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Hold on to your hat: 1993 was the wildest year for model introductions in Apple’s history. Apple also passed the 10 million Mac mark in February 1993.
The first cable-ready Macintosh! No, not ready for a cable modem – ready for cable TV. More or less a black LC 520 (complete with a black mouse and black keyboard), Macintosh TV lets you watch 16-bit TV or use 8-bit computer graphics. (Assuming you were in the US, Canada, or some other country using […]
First available in Canada (1993), and then Asia and Europe (and never sold in the home US market), the Colour Classic II (also known as the Performa 275) shares the motherboard design of the LC III. Running at a relatively fast 33 MHz, memory can be expanded as far as 36 MB. The CC II/Performa […]
Introduced in October 1993, the Duo 270c added an active matrix 640 x 480 pixel 256-color screen to the Duo 230. With the improved battery, this color Duo could still run for two hours per charge. The 270c supports 16-bit video on its screen if you select the 640 x 400 pixel mode under Options […]
Introduced in October 1993, the PowerBook Duo 250 added an active matrix screen to the Duo mix. This plus an improved battery (which lasts 2.5 hours) did a great deal to increase the popularity of the Duo line. Got a PowerBook Duo? Join our PowerBook Duo and PowerBook 2400c Club on Facebook. Details introduced 1993.10.21 […]
Finding the market confused with five product lines (Mac II, Centris, Quadra, Performa, and PowerBook), Apple renamed the Centris models in October 1993. At the same time, the 68040 CPU in the Quadra 650 was boosted to 33 MHz. The floppy drive mounting sled used in the Mac IIvi, IIvx, Performa 600, Centris 650, Quadra […]
Finding the market confused with five product lines (Mac II, Centris, Quadra, Performa, and PowerBook), Apple renamed the Centris models in October 1993. At the same time, the CPU in the Centris 610 was boosted from 20 MHz to 25 MHz. (The 8/160 version sold in the U.S. was based on the less expensive 68LC040 […]
What was the smallest desktop Mac prior to the Mac mini? Apple’s LC series, which measured just under 3″ tall, although it had as big a footprint as four Minis. And the Quadra 605 (also known as the LC 475 and Performa 475 or 476) was the most powerful model in this diminutive line. Apple […]
At 33 MHz, the LC III+ (also known as the Performa 460) was the fastest 68030-based computer in the LC series. The 460/LC III+ was essentially an LC III running the motherboard and CPU at 33 MHz instead of 25 MHz. In fact, with a small modification to the motherboard, the LC III can run […]
The LC 550 replaced the LC 520, increasing CPU speed from 25 MHz to 33 MHz. It was released at the same time as the 68LC040-based LC 575. The Performa/LC 550 uses the same motherboard as the relatively rare Colour Classic II. For those with original Color Classics, dropping in a 550 motherboard is the […]
The PowerBook 165 was a grayscale version of the PowerBook 165c with a 4-bit, 16-shade passive matrix display. The PB 165 has a 14 MB memory ceiling, although you can go beyond that by using Virtual Memory (slow and free) or RAM Doubler (faster, not free, and discontinued). Another option is RAM Charger 8.1, which offers […]
Using the same case as the Quadra 800, the 840av incorporates the same AV circuitry as the Centris 660av. Running a 40 MHz CPU, this was Apple’s fastest 68040-based computer ever. The 840av also runs a faster version of the AT&T DSP chip, one clocked at 66 MHz v. 55 MHz in the 660av. This and […]
Initially introduced as the Centris 660av (the two models are identical except for the nameplate), the Quadra 660av shares the same case design as the Centris 610. In addition to a faster 25 MHz 68040 CPU, the 660av includes a 55 MHz AT&T digital signal processor, introduces the GeoPort high speed serial port, has a […]
Take an LC III and graft on a 14″ Trinitron monitor along with stereo speakers. That’s what Apple did to create the 520. With the all-in-one design, these were especially popular in schools. It even had a built-in microphone, just like the Color Classic. The Performa version was not sold in the US. The 520 […]
The PowerBook 180c added an active matrix 256-color screen to the already popular PowerBook 180. The color screen took its toll on the battery, reducing usable life to aboone1 hour. The PB 180c has a 14 MB memory ceiling, although you can go beyond that by using Virtual Memory (slow and free) or RAM Doubler […]
The PowerBook 145b replaced the PowerBook 145. It offered the same performance at a lower price. It was replaced by the 33 MHz PowerBook 150 in mid 1994. The PB 145 has an 8 MB memory ceiling, although you can go beyond that by using Virtual Memory (slow and free) or RAM Doubler (faster, not free, and […]
This relatively rare variant of the LC 630 includes a DOS card with an Intel 486DX2/66 CPU, although some shipped with a Cyrix 486/70. The DOS Compatibility card can share Mac motherboard memory or use its own dedicated RAM. The motherboard has two SIMM sockets, while the DOS card has a single SIMM socket. (The […]
“With double its predecessor’s speed and more than triple the RAM capacity, the LC III is a significant entry into the low end of Apple’s line.” MacUser, April 1993 The LC III (a.k.a. Performa 450 and code named Elsie III and Vail) is a significantly faster computer than the LC II. Running at 25 MHz […]
The end of the Classic line in the North American market, the Color Classic (a.k.a. Performa 250) shared the motherboard design of the LC II – equally limited in RAM expansion, constricted by a 16-bit data bus, and able to use 16-bit PDS cards designed for the LC. The only significant difference is the presence […]
