Macintosh IIcx

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Macintosh IIcx
Macintosh IIcx.jpg
A Macintosh IIcx
Also known as"Aurora" [1]
Developer Apple Computer, Inc.
Product family Macintosh II
Release dateMarch 7, 1989 (1989-03-07)
Introductory priceUS$5,369(equivalent to $13,200 in 2023)
DiscontinuedMarch 11, 1991 (1991-03-11)
Operating system System 6.0.3 - 7.5.5, A/UX
CPU Motorola 68030 @ 16 MHz
Memory1  MB or 2 MB, expandable to 128 MB (120 ns 30-pin SIMM)
DimensionsHeight: 5.5 inches (14 cm)
Width: 11.9 inches (30 cm)
Depth: 14.4 inches (37 cm)
Mass13.6 pounds (6.2 kg)
Predecessor Macintosh II
Successor Macintosh IIci
Related Macintosh IIx

The Macintosh IIcx is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from March 1989 to March 1991. Introduced six months after the Macintosh IIx, the IIcx resembles the IIx and provides the same performance, but is seven inches narrower, ten pounds lighter, and quieter due to a smaller internal fan. The relative compactness results in three NuBus slots being available, [2] compared with six on the IIx. [1]

Contents

The new case, Apple's first to be designed to operate in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, remained in use for its successors the Macintosh IIci and Quadra 700. The idea for vertical orientation, one of the first minitower cases, was suggested by Apple CEO John Sculley, who was running out of space on his desk, [3] despite the fact that the new layout actually took more space once the monitor was taken into account. The model was designated IIcx for compact (echoing the earlier Apple IIc compact model in the Apple II series), and the x was Apple's designation for the Motorola 68030 processor.

Users liked the Mac IIcx, in part, because its components and parts (such as the RAM, NuBus slots, and power supply) snapped into place inside the case without the need for screws. There was one central safety screw that tied the assembly together though it was often not reinstalled if ever removed. At the IIcx's introduction, Jean-Louis Gassée demonstrated the IIcx's modular design by assembling one from parts in front of the audience. [4] This made it less expensive to build, easier to repair, and earned it heavy praise and a warm reception amongst the Mac community. The machine was also the lightest in Apple's lineup at the time. [5] However, unlike the II and IIx, in many versions of the IIcx the CPU is soldered to the logic board and therefore cannot be upgraded. The case is also unable to accommodate 5 1/4" or full-height hard disk drives. [5]

This model was superseded by the Macintosh IIci, which used the same case. It designed by Gavin Ivester. [6]

Timeline

Timeline of Macintosh II family models
Macintosh CentrisMacintosh Quadra 950Macintosh QuadraMacintosh LCMacintosh PortableMacintosh SE/30Apple IIc PlusMacintosh SEMacintosh PlusMacintosh IIvxMacintosh IIviMacintosh IIsiMacintosh IIfxMacintosh IIciMacintosh IIcxMacintosh IIxMacintosh IIMacintosh IIcx

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DayStar Digital, Inc., was a company founded in 1983 by Andrew Lewis as a subcontract manufacturer of electronic assemblies and circuit boards. In 1986, the company released memory upgrades for Apple Macintosh (Mac) computers as its first products, and in 1987, DayStar began to market processor upgrades exclusively for the Mac, the first being for the Apple Macintosh II computer. The company focused exclusively on this market for the full range of Mac computers through 1995, utilizing the Motorola 68030, 68040 and PowerPC 601 processors. These upgrades were installed directly into the Processor Direct Slot of various Macintosh platforms, as on the Macintosh IIci, or via an adapter. DayStar became known as the leading "speed shop" for Macintosh computer systems; it won virtually every Mac editorial award given for product excellence and had the top rated brand among peripheral manufacturers. The company also formed unique strategic relationships with many companies including Apple, IBM and Adobe. In 1995, DayStar was one of three companies in the world awarded licenses by Apple to "clone" the Macintosh computer.

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References

  1. 1 2 Pogue, David; Schorr, Joseph (1999). "Chapter 12: From 128K to Quadra: Mac to Mac" . MacWorld Mac Secrets, 5th Edition. IDG Books. pp.  468 - 469. ISBN   0-7645-4040-8.
  2. "Macintosh IIcx: Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  3. "History of computer design: Macintosh IIcx". landsnail.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2002. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  4. Smith, David E. (November 1989). "Apple Introduces Two New Macs". MacTech. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Poole, Lon (April 1989). "The Compact Mac". Macworld . Vol. 6, no. 4. pp. 130–137.
  6. "History of computer design: Macintosh IIcx". www.landsnail.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.