Macintosh IIcx
Encyclopedia
Half a year following the release of the Macintosh IIx
passed before Apple
introduced the Macintosh IIcx in 1989. Despite resembling the IIx to a great extent and providing the same performance, the IIcx was quieter (due to its quieter fan on a smaller power supply) than its predecessor. The design was also made much more compact by reducing the number of NuBus
slots from 6 to 3. The new case, Apple's first to be designed to operate in either horizontal or vertical orientation, remained in use for its successors the 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.http://www.landsnail.com/apple/local/design/mac2cx.html 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 68030 processor.
Users liked the Mac IIcx in part because its components and parts (such as 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 Gassee
demonstrated the IIcx's modular design by assembling one from parts in front of the audiencehttp://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.05/05.11/Nov89Letters/index.html This made it less expensive to build, easier to repair, and earned it heavy praise and a warm reception amongst the Mac community.
This model was superseded by the Macintosh IIci
which used the same case.
Macintosh IIx
The Macintosh IIx was introduced by Apple in 1988 as an incremental update of the original Macintosh II model. It replaced the 16 MHz Motorola 68020 CPU and 68881 FPU of the II with a 68030 CPU and 68882 FPU ; and the 800 KB floppy drive with the 1.44 MB SuperDrive...
passed before Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
introduced the Macintosh IIcx in 1989. Despite resembling the IIx to a great extent and providing the same performance, the IIcx was quieter (due to its quieter fan on a smaller power supply) than its predecessor. The design was also made much more compact by reducing the number of NuBus
NuBus
NuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project. The first complete implementation of the NuBus and the NuMachine was done by Western Digital for their NuMachine, and for the Lisp Machines Inc. LMI-Lambda. The NuBus was later...
slots from 6 to 3. The new case, Apple's first to be designed to operate in either horizontal or vertical orientation, remained in use for its successors the IIci and Quadra 700. The idea for vertical orientation, one of the first minitower cases, was suggested by Apple CEO John Sculley
John Sculley
John Sculley is an American businessman. Sculley was vice-president and president of PepsiCo , until he became CEO of Apple on April 8, 1983, a position he held until leaving in 1993...
, who was running out of space on his desk.http://www.landsnail.com/apple/local/design/mac2cx.html The model was designated IIcx for compact (echoing the earlier Apple IIc
Apple IIc
The Apple IIc, the fourth model in the Apple II series of personal computers, was Apple Computer’s first endeavor to produce a portable computer. The end result was a notebook-sized version of the Apple II that could be transported from place to place...
compact model in the Apple II series
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
), and the x was Apple's designation for the 68030 processor.
Users liked the Mac IIcx in part because its components and parts (such as RAM, NuBus
NuBus
NuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project. The first complete implementation of the NuBus and the NuMachine was done by Western Digital for their NuMachine, and for the Lisp Machines Inc. LMI-Lambda. The NuBus was later...
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 Gassee
Jean-Louis Gassée
Jean-Louis Gassée is a former executive at Apple Computer, where he worked from 1981 to 1990. He is most famous for founding Be Inc., creators of the BeOS computer operating system. After leaving Be, he became Chairman of PalmSource, Inc. in November, 2004.-1980s: Apple Computer:Gassée worked for...
demonstrated the IIcx's modular design by assembling one from parts in front of the audiencehttp://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.05/05.11/Nov89Letters/index.html This made it less expensive to build, easier to repair, and earned it heavy praise and a warm reception amongst the Mac community.
This model was superseded by the Macintosh IIci
Macintosh IIci
The Apple Macintosh IIci was an improvement on the Macintosh IIcx. Sharing the same compact case design with three expansion slots, the IIci improved upon the IIcx's 16 MHz Motorola 68030 CPU and 68882 FPU, replacing them with 25 MHz versions of these chips. The IIci came with either a 40 or...
which used the same case.
See also
- List of Macintosh models grouped by CPU type
- List of products discontinued by Apple Computer