March 27, 1995: The Radius System 100, the primary official Macintosh clone, launches.
A high-end laptop made by an organization based by a number of notable Macintosh alumni, this marvelous machine kicks off the period of clone Macs in grand trend. Nevertheless, it received’t be lengthy till issues take a flip for the more severe.
Radius System 100 launches
The System 100 Mac clone debuted at an occasion referred to as Seybold Seminars ’95 in Boston. Though unauthorized Apple clones popped up up to now, this marked the primary time Apple formally licensed one other firm to create a machine that may natively run Mac OS.
Individuals usually look again on the Mac clone period as a time of low-cost Macs designed to undercut Apple on value. In truth, the Radius System 100 represented the exact opposite.
Aimed toward media-intensive digital publishers, a completely kitted-out System 100 value $12,495. Adjusted for inflation, that’s greater than $25,400 as we speak. And you continue to wanted to purchase a monitor.
A Macintosh clone for execs: System 100 specs
Picture: Digibarn CC
Radius System 100 clients didn’t get shortchanged on specs, although. The highest-end Mac clone got here with a modified Energy Mac 8100 motherboard, 110 MHz 601 processor, 72MB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, a 2GB arduous disk, accelerated 24-bit video out to a 1,600-by-1,200-pixel show, and preinstalled Photoshop software program. All of this got here inside a ridiculously powerful tower enclosure.
Radius’ determination to not minimize corners shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock. The corporate had an extended historical past with Apple. It was based by members of the previous Macintosh workforce in 1986, two years after the primary Mac shipped. Founders included Burrell Smith, Andy Hertzfeld and Mike Boich. Lots of the similar names have been immortalized as workforce members who signed the within of the unique Macintosh case.
Earlier than transferring into clone Macs with the System 100 laptop, Radius made waves by delivery the Radius Full Web page Show. A vertically oriented second display screen for private computer systems (initially the Macintosh II), the Radius monitor pioneered the idea of letting customers drag home windows between a number of shows.
Troubled waters for Macs and Mac clones?
By 1995, nevertheless, each Apple and Radius struggled within the market. Regardless of launching some massively progressive merchandise, Apple suffered as a result of rise of Microsoft Home windows 95 and a few questionable administration choices.
This started a interval throughout which Cupertino would hemorrhage boatloads of money.
Radius, in the meantime, additionally stumbled, although the corporate scored an enormous coup when it turned the second third-party producer to signal a deal licensing the Macintosh working system. (Though it was the second to enroll, after Energy Computing, Radius turned the primary to carry an precise Mac clone to market on at the present time in 1995.)
As per the deal Radius signed, the clone-maker solely paid Apple $50 per machine produced. Apple thought the clones would improve the Mac’s market share. Nevertheless, the technique really value Cupertino cash. It stopped individuals from shopping for Macs instantly from Apple, with out enlarging the scale of the general pie.
Radius give up making the System 100 laptop in January 1996. The corporate then bought its Mac license to Taiwanese scanner producer Umax Knowledge Methods in Might. The next yr, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple and started to show the corporate in the best route, he pulled the plug on clone Macs.
Did you personal, or ever use, a Radius System 100 Mac clone? What are your recollections of this period in Apple historical past? Go away your feedback under.
