Macintosh IIvx
DeveloperApple Computer
Product familyMacintosh II, Centris
Release dateOctober 19, 1992 (1992-10-19)
Introductory priceUS$2,950 (equivalent to $6,152 in 2022)
DiscontinuedOctober 21, 1993 (1993-10-21)
Operating systemSystem 7.1 - Mac OS 7.6.1
CPUMotorola 68030 @ 32 MHz
Memory4 MB, expandable to 68 MB (80 ns 30-pin SIMM)
DimensionsHeight: 6 inches (15 cm)
Width: 13 inches (33 cm)
Depth: 16.5 inches (42 cm)
Mass25 pounds (11 kg)
SuccessorMacintosh Centris 650
RelatedMacintosh IIvi

The Macintosh IIvx is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from October 1992 to October 1993. It is the last of the Macintosh II family of Macintosh computers. The IIvx was introduced at the same time as the Macintosh IIvi, with both models using the same metal case design as the earlier Performa 600 and Performa 600CD. Like the Performa 600CD, the IIvx could be equipped with an internal double-speed CD-ROM drive.[1]

The IIvx was described in a MacWorld magazine review as having "the best price-to-performance ratio of any computer Apple has ever built."[1] The list price for a machine with an 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB main memory, and 512 KB of video memory was US$2,949. Adding the CD-ROM and upgrading to 5 MB of main memory and 1 MB video memory increased the price to US$3,219, which Macworld deemed to be "the best CD-ROM drive bargain ever offered".

Overview

The Mac IIvx began its life in development as a proof-of-concept to see how an internal CD-ROM drive could be added to a Mac. But after Apple CEO John Sculley gave a speech at MacWorld Tokyo promising a Mac with a CD-ROM drive, the IIvx was rushed into production.[2] Several shortcuts were taken in its design; most notably, its 32 MHz Motorola 68030 processor was crippled by a 16 MHz bus, making it slightly slower than the popular but aging Macintosh IIci.[3] Its serial port was limited to 57.6 kbit/s, which could cause problems with serial connections and MIDI hardware. The Macintosh IIvi (a slower version of the IIvx with a 16 MHz processor) was introduced at the same time in some markets (though not the United States) but discontinued four months later. Representing the high end of the original Performa lineup, the Performa 600 was also based on the same architecture. The IIvx was one of the only Macintosh II models with a 32K L2 cache, following the IIfx's onboard 32K cache and the IIci's optional 32K cache card; neither the IIvi nor the Performa 600 supported an L2 cache, despite their similarities to the IIvx.

Hardware

The IIvx was sold with hard drives ranging in capacity from 40 to 400 MB, three NuBus slots, and a Processor Direct Slot.[4]

The Macintosh IIvx uses the same case as the Performa 600, Centris 650, Quadra 650 (the speed-bumped refresh of the Centris 650), and Power Macintosh 7100. The IIvx can be upgraded to Centris/Quadra 650 by swapping the logic board.[5]

While the IIvx shares the model designation of other Macintosh II computers, Apple originally intended the IIvx to be the first computer in the Macintosh Centris line.[6] According to Apple, their lawyers were unable to complete the trademark check on the "Centris" name in time for the release of this computer so it ended up being sold the IIvx.[6] Machines bearing the Centris name were introduced a few months later. Notably the Macintosh Centris 650 was released four months after the IIvx for $250 less, immediately rendering the IIvx obsolete, since the 650 was powered by the 68040 CPU. The IIvx's base price was slashed by more than a third.[3] Because of increasing competition from Dell and other PC manufacturers, prices of the IIvx continued to fall quickly; by the end of June 1993, the price of the 5/80 + CD-ROM configuration had dropped to $1,799, about half its original price.[7] For a while afterwards, people who bought an expensive Mac that quickly became outdated were said to have been "IIvx-ed".[2]

Timelines

Timeline of Macintosh II family models
Macintosh QuadraMacintosh LCMacintosh SE/30Macintosh SEMacintosh PlusMacintosh IIvxMacintosh IIviMacintosh IIsiMacintosh IIfxMacintosh IIciMacintosh IIcxMacintosh IIxMacintosh II
Timeline of Macintosh Centris, LC, Performa, and Quadra models, colored by CPU type
Macintosh Quadra 840AVMacintosh Quadra 650Macintosh Quadra 610Macintosh Quadra 605Macintosh Quadra 660AVMacintosh Quadra 800Macintosh Centris 650Macintosh Centris 610Macintosh Quadra 950Macintosh Quadra 630Macintosh Quadra 900Macintosh Quadra 700Macintosh Performa 6420Macintosh Performa 6410Macintosh Performa 5440Macintosh Performa 5430Macintosh Performa 5280Macintosh Performa 6360Macintosh Performa 5260Macintosh Performa 6400Macintosh Performa 6400Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 6260Macintosh Performa 5400Macintosh Performa 5420Macintosh Performa 5410Macintosh Performa 5270Macintosh Performa 5260Macintosh Performa 6310Macintosh Performa 6300Macintosh Performa 6290Macintosh Performa 6200Macintosh Performa 6116Macintosh Performa 5215Macintosh Performa 5210Macintosh Performa 640CDMacintosh Performa 580CDMacintosh Performa 588CDMacintosh Performa 636Macintosh Performa 635Macintosh Performa 630Macintosh Performa 578Macintosh Performa 577Macintosh Performa 575Macintosh Performa 476Macintosh Performa 475Macintosh Performa 560Macintosh Performa 550Macintosh Performa 275Macintosh Performa 6117Macintosh Performa 467Macintosh Performa 466Macintosh Performa 460Macintosh Performa 410Macintosh Performa 520Macintosh Performa 450Macintosh Performa 430Macintosh Performa 405Macintosh Performa 250Macintosh Performa 600Macintosh Performa 400Macintosh Performa 200Power Macintosh 5300 LCMacintosh LC 575Macintosh TVMacintosh LC IIIMacintosh LC 550Macintosh LC 580Macintosh LC 520Macintosh LC 630Macintosh LC 475Power Macintosh 5200 LCMacintosh LC IIIMacintosh LC IIMacintosh LC

See also: List of Mac models

References

  1. 1 2 Seiter, Charles (December 1992). "Macintosh IIvx - The latest desktop Mac is a faster version of the Performa 600". Macworld. Vol. 9, no. 12. pp. 206–207.
  2. 1 2 O'Grady, Jason D. (2008). Apple Inc. (Corporations That Changed the World). ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-36244-6. LCCN 2008038757.
  3. 1 2 "Macintosh IIvx". Low End Mac. October 19, 1992. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Macintosh IIvx: Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Power Macintosh 7100/80: Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Gruman, Galen (April 1993). "Centris 610 & 650 - Two new midrange performers replace the venerable Mac II line". Macworld. Vol. 10, no. 4. pp. 106–113.
  7. ↑ Swartz, Jon; Picarille, Lisa (June 21, 1993). "Dealers not sold on Apple rebates". MacWEEK. Vol. 7, no. 25. p. 32-34.
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