A “NEW” quadra 800?

-SE40-

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something like this?
 

atariorbit

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Q800s are very nice machines to restore keep. That is the fastest Mac that can run AU/X. I love these machines and while the plastics are very brittle they are peak 040 (no fancy av) tech in book.
 
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-SE40-

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Well, thats something I did figure out by now,
good to hear that my insight is correct.
Thanks!
Worth creating a nice ali case….😇
Next looking -searching for a decent graphics card.
Any suggestions, anyone?

🍀
 

-SE40-

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Q800-verticcal-.JPG


While we have rain this sunday morning, I figured to have a go with the Quadra enclosure.

Dont shoot me, as this is a personal-practical approach to this design. I can create this without too much of a hassle.

A piece off Apple, a piece of me😇so to say.
But no plastic tabs to break……

For the basics its an 20x80 or 20x100mm extrusion with faceplates, and the stainless bottom chassis and cover that go over it. These are held in place with four screws.
They also hold the handle and standing support.
A horizontal version is also possible,
what I have a look at next.

Q800-horizontal-.JPG

-edit- had a look-🛠-something like this?-

Q800-stackframe-.JPG

Edit-can even be stacked as a kind off system….
like @retr01 suggested…👍

Thats the idea for now.
Remarks & suggestions welcome!

🍀
 

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retr01

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Nice! :)

Have you considered using a CD drive with a slot-loading mechanism? I understand the later Apple (and third party) internal CD drives after the caddy loaded versions only did tray loading. I know that slot loading happened because Steve Jobs demanded it late 1990s and early 2000s for the iMac and the newer Macs. For example, the Mac Mini's DVDR/CDRW SuperDrive uses the slot loading mechanism.

Since the Quadras were still 68k, it would be either SCSI-1 or the later SCSI revisions. I do not think it has an onboard IDE/PATA controller. However, I know there are internal slot-loading CD / DVD drives circa 2000 with a 50-pin SCSI-1 connection. Sadly, the driver issue - was there ever a driver for System 7? Doubtful. macOS 8 and 9 were for PPCs.

So, hack a tray-loading CD drive to change the mechanism to slot loading? Hmmm. No. Slim CD/DVD drive with SATA and get a SCSI 50-pin to SATA converter? Hmmm. Then there's the driver issue.

The drive may only be either ray or caddy loading. No slot?
 
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-SE40-

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Thanks for the extended info, and indeed installing a slot drive would be great…..but..
for what Ive read that slot drives may not be bootable.
So may skip the CD drive lateron, replace it for the MicroSD to SD cardreader from before.

The older model CD-mechanism also could make the whole case thicker.
Ive not 100% figured that out yet, but its getting close. Then 80mm thickness could grow to a 100mm thicknes, what would be a pity.

🍀
 
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-SE40-

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@retr01 ,….“Sadly, the driver issue - was there ever a driver for System 7? Doubtful.“

773F6B32-C5A6-41C5-855A-FB168DCE1DF6.jpeg


You made me in doubt…..🔮so googled it..
Wiki is also not 100% as my Q800 did not have a CD-rom installed, as it came with a blind faceplate shield, my guess is it never had one.

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retr01

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There were CDROM drivers for caddy/tray-loaded CDROMs and, later on, DVD drives. Then with macOS X, slot-loaded DVD/CD drives became the norm. AFAIK, there were drivers under macOS 9 as evident on the G3 slot-loaded iMacs. So, it is possible to have slot-loaded drives under macOS 9, which is the last Apple Macintosh classic OS. My Mac Mini G4 has a slot-loading drive and it works fine under macOS 9.2.2. :sneaky:

I am not sure if there were any drivers for slim slot-loading drives for System 7. So, yeah, @-SE40-, you are right about the case getting bigger than you would have liked with a regular internal CDROM drive. Go for an external if you need a CDROM or DVD drive as you simply use SD and keep the case as small as possible. 🤓
 
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-SE40-

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its great that you found this data together.
Youre the Apple database in person👍
Amazing, and helpfull.

i think it would be nice to have this Q800
in the more narrow 80 mm thick case ( as shown).
Still perhaps the original CD may fit.
Its gonna be close.

Edit: this Website on all kinds of drives/drivers may be also of some interrest-

🍀
 
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-SE40-

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Update:

09308146-1986-44DB-AD0D-0E4F75344E63.jpeg


Further Explorings ….skipping CD and Floppy brings this enclosure to a minimal 40mm thickness….

6A7F0D36-A4D0-489A-A1DA-06647A93552C.jpeg


Adding a suitable display could make it into a kind of modern Macintosh ….


What you guys think?

🍀
 

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-SE40-

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Well, actually this concept applies to any suitable enclosure.
Just add an handle and display of choice…..
As example,
my CAD-workstion converted in 2013 for mobile use.
@wottle creations ive not seen yet.
Link?
Indeed, any logicboard can be used here too.

I like the idea that its now become modular and stackable system. (like @retr01 suggested in the first place)
Ticker and thinner and contour can vary a bit to fit the largest board.

The version with a display is actually kind of logic.

So, should I actually make one?

🍀
(Edit: @wottle -as for a carrying handle,…
Its optional, yet to be determined….can be added to the top /bottom/ backside in various ways.)
 
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