Images of Prototype Apple Macintosh With Clear Casing Shared Online

[MSalemHawks]

That's a Macintosh SE prototype. First of all, the Mac 128K would never run anywhere near System 7 (which required 2MB of memory). Secondly, the ADB ports on the back weren't introduced until the SE. Third, the hard drive plainly visible above the floppy drive. Finally, the vent holes for the fan; the original Macs were fanless.

EDIT: Agreed with ibm601 above; I missed the expansion card for memory and the mic port. All of those point to a Classic prototype, circa 1991. Good catches!

All of that said, this is still an interesting find and it's in fantastic shape, but bad reporting for a Mac-centric site.

It is a Mac Classic as the article states clearly - followed the SE late 80's early 90's era. A quick google search will show you the details.

 

[phunguss]

Twitter user @DongleBookPro has shared images of a prototype Macintosh Classic with a translucent casing.

The final retail Macintosh Classic used an iconic beige plastic, so it is rare to see one with a clear casing. This allows it to show off many of the Macintosh's internal parts, such as its nine-inch CRT monitor. It also highlights just how much empty space there was within the Mac.

DongleBookPro did not share any further information about the machine, but Apple has been known to prototype its devices using translucent casings, such as for the Apple Newton or the Macintosh Portable M5120. These prototypes with clear casings are very rare and fetch high prices when they come to auction.

DongleBookPro regularly posts images of unreleased Apple devices and prototypes. In August, they revealed images of an unreleased first-generation iPod touch prototype with a 2013 Mac Pro-style glossy black finish and a prototype first-generation Mac mini with a built-in dock for an iPod nano.

Article Link: Images of Prototype Apple Macintosh With Clear Casing Shared Online

I seem to remember a company that did clear cases for modders. Is this their work I wonder?

Injection Molded Clear Case for Apple Macintosh Mac SE/30

Custom designed transparent rear case for the Apple Macintosh SE and SE/30

www.kickstarter.com

 

[miketcool]

What a crazy prototype! It doesn’t even have a USB port!

 

[Macbookprodude]

This is nice.. but I have a prototype of a G5 which is also in plastic.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I've been trying to get a classic Mac to add to my collection, but they are so hard to find and decent ones are outrageously expensive. Not to mention, they are finicky to maintain.

 

[Kebabselector]

Looks like the clear tech they have in prisons.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

It's a prison Mac.

And the worst thing about prison... was the Dementors! 😉

With a see through case, I can see why Steve wanted the inside to be beautiful too. 🤔

 

[Sykora171]

And to think, I had to void my warrantee, and build a special long torx bit holder to open it up and get that view.
Course, I also upped the RAM to 512K, so seeing the innards wasn't my only motivation there.
I don't see the creator's signatures on the back inside. Were they added later?

Since this is a classic (the article made a mistake), there are actually no signatures inside! There were only signatures in the cases of the 128k and the 512k I believe

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Since this is a classic (the article made a mistake), there are actually no signatures inside! There were only signatures in the cases of the 128k and the 512k I believe

My IIcx had signatures in the case bottom too.

 

[nylonsteel]

very cool for the day
reminds me of current gaming pc build with tempered glass showcasing hardware innards and rgb led lighting as eye candy

 

[satchmo]

This almost makes me want to go out and find a used iMac G3 in Graphite or Snow...or a 17" CRT.

 

[Partron22]

Satchmo, those inspired the whole early aughts bulbous look, in everything from toasters to automobiles.
Fortunately, it never reached houses.

 

[Nicole1980]

reporting was fine, no need for correction, It states Mac Classic - followed the SE late 80's early 90's era. A quick google search will show you the details. Don't be so quick to assume and be so lazy.

That was already corrected by the time you read it. So dont be so quick to assume and mentally lazy that you couldnt have considered that.

 

[Baumi]

The sticker makes no sense. If it meets DHHS regulations, but can't be sold in the US, why would it meet DHHS regulations? Ireland has an HHS, but I can't see where they called it the 'DHHS'.

There have been accounts that these clear prototype machines were given as gifts to members of the hardware team. The sticker certifies that the computer complies with all health and safety regulations (specficially that they have the required electromagnetic shielding in place). Apple probably needed to document this compliance before they were allowed to give the devices away.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

There have been accounts that these clear prototype machines were given as gifts to members of the hardware team. The sticker certifies that the computer complies with all health and safety regulations (specficially that they have the required electromagnetic shielding in place). Apple probably needed to document this compliance before they were allowed to give the devices away.

But weren't many of them made in Ireland?

 

[Spock]

I've been trying to get a classic Mac to add to my collection, but they are so hard to find and decent ones are outrageously expensive. Not to mention, they are finicky to maintain.

That battery will pop and destroy the logic board, happened to me. Rusted the internal chassis and everything. I was very sad, it was my fault for not removing it.

 

[Mr. Protocol]

I learned about these when clear-case Newtons started popping up. Originally, these clear cases were created to allow the case to be viewed under polarized light, to reveal strain lines in the plastic. That way any high-stress areas could be seen immediately, and the design tweaked to prevent later stress cracks from appearing in the final product. The resulting units were so sexy-looking that marketing had them run off a bunch more to be used as swag for important customers, so there were many more created (at least in the Newton line) than were required for manufacturing testing.

 

[chuckergreg]

Authentic or not...this is so gorgeous to me. It's a piece of art! 😍🖤

This is very similar (but not the same) to the ones shown at ECCC/VCFMW last year (2019). There is also a clear case design for the IIe I think?

Here's a pic from the show:

https://imgur.com/86RR3a0

And here's a link to the website where you can buy those similar clear cases:
https://maceffects.com

 

[Baumi]

But weren't many of them made in Ireland?

No idea, to be honest. But if they were given from a US company to US-based team members, they probably had to comply with US regulations, regardless of the place they were made.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

No idea, to be honest. But if they were given from a US company to US-based team members, they probably had to comply with US regulations, regardless of the place they were made.

True. I just found it odd that it couldn't be sold in America, but complied with the DHHS, in America. *shrug*

 

[bobnugget]

This is very similar (but not the same) to the ones shown at ECCC/VCFMW last year (2019). There is also a clear case design for the IIe I think?

Here's a pic from the show:

https://imgur.com/86RR3a0

And here's a link to the website where you can buy those similar clear cases:
https://maceffects.com

Those are copies of the original prototypes; they also do a IIe clear case.

 

[ryanflanders256]

She's a beauty!