Skip to main content

How’s this for some perspective? Check out the specs for the 1984 128k Mac desktop

1984 mac desktop computer 128k specs cpu ram photo
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Have you moaned and groaned lately about how your Intel Core i5 processor just isn’t cutting it these days? What about complaining about your single graphics card setup, bemoaning the fact that your motherboard and/or case doesn’t support double and triple graphics card set ups. Well, let me tell you something sonny. When it comes to computer specs, you don’t know how to appreciate anything!

But seriously, on a day like today, which just happens to be the 30th birthday of the original Mac desktop computer, we thought it’d be kinda cool to take a look at the specs of the original Mac. Not only is it interesting to see what cutting edge computer specs meant 30 years ago, but we thought it might offer for some fascinating perspective.

Recommended Videos

iFixIt actually tore down the original Mac, and listed the steps it took to do so, along with the original specs. So what did the original Mac run on?

Motorola, which these days is more known for Droid smartphones than anything, made the processor. The Mac blazed through programs on a Motorola 68000 processor clocked at a whopping 8 MHz. The processors found in modern smartphones make a mockery of that, nevermind PCs and current Macs.

What about RAM? The 1984 Mac had 128 kilobytes of RAM. My college PC had 1GB of RAM, and I stopped using that thing about 5 years ago. My current rig has 16GB of RAM, while most notebooks usually ship with 4GB or 8GB or RAM. As for storage, the original Mac had 400 kilobytes of storage via 3.5 floppy disks. Thats enough for two or three low-resolution photos these days. Minesweeper probably takes up more space than the original Mac had. The computing world has retired floppy drives long ago.

Finally, there’s the monitor. While we debate the merits of 4k laptops, desktop monitors and TVs, 30 years ago, people were getting by on 9-inch black and white screens with a resolution of 512 x 342, which is what the 1984 Mac was packing. Think a 9-inch desktop monitor would cut it for you today?

Never forget where you came from people. The next time you complain about how you need to get a new 1080p monitor so you can have a triple display setup, just think of what the latest and greatest in computing was when Ronald Reagan was president, and the Cold War was still being waged.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
This breakthrough holographic display could make AR glasses a reality in 2026
A simulated view of Swave-powered AR glasses.

Consumer AR glasses could soon become a reality thanks to a breakthrough holographic chip from Swave. Lightweight, low-power, affordable AR glasses have thus far been a distant dream.

The best smart glasses can display massive virtual screens but require a phone or other device for video and power. The buzz around AR glasses has been growing, spurred by an impressive Meta Orion prototype demonstration and the powerful new Snap Spectacles update. However, we’re still waiting for comfortable, affordable glasses that display bright, crisp images over a wide field of view.
Swave’s HXR display
Swave's laser-powered holographic display engine is compact and lightweight Swave

Read more
This HP ProBook laptop is normally $1,876 — today it’s $769
The HP ProBook 445 laptop on a white background.

If you're on the lookout for laptop deals because you need a device for a work-from-home job or to run a small business, you should check out this offer for the HP ProBook 445. Originally sold for $1,876, this dependable machine is down to just $769, for savings of $1,107. We're not sure how long stocks will last though, as a 59% discount for a powerful laptop will surely attract a lot of attention. If you don't want to miss out on this bargain, you'll need to complete your purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the HP ProBook 445 laptop
HP is firmly in our list of the best laptop brands, and the HP ProBook 445 showcases its reputation for reliable devices with modern designs. The device is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U processor and AMD Radeon 660M Graphics, along with 16GB of RAM that's only found in top-tier machines, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. You won't have any trouble in carrying out your daily workload with these specifications, especially with the advanced features that you can access with Windows 11 Pro that's pre-installed in this laptop's 512GB SSD. Don't worry -- you'll still have enough storage space for your apps and files.

Read more
Thomson Reuters lands copyright win against AI company. What’s next?
Thomson Reuters website as seen on an iPhone 16 Pro.

The first landmark win in an AI copyright case is here. A Delaware court has ruled that a tech startup used copyright-protected material to build a competing AI-based legal product, which is against the law, handing over a remarkable win to Thomson Reuters.

This is the first major victory for a plaintiff fighting against an AI company over what constitutes “fair use” of material owned by another entity. The parent company of the Reuters news agency has been tangled in a lengthy legal case against Ross Intelligence, an AI company that lifted material from Thomson Reuters’s Westlaw platform.

Read more