Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!teak!greely
From: greely@teak.cis.ohio-state.edu (J Greely)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: What can I do with a 1Meg 1 floppy Mac+?
Message-ID: <7466@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 1 Mar 88 04:28:28 GMT
References: <1017@its63b.ed.ac.uk>
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Organization: Giant Robots 'r' us
Lines: 52
Keywords: entry level Mac+

In article <1017@its63b.ed.ac.uk> nick%ed.lfcs@uk.ac.ucl.cs.nss (Nick Rothwell) writes:
>   So, my question is: what will I be able to do with my 1Meg 1 floppy Mac+
>whilst saving up for more memory/HD?

Quite a bit, actually.  I ran this way for about 6 months, before
picking up a hard disk.  First, and most importantly, get a decent
ramdisk program (RamStart comes to mind).  If you create a 400k
ramdisk, and use it as your startup disk, things are a lot smoother.
One thing you'll probably have to do (I did) is have two disks for
each major application: one to start the system, one to hold working
files (never, *never* trust a ramdisk!).

>   Can I run Lightspeed C from a single floppy?

Yes.  But you'll need a ramdisk, and you might have to settle for
version 2.01 (I'm not sure of the space requirements of 2.1[135]).

>                 Is it copy-protected, or can I back it up? Will I be able
>to shift my copy onto a hard disk later?

No copy protection.  When you add a hard disk, you're better off
copying the master disks to it, rather than the stripped down version
you'll be using on floppy.  If you're curious, send me e-mail, and
I'll describe my old configuration in detail.

>   Can I run multifinder?

I don't have it yet, but I believe you can.  Others will know better
how much you can do with it, but it should work.

>   Wot about Hypercard? I'm not fussed about creating large stacks (I can
>be patient for that), but I wouldn't mind having a bash at writing a few
>scripts, for familiarisation.

HyperCard *will* run on a 1Mb, 1 floppy Mac+.  You'll have to go in
with ResEdit and remove the sounds, and keep to a minimum of fonts and
DAs, but a 300k ramdisk will work as your startup drive, and you can
have a few stacks at a time (any Apple-supplied stacks you use once in
a while can be stuck on the ramdisk when you need them).

>   ...am I being too ambitious for a basic machine? Or will it be fine for
>getting up to speed?

It should do fine.  I lasted through it, but *boy* was I glad to get my
hard disk.

  While you're at it, I recommend Dark Castle.  Best time-waster ever
made. 
-=-
				      -j,  greely@satcom3.cis.ohio-state.edu
			The Ohio State University, somewhere in Ohio.  
			(Just look for the bars, you'll find it)
 "Sir Francis Drake circumsized the world with a 100-foot clipper."