iPod classic Generation 6 (80 GB, black, 2007)

The iPod classic Generation 6 continued the “classic” iPod design and used a 4200 RPM ATA-66 hard drive long after all other iPod models had switched to flash memory. The advantage to the spinning hard drive was that it could hold far more songs for a lower price.

The iPod classic Generation 6 offered a 80 GB or 160 GB hard rive capable of supporting 20,000 or 40,000 songs and 100 or 200 hours of video.

The iPod classic models use a 2.5-inch color LCD display with an LED backlight at 320×240 and use cases with either a silver or black anodized aluminum front and a chrome stainless steel back (previous models used white or black polycarbonate fronts). The iPod classic models were the first full-size iPod models to not be offered in white.

The larger case also allowed for long battery life: 30 hours of music and 5 hours of video for the 80 GB model and 40 hours of music and 7 hours of video for the 160 GB model.

The software included a CoverFlow option for selecting albums, and three games were bundled: iQuiz, Klondike, and Vortex.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPod nano Generation 2 (8 GB, black, 2006)

The iPod nano Generation 2 borrowed a design concept from the iPod mini and added several more available colors: the 2 GB model was available in silver; the 4 GB model in silver, green, blue, and pink; and the 8 GB model was available in black only. It was available with 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB of flash memory and stored 500, 1000, or 2000 songs.

Hardware enhancements from the original iPod nano included longer battery life of 24 hours, a brighter 1.5-inch display, and a search engine for loaded songs.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPod nano (original, 4 GB, white, 2005)

The iPod nano replaced the iPod mini as a full-featured alternative to the classic iPod at the time. The iPod nano featured 1, 2, or 4 GB of flash memory in a 3.5-inch tall, 1.6-inch wide, and 0.27-inch thick white or black case. The color screen measured 1.5 inches at 176×132. The iPod nano is navigated by a Click Wheel and supports viewing photos. The design of the case features a jet black or iBook white front and stainless steel back.

Software functions included Screen Lock, a stopwatch, and a world clock. The iPod nano held approximately 240, 500, or 1000 songs and up to 15,000 or 25,000 photos that were downsampled to fit on the 1.5-inch screen.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPhone 3G (16 GB, 2008)

The iPhone 3G is similar to the original iPhone in functionality, but adds 3G cellular support and GPS. Although it features the same 320×480 resolution screen, the case is slightly thicker (0.02-inch) than the original, and had a plastic (rather than aluminum) back available in black or white. Both models were available in 8 GB or 16 GB, but the white iPhone 3G was only available in 8 GB.

The GPS functionality allowed the 2.0 megapixel camera to support geotagging. The iPhone 3G uses the same multi-touch interface, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and proximity sensor capabilities as the original iPhone, except it has two proximity sensors compared to one in the original.

The back of the iPhone 3G has the most curved shape of any iPhone design to date, and has been the only “flagship” iPhone model to ship with a plastic back.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPhone 3GS (16 GB, black, 2009)

iPhone 3GS looks nearly identical to the iPhone 3G that preceded it. The only visual difference is that the markings on the back of the phone are printed with a heavier weight font and a more reflective silver ink than the iPhone 3G.

The iPhone 3GS has many feature changes. The screen added a new “oleophobic” oil repellent coating. The “S” added to the name might refer to its increased speed: the processor increased from 412 MHz to 600 MHz, the onboard RAM doubled to 256MB, and the cellular network speed increased to 7.2 Mbps. The camera was also upgraded to 3.0 megapixel with VGA video recording at 30 FPS, as well as autofocus, macro, and white balance support, a tap to focus feature, and the ability to trim videos. The iPhone 3GS also added a compass.

Several new accessibility features were added, including VoiceOver, voice control, integrated Nike+iPod support, and an inline remote on the headphone cable, all features that had been previously added to iPod shuffle Generation 3.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPhone 5 (slate gray, 2012)

The iPhone 5 included a 4-inch widescreen multi-touch Retina display at 1136×640 (326 ppi); a rear 8-megapixel, 1080p iSight camera, a front 1.2-megapixel, 720p FaceTime HD camera; and 4G/LTE support. The aluminum unibody case had a glass front and came in either a dark gray slate matte back with a glossy black front or a silver matte back with a glossy white front.

The iPhone 5 uses a 1.3 GHz dual core Apple A6 processor, has 1 GB of RAM, and 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of flash storage. It also included three noise canceling microphones, a bottom-mounted headphone jack, and a new USB 2.0 Lightning port for connectivity.

Source: EveryMac.com

iPod U2 Special Edition Generation 4 (20 GB, 2004)

The iPod U2 Special Edition is a fourth generation iPod with a black front case (instead of white) and a red Click Wheel. On the back of the iPod U2 Special Edition, autographs of all four members of the band U2 are etched along with their printed names: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.

This is the first of three iPod U2 Special Edition devices. The second version was based upon the iPod Color (iPod with Color Display), while the third versions were based upon the iPod Fifth Generation (iPod Video) and iPod Fifth Generation Enhanced. All models feature the same custom colors and engraved autographs.

The iPod U2 Special Edition (Generation 4) shipped with a poster and $50-off coupon for the complete U2 downloadable box set.

I purchased my version of this iPod from a co-worker, and I do not have the original box, poster, coupon, or earbuds.

Source: EveryMac

MacBook (black, 2008)

Apple originally released the MacBook in 2006 as a follow-up to various iBook laptop iterations. The MacBook was the first laptop to use the MagSafe connector, a power connector that attached to the laptop with a magnet that easily broke free to prevent the power cord from pulling the laptop off a table or a lap.

The first-generation MacBook was made of polycarbonate and was available in glossy white or matte black.

I own both a black and white version of the first-generation MacBook. To purchase it new, the black model was just over $100 more than the white version for no other reason than it came in black. At the time, all other Mac models were white or silver.

Source: EveryMac

Macintosh TV (1993)

I acquired my Macintosh TV in the early 2000s in an eBay purchase. This 1993 Macintosh is said to be among the most rare with sources reporting between 8,000 and 10,000 manufactured. The machine is based upon the Macintosh LC 520, but it came standard with a TV and FM tuner card with a remote control. The computer was Apple’s first computer to ship standard with a cable-ready (BNC port) television built in.

One of the rare elements about this computer is that it was all black, including the ADB mouse and keyboard, both the standard issue at the time of manufacture. At the time, all other Macintosh computers were beige.

The CD player uses a tray cartridge design. To insert a CD, you remove the tray, open the clear plastic tray lid, insert the CD, and then insert the tray cartridge into the CD slot. The CD slot is labeled “CD Caddy.”

When I did the photo shoot for my Macintosh TV, I noticed that rust had formed around the serial and printer ports in the back of the computer. I removed the back and slid out the motherboard to found that the internal battery had ruptured and corroded many of the surrounding parts. I cleaned the inside of the board and removed the battery. I also didn’t attempt to start the computer since several components on the board were affected.

Source: EveryMac.com.