Power Macintosh 6100

1994 · Mac era Power Macintosh

Introduced

1994

Original price

$ 1819

Processor

Motorola 68LC040

Original OS

System 7.1.2

1976

1984

1998

2001

2007

2020

2026

Pre-Mac

Mac era

iMac era

iPod era

iPhone era

Silicon

Processor

ProcessorMotorola 68LC040

Speed33 MHz

Architecture32-bit

Memory & graphics

Standard RAM4 MB or 12 MB

VRAM512 KB VRAM

Display9.5-inch color active-matrix display

Resolutions640 x 480; 640 x 400 16-bit mode

Video outVID-14 port, supports 8-bit external video at 512 x 384, 640 x 480, 800 x 600, and 832 x 624 with video adapter

Storage

Storage320 MB or 500 MB hard drive

BaysDual swappable bays (battery or PCMCIA adapter)

Connectivity

ModemGlobal Village 19.2 kbps data/14.4 kbps fax modem

Software

Original OSSystem 7.1.2

KeyboardFull-sized keyboard with 12 function keys

Power

Weight7.3 lb. with both batteries, 6.6 lb. with one battery

BatteryTwo swappable batteries

Identifiers

Model N°M3581

Lifecycle

Introduced1994

Discontinued1995

History

The Power Macintosh 6100 was introduced alongside the Power Macintosh 7100 and Power Macintosh 8100 and occupied the entry-level position in the new Power Macintosh family. The 60 MHz models were updated to 66 MHz in January 1995. Apple also released a PC-compatible model of the 6100/66 called the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible. This version was equipped with a PDS card with an Intel 80486 DX2/66 processor (without L2 cache) and a single SIMM RAM slot that uses the same type of RAM as the 6100 itself. The card supported up to 32 MB of RAM, a Creative Technology Vibra 16 audio chipset, and also included standard PC VGA ports and joystick. With this card, the 6100 was able to run the Mac OS interface and DOS/Windows 3.1 side-by-side simultaneously, even on different monitors. The card could also use the main system RAM if no SIMM was installed on the card. Notable were the new startup and "sad Mac" sounds: instead of the characteristic electronic "chime" used in previous models, it played a guitar chord played by jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan, and instead of the "Chimes of Doom" arpeggio that sounded when a hardware error occurred at startup, there was the sound of a car crash and breaking glass. This and the other NuBus-based Power Macintosh models (7100, 8100, and Workgroup Server 9150) were replaced by the Power Macintosh PCI series released in 1995, although the 6100 DOS compatible continued production until 1996.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Macintosh_G3 · Wikipedia

Trivia

• The Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible was a revolutionary hybrid machine that could simultaneously run Mac OS and DOS/Windows 3.1 on different monitors, thanks to a PDS card with an Intel 80486 DX2/66 processor. • The startup sounds of the 6100 were characterized by innovative musical sound effects: a jazz guitar chord played by celebrated musician Stanley Jordan replaced the traditional electronic "chuff," while a car crash replaced the "Chimes of Doom". • The Power Macintosh 6100 represented the entry-level model of the revolutionary PowerPC family launched in 1994, and its DOS Compatible version remained in production until 1996, well after the transition to PCI architecture.

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