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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

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---
title: Apple MACINTOSH Portable
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1989'
cpus:
- 68HC000
params:
name: MACINTOSH Portable
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_system_s1.jpg
company: /companies/apple
company_name: Apple
specs:
- label: NAME
value: MACINTOSH Portable
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Apple
- label: TYPE
value: Portable
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: September 1989
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: October 1991
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: None
- label: KEYBOARD
value: |-
Typewriter 80-key with numeric keypad\
A trackball could replace the numeric keypad on left or right side.
- label: CPU
value: 68HC000, low-power version of the Motorola 68000
- label: SPEED
value: 16 MHz
- label: RAM
value: 1 MB up to 9 MB of SRAM
- label: ROM
value: 256 KB
- label: TEXT MODES
value: bitmap character fonts
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 640 x 400 dots
- label: COLORS
value: Monochrome
- label: SOUND
value: 8bit stereo output
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 38.8 (W) \* 37.7 (D) \* 10.3 (H) cm / 7.1 kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Serial, Parallel, SCSI, 2xADB
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 1.44 MB floppy disk, optional 40 MB hard disk
- label: OS
value: MAC 0S 6.0.4 to 7.5.5
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: 6.5V 5A lead-acid battery
- label: PRICE
value: $6,500
tabs:
- photos
- emulators
- links
forum_thread: 979
photos:
- title: LARGE VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: The machine could be delivered with either a numeric keypad or a trackball.
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_system_s2.jpg
- title: LEFT SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_leftside_s1.jpg
- title: TOP VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_topview_s1.jpg
- title: CLOSED
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_closed_s1.jpg
- title: REAR SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
From left to right:\
• Video Output Connector - video output in a proprietry format. Required an expensive external adaptor box to process the video into a useful format.\
• External Floppy Drive Connector\
• SCSI Port\
• Blanking plate for optional internal modem socket\
• ADB Port (mini-DIN)\
• Serial Printer Port (mini-DIN)\
• Serial Modem Port (mini-DIN)\
• Sound Output Jack\
• Power jack. Power is supplied by an external AC adaptor. The computer can be switched on only if the AC adaptor is connected and the internal battery is sufficiently charged.
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_rearside_s1.jpg
- title: INSIDE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** 40 MB Conner pre-formatted hard disk drive.\
**(2)** Optional modem card and RAM card slots.\
**(3)** Battery cover.
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_inside_s1.jpg
- title: APPLE CARRYING BAG
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/apple_macportable_bag_s1.jpg
emulators:
- title: Executor
url: http://www.ardi.com/
platform: Windows
text: Demonstration version of a commercial software (MS DOS & Win95)
- title: Gemulator
url: http://www.emulators.com/
platform: Windows
text: A commercial Software which emulates the Atari ST/TT and the Mac 128/Plus/2 (Win95 / Win NT)
- title: LisaEm
url: http://lisa.sunder.net/
platform: Windows
text: Same as Apple lisa emulator for unix but ported to windows
- title: PearPC
url: http://pearpc.sourceforge.net/
platform: Windows
text: PearPC is an architecture-independent PowerPC platform emulator capable of running most PowerPC operating systems.
- title: SoftMac
url: http://www.emulators.com/
platform: Windows
text: good 68K Emulator For Windows
- title: Executor
url: http://www.ardi.com/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: Demo version of a commercial software (Linux / NextStep)
- title: vMac - The Virtual Macintosh Emulator Project
url: http://www.leb.net/vmac/
platform: Other platform
text: ''
- title: Basilisk II
url: http://basilisk.cebix.net/
platform: Multiplatform
text: Basilisk II is an Open Source 68k Macintosh emulator. Good emulator, runs on several platforms, even Amiga
- title: Mini vMac
url: http://minivmac.sourceforge.net/
platform: Multiplatform
text: Mini vMac, a spin off of the program vMac, emulates a Macintosh Plus and Macintosh SE. So far it works on Macintosh OS, Microsoft Windows, and the X Window System.
links:
- title: Apple History
url: http://www.apple-history.com/
text: History of Apple computers with detail information about all of the computers to come out of Apple.
- title: Applefritter
url: http://www.applefritter.com
text: Excellent site about all Apple models,clones,prototypes,etc... A must see !
- title: CMQ - Groupes d'usagers Apple
url: http://www.cmq.qc.ca/cmq.html
text: (french)
- title: Homepage of Gamba
url: http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/index.html
text: A lot of interesting Mac links, for example "How To Transfer Files From PC to MAC "
- title: Jag's House
url: http://www.jagshouse.com/
text: Lot of info on all non PowerMac models
- title: Low End Mac
url: http://www.lowendmac.com
text: Great site with a full catalog of ALL old macintoshes.
- title: Mac Forums at MacForumz.com
url: http://www.MacForumz.com
text: Mac forums, a resource on the latest and greatest, as well as vintage, Macintosh hardware, software, and internet. Free registration.
- title: MacDebate
url: http://www.macdebate.com
text: Macintosh discussion forum
- title: The Vintage Mac Museum
url: http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~motohiko/
text: Nice dedicated website with tons of screenshots !
- title: Titlemax - Apple products
url: https://www.titlemax.com/discovery-center/lifestyle/every-product-apple-has-made-so-far/
text: Nice graphic of every product Apple Has Made So Far (thanks Lily)
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Discussion of Macintosh software system
related:
- /museum/apple-lisa-lisa-2-mac-xl
- /museum/apple-macintosh
- /museum/apple-macintosh-color-classic
- /museum/apple-macintosh-ii
- /museum/apple-macintosh-plus
- /museum/apple-macintosh-se
- /museum/apple-macintosh-se-30
oc_id: 1005
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230320230824/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1005
date: '2023-03-20'
---
The Mac Portable was Apple's first attempt to produce a portable version of a desktop Macintosh computer. The machine was partially engineered by Alan Kay (designer of the Dynabook), and was the first laptop computer with a GUI interface, along with [Atari Stacy](/museum/atari-stacy/).
Apple launched the Mac Portable at the same time as the Mac IIci. This marketing tactic could be considered questionable given the fact that the IIci featured a 68030 processor running at 25 MHz while the Portable version offered a 68000 (in actual fact, a low-power 68HC000) running at 16 MHz.
This is likely the reason that Portable sales never reached the volume that Apple was hoping for; this despite the fact that the machine was twice as fast as a [Mac SE](/museum/apple-macintosh-se/) and nearly as fast as a [Mac II](/museum/apple-macintosh-ii/).
Despite its weight, the Mac Portable was well-designed. It featured an advanced active-matrix LCD screen, up to 9 MB of SRAM, a 1.44MB floppy disk drive and an optional 40MB 3.5-inch hard disk drive. Its lead-acid battery -- responsible for most of the machine's weight -- offered 8 to 10 hours of autonomy which was quite an achievement at that time.
18 months after the Portable was first launched, Apple replaced the LCD screen with a backlit version, replaced the SRAM chips with less expensive versions, and offered a lower retail price. The machine was eventually discontinued six months later, but the system icon made for this computer became the icon for all Mac portables for several years to come.
Note also that the Macintosh Portable was used in space, not without some problems... (see the video).
<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>