Server · The Beige Era · 1996
Apple Network Server 700
A strange enterprise detour: a PowerPC Apple server built for AIX, not Mac OS, aimed at serious Unix customers during Apple’s identity crisis.
Apple server that ran IBM AIX instead of Mac OS.
Xserve (2002)
Apple Network Server 700: key facts
When was the Apple Network Server 700 released?
The Apple Network Server 700 arrived on February 15, 1996. Apple discontinued it in April 1997.
How much did the Apple Network Server 700 cost?
The Apple Network Server 700 launched at $11,999 in 1996, about $24,438 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC 604 at 150 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 2.0 GB storage, Server console display.
Why does the Apple Network Server 700 matter?
Apple server that ran IBM AIX instead of Mac OS.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 604 · 150 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 MB (up to 512 MB) |
| Storage | 2.0 GB |
| Display | Server console |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, Ethernet, PCI |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Tower server |
| Operating system | AIX for Apple Network Servers |
| Released | February 15, 1996 |
| Discontinued | April 1997 |
| Launch price | $11,999 |
How the Apple Network Server 700 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 1,020× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 150 MHz, the clock is roughly 21× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 500 modern phone photos.
Launched at $11,999 in 1996, about $24,438 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Related Server models
Open the Apple Network Server 700 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11