How can I transfer document files from my mac classic to my macbook?

No. I think your only option might be to remove the hard drive, if it has one, and put it in an external USB enclosure. I think the drive interface is IDE, so you would need to find an enclosure that supports an IDE drive. If your model is old enough the drive interface may be SCSI, so you would need to find an enclosure that supports a SCSI drive and has a USB or Firewire port - whatever your Macbook supports.

Does your classic model support using email?

I don't know, but if you still have the PPP software it might. But if the modem no longer requires the use of PPP to dial in, then I doubt it would work. Those old boxes did not have any built-in network software as I recall. I haven't used any of those old boxes since an SE-30 model some 30 years ago. I hardly remember what they look like. 🙂

What if any external ports does it have?

Kappy,

Mactracker shows that model having a SCSI hard drive interface. That's going to make it harder unless the OP can find an old Apple external optical drive with a SCSI interface. Then he can take out the optical mechanism and put the Classic's SCSI drive in its place. That's an option that Apaloosa Mac Man has recommended in similar situations. He's awfully good with working the really ancient Macs.

Allan,

MacTracker lists a large number of so-called Classic Macs. Not all have SCS. Later models had IDE. In any case removing the hard drive and putting it into an external enclosure seems like a simple solution. But if you have a better solution (Internet may be ruled out according to the OP) then by all means help the OP out.

Indeed. I looked at those MT lists under the category "Classic Macintosh" and all those whose official Model name includes "Classic" are SCSI. But I take you point---OP may not be using the official name and I was taking what he posted too literally.

back_to_mac:

As Apple's naming conventions suggest different technolgy to different people, please give us the model name and number (if applicable) if it's stamped on the computer. Can you also tell us what Mac OS version is running on the old Mac.

This site:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/index-apple-specs-applespec.html

has illustrations and specs that can help you indentify almost any Mac.

Bottom line, we need more info on your model to advance this discussion.

A Macintosh Classic (http://support.apple.com/kb/sp198) has a SCSI hard drive. Even though the hard drive can be removed and placed in an external SCSI enclosure, it is not going to be easy to find a way of connecting it to a modern Mac. That would normally require a USB-to-SCSI adapter, which may or may not be supported under the latest operating system versions.

The easiest method of transferring files from a Macintosh Classic may be via an external USB floppy drive connected to the modern Mac. 1.44 MB Mac-formatted floppy disks can be used for such transfers (not 800K).

A SCSI Zip (100) drive could in principle be connected to the SCSI port of the Macintosh Classic. The Zip disk could then be moved to a USB Zip (100) drive connected to a modern computer.

The Macintosh Classic does not have built-in Ethernet, nor a slot for an Ethernet card (certain other "classic" Macintosh computers do have the ability to hold an Ethernet card). There are some external solutions (such as SCSI-to-Ethernet adapters), but with limitations. For a networking overview, the http://www.applefool.com/se30/ web page could perhaps be of interest.

It is also possible to arrange a null-modem connection between a Macintosh Classic and a modern computer, providing that a USB-to-serial adapter is attached to the latter (appropriate terminal emulation programs are needed on both sides).

Jan

I suppose that early external CD drives for IBM world should function on the Classic's SCSI too.