Macintosh conversion

To date, two methods have been used to make a personal computer, not offered by Apple, but able to run the Mac operating system: either create a Macintosh conversion or build a Macintosh clone.

Unlike Mac clones that contain little or no original Apple hardware, Mac Conversions are essentially modification kits that require the core components of a previously purchased, genuine Apple Mac computer, such as the Macintosh ROM or the motherboard, in order to become a functional computer system.

This places the commercial production of a Mac conversion under the protection of the First-sale doctrine in the U.S. and similar legal concepts in most other countries.

Background

Since the early days of Macintosh computers, manufacturers have sought to fulfill the needs of customers who wanted to have a computer with Mac OS, but with a functionality not provided by Apple’s existing Macintosh (later called Mac) lineup. Companies making Mac conversions start with a previously purchased, genuine Apple Mac computer, and use them in combination with their own manufactured components to assemble their custom Mac solution. Modifications can be as minor as the addition of a touch-sensitive display bezel to an otherwise factory standard iMac to create for example a kiosk system,[1][2] or as extensive as the complete replacement of a MacBook's laptop enclosure to create a Tablet Mac.[3]

While this business model of aftermarket modification is most commonly used in the car industry, with one of the most famous examples being the Shelby Mustang, a high performance variant of the Ford Mustang, it has been applied with equal success in the Mac market.

Whereas Mac clones typically aim to compete directly with Apple's solutions through lower prices, commercial Mac Conversions rely on offering features/solutions not available from Apple, and where the need for that particular Mac solution is high enough to justify the combined cost of the full price of the Mac donor computer plus the price of the conversion kit and labor.[4] Commercially successful Mac conversions were discontinued when Apple introduced products with competing features.[5]

Legality

By definition, a Macintosh conversion is an aftermarket modification of a previously purchased, genuine Apple Mac computer or laptop, while preserving the core components required to run the Mac operating system, such as the donor Mac's motherboard. Retaining the core Mac computer inside the Mac conversion avoids any of the copyright misuse, DMCA or Mac operating system licensing issues that forms the basis of the legal threat unlicensed Mac clone manufacturers have to face.

The performance of aftermarket modifications is in the U.S. protected by the First-sale doctrine and similar legal concepts in most other countries.[6][7] Its legality has been tested through litigation, most notably in the automotive industry, where automobile manufacturers have attempted to hinder or suppress automotive aftermarket businesses by means of copyright and/or patent infringement lawsuits.

The application of the aftermarket process makes for a critical legal distinction between Macintosh conversions and Macintosh clones. Whereas none of the Mac conversions of the companies listed below have seen legal action, Psystar, an unlicensed Mac clone maker, was sued by Apple in federal court within months[8] of the introduction of their first Mac clones.[9]

Companies

The following companies have created commercially available Mac conversion solutions:

Axiotron, Inc.

Axiotron, Inc., was founded as a Delaware corporation in 2005[10] with headquarters in Los Angeles, California. It was acquired in 2008[11] by the publicly traded Toronto, Canada-based Axiotron Corp. (TSX-V: AXO) and dissolved in 2010.[12][13] The company was the first Mac conversion manufacturer to create a pen-enabled tablet Mac computer.[14]

Notable products include:

  • Modbook – the first true Tablet Mac,[15] this Mac conversion was based on the polycarbonate white MacBook and featured a pen-enabled, but not finger-touch sensitive screen. The Modbook retained the entire bottom half of the donor MacBook enclosure, only removing the display and the keyboard section, replacing it with the pen-enabled 13.3-inch wide-viewing-angle display in a chrome-plated cast-magnesium bezel.[16][17] Discontinued in 2010.

Colby Systems, Inc.

Founded in 1982[18] and operating out of Fresno, California, Colby Systems, Inc. launched its first Macintosh portable computer in 1987.[19] In 1991, after introducing but never shipping its final portable Mac solution, the company left the Mac conversion business to work with video technology[20] and was dissolved in 2016.[21]

Notable products include:

The first WalkMac, from Colby Systems, was based upon a Mac Plus logic board, with a plasma display
  • Lap-Mac[22] – was a Macintosh Plus converted into a 16-pound, portable Mac computer with a detachable gas plasma screen allowing users to place a monitor on top of the device instead. Featuring 1MB RAM, one 800k floppy drive, and optional external battery pack, it had space for a modem and an ink-jet printer. Pricing started at $4,995 and the product was discontinued with the introduction of the company's WalkMac in 1987.
  • The first WalkMac [23] was a Mac conversion based upon a Mac Plus logic board, and it featured an orange plasma display. Only a mouse-pad was supplied, and a mouse, a keyboard and an external battery were needed. Special connectors on the side allowed the connection of an external FDD and/or HDD module. A collector has recently documented the acquisition and repair of one of this original WalkMac machine.[24] The WalkMac SE[25][26] and SE-30 [27][28] – replacing the original WalkMac, were based on a Macintosh SE and Macintosh SE/30 respectively, and transformed the donor computers from all-in-one desktops to Mac portables with 9-inch monochrome backlit LCD Supertwist displays and internal batteries. Pricing started a $5,600 for the WalkMac SE and $6,800 for the WalkMac SE-30.
  • Colby Classmate[29][30] – based on a Macintosh Classic and introduced in 1991, it would have been the first Mac in a tablet-like form factor with a built-in trackball and a membrane keyboard positioned under the display. However the Classmate never went into production.[31]

Dynamac Computer Products, Inc.

Dynamac Corporation, out of Denver, Colorado, also known as Dynamac Computer Products Inc., was founded as a Delaware corporation in 1970[32] and offered Mac portable computer systems between 1986[33] and 1991.[34]

Notable products include:

  • Dynamac[35][36] – was a Macintosh Plus converted into a black metal, 24-pound, portable Mac computer with a 9-inch back-lit amber electroluminescent screen and an optional, external battery pack. Based on an 8MHz 68000 CPU, and with pricing starting at $7,000, the Dynamac became obsolete with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh Portable in 1989.[37] Discontinued.
  • Dynamac EL[38] – based on the same Macintosh Plus system as the Dynamac, the EL used a black Cycolac plastic enclosure, reducing the weight to 18-pound and dropping the starting price to $6,000. It also became obsolete with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh Portable in 1989.[39] Discontinued.
  • Dynamac LC Display[40] – converted a Macintosh LC into a 13 ¾-pound portable Mac by attaching a 9.5-inch LCD display with 640-by-480 pixels resolution and 16 shades of grey to a Macintosh LC base system. Adding the optional battery added 2 ½ pound to the system's weight. Pricing started at $1,299 for the display kit, plus the cost of the Macintosh LC. Discontinued.
  • Dynamac IIsf[41] and IIsf/30[42] – this 11-pound Mac portable was based on converting a Macintosh LC into a leather-cased Mac portable with a built-in 9.5-inch LCD display with 640-by-480 pixels resolution and 16 shades of grey, a touchpad and an internal battery. The solution came either with the original donor Mac’s 68020 CPU (IIsf) starting at a price of $4,995 or an 68030 CPU (IIsf/30) starting at a price of $6,995. Discontinued.

Intelitec Systems Corp.

Intelitec Systems Corp., based out of Fairfield, Iowa, offered Macintosh portable computers from 1987[43] until 1989 when the introduction of the Apple Macintosh Portable made their product obsolete.[44]

Notable products include:

Modbook Inc.

Founded in February 2012, Modbook Inc, a privately held[46] U.S. company based out of Los Angeles, California,[47] is currently the only active Mac conversion manufacturer. The company offers mid- and high-end pen-enabled Tablet Mac solutions for creative professionals.

Notable products include:

Outbound Systems, Inc.

Outbound Systems Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, and founded in 1989,[54] offered Mac portable computer systems between 1989[55] and 1991,[56] and left the Mac conversion business in 1992 to build windows-based PC solutions.[57][58]

Notable products include:

  • Outbound Laptop[59][60][61] – announced in 1989, this Mac conversion came very close to being a Mac clone as Outbound manufactured the entire computer, including the motherboard, and only required the transfer of the Mac ROM from a Macintosh Plus or SE donor computer. The company successfully characterized its solution as an extension of the donor Mac by supporting a “hive” mode. The “lobotomized” Mac could be connected to the Outbound Laptop and started normally, using the Laptop’s Mac ROM and faster 15 MHz 68HC000 CPU. Costing between $2,999 and $3,999, depending on the options (and without accounting for the cost of the donor Mac), it weighed 9.2 pounds, making it lighter and less expensive than Apple’s Macintosh Portable (15.5 pounds and $4,799 to $5,499 respectively). It was discontinued with the introduction of the Outbound Notebook in 1991.
  • Outbound Notebook[62][63][64] – introduced in 1991, and built like its predecessor the Outbound Laptop with only the use of a ROM from a Macintosh Plus or SE donor, the Notebook featured a true clamshell notebook design with a 10″ Supertwist 640 x 400 pixels b&w display, a replaceable daughtercard design that allowed for easy CPU and FPU upgrades, standard 30-pin SIMM RAM memory modules, and could connect through its SCSI port to the Outbound Outrigger full-page external monochrome monitor. Pricing started at $3,500 and it was discontinued in 1992.

Sixty Eight Thousand, Inc.

Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc, a California corporation based out of Scotts Valley, operated between 1987[65] and 1994,[66] offering performance-enhanced tower workstation solutions for the high and top-end professional Mac market.

Notable products include:

See also

References
  1. Sellers, Dennis (May 17, 2001). "Touchscreen system for new iBooks announced". Macworld. Touchscreens and kiosks utilizing Apple's consumer products seem to be a booming industry. Last month a company called Third Stream Media announced plans to roll out its Touch Stand retail kiosk based on iMac systems and Termimac Informations systems unveiled their own line of iMac-based information kiosk systems
  2. Cohen, Peter (April 26, 2001). "Termimac offers slick iMac kiosk". MacCentral Online. Archived from the original on June 4, 2001. The branded kiosks feature touchscreen-equipped iMac systems, as well.
  3. Dubey, Krati (2007). "ModBook – the First True Mac Tablet Arrives at Macworld". TechShout. Retrieved September 27, 2017. If your favored input device is the pen, then this is the Mac tablet solution for you
  4. "Souped-up fx". Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing, Volume 05, Number 01. September 10, 1990. Archived from the original on May 23, 2006. just introduced a IIfx version of the Dash 30. For $11,500, you get a Mac IIfx (40-MHz 68030 CPU and 68882 math chip), 8 MB of high-bandwidth main memory and a 180-MB disk drive rated for 15-ms access time
  5. "Outbound". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Ultimately, the inexpensive, sleek and lightweight PowerBook 100, co-designed by Apple and Sony, forced Outbound out of business
  6. "British Leyland Motor Corp & Ors v Armstrong Patents Company Ltd & Ors". United Kingdom House of Lords Decisions. February 27, 1986. It seems to me that when one is considering machinery which is not the subject of any patent protection, it is unnecessary and may be misleading to introduce the concept of an implied licence. The owner of a car must be entitled to do whatever is necessary to keep it in running order and to effect whatever repairs may be necessary in the most economical way possible. To derive this entitlement from an implied licence granted by the original manufacturer seems to me quite artificial. It is a right inherent in the ownership of the car itself. There is an inconsistency between marketing cars and thereby creating whatever rights attach to their ownership on the one hand and acting to restrain the free exercise of those rights on the other. The law does not countenance such inconsistencies.
  7. "BRITISH LEYLAND MOTOR CORPORATION LTD V ARMSTRONG PATENTS CO LTD: HL 1986". Swarb.co.uk. March 22, 2017. Every owner of a car has the right to repair it. That right would be useless if suppliers of spare parts were not entitled to anticipate the need for repair. The right cannot, in my view, be withheld by the manufacturer of the car by contract with the first purchaser and cannot be withheld from any subsequent owner.
  8. Taub, Eric A. (June 16, 2008). "Apple Sues Psystar to Block Macintosh Clone Sales". New York Times. On July 3, Apple filed suit in the Federal District Court for Northern California, asserting that the Florida-based company had breached its trademark agreements by selling non-Apple hardware, including servers, that could run modified versions of the Mac OS X Leopard operating system.
  9. Lainski, Jennifer (April 14, 2008). "Psystar Releases Mac Clone, But Has Apple Shut Them Down?". CRN. A company called Psystar announced ... that it has created a Mac-clone for $399 that will run Apple's OS Leopard
  10. "California Department of State: Division of Corporations: Dynamac Computer Products Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Delaware Corporation: AXIOTRON, INC.; File Number: 3908075; Founded: May 1st, 2005
  11. "Axiotron Corp.: Axiotron Completes Equity/Debt Financings and Closes Qualifying Transaction". SIP TRUNKING REPORT. August 26, 2008. Axiotron Corp. (AXO - TSX Venture) ... today announced that it has closed its ... acquisition of ... El Segundo, California-based, Axiotron, Inc.
  12. "Shareholders Approve Dissolution of Axiotron, Inc" (PDF). Free-Press-Release.com. June 1, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2017. was dissolved today upon a unanimous vote by its shareholders, following foreclosure against all of its assets by its secured creditors
  13. "Axiotron Announces Transfer of Listing to NEX Board of TSX Venture Exchange". InvestorPoint.com. December 16, 2010. Trading in the Company's shares will remain suspended in accordance with a general cease trade order issued by the Company's principal regulator, the Ontario Securities Commission, on June 23, 2010
  14. Cohen, Peter (January 2, 2008). "ModBook tablet Mac finally ships". Macworld. It's the first pen tablet-based Mac.
  15. Dubey, Krati (2007). "ModBook – the First True Mac Tablet Arrives at Macworld". TechShout. Retrieved September 27, 2017. ModBook the First True Mac Tablet
  16. Cohen, Peter (January 2, 2008). "ModBook tablet Mac finally ships". Macworld. Modbook Product Specs
  17. Blass, Evan (January 1, 2008). "Axiotron finally ships Modbook OSX Tablet". Engadget. Modbook Product Specs
  18. "California Secretary of State: Business Entities: Colby Systems Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. California Corporation: Colby Systems Inc.; File Number: C1129026; Founded: 12/01/1982
  19. Spiegelman, Lisa L. (March 30, 1987). "Developers Ready MacSE-Compatible Portables". InfoWorld Macintosh News. Colby Systems ... have plans for a Macintosh SE-compatible portable computer
  20. Edwards, Benj (November 23, 2012). "The unusual world of Mac prototypes". Macworld. Colby left the Macintosh development world to work with video technology.
  21. "California Secretary of State: Business Entities: Colby Systems Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. California Corporation: Colby Systems Inc.; File Number: C1129026; Dissolved: 02/09/2016
  22. Spiegelman, Lisa L. (March 30, 1987). "Developers Ready MacSE-Compatible Portables". InfoWorld Macintosh News. Lap-Mac Product Specs
  23. Carnoy, David (May 30, 2013). "Walkmac revisited: The inside story of the 'first' portable Mac". CNET.
  24. "WalkMac from Colby's Estate".
  25. Flynn, Laurie (October 31, 1988). "Colby to Sell SE Model of Walk-Mac". InfoWorld News. Colby SE Product Specs
  26. "Mac Clones: Colby: WalkMac SE Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Colby WalkMac SE Product Specs
  27. "Mac Clones: Colby: WalkMac SE-30 Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Colby WalkMac SE-30 Product Specs
  28. "Mac SE/30". LowEndMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Colby WalkMac SE-30 Product Specs
  29. "Colby Classmate Portable Computer". LowEndMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Colby Classmate Portable Product Specs
  30. "Classmate Portable Computer". Chuck Colby. Colby WalkMac SE-30 Product Specs
  31. Edwards, Benj (November 23, 2012). "The unusual world of Mac prototypes". Macworld. Never reached the market
  32. "California Department of State: Division of Corporations: Dynamac Computer Products Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Delaware Corporation: DYNAMAC CORPORATION; File Number: 750817; Founded: May 1st, 1970
  33. O'Connor, Rory J. (November 24, 1986). "Apple Backs Portable Mac By Dynamac". InfoWorld News. Dynamac said its first machines, also called Dynamac, will be available for sale early next year
  34. Flynn, Laurie and Krohn, Nico (January 21, 1991). "Outbound, Dynamac Show Laptops". Macintosh News. January 22, 1991 Dynamac shows LaptopCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. "Dynamac and Dynamac EL". LowEndMac.com. July 3, 2016. Details, Dynamac
  36. "The Dynamac, a Macintosh clone (and first true Mac portable)". DigiBarn Computer Museum. Retrieved September 27, 2017. The following Dynamac was used by Niel MacDonald and others at Apple, and traveled all the way to Signapore once.
  37. "Apple Portable (Original) Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Introduction Date: September 20, 1989
  38. "Dynamac EL Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Dynamac EL Specs
  39. "Apple Portable (Original) Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Introduction Date: September 20, 1989
  40. Flynn, Laurie and Krohn, Nico (January 21, 1991). "Outbound, Dynamac Show Laptops". Macintosh News. Dynamac offers Portable DisplayCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. Flynn, Laurie and Krohn, Nico (January 21, 1991). "Outbound, Dynamac Show Laptops". Macintosh News. The Dynamac IIsfCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. Knight, Dan (January 14, 1991). "Dynamac IIsf and IIsf/30". LowEndMac.com. The Dynamac IIsf is a leather-cased portable with an LC motherboard and a 640 x 480 pixel, 16-gray backlit, flat-panel display. It includes a touch pad, has a battery life of three hours,and comes with 2 megabytes of RAM and a 40 megabyte hard-disk drive. The IIsf can drive Apple’s 12-inch RGB and monochrome displays.
  43. Spiegelman, Lisa L. (March 30, 1987). "Developers Ready MacSE-Compatible Portables". InfoWorld Macintosh News. Intelitec Systems Corp. of Fairfax Iowa, have plans for a Macintosh SE-compatible portable computer
  44. "Apple Portable (Original) Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Introduction Date: September 20, 1989
  45. Spiegelman, Lisa L. (March 30, 1987). "Developers Ready MacSE-Compatible Portables". InfoWorld Macintosh News. MX Plus Specs
  46. "Modbook Inc. Completes Startup Financing". Online PR Media. March 12, 2012. a privately held company ... today announced that it has successfully secured private equity funding
  47. "California Secretary of State: Business Entities: Modbook Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. California Corporation: Modbook Inc.; File Number: C3438933; Founded: 2/2/2012
  48. "Modbook Online Store". Modbook Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Modbook Online Store
  49. "Amazon: Modbook". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Amazon: Modbook
  50. Modbook Inc. "Modbook Pro X — 15.4" Retina Quad-Core Mac OS X Tablet". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Project Page
  51. Modbook Inc. (December 31, 2016). "Questionnaire Results". Kickstarter.com. [85.4% voted to] getting the Pro X compatible with the latest Touch Bar MacBook Pro generation and fill your Kickstarter rewards with those.
  52. "Modbook Inc. Launched Equity Crowdfunding Campaign on Wefunder and Introduced the Modbook Pro X, World's First Convertible Tablet Mac". Hawaii News Now. September 14, 2017. Introduced the Modbook Pro X, World's First Convertible Tablet Mac
  53. "Le nouveau "Modbook Pro X" transforme un MacBook Pro 15" en Mac tactile" [The new "Modbook Pro X" turns a MacBook Pro 15 "into Mac touch] (in French). Mac4Ever. September 14, 2017. The new Modbook X is based on a MacBook Pro 15 "2017 and transforms it into a tablet
  54. "Electronic Business, Volume 16, Issues 9-16". Cahners Publishing Company. 1990. founded in 1989
  55. "Outbound Laptop and Notebook". LowEndMac.com. July 3, 2016. It was announced in August 1989
  56. Flynn, Laurie and Krohn, Nico (January 21, 1991). "Outbound, Dynamac Show Laptops". Macintosh News. Outbound Adds Classic SupportCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  57. Lee, Yvonne (November 9, 1992). "Outbound offers network-ready PC". InfoWorld News. Outbound Systems has used its experience making Macintosh-compatible notebooks to create an Intel-based miniature computer
  58. "News - industry troubles". The computists' weekly. December 16, 1992. Outbound Systems Inc. (Boulder) is ceasing production.
  59. Lewis, Peter H. (August 14, 1990). "PERSONAL COMPUTERS; A 9-Pound Mac Clone". The New York Times. Outbound Laptop
  60. Owad, Tom (May 18, 2004). "Outbound Laptop". applefritter.com. Outbound Laptop
  61. Sinasohn, Roger (2002). "Outbound Laptop - An innovative portable Mac". Outbound Laptop
  62. Flynn, Laurie and Krohn, Nico (January 21, 1991). "Outbound, Dynamac Show Laptops". Macintosh News. Outbound Adds Classic SupportCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  63. "Outbound Notebook System". Obsolete Computer Museum. Retrieved September 27, 2017. It uses camcorder batteries
  64. "Outbound Notebook". Retrieved September 27, 2017. Product Specs
  65. "California Department of State: Division of Corporations: Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc". California Department of State. Retrieved September 27, 2017. California Corporation: Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc.; File Number: C1417299; Founded: September 10th, 1987
  66. "Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc, Form 10KSB, Filing Date Apr 15, 1998". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018. In June 1994, Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc., a company which made Macintosh compatible workstations, filed for bankruptcy protection in San Jose, California (Case No.: 94-54123)
  67. Flynn, Laurie (February 20, 1989). "Mac II Programs Run Faster On Non-Apple Workstation". InfoWorld News. Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc. released earlier this month a 68030-based workstation
  68. "The 68000 Dash 30fx, an Accelerated Mac IIfx". LowEndMac.com. July 5, 2016. Product Specs
  69. "DASH 30 FX TRADEMARK INFORMATION". Bizapedia. Retrieved September 27, 2017. First Use: Apr. 03, 1990
  70. "Souped-up fx". Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing, Volume 05, Number 01. September 10, 1990. Archived from the original on May 23, 2006. The company has just introduced a IIfx version of the Dash 30
  71. Rimmer, Steve (September 1, 1991). "Review: Dash 30fx workstation". Moorshead Publications Ltd. (Canada). Retrieved September 27, 2017. Product/ Service Evaluation Magazine/ Journal article
  72. "SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND INC. ANNOUNCES PRIVATE PLACEMENT". The Free Library. April 5, 1993. Press release
  73. Littlefield, Giles (May 4, 2006). "Comment 2006/05/04". Davintosh.com. there was also a machine called the 40Q, which was an overclocked quadra 950 in a very very large case. We used to sell them as an upgrade for the quadra 950
  74. "Presto PowerPC Specs". EveryMac.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Product Specs
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.