68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.

Finally found my white whale, a decent 5400/200

Posted by: obsolete on 2024-11-06 15:10:37 I know these machines aren't universally loved, but I credit the 5400 for my interest in beige all-in-one Macs, and possibly Macs at all. My junior high school had them in the shop classroom for learning 2D CAD, and I remember thinking that they were so much better than the Dell my parents had at home. I always wanted one, but although they were starting to be replaced with new iMacs, the district wasn't quite ready to scrap them yet. The teacher gave me a disused SE/30 instead, which ended up being even better in hindsight, and the reason I got into black and white compacts, but that's another story. I've wanted a 5x00 since then, but they're not that easy to find, and are often in bad shape. I've been watching eBay and Facebook marketplace more intently for the past year or so, but I haven't been able to find a decent one for <=$200, and none of the available ones have been nearby enough to avoid very risky shipping. I ended up checking out the Free Geek Twin Cities inventory this afternoon, which don't look at very often, and behold: https://www.freegeektwincities.org/apple/ar5400. It says Sold Out because I bought it! I should be able to pick it up this weekend. The brightness buttons are worse for wear, but that's the only damage I see, so hopefully the rest of the plastic parts are relatively intact. I'm really excited to get it home!

Posted by: Juror22 on 2024-11-06 16:03:30 It does look really nice, and just the right shade of mature. Be careful with the back panel and especially with the side clips. I tried taking mine apart one time, and that was something I never tried again! Good luck with yours!

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2024-11-06 16:07:24 Least yellowed one of those I've seen in a while. Nice!

Posted by: Fizzbinn on 2024-11-06 19:58:06 I recall my high school computer science teacher getting a 5300/100 in 1995 when we were learning to program in his class using Turbo Pascal on Classic II's. We were all amazed. I'd love to find a reasonable 5400 (dreamworld be a black 5500)

1