Truly, a state-of-the art machine.
October 23, 2010 12:26 PM   Subscribe

The Banana Jr. 9000 lives. No, really. The Bloom County icon comes to life thanks to RetroMacCast co-host John, a "highly modified" Mac Plus shell, and a Mac Mini. Via Cult of Mac.
posted by mcwetboy (35 comments total) 32 users marked this as a favorite
 
I love it, and I think Breathed would too, in stark contrast to Watterson, who would have C&D'd the man to death before the link made it all the way here.
posted by Countess Elena at 12:34 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]


It's too bad it's locked down and you won't be able to run anything but Banana™ approved software.
posted by weston at 12:41 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]


Christ, another cosplay thread?!
posted by nomadicink at 12:42 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]


Since we now know for a fact (thanks to the wonder of reality TV) that the prospect of having one's child grow up to be like Gene Simmons is actually terrifying, this seems timely again.
posted by louche mustachio at 12:43 PM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]


Oh wow.
posted by clarknova at 12:47 PM on October 23, 2010


I am in awe. I don't want to see a video of it in action because then I would be sad that it didn't walk around.
posted by ardgedee at 12:49 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


This is so fantastically awesome. (And I'm sure Steve Jobs as well as Breathed is going to love this to no end once they see it.) I just hope he remembers to call tech support when it acts up, so they can threaten to put the chips into toaster ovens.
posted by azpenguin at 12:52 PM on October 23, 2010


I'd been following this for a year or more, hoping for an update and it's FINALLY finished! I'm glad he got it working, but with all the finish and detail he put into the main unit, I'm amazed he didn't go all out on the keyboard and mouse.

There is another one that someone did a couple years back, not quite as good because it uses an SE instead of the 128/512/Plus case, but still pretty cool.

Also some context for those who are unaware.
posted by bionic.junkie at 12:55 PM on October 23, 2010


Since we now know for a fact (thanks to the wonder of reality TV) that the prospect of having one's child grow up to be like Gene Simmons is actually terrifying

Terrifying, No. Rockin'? Lucrative? Yes.
posted by jonmc at 12:55 PM on October 23, 2010


Some of the commentary is typical but this is great, regardless.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yeah, this is phenomenal.

But he should be careful. I have it on good authority that the Banana Jr. 6000 does not face obsolescence with great poetic dignity.


Yuck, the fritos are antiquated.
posted by namewithoutwords at 1:06 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm pleased to see that the internal wiring was just shoved in there like an overstuffed closet.

I know. It was a loooong time since the last post. Between the keyboard/mouse and the jammed in internals, it seems he lost interest in the project and just sort of felt compelled to finish it out.

I also like his homage to Steve Jobs at the end of the post.
posted by bionic.junkie at 1:10 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


Sirius Cybernetics Corporation??
Fuck Yeah!
posted by mannequito at 1:11 PM on October 23, 2010


I am torn between my wild and epic love for all things Bloom County and my irreversible loathing for all things Apple.

My only love sprung from my only hate, &c.
posted by elizardbits at 1:22 PM on October 23, 2010


Sirius Cybernetics Corporation??
Fuck Yeah!


Comin' again to be the first against the wall!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:24 PM on October 23, 2010


Go stick your head in a pig.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:29 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]


Lots to love here. And -- is it just me, or does the Banana Jr. remind anyone else of something Vaughn Bode might have created?
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 1:36 PM on October 23, 2010


I love it, and I think Breathed would too, in stark contrast to Watterson, who would have C&D'd the man to death before the link made it all the way here.

I highly doubt it. It's not merchandise for sale.
posted by dunkadunc at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


That's fantastic!
posted by BZArcher at 1:59 PM on October 23, 2010


If Gene had a Bannana Jr. he'd know better than to pick fights with Anonymous.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:03 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]


Some of the commentary is typical but this is great, regardless.

You are a different entity from Apple Computers.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:02 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]


The detailed work with the little banana logos and the rear plate are great!
posted by Zed at 3:35 PM on October 23, 2010


Seriously, the keyboard and mouse. WTF, dude?
posted by Sys Rq at 4:10 PM on October 23, 2010


It has feet! Adorable.
posted by statolith at 4:13 PM on October 23, 2010


Sys Rq, if you want the original keyboard and mouse, Dave Clausen has circuit board design and USB drivers to make it happen. He also managed to fit a USB floppy drive and find a CRT to fit into his "24th Anniversary Mac".
posted by autopilot at 4:59 PM on October 23, 2010


All the overspray makes me sad, though. Could have been good, but looks like a weekend hack job.
posted by Pinback at 5:10 PM on October 23, 2010


OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG WANT WANT WANT WANT WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT!
posted by liza at 5:43 PM on October 23, 2010


Sys Rq, if you want the original keyboard and mouse, Dave Clausen has circuit board design and USB drivers to make it happen. He also managed to fit a USB floppy drive and find a CRT to fit into his "24th Anniversary Mac".

Maybe the hacking skills were beyond his ability, but he could still bring it up to snuff if he were to get in contact with the 24th Anniversary Mac guy. He could also take some lessons from him on the layout of the internals.

Most of my complaints are really just wanting to see this machine live up to its full potential as a alternate universe artifact. All in all I think this is a really fun and clever project.
posted by bionic.junkie at 5:47 PM on October 23, 2010


Oh god, I hope he remembered tint control. Hackers do not deal well with obsolescence.
posted by Malor at 5:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


Oh, great, yet another Banana fanboi thread! I'm sure that the Orange fanbois will be here soon to continue this unending and pointless flamewar.

My God, it's like Usenet all over again. Will the madness ever end?
posted by double block and bleed at 8:41 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


If the Banana Jr. 6000 = madness, then I don't want to be sane.
posted by mannequito at 8:53 PM on October 23, 2010


Why is the lightswitch plate on the wall at such a weird angle? Driving me nuts.
posted by yesster at 10:46 PM on October 23, 2010


Mr. Dallas, after observing you in this courtroom all afternoon, i have come to one inescapable conclusion. You haven't the brains needed to pick your nose, let alone operate a computer.
posted by ELF Radio at 8:56 AM on October 24, 2010 [4 favorites]


We'll have an AnthroPC [NSFW] yet, by god!
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:30 AM on October 24, 2010


Where is Oliver Wendell Jones in this cosplay?
posted by immlass at 2:39 PM on October 24, 2010


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