old performa 6200cd tips on how to bring it up to speed

[tele892]

hey i found this old performa in my basement any tips on how to bring it up to speed. Any software i need to install please e-mail me any tips you have.  Drunkenmidget89@hotmail.com

[kelly]

Hello Lou . Welcome to the Forum.  

We usually don't e-mail tips. People normally check back and read them.

That machine is worth about $30.

Any particular reason you want to mess with it?

[krissel]

Welcome to TS, Lou.

There isn't too much you can do to upgrade the 6200. It has no PCI slots and the processor can't be changed. Best you can do is give it maximum RAM and probably 8.6 for the OS.

I have a 6300 (in retirement) which was an able worker in its day but not up to some of the major programs of the present. It will be fine for word processing, internet (if you have an external modem, the internal in the 6200 was too slow), and some of the simple graphic apps like Colorit!.  I did run the older version of Photoshop (4) on it but the RAM limited it's power. RamDoubler would be a necessity for that machine.

Here's some more info:

Performa 6200

Come back with any additional questions.

[tele892]

I'm acually doing this for a friend he has always wanted a mac I found this computer in my basement but since i have two macs of my own i decided to give that computer to him.  I am trying to find ways to just bring it up enough to beable to use the internet and word processing.- Lou

[kelly]

Ok. How about some details?  

How much RAM does it have now?

How big is the Hard Drive?

What OSs do you have available?

Do you have an External Modem for it?

Hope your friend doesn't expect too much.  

http://new.lowendmac.com/ppc/6200.shtml

http://new.lowendmac.com/macdan/md030.shtml

If your friend wants a better machine.

http://new.lowendmac.com/ppc/g3deals.html

http://new.lowendmac.com/imac/edeals.html

[themphill]

I have one of those computers also. Excellent advice about that model can be found at the Low End Mac web site (http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/6200.shtml). From personal experience, I would suggest the following, not necessarily in order:

[*]Put two 32 MB RAM chips in it which will give you the maximum possible 64 MB;
[*]Remove the internal modem, if present, and connect something like a Global Village 56K external modem via a serial port;
[*]If desired, install a comm slot Ethernet network interface card;
[*]Replace the stock hard drive with any semi-modern IDE drive, which will be much faster;
[*]Install Mac OS 8.6;
[*]Install software which doesn't tax the system too much. For web browsing iCab would be a good choice, an older version of Eudora is good for mail, and for word processing something like Claris Works or Nisus Writer should work well.
Printers with serial connections are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. If you can acquire an older Apple LaserWriter or HP LaserJet that might be a good move. Or if you elect to add an Ethernet port, then you can print to any network printer.
It's going to take a little bit of hunting for you to find the hardware and software I mentioned. It is, after all, an eight-year-old machine.

[tele892]

Hey thanks for all your help my friend loves what I did for him.  this has to be the best site i have ever signed up for

[kelly]

Stop by any time Lou.