Hobbyist builds retro Apple Macintosh inside toy clock
The Apple Macintosh personal computer is an iconic piece of technological history, with emphasis on the word history. Compared to the 32-bit PCs of yesteryear, today’s hardware is so advanced that it often feels like we’re trying to compare a gas-guzzling Ford Model T to today’s all-electric cars.
The Macintosh’s retro graphics and interface still evoke a certain degree of nostalgia, however. Combine that emotion with one of the best examples of computer miniaturization on the market, and you get a DIY project that pays homage to the early days of the computer while celebrating how far technology has come since then.
I transformed a CLOCK into a vintage Mac!
YouTube channel This Does Not Compute recently showcased its journey to transforming a small desk accessory into a full-fledged Macintosh computer. The basis is simple: an innovative digital alarm clock housed in a case designed to faithfully reflect the 68000 era of the PC. Simply clean out the innards of the toy, then mount a Raspberry Pi 2 processor and connect it to a 2.8-inch LCD screen. Emulator software loaded onto an ejectable microSD card mimics early Apple operating systems, with a few extra configurations to ensure that retro look. Ironically, this involves making sure the LCD screen’s touch capabilities are disabled. After all, Apple wouldn’t integrate similar technology until the iPhone launched in 2007.
However, the project has some minor drawbacks. The changes currently disable the original clock’s brightness and volume buttons, and the display ratio doesn’t quite match the original Macintosh. Still, it’s an admirable attempt to recapture some of those early Apple vibes. It may not support any of your favorite apps, but it seems like a fun way to disconnect from today’s technology, at least a little bit at a time.
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