One of the most comprehensive private collections of vintage @Apple computers and accessories in the world, focused on the company’s first three decades.
It’s both exhilarating and slightly nerve-wracking to power on the 1976 Apple-1 computer in our collection. This is a necessary task to maintain some of the components that might otherwise fail due to prolonged disuse.
However, using a computer that’s almost 50 years old and equipped with all original components comes with its own set of risks. If a component were to fail, sourcing period-correct replacement parts for a hand-assembled computer can be a challenging task.
A recent gem added to the collection: an ultra-rare clear case prototype of the original Macintosh Portable from 1989. This particular unit was given to Apple engineer Dick Craddock in appreciation of his work on the project, including the design of one of the first custom ASICs used in a portable Apple device. We are grateful to Dick and his wife Trina for graciously donating this pristine example to the collection.
The Macintosh Portable was Apple’s first serious attempt at mobile computing. It featured a full-size keyboard, a sharp active-matrix display, and a lead-acid battery that offered up to 16 hours of runtime. At nearly 16 pounds, it was portable in name more than in practice, but it broke new ground in performance and custom hardware integration.
Today it represents an important chapter in Apple’s evolution and a reminder that innovation sometimes comes in very heavy packages.
I had the great pleasure of hanging out with @jimmyg at his wonderful Apple extravaganza.
Funny enough, we talked about so many things other than Apple. Looking forward to my next visit.
Thank you Jimmy for your time.
The @verge has posted a cool YouTube video about the Apple Lisa and it’s influence on modern computers:
Inside the flop that changed Apple forever https://t.co/4U26zYZVXw