Power Macintosh 8600

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Power Macintosh 8600
A Power Macintosh 8600/250
Also known as"Kansas"
DeveloperApple Computer
Product familyPower Macintosh
Release dateFebruary 17, 1997 (1997-02-17)
Introductory priceUS$2,700 (equivalent to $4,920 in 2022)
DiscontinuedFebruary 17, 1998 (1998-02-17)
Operating systemSystem 7.5.5 - Mac OS 9.1
With G3 upgrade, Mac OS X 10.2.8
CPUPowerPC 604e, 200 MHz
PowerPC 604ev, 250 and 300 MHz
Memory32 MB, expandable to 1 GB (70 ns 168-pin DIMM)
DimensionsHeight: 17.3 inches (44 cm)
Width: 9.7 inches (25 cm)
Depth: 17.3 inches (44 cm)
Mass35 pounds (16 kg)
PredecessorPower Macintosh 8500
SuccessorPower Macintosh G3 (Mini Tower)
RelatedPower Macintosh 7300
Power Macintosh 9600

The Power Macintosh 8600 is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer from February 1997 to February 1998. It was introduced alongside the Power Macintosh 7300 and 9600 with a 200 MHz PowerPC 604e processor, and comes in a new case design that replaces the widely-disliked[1] Quadra 800-based form factor of its predecessor, the Power Macintosh 8500.

Like the 7300 and 9600, the 8600 featured the new PowerPC 604e and 604ev CPU, an enhanced version of the PowerPC 604 used in the predecessor models 8500 and 9500. It used the same new case as the 9600, but was somewhat less expandable (8 instead of 12 RAM sockets, 3 instead of 6 PCI slots) at a lower price, a distinction that was carried over from the previous generation. It includes advanced Audio-Video ports including RCA audio in and out, S-Video in and out and composite video in and out. The 8600 was plagued with supply problems from the beginning, and only in June 1997, four months after its introduction, was the computer widely available. The 300 MHz model was also delayed after its introduction, but not as heavily as the original model had been.[2]

In August 1997, the original model was replaced with two faster ones, at 250 and 300 MHz,[1] and the 8600 was discontinued in February 1998, a few months after the introduction of its replacement, the Power Macintosh G3 Mini Tower.

Models[edit]

Introduced February 17, 1997:

  • Power Macintosh 8600/200:[3] Includes System 7.5.5.

Introduced August 5, 1997:

  • Power Macintosh 8600/250:[4] Includes Mac OS 7.6.1.
  • Power Macintosh 8600/300:[5] Includes Mac OS 7.6.1.

Timeline[edit]

Timeline of Power Macintosh, Pro, and Studio models
Mac ProMac StudioMac ProMac StudioMac ProMac ProMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Mac G4 CubePower Mac G4Power Macintosh G3#Blue and WhitePower Macintosh 9600Power Macintosh G3Power Macintosh 8600Power Macintosh 9500Power Macintosh 8500Power Macintosh 8100Power Macintosh G3Power Macintosh 7600Power Macintosh 7300Power Macintosh 4400Power Macintosh 7500Power Macintosh 7200Power Macintosh 7100Power Macintosh 6500Power Macintosh 6400Power Macintosh 6200Power Macintosh 6100Power Macintosh G3Twentieth Anniversary MacintoshPower Macintosh 5500Power Macintosh 5400Power Macintosh 5260Power Macintosh 5200 LC

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Pogue, David; Schorr, Joseph (1999). "Chapter 13: The PowerPC Macs, Model by Model". MacWorld Mac Secrets, 5th Edition. IDG Books. pp. 525-526. ISBN 0-7645-4040-8.
  2. ^ Power Macintosh 8600 at apple-history.com
  3. ^ "Power Macintosh 8600/200: Technical Specifications". Apple.
  4. ^ "Power Macintosh 8600/250: Technical Specifications". Apple.
  5. ^ "Power Macintosh 8600/300: Technical Specifications". Apple.

External links[edit]