Hi,
>I've read the conversion is a multiple step process. CW file from a Zip Disk to a later Apple word processor to Word for Mac to Word for PC - files on DVD.
Not necessarily all these steps. It all depends on the existing CW translators, the hardware that you have to work with, and the ability to read various file formats on the receiving computer.
First of all, take a ClarisWorks word processing document as an example. Open a copy of the document on the Performa. Choose Save As under the File menu. Check and note which file formats appear in the Save As dialogue; you may find formats like Rich Text Format (RTF), plain Text, older MS Word formats, etc.
Then, have a look at the Open dialogue in word processing programs on the Windows PC. Check whether you can find some of the formats that were listed under the Save As dialogue in ClarisWorks on the Performa. Look for a common denominator. Sometimes earlier versions that have not been directly mentioned can be opened anyway; this will have to be tested later.
>My mom's mac (OS 8.6) has a floppy disk drive and an iOmega Zip Drive. I'm Windows 7 with a CD/DVD writer/reader..
It is possible to write to and read from 1.44 MB PC-formatted floppy disks on the Performa. For transfers, you could connect a USB floppy drive to your Windows PC. This is the easiest solution, at least for a limited number of relatively small files.
The Zip (250) drive would be connected to the Performa via SCSI. If you wish to use Mac-formatted Zip (250) disks on the Windows PC, you would need a USB Zip (250) drive, and a special PC utility for Mac disks (such as MacDrive or TransMac).
If necessary, and with the correct hardware, there are other ways to transfer files (including modem-to-modem or through a network).
Jan