<computer> (Mac, Beige Toaster, Maggotbox, Macintoy, Macintrash) A range of single user, 32 bit personal computers manufactured by Apple Computer Inc. originally based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor family and a proprietary operating system. The Mac was Apple's successor to the Lisa.
The Macintosh user interface was notable for popularising the graphical user interface, with its easy to learn and easy to use desktop metaphor.
The Macintosh Operating System is now officially called MacOS, and it's currently at version 7.5.3 (July 1996).
The part of the operating system that simulates the desktop is called "Finder." The multitasking version of Finder was called "MultiFinder" until multitasking was integrated into the core of the OS with the introduction of System 7.0 in 1990.
The Macintosh series provides medium-high-resolution graphics and a built-in graphics language, called "QuickDraw", which provides a standard for software developers.
The first Macintosh, introduced in January 1984, had a Motorola 68000 CPU, 128K of RAM, a small monochrome screen, and one built-in floppy disk drive with an external slot for one more, two serial ports and a four-voice sound generator. This was all housed in one small plastic case, including the screen. When more memory was available later in the year, a 512K Macintosh was nicknamed the "Fat Mac."
The Mac Plus (January 1986) added expandability by providing an external SCSI port for connecting hard disks, magnetic tape and other high-speed devices.
The Mac SE (March 1987) provides from one to four megabytes of RAM, an optional built-in 20 megabyte hard disk and one internal expansion slot for connecting a third-party device.
The Mac II (March 1987) uses the faster Motorola 68020 CPU with a 32 bit bus.
In 1994 PowerPC based Macs, PowerMacs, were launched.
See also Macintosh file system, Macintosh user interface.
(28 Nov 1996)