01/02/07

Loading the Apps:

Now that I have my IIcx working on the net, I figured I'd round out the hard drive with a nice set of apps in preparation for luddite's warm-up challenge. Without a browser available to me, I'll generally have to make do with whatever apps I have on the drive once the challenge starts. I thought about restricting my app usage to only what was available when the IIcx was released, but I'm already breaking that rule with the apps I use for the internet, and it's hard enough to find old software that works under System 6, let alone specific versions. So basically, if it runs under System 6, it's good enough for me!

Fortunately, just about everything I downloaded from the net in either .bin or .hqx format decompressed without any trouble on the IIcx. Since I have a Dell laptop as my main computer, I had to use PC Exchange (which is included with System 6) to transfer the files from the PC formatted floppy to the hard drive on the IIcx. Also, I had to use ResEdit to change the file type to SIT! so Stuffit Expander could recognize the files. Once that was done, Expander was able to successfully decompress the files into usable applications.

For nostalgia purposes I have MacPaint, MacWrite, MacDraw, and MacProject - but for real productivity I'm using the original version of ClarisWorks. It's fast and has everything I need in one convenient package. To keep myself from getting bored, I have HyperCard 1.2 to fool around with, as well as SuperPaint. I used to write code for the Mac back in the day, so I've also installed both Think C and Think Pascal to see if I can remember anything. And since it wouldn't be a computer without games, I have Dark Castle and Bolo to keep me entertained. :)

Here's a screenshot of HyperCard in action!

I'll likely add more apps between now and the 15th, but at the moment I think that's a good set to get me through a couple of weeks of using the IIcx as my primary system.