68k Mini vMac booting SCSI Device images

Relating to a 68k application
JDW

JDW

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@eric
I have a good number of useful modern Intel Macs that are not bleeding-edge modern in that they only run macOS up to Monterey 12.7.4. The problem is that your awesome Mini vMac apps require 14.2 (Sonoma) or newer. Any way to make that OS requirement a tad more flexible? Monterey really isn't THAT ancient.

Thanks.

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reallyrandy

reallyrandy

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These new builds are pretty great. Are there any plans to do 1024x768 screens? Moving files around is so much easier when windows are side by side.
Like JDW, I too am on an older Intel laptop but running 10.13.6 High Sierra
 
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JDW

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It's been about two months, and I never received a reply to my previous post about the Sonoma requirement.

Surely there MUST be a way to make it "Monterey or higher" compatible?

I only have one Mac that can run Sonoma, and I use it less frequently than all my other Macs. While it is true I've been extremely busy over the past few months pertaining to my home move, the Sonoma requirement has left the new Mini vMac apps unused. Making it compatible with Monterey would allow me to use it more.

For now, when I need Mini vMac, I am forced to use the standard versions (without all the bells and whistles @eric added), simple because they work on Macs that run versions of macOS prior to Sonoma.

Yes, yes... "Beggars can't be choosy." But I'm not a beggar. I'm just a guy who provided some feedback two months ago and who is now writing a follow-up post, in large part due to the email notification about the recent post by @reallyrandy . I really do think that making the otherwise great new Mini vMac apps compatible with SLIGHTLY older version of macOS would make a huge and meaningful difference. If I didn't, I certainly would not be spending time right now to type out this post!

Thanks!
 
JDW

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reallyrandy said:
I did find the Feb 19 build does run on High Sierra so that's what I'm using.
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Could you please provide a link to that exact version? I'm eager to give that a test. I am using a late 2015 5K Intel iMac running Monterey right now.
 
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GondolinOnMyMind

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I'm a bit late on the emulator game, and I do not know mini Mac at all. I have used basilisk II and that has fulfilled my (modest) needs, maybe except non working networking. According to the mini vmac faq, the difference would be in supported platforms. I just wonder whether there are any other differences that makes mini Mac more usable or preferable than basilisk II?
 
eric

eric

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scsi.blue
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Release 2024.06.08 · erichelgeson/minivmac

A modified fork of Mini vMac that works with BlueSCSI images and other enhancements. What's Changed New Target oldest possible (MacOS 10.13) for FAT binaries 5ad070c @erichelgeson 1024x768 for Mac...
github.com github.com

New​

Click to expand...

JDW said:
Any way to make that OS requirement a tad more flexible?
Click to expand...
Resolved, maybe. I don't have any machines running that old of an OS. Should support to 10.13 now, but no idea if it works.

reallyrandy said:
Are there any plans to do 1024x768 screens?
Click to expand...
Done for the MacII build.

GondolinOnMyMind said:
I'm a bit late on the emulator game, and I do not know mini Mac at all. I have used basilisk II and that has fulfilled my (modest) needs, maybe except non working networking. According to the mini vmac faq, the difference would be in supported platforms. I just wonder whether there are any other differences that makes mini Mac more usable or preferable than basilisk II?
Click to expand...
Running System 6, Running Localtalk over UDP, no config, drag and drop images/disks. But just use whatever emulator floats your boat and fits your needs.
 
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eric

eric

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Adding in the ability to modify and store settings in a preference file, eg:
rom /path/to/rom.rom
disk /path/to/disk.hda
magnify
fullscreen
speed -1...5
Click to expand...

vMac does a lot of "convention" (files name explicitly in specific locations are picked up) over "configuration" (just tell it what you want explicitly) - which is great, but why not both options? There are still things like screen size that will be a bit more difficult to make changeable at runtime, but possibly.

Why would you want this? Store preferences for various systems instead of rebuilding minivmac each time you want a different behavior than the default.

Based on work @mihai's ecmascript port.

Have some more plans but as far as I got today.

github.com

Allow for file based config · Issue #6 · erichelgeson/minivmac

No one wants to build or run a variations service and it is so inflexible. @mihaip has started this with this commit: Configuration (ROM, disk images, etc.) is handled by parsing a /prefs file, whi...
github.com github.com
 
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JDW

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eric said:
Should support to 10.13 now, but no idea if it works.
Click to expand...
I'm overjoyed at the changes, @eric. I confirmed just now that they all work great under macOS Monterey 12.7.5 on my 5K INTEL iMac from 2015. I downloaded all 3 Mac apps. Each boot my *.dsk images, and they boot my BlueSCSI drive images too, which is really the big appeal of your Mini vMac apps, although I must say your other changes are excellent as well!

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for your incredible support of our vintage Mac community!
 
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