On March 2, 1987, Apple introduced the Macintosh II, a personal computer that marked a significant step forward in the Macintosh series. The Macintosh II was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1987 to 1990 and was considered a powerful and versatile computer at the time.
The Macintosh II was powered by a 16 MHz Motorola 68020 processor and featured a Motorola 68881 FPU coprocessor, providing users with a significant boost in performance. Additionally, the Macintosh II came with 1 MB or 4 MB of RAM, 40 MB or 80 MB hard drive, and two 800 KB Floppy drives. There was also an option for a Macintosh II video card for users who needed more advanced graphics capabilities.
At its launch, the Macintosh II had a starting price of $5,498, which was considered quite expensive at the time. However, the Macintosh II was well-received by users and was considered a solid investment for professionals and businesses.
Unfortunately, on January 15, 1990, Apple discontinued the Macintosh II. Today, the Macintosh II is 36 years old and is considered a classic piece of technology from the 80s. While it may not be as powerful as today’s computers, the Macintosh II was a significant step forward in the development of the Macintosh II series and helped pave the way for future innovations.
Macintosh II Release Date and Original Price
| Introduced | March 2, 1987 |
| Discontinued | January 15, 1990 |
| Model Identifier | 6 |
| Model Number | M5000 |
| Order Number | M5333 M5430 M5410 |
| Original Price | $5,498 |
| Colors | Platinum |
| Weight | 24 Ibs. 10.886 KG |
| Dimensions | 5.5” H x 18.7” W x 14.4” D 13.97 cm H x 47.49 cm W x 36.57 cm D |
Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | Motorola 68020 |
| Processor Speed | 16 MHz |
| Architecture | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| System Bus | 16 MHz |
| Cache | 0.25 KB L1 |
| Coprocessor | Motorola 68881 FPU |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 40 MB or 80 MB (Optional) |
| Media | 2 x 800 KB Floppy |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 1 MB 4 MB |
| Maximum Memory | 20 MB (68 MB via FDHD upgrade kit) |
| Memory Slots | 8 – 30 pin SIMMs (Groups of 4) (4 MB or larger modules must be PAL SIMMs) |
| Minimum Speed | 120 ns |
| ROM | Unknown |
| Interleaving Support | No |
Display
| Built-in Display | None |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | None |
| Graphics Memory | None |
| Display Connection | Unknown |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 6 – NuBus |
| Hard Drive Interface | SCSI |
Software
| Original OS | Macintosh System Software 0.7 |
| Maximum OS | System 7.5.5 |
| Firmware | Macintosh ROM |
Connections
| Ethernet | None |
| Modem | None |
| ADB | 2 |
| Serial | 2 |
| SCSI | 1 – DB-25 |
| Floppy Port | None |
| Audio In | None |
| Audio Out | 1 – 3.5-mm stereo output jack |
| Display | Unknown |
Accessories
Power
| Backup Battery | 3.6 V lithium |
| Maximum Continuous Power | 230 W |
| Line Voltage | Unknown |
References:
Apple Support – Macintosh II: Technical Specifications
