MaxxBoxx: The Biggest, Most Colorful, Least Known Mac Clones
- 2006.09.12
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One of the less well known Mac clones, the MaxxBoxx
was released in Germany in July 1997 to fill the needs of users
with very demanding applications. In a stunning enclosure, the
MaxxBoxx was easy to open and upgrade. The machine was built into a
cube that was twice as wide as an ordinary mini tower with room for
up to ten drives.
Dimensions are estimated at about 15" high, 16"
deep, and 12" wide - more or less a wider version of the Power Mac 8500 (based on photos). That's
about 2,700 cubic inches, which makes it even larger than the
Quadra 900/950/Power Mac 9500 at 2,050 cubic inches and probably
the largest Mac OS computers ever built. (If anyone has precise
dimensions, please email the author. Thanks!)
As if that was not enough, the MaxxBoxx company
released the machines in different colors a year before the
original iMac and two years before Apple started offering iMacs in
more than one color.
Different models were based on Apple's Tanzania II, Nitro, and Tsunami motherboards. Some contained as many as four 333 MHz 604e PowerPC processors - or as little as a single 180 MHz 604e. There were no low-end 603-based models.
Among graphics and video professionals, the machine
was very popular because it had so many drive bays and so many CPU
options, and it garnered a loyal and devoted following. The
machines sold in limited quantities despite their cult status.
Hoping to funnel MaxxBoxx customers its high end Power Mac 9600/MP, Apple canceled the company's Mac OS license, but to no avail, as MaxxBoxx appears to have had a legitimate sublicense from Umax. A copy of BeOS and retail copy of Mac OS 8 went out with every machine.
Eventually, SuperMac had its Mac OS license revoked, and
MaxxBoxx closed up shop on February 1, 1998. 
Further Reading
- MaxxBoxx Datasystems, EveryMac
- MaxxBoxx Datasystems, Innovation Center
- MaxxBoxx Datasystems, Low End Mac
Tom Hormby's writing can also be found on Silicon User.
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