History of Macintosh LC

The Macintosh LC computer series was a Low-End Macintosh computer line in Apple’s portfolio. Macintosh LC was developed alongside another lower-priced computer line which was a Macintosh Performa.

The Macintosh LC series is a family of personal computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1990 to 1995. Mac LC line contained ten models; six desktops and four all-in-one computers.

All models of Macintosh LC Series

On top of these ten models Apple has released two Power Macintosh LC models; Power Macintosh 5200 LC as a direct replacement for LC 520, LC 550, and LC 630, and Power Macintosh 5300 LC as a co-existing model next to LC 575 and LC 580.

Macintosh LC

Macintosh LC
Source: pinterest.com – Macintosh LC

Macintosh LC has been introduced on October 15, 1990, and discontinued seventeen months later on March 15, 1992. Today this computer is 33 years old.

This Mac features a 16 MHz Motorola 68020 processor, 2 MB or 4 MB of RAM, 40 MB or 80 MB hard drive, and one or two 1.44 MB Floppy drives. 

The original price of the Macintosh LC was $2,400.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC

Macintosh LC II

Macintosh LC II
Source: cultofmac.com / Jonathan Zufi – Macintosh LC II

Macintosh LC II has been introduced on March 23, 1992, and discontinued twelve months later on March 15, 1993. Today this computer is 31 years old. 

Mac LC II was a direct replacement for the previous model Mac LC. LC II was available at a more affordable price than its predecessor. 

This Mac features a 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, 4 MB of RAM, 40 MB / 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC II was $1,240.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC II

Macintosh LC III

Macintosh LC III
Source: applerescueofdenver.com – Macintosh LC III

Macintosh LC III has been introduced on February 10, 1993, and discontinued twelve months later on February 14, 1994. Today this computer is 31 years old. 

Mac LC III was a direct replacement for Mac LC II, but LC II was still on the market when LC III has been released. Anyway, LC II has been discontinued after a month after LC III was introduced. Same as LC II, LC III was available at an even more affordable price.

This Mac features a 25 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, 4 MB of RAM, 40 MB / 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC III was $750.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC III

Macintosh LC 520

Macintosh LC 520
Source: wikimedia.org – Macintosh LC 520

Macintosh LC 520 has been introduced on June 28, 1993, and discontinued eight months later on February 2, 1994. Today this computer is 30 years old. 

This Mac features a 25 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor, 14″ CRT Color Display, 5 MB of RAM, 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 520 was $2,000.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 520

Macintosh LC III Plus

Macintosh LC III
Source: applerescueofdenver.com – Macintosh LC III

Macintosh LC III+ has been introduced on October 18, 1993, and discontinued four months later on February 14, 1994. Today this computer is 30 years old. 

This Mac features a 33 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor, 4 MB of RAM, 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC III+

Macintosh LC 475

Macintosh LC 475
Source: system-cfg.com – Macintosh LC 475

Macintosh LC 475 has been introduced on October 21, 1993, and discontinued seven months later on May 1, 1994. Today this computer is 30 years old. 

Mac LC 475 was also sold as the Macintosh Quadra 605 and Macintosh Performa 475.

This Mac features a 25 MHz Motorola 68LC040 processor, 4 MB or 8 MB of RAM, 80 MB / 160 MB or 250 MB hard drive, and a 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 475 was $900.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 475

Macintosh LC 550

Macintosh LC 550
Source: theymadethat.com – Macintosh LC 550

Macintosh LC 550 has been introduced on February 2, 1994, and discontinued thirteen months later on March 23, 1995. Today this computer is 30 years old. 

This Mac features a 33 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor, 14″ CRT Color Display, 5 MB of RAM, 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 550 was $1,200.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 550

Macintosh LC 575

Macintosh LC 575
Source: igotoffer.com – Macintosh LC 575

Macintosh LC 575 has been introduced on February 2, 1994, and discontinued fourteen months later on April 3, 1995. Today this computer is 30 years old. 

This Mac features a 33 MHz Motorola 68LC040 processor, Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor, 14″ CRT Color Display, 5 MB or 8 MB of RAM, 160 MB or 320 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 575 was $1,700.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 575

Macintosh LC 630

Macintosh LC 630
Source: pinterest.com – Macintosh LC 630

Macintosh LC 630 has been introduced on July 18, 1994, and discontinued nine months later on April 1, 1995. Today this computer is 29 years old. 

Mac LC 630 was also sold as the Macintosh Quadra 630 and Macintosh Performa 630.

This Mac features a 33 MHz Motorola 68LC040 processor, 4 MB or 8 MB of RAM, 250 MB or 500 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive. 

Worth mentioning is that Macintosh LC 630 was available in the PC version and was shipped with a 66 MHz Intel 486DX2 processor dedicated to MS-DOS and Windows.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 630 was $1,200.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 630

Macintosh LC 580

Macintosh LC 580
Source: ithistory.org – Macintosh LC 580

Macintosh LC 580 has been introduced on April 3, 1995, and discontinued four months later on August 1, 1995. Today this computer is 28 years old. 

This Mac features a 33 MHz Motorola 68LC040 processor, 14″ CRT Color Display, 8 MB of RAM, 500 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and 1.44 MB Floppy drive.

The original price of the Macintosh LC 580 was $1,300.

Go to the full specifications of the Mac LC 580

What happened with Macintosh LC Series?

The Macintosh LC series was on the market for 5 years. In April 1995, Apple has announced the Power Macintosh 5200 LC computer which was more powerful than the Mac LC due to the next generation of PowerPC processors. The Power Mac series and Mac Performa series has entirely replaced Mac LC Series in August 1995.

What kind of computer is Macintosh LC?

Macintosh LC computers were a family of low-end personal computers dedicated to home and educational users. The Mac LC series has been released in 1990 and was developed until late 1995. Macintosh LC was the first affordable Color capable Mac ever.

What does LC stand for in Macintosh LC Series?

The Macintosh LC series has a simple meaning of “Low Cost” because LC Series was the most affordable Mac Computers ever in Apple product line history. Mac LC was dedicated to the education sector and home users. Mac LC cost as little as $750 (LC III) in 1993, and the most expensive model was available for $2,400 (LC I) in 1990.

Is Macintosh LC worth anything?

Macintosh LC today is really old and the price of the computers is decreasing year by year.  Depending on the model Macintosh LC in original price was available from $750 to $2,400, unfortunately, today these computers are not worth the same price, and now you can get them for around $200 – $300.

Article last updated: November 16, 2022
Article next update: December 2023