Compact Mac · The Beige Era · 1990
Macintosh Classic
The Classic put the original Mac silhouette within reach of ordinary buyers at last. Underpowered even at launch, it sold by the truckload to schools and families.
First Macintosh to break the $1,000 barrier.
Macintosh Classic II (1991)
Macintosh Classic: key facts
When was the Macintosh Classic released?
The Macintosh Classic arrived in October 1990. Apple discontinued it in September 1992.
How much did the Macintosh Classic cost?
The Macintosh Classic launched at $999 in 1990, about $2,428 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68000 at 7.83 MHz, 1 MB RAM, 40 MB storage, 9" monochrome, 512×342 display.
Why does the Macintosh Classic matter?
First Macintosh to break the $1,000 barrier.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68000 · 7.83 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB (up to 4 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | 9" monochrome, 512×342 |
| GPU | Bitmapped framebuffer |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, floppy |
| Weight | 7.3 kg |
| Dimensions | Compact all-in-one |
| Operating system | System 6.0.7 |
| Released | October 1990 |
| Discontinued | September 1992 |
| Launch price | $999 |
How the Macintosh Classic compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16,400× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 7.83 MHz, the clock is roughly 409× 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 10 modern phone photos.
Launched at $999 in 1990, about $2,428 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.
Did you know?
It could boot System 6 straight from ROM with a secret key combo.
Related Compact Mac models
Open the Macintosh Classic in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11