Mac

Mac Pomona Prototype complete


A labor of love done at last.  More commentary later, but here are the pictures.
Angled Compare Mac Pomona Front Speakers Side Mac Pomona Front Speakers Back Mac Pomona Front Shot Mac Pomona Front lower angle Mac Pomona Front Angled Top Back Straight Mac Pomona Back from Computer side Mac Pomona Back Cherry Veener Side

Front Angled other way

By • Classic OS, Mac, Prototype, Woodworking • 0

Recent Progress

Great progress recently on both the software and hardware side.

Software

  • Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS installed
  • Macbuntu installed to make it look like OSX.  Amazingly close to the real OSX.
  • SheepShaver – Emulates PowerPC setup with OS9 up and running.
  • Basilisk II – Emulates 68040 with Quadra 630 ROM.  Yes, I do own a couple of these, so ROMs are legal.

Hardware 

You can see the results below.  All the pieces fit together very nicely.  Its amazing the tolerances of a laser cutter.  The whole thing “snaps” together.  Next steps are to paint and apply the cherry wood veneer and stain.  I expect this will be a Version 1 product, but I’m hopeful given how well the pieces fit.

 

image

pomona mac top view

image

By • Classic OS, Emulation, Mac, Macbuntu, Makerspace, Pomona Curved, Prototype • 0

New Picture


mac2004_360Wow!  I thought there was only one picture of this device from the Apple Design book.  However, there was a photo of it in MacUser January 1994 issue.  It was supposed to visualize what a 2004 Mac would look like.  This has an all-important picture of the back side of the device.  Here is the original link.  Going to try to find a larger picture or possibly an original copy of the magazine.

PRODPIC-27354

By • Mac, Pomona Curved • 0

Bending Plywood

The main structural piece of the prototype is the “S” shaped bent wood.  Steam bending of wood is beyond the space limits of my workshop, so I’ve reached out to Autumn House in NC to see if they can bend 1/4 birch plywood to my specs.  I may need to apply a veneer to  the wood to make it look like the original.

Curved wood

By • Mac, Pomona Curved, Prototype • 0

Bezel Design for prototype

Measurements for the bezel which can hide the 30 pin charger.

Measurements for the bezel which can hide the 30 pin charger.

The bezel for the screen in the prototype is fortunately wide enough to accommodate a number of things I need to hide.  Specifically, the iPad charger.  I found a old 30 pin charger with a right angle connector.

The bezel will also need to have a hole for the iPad home button.  I still need to work out volume controls.

Ideally the bezel would have the profile shown below.  I was planning on use a wood picture frame, but I’m having a hard time finding one that is 36mm on the top/bottom, but only 30mm on the sides.

I may attempt to repurpose a iPad picture frame or an iPad enclosure or here.

By • Mac, Pomona Curved, Prototype • 0 • Tags: ,

Preliminary Designs for curved wood prototype

Some preliminary designs have started coming together for the curved wood prototype.  I’ve been back and forth on using a  iPad 2 vs  a raspberry pi B.  I need to prove that I can run either in portrait mode.  Here is the design and measurements with the iPad 2 as the screen.

Design measurement for Pomona prototype

Design measurement for Pomona prototype

By • Classic OS, iPad, Mac, Prototype • 0 • Tags: ,

Apple design prototype with curved wood

This design comes from the amazing Apple Design book by Paul Kunkel.

Pomona

Apple prototype from the Oct and December 1992. Part of the Pomona design series.

I’ve always wished Apple had produced this particular design, but it appears to have never made it past the mock up phase.  In fact, this is the only picture that I’ve ever seen of the design.  It was part of the Pomona design series done in October and December of 1992.  I love the curves and the contrast of the black and birch.  The portrait monitor is also very attractive.  I’ve often had a vertical monitor setup since the early Radius Pivot monitors.

One of the things I’ll do on this site is document my attempts to recreate a working version of this prototype.  I’m looking to use 3D printing for the metal supports and possibly a Raspberry Pi to emulate vMac and System 7.  Stay tuned.

By • Classic OS, Mac, Prototype • 0 • Tags: