The 1987 Apple MacPlus computer. One megabyte, and one megapain-in-my-ass!

This afternoon, the fine folks at the Houseplant Picture Studio donated me a "gently used" Macintosh computer that had been bouncing around in the trunk of the owner's car for a few weeks. Never one to pass up a good bargain, I high-tailed it down to Long Beach to collect my classic computing machine in the hopes of pressing it into service at the offices of marilyncarolyn.com.

At first I was encouraged when the screen lit up immediately and showed me a picture of a "disk" with a question mark flashing. But what could it want? Somewhere in the back of my scattered brain, I retrieved a signal that instructed my hand to grab one of the discs included with the machine, and place it in the hard drive. After some trial and error, I located a "Minimum System 6" disc that seemed to agree with the computer.

Just a short time later, the computer booted up, and I was on my way! I started to look around and quickly realized that there was absolutely nothing loaded up on this computer. In fact, there wasn't even a hard drive! No wonder I hadn't been provided with a keyboard--I wouldn't need one!

After the computer was up and running, I tried to put one of the other disks in the internal floppy drive. Almost as quickly as it started up, the computer crashed and the screen went totally blank. When I turned it back on, I saw one of the most horrid things I have ever witnessed...the infamous "Sad Mac" face!

But what exactly was my Mac sad about? Wasn't it loved as a child? Didn't I rescue it out of the trunk of a Mercury Sable in Long Beach? And didn't I loving spray 409 on its monochomatic screen in a feeble attempt to wipe away decades of neglect?

Well, in any case, this is where we stand folks. I'm going to think about my situation for a few days and decide what my next move is. Stay tuned to this space for further information as it develops.


At least it still does this, whatever that may be...


I will admit it has a certain sense of symmetry.
(and it even beeps every now and again, too)!


I did get this spinny thing that lights up along with the computer...


Good discs, bad Mac! But I still love you anyway.