Resurrecting Old Macintoshes, Part II: Mini vMac on Raspberry Pi

In my previous post, I explored ways to resurrect original Macintosh computers. Today, I'm excited to share another project that brings a piece of Apple history back to life using a Raspberry Pi. Introducing Mini vMac on Raspberry Pi - a compact and functional emulation of the classic Macintosh experience.

The setup is surprisingly easy. First, make sure you have minivmac installed on your Raspberry Pi. When it exits, run `halt -p` (shut down and power off the machine) to ensure it only runs on the text-based console and not via SSH. Next, run `sudo SDL_VIDEODRIVER=fbcon SDL_FBDEV=/dev/fb1 $HOME/minivmac` as root to access the framebuffer device.

To automate this process, I added the following line to my `$HOME/.profile` file: `export FRAMEBUFFER=/dev/fb1`. Using raspi-config, I set up the display resolution and text-based console for auto-login as the pi user. When you obtain drivers for your TFT display, you'll end up with a framebuffer device (`/dev/fb1`). To complete the setup, I configured Mini vMac to start upon boot and shut down when it exits.

The result is an impressive mini Mac that closely resembles its original counterpart. Although the display is a bit small, Mini vMac runs smoothly on this Raspberry Pi-based emulator. If you're looking for a unique project, consider 3D printing the case and using magnets (such as 1/4' x 1/16' Neodymium Rare Earth N48 Magnets) to assemble the pieces.

This mini Mac is more than just a nostalgic curiosity - it's an opportunity to experience the classic Macintosh user interface in a compact, functional package. Whether you're a retro computing enthusiast or simply looking for a fun project, Mini vMac on Raspberry Pi is definitely worth exploring.

Mini vmac raspberry pi