MacBook Pro 13-inch (Late 2011)

The MacBook Pro 13-inch (Late 2011) used the Intel Core i5 “Sandy Bridge” 2.4 GHz processor with two cores. It had a 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, a SuperDrive, an Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics processor, and an integrated FaceTime HD webcam. Its display used an LED-backlit 13.3-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix glossy display (at 1280×800 resolution).

Wireless connectivity included AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1. Wired ports included Gigabit Ethernet, one Firewire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out, an SDXC card slot, and a Thunderbolt port.

According to EveryMac, this laptop was identical to its predecessor, the MacBook Pro 13-inch (Early 2011) except for the faster processor. In fact, EveryMac indicated that this Late 2011 model was “quietly unveiled without a press release.”

This laptop was 0.95 inch high, 12.78 inches wide, 8.94 inches deep, and weighed 4.5 pounds. It originally shipped with OS X Lion.

Sources: EveryMac, Apple

Say hello to iPod magazine insert (2001)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, part of Apple’s print advertising included magazine inserts. These inserts were like “mini-magazines” within magazines. They were glued with a pliable rubber cement that could be easily removed.

This example is an advertisement for the new (at the time) iPod. The headline on the cover reads, “Say hello to iPod.” An iPod is pictured along with its earbuds.

Open, the 2-page spread reveals the right panel with an iBook running iTunes and the headline “1,000 songs on your Mac.” A dotted line labeled “Super-fast FireWire auto-updating” connects to the (actual size) image of the iPod on the right panel with the headline, “1,000 songs in your pocket.”

The back panel features several iPod screens depicting the iPod user interface (on the LCD grayscale display).

Folded, the size of the insert is 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Fully unfolded it is 15 inches wide.

MacBook Pro 15-inch (Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz, 2007)

This MacBook Pro 15-inch laptop shipped with a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa) processor and 2 GB RAM. It contained a 160 GB hard drive and 8X SuperDrive. The display was an LED-backlit 15.4-inch widescreen at 1440×900 resolution that was available in a matte or glossy finish. This example has a glossy display.

The keyboard design used a numeric keypad accessed using the fn (function) key, a feature removed from later models. This MacBook Pro had similar features to previous Core 2 Duo systems, including an ambient light sensor that adjusted keyboard illumination and screen brightness, a scrolling TrackPad, and a MagSafe power connector. It used a built-in iSight video camera at 1.3 megapixels.

Wireless connectivity on this 15-inch MacBook Pro included AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Bluetooth 2.0. Ports included an ExpressCard/34 slot, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 400 and 800 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio in/out (in a single 3.5mm port), and DVI out.

Source: EveryMac

iPod mini (original, pink, 2004)

When the iPod mini was released, it was the smallest and lightest version of the iPod Apple had produced. It was made from aluminum and measured 3.6 x 2.0 x 0.5 inches. The iPod mini used a 4 GB Hitachi or Seagate Microdrive hard drive that could store approximately 1,000 songs and play for up to 8 hours.

The iPod mini used the ClickWheel controller, the same as the iPod generation 3’s touch-sensitive scroll wheel. However, it moved the four control buttons to the wheel as mechanical switches, a design that would continue in future iPod models. It had a 138 x 110 pixel, 1.67-inch LCD grayscale screen with a backlight. It came in colors including silver, gold, green, blue, and pink. This example is pink.

This iPod mini includes the white belt clip that shipped with it. The iPod mini also included earbud headphones, an AC adapter, a FireWire cable, and a USB 2.0 cable. This iPod was compatible with a Macintosh computer with a FireWire port running a minimum of Mac OS X version 10.1.5, and it could also be used with a PC with a FireWire or USB 2.0 port running Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Home or Professional.

Sources: Everymac, Wikipedia

Mac OS 9 9.0.4 box (2000)

Mac OS 9 was Apple’s final version of its “Classic” operating system. This iteration, version 9.0.4, was released April 4, 2000, and its changes included “Improved USB and FireWire support and other bug fixes.”

This specific boxed version is a 10-client license and features iTools, Apple’s first suite of online services that would eventually become iCloud.

The box also mentions that Mac OS 9 introduces “more than 50 new features” and includes “nine Internet power tools.” The tools include:

  1. Sherlock 2
  2. Multiple Users
  3. Voiceprint Password
  4. Keychain
  5. Auto Updating
  6. Encryption
  7. File Sharing over the Internet
  8. AppleScript over TCP/IP
  9. Network Browser

Source: Wikipedia

Education Resource CD Winter 2000 (2000)

This Education Resource CD is dated Winter 2000. Its design features a rendition of the glossy 3D tabs on the apple.com website at the time. The toolbox image at the bottom of the CD matched the iTools design. iTools is a precursor to what has become Apple iCloud services.

iPod 6-pin–to–4-pin FireWire Adapter (for iPod Generation 3, 2003)

The iPod 6-pin–to–4-pin FireWire Adapter was specifically included with the iPod Generation 3 (Dock Connector) to make it compatible with Windows computers. According to the iPod User’s Guide:

To use iPod with a Windows PC, you must have:
• A Windows PC with 500 MHz or higher processor speed
• Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional
• iTunes 4.2 or later (iTunes is included on the iPod CD). To be sure you have the latest version of iTunes, go to www.apple.com/itunes.
• iPod software (included on the iPod CD)
• Built-in FireWire or a FireWire card installed, or built-in USB 2.0 or a USB 2.0 card and the optional iPod Dock Connector to USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable

Although all Mac computers at the time had a 6-pin FireWire port built in, Windows computers had many different possible ports. For Windows, the iPod Generation 3 could support three connectors: USB port (USB 2.0 recommended), 6-pin FireWire 400 port (IEEE 1394), or 4-pin FireWire 400 port (with included adapter).

The 4-pin FireWire adapter only supported data transfer, it could not charge the iPod.

Source: Apple (manual, Identify your iPod model)

iSight Camera (original, 2003)

The original iSight camera was an external webcam that connected to a Mac via FireWire cable. The iSight camera supported 640×480 resolution at 30 frames per second with autoexposure and autofocus. It includes its own microphones with noise suppression features. The camera used a single FireWire port for audio, video, and power. It weighed 2.3 ounces.

The iSight included five camera mounts (four clear acrylic mounts and one magnetic base) and a clear plastic tube for transporting the camera. 

Apple stopped selling this external iSight camera in 2008 when all Mac laptops and iMac computers began including a built-in iSight camera.

Reference: Wikipedia.com

iPod Dock (2003)

When the iPod switched its connector from a FireWire port to the proprietary 30-pin Dock Connector, several new compatibility and hardware features became available. Because the Dock Connector handled data, sound, and charging capabilities, a variety of connection options were available. 

The iPod Dock allowed a connected iPod to simultaneously charge, send sound to an external stereo system through a line-out port in the back, and respond to commands from an Apple Remote control device.

Source: Apple-History.com

Mac mini G4 (original, 2005)

The Mac mini G4 featured a 1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB of SDRAM memory, an 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, and a slot-loading 8X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive. This is the original Mac mini and was sold as a budget Mac that came with no display, keyboard, or mouse. This computer was a great low-cost option for someone switching from Windows to Mac who already owned a display and USB keyboard and mouse.

The Mac mini G4 had ports including DVI (with a DVI-to-VGA adapter included), USB 2.0, FireWire, and a headphone/line out jack. The original Mac mini supported a wireless AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth card as an option. After July 26, 2005, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth were provided standard.

The entire computer was 6.5 inches square, 2 inches tall, and weighed 2.9 pounds.

From the day the Mac mini was released, I have always had one permanently connected to my living room stereo system and/or flat panel television and used the Mac mini as my iTunes server. I had previously used a Power Mac G4 Cube for this purpose. With this original Mac mini, I was still using a CRT-based TV so I connected to it remotely. 

Source: EveryMac.com