{"id":23046,"date":"2025-12-12T10:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T15:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=23046"},"modified":"2025-12-12T12:17:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T17:17:14","slug":"vin189","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin189\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple IIcx"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Apple IIcx<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin189]<\/p>\n<p>The IIcx was crucial in popularizing the color Macintosh and emphasizing modularity and expandability, features that set it apart from earlier Macs. Its role in broadening the Macintosh line&#8217;s appeal in educational, creative, and professional environments marked a shift toward more powerful and flexible Macintosh systems, paving the way for future models. The Apple IIcx had advanced color capabilities making it a significant step forward in desktop personal computers during the late 1980s. It was designed to be a portable, high-performance machine with NuBus expansion slots, support for FPU (Floating Point Unit), and high-density floppy drives, which contributed to its reputation as a versatile, powerful system.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Apple Computer Inc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1989<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Personal Computer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: ~$13,500 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong>: ~$18,000 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 2-3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Memory<\/strong>: 1 MB base, expandable up to 10 MB using 30-pin SIMMs<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Hard Drive<\/strong>: Optional, up to 80 MB internal SCSI hard drive<span aria-label=\"Macintosh IIcx Specs: EveryMac.com\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: 3 NuBus slots for graphics, network, and other cards<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Graphics<\/strong>: Onboard 8-bit color graphics, supports external monitors via DB-15 video port<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Floppy Drive<\/strong>: One internal 1.44 MB SuperDrive<span aria-label=\"Macintosh IIcx Specs: EveryMac.com\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Ports<\/strong>: ADB (keyboard\/mouse), serial (printer\/modem), SCSI (hard drive\/peripherals), audio in\/out<span aria-label=\"Macintosh IIcx: Technical Specifications - Apple Support\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><span aria-label=\"Macintosh IIcx\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Weight<\/strong>: ~5.4 kg (~12lbs)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>O\/S<\/strong>: ProDOS operating system, which was designed for disk-based file management and improved compatibility with newer Apple II software. It could also run Apple DOS 3.3 for older software<\/li>\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>: Applesoft BASIC (built-in), Integer BASIC, assembly language (via built-in mini-assembler), Pascal, FORTRAN, and C (with appropriate compilers\/interpreters), as well as Logo and Forth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Notables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Apple Macintosh IIcx was notable for being the first Mac that could be set up vertically or horizontally, making it versatile for office and lab environments.<\/li>\n<li>It was famously assembled by Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassee in under a minute at MacWorld 1989, showcasing its user-friendly design and modularity.<\/li>\n<li>It was the first Macintosh to offer a compact, high-performance solution with expandability, making it a favorite among universities and creative professionals.<\/li>\n<li>The IIcx played a key role in Apple\u2019s evolution, paving the way for future models like the IIci and Quadra 700.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"content__video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Macintosh IIcx and Displays Introduction - March 7, 1989\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7_b81wGjY18?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple IIcx [Vin189] The IIcx was crucial in popularizing the color Macintosh and emphasizing modularity and expandability, features that set it apart from earlier Macs. Its role in broadening the Macintosh line&#8217;s appeal in educational, creative, and professional environments marked a shift toward more powerful and flexible Macintosh systems, paving the way for future models. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Apple IIcx - School of Computer Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Apple IIcx The IIcx was crucial in popularizing the color Macintosh and emphasizing modularity and expandability, features that set it apart from earlier\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin189\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin189\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin189\/\",\"name\":\"Apple IIcx - 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