To My Late Performa 550: A TIL Tidbit

This article has been brought to you by the Apple Support Base at http://support.apple.com/kb/TA34172?viewlocale=en_US. I dedicate this to my family's late Performa 550.

Performa 500 Series: Frequently Asked Questions
Last Modified: March 13, 2000
Article: TA34172
Old Article: 18290

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
This document contains the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Macintosh Performa 500 series computers.

Questions in this FAQ:

1) Why can't I get a microphone from an earlier Macintosh computer to work on my Performa 500 series computer?
2) Can I upgrade my Performa 575, 577, 578, or 580 to a PowerPC processor?

3) Can I upgrade my Performa 550 to the PowerPC processor?

4) Can I add a floating-point unit (FPU) to my computer?

5) Can my Performa 580 support an Apple IIe card? Can the other 500 series computers?

6) Can I install the Apple TV/Video System on my Performa 500 series computer?

7) I accidentally lost a program that came with my Macintosh Performa. How do I get it back?

8) Where can I get the latest Apple software updates?

1) Question: Why can't I get a microphone from an earlier Macintosh computer to work on my Performa 500 series computer?

Answer: The microphone used with many early Macintosh computer models is called the Apple Omnidirectional Microphone. It comes with a 1/2" plug. The microphone used with the Performa 600 series computers (as well as all new Macintosh models) is called a PlainTalk microphone. It has a 3/4" plug, the extra 1/4" of which is used to reach a power source that attenuates the microphone.

The correct microphone for use with the Macintosh Performa 630 series is the PlainTalk microphone, part number M9060Z/A. You can order this through many Apple-authorized retailers and catalog resellers. Their numbers can be obtained by contacting our 24-hour referral service at 800-538-9696.

For further information on the PlainTalk microphone, consult the online Apple Technical Info Library on the Internet at . Use the search string "plaintalk microphone" to locate the article "Macintosh: PlainTalk Audio Port Microphone Support".


2) Question: Can I upgrade my Performa 575, 577, 578, or 580 to the PowerPC?

Answer: The Macintosh Processor Upgrade Card (M3397LL/A, discontinued) upgrades Macintosh 570 and 580 series computers to Power Macintosh performance by replacing the 68LC040 processor with a PowerPC 601 processor.

The Macintosh Processor Upgrade Card, part number M3397LL/A (discontinued), must be installed by an Apple-authorized service provider, who can also tell you the current price. To locate an Apple-authorized service provider in your area, please call 1-800-538-9696.

For more information on the upgrade, use the Tech Info Library on the Internet at Use the search string "upgrade and kppc and 575" to locate related articles.


3) Question: Can I upgrade my Performa 550 to the PowerPC?

Answer: No, the Macintosh LC/Performa 520/550 series PowerPC Upgrade (M3395LL/A) is no longer available. The upgrade was available for several months, but has since been removed from the Apple price list.


4) Question: Can I add a floating-point unit to my computer?


Answer: A floating point unit (FPU) or math coprocessor does not always give you a speed increase. An FPU is useful only when running programs that do extensive mathematical calculations that call for an FPU to be used.

If you have a Performa 550 or 560 computer, you may have a math coprocessor or floating point unit (FPU), Apple Service p/n 922-0107, installed in a special socket on the logic board. If you own a Performa 57x, the only way to add an FPU is to completely remove and replace the 68LC040 chip on the logic board. This upgrade is not available from Apple but may be available from a third party vendor. Apple does not recommend or support replacing the CPU chip.

From the online Apple Technical Info Library on the Internet at - use the search string "FPU Upgrade" to locate the article "Macintosh Performa: FPU Upgrade Options."


5) Question: Can my Performa 580 support an Apple IIe card? Can the other 500 series computers?

Answer: The Apple IIe card is only compatible with computers that have the LC style processor direct slot (PDS). This includes the Macintosh Color Classic, Performa 400 series, LC/Performa 500 series computers (except the Macintosh LC 580 and Performa 580), and all Macintosh LC series computers except the Macintosh 630 family and Power Macintosh 5200 LC and 5300 LC computers.


The Macintosh LC 580, Macintosh 630 Family, and Power Macintosh 5200 LC and 5300 LC only operate in 32-bit addressing mode. Since the Apple IIe card is not compatible with 32-bit addressing, the Apple IIe Card is not compatible with these computers.

From the online Apple Technical Info Library (go shortcut "TIL") - use the search string "Apple IIe card and compatibility" to locate the article "Apple IIe Card: Macintosh Compatibility."


6) Question: Can I install the Apple TV/Video System on my Performa 500 series computer?

Answer: The Apple TV/Video System requires a special connection on the logic board. This connection is available only in the Macintosh 630 series and Power Macintosh or Performa 5200, 5300, 6200, and 6300 series of computers.


7) Question: I accidentally lost a program that came with my Macintosh Performa. How do I get it back?

Answer: If you have lost or removed a program that originally shipped on your Macintosh Performa, you can restore it with the program Apple Restore. This will copy files back to your computer's hard drive. To copy the files back, you will need backup disks. You were instructed to make a backup copy of your programs on floppy disks when you first purchased your computer. You will need these disks.


Using the Utilities disk which came with your computer, you can run Apple Restore in order to restore the data. This process is described in detail in Chapter 11 of your Macintosh User's Guide.

If your computer came with a built-in CD-ROM drive, you may not need to use the above process. The Macintosh Performa CD contains a complete backup of all the software which originally came with the computer. To restore this software, use the instructions included in the small pamphlet which accompanied the CD-ROM disc.


8) Where can I get the latest Apple software updates?

- Worldwide Web:

Everything Macintosh Catalog

It's a good read, but there are no prices.

http://macassemble.com/Everything_Macintosh.pdf

Lost in Translation

Last night I was thinking about updating the FAQ: what if someone did want to translate TWR into a foreign language? Translating webpages, especially smaller ones, is very hard, so I would merely suggest that you plug it into Google Translate or something and hit the button. But just for fun, I did some tests...

Below is the original post from three days ago.

It turns out the fireworks stand we always went to is gone, which was heresy. Because there was a burn ban on 7/4, I wanted to compensate. Plus it was a new decade. Having New Years without fireworks is like Christmas without a tree, a birthday without cake, babies without diaper-changing, and presidential elections without Ralph Nader. The party went well. The low points came when my baby cousin kept calling for me but she really didn't care when I came. The second low point...I wanted to use the computer in my room, so I went in to get my chair back (it was "borrowed" for Rock Band). When I came back, four people were in my room. Thankfully, they were my cousins, not destroying my things, and being quick-and-decent. A similar case otherwise would probably involve fancy swordplay.

We translated into Spanish with Google Translate, the new de facto way of doing it.

Resulta que los fuegos artificiales están siempre íbamos a se ha ido, que era la herejía. Porque había una prohibición de quemar 7 / 4, quería compensar. Además se trataba de una nueva década. Vista de Año Nuevo, sin fuegos artificiales es como la Navidad sin un árbol, un cumpleaños sin torta, los bebés, sin cambiar pañales, y las elecciones presidenciales, sin Ralph Nader. El partido ha ido bien. Los puntos más bajo llegó cuando mi primo bebé seguía llamando para mí, pero ella realmente no le importaba cuando yo llegué. El segundo punto más bajo ... Yo quería usar el ordenador en mi habitación, así que fui a recibir mi silla (que era "prestada" para Rock Band). Cuando regresé, cuatro personas estaban en mi habitación. Afortunadamente, ellos eran mis primos, no destruir mis cosas, y de ser rápidos y decente. Un caso similar de otro modo probablemente por la espada de fantasía.

Back into English now
It turns out that the fireworks are always going to be gone, that was heresy. Because there was a ban on burning 7 / 4, wanted to offset. Furthermore it was a new decade. View New Year without fireworks is like Christmas without a tree, a birthday without cake, babies, without changing diapers, and the presidential election, not Ralph Nader. The party went well. The lowest point came when my baby cousin was calling for me, but she really did not mind when I arrived. The second lowest point ... I wanted to use the computer in my room, so I went to get my chair (which was "borrowed" for Rock Band). When I returned, four people were in my room. Fortunately, they were my cousins, not destroy my things, and be quick and decent. A similar case would otherwise probably invented by the sword.


Then we tried it with the older Babelfish.
Resulta los fuegos artificiales nos coloca fue siempre a se va, que era herejía. Porque había una interdicción de la quemadura en 7/4, quise compensar. Más era una nueva década. Tener Años Nuevos sin los fuegos artificiales es como la Navidad sin un árbol, un cumpleaños sin la torta, bebés sin el pañal-cambio, y elecciones presidenciales sin Rafael Nader. El partido fue bien. Los puntos bajos vinieron cuando mi primo del bebé guardó el pedir mí pero ella realmente didn' cuidado de t cuando vine. El segundo punto bajo… que quise utilizar la computadora en mi sitio, así que entré conseguir mi parte posterior de la silla (era " borrowed" para la banda de rock). Cuando me volví, cuatro personas estaban en mi sitio. Agradecidamente, eran mis primos, no destruyendo mis cosas, y siendo rápido-y-decente. Un caso similar implicaría de otra manera probablemente esgrima de lujo.

And came out with this
It is the fireworks places to us always went goes away, that were heresy. Because there was an interdiction of the burn in 7/4, I wanted to compensate. More era a new decade. To have New Year without fireworks is like Christmas without a tree, a presidential birthday without the cake, babies without the diaper-change, and elections without Rafael Nader. The party was well. The low points came when my cousin of the baby really kept asking me but she didn' taken care of of t when I came. The second point under… that I wanted to use the computer in my site, so I entered to obtain my later part of the chair (was " borrowed" for the rock band). When I became, four people were in my site. Thankfully, they were my cousins, not destroying my things, and being express-and-decent. A similar case would imply of another way probably luxury fencing.

We then noted that...

• Google Translate was far superior to Babelfish, yet the second-to-last sentence was done better by Babelfish than Google.
• "Fancy" became "Invented" in Google and "Luxury" in Babelfish. Luxury is closer.
• Babelfish turned "Ralph" into "Rafael" and cut out "presidential" entirely. But the sentence was still done better by Babelfish.
• Babelfish completely botched the first sentence.
• And the "Low points" sentence.
• I wonder why they put a comma after "babies".
• When nouns were put into Babelfish, "el" and "la" were added but not taken out when it went back to English, explaining the excessive "the"s.