Apple Macintosh (Original)
[Vin127]
The Macintosh 128K holds a landmark place in computing history as the first mass-market personal computer to feature a graphical user interface, which revolutionised user interaction with computers by making them accessible beyond specialists to the general public. Its all-in-one design, memorable 9-inch monochrome display, and the iconic introduction of the Mac OS with its mouse-driven GUI exemplify a turning point in design philosophy and usability. Its claim to fame lies in popularising the concept of intuitive, user-friendly computing, influencing generations of subsequent computer interfaces, though it had modest commercial success initially due to its high price and limited memory by later standards.
- Manufacturer: Apple Computer Inc.
- Model: 128k (original Macintosh) number: M0001
- Released: 1984
- Type: All-in-one desktop computer
- Cost at release: CAD ~$8,500 (adjusted for inflation)
- MIPS: 0.5 (500 KIPS)
Hardware Specifications
- CPU: Motorola 68000 running at 7.8336 MHz (effective 6 MHz)
- RAM: 128 KB built-in (maximum upgradeable to 512 KB by authorized resellers)
- ROM: 64 KB containing parts of the operating system
- Storage: 3.5-inch 400 KB floppy disk drive (no internal hard drive)
- Display: 9-inch built-in monochrome CRT with a resolution of 512 x 342 pixels
- Graphics: 1-bit (black and white) display
- Ports: Two DE-9 serial ports (one typically for printer, one for modem), and one DE-9 port for the mouse
- Sound: 8-bit mono sound output (single speaker)
- Operating System: System 1.0 (later Mac OS versions up to 3.2 supported)
- Weight: Approximately 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg)
Operating System & Programming Languages
- O/S: System 1.0
- Programming Languages: Object Pascal (the main language used by Apple for Mac development in the early years) and assembly language for the Motorola 68000 CPU. Later on, C and Basic were also available via third-party development tools.
Notables
- First successful mass-market personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI)
- Pivotal in popularising the mouse and GUI paradigm that shaped modern computing interfaces
- First personal computer to use the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive format
- First Mac to establish desktop publishing as a general office function
- The $1.5 million advertisement, based on George Orwell’s novel, is considered one of the greatest commercials of all time and a watershed moment in advertising
- Generated $150 million in computer sales within 100 days
- Model number: M0001 (US) and M0001P (Europe)
- Originally had no name printed on the front of the case, just “Macintosh” on the rear
- Sold 70,000 units by May 3, 1984, then sales plummeted due to limited RAM
- Had no internal fan, leading to overheating issues
Donated by: Arlen Michaels