking stuff in case it all disappears completely.

Very good idea. I have a fairly extensive archive of software that has disappeared from Apple. I have a G4 right now, and my optimal next upgrade in a few years might be a 2007-2009 Intel Mac with Snow Leopard. I don't trust software to be around for that generation in 2015 so every time Apple brings out a new version of something I download it even though I do not yet have a computer that will run it. That way should I want iTunes 10.3 four years from now I will have a copy of it (you can't even find it anymore now).

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