Unboxing a 30-year-old Macintosh 128K
Apple is known for paying as much attention to its product packaging as it does to the actual product itself. And it all started in 1984 with the Macintosh 128K.
This is Macintosh
Editor’s note: The following article is reprinted from Macworld U.K. Visit Macworld U.K. for the latest Mac news from across the Atlantic.
Thirty years ago the Macintosh 128K first went on sale. The Macintosh didn’t just come in any old brown box—Steve Jobs showed his flair for packaging all those years ago. He wanted the Macintosh to be an experience nobody would ever forget. It’s exquisite.
The pride that the team at Apple felt upon developing and releasing the Macintosh is apparent when you first glance at the box. The whole Macintosh package is clearly a labor of love.
On eBay, gdavis6610 has been selling classic Apple equipment for a few years. In 2012, he sold a Macintosh 128K for $3519.84, over $1000 more than the original launch price. Fortunately, he takes pretty detailed photographs of his eBay kit. Here are some photos from his memorable unboxing of the original Macintosh 128K.
Photo: gdavis6610
A closer look
The box is surprisingly colourful for a computer box from 1984. We like the way Apple has suggested the playful creativity of the Mac right from the start.
Photo: gdavis6610
Opening up the box
Inside the box, we can see a polystyrene tray containing a case for the disks and manuals.
Photo: gdavis6610
Mac inside
Underneath the manuals is the Macintosh 128K computer itself.
Photo: gdavis6610
The contents
Here is the keyboard and other items all laid out on display. We’re surprised at how much paraphernalia came with the Macintosh.
Photo: gdavis6610
Box of disks
We also like this stylish box that contains the disks and manuals.
Photo: gdavis6610
The Macintosh 128K manual
The manual itself is full-color and includes dazzling lifestyle photography.
Photo: gdavis6610
Macworld offer
A letter asking readers to subscribe to Macworld was included in the box.
Photo: gdavis6610
Mac disks
The system and program disks included inside the Macintosh.
Photo: gdavis6610
Manuals on display
Color manuals came with the Macintosh 128K.
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Mac manuals
The manual shares the same stylish design as the Macintosh box.
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Inside the manual
More lifestyle photography. We're not sure how he’ll get anything done with that working posture.
Photo: gdavis6610
MacWrite manual
The first word processor for the Mac.
Photo: gdavis6610
How to use the mouse
It may seems strange that you’d need guidance for a mouse. But at the time, it could be confusing for people who’ve never seen one before.
Photo: gdavis6610
MacPaint manual
The drawing, done in MacPaint, was by Susan Kare. She also designed many of the Macintosh icons.
Photo: gdavis6610
Audio cassette package
Packaging for an audio tape that describes how to use the Macintosh.
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A guided tour of the Macintosh
This audiotape gives a guided tour of the Macintosh. You can listen to the tape.
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Rainbow logos
Apple stickers with the original Apple Macintosh.
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Unboxing the keyboard
The keyboard is in its own container.
Photo: gdavis6610
The Macintosh 128K keyboard
Steve Jobs wanted to ensure everybody used the mouse, so he ordered the arrow keys removed.
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Mouse box
The Macintosh Mouse box shares the same design as the keyboard and computer.
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Inside the mouse box
Opening up the Mouse box reveals the Apple M0100 mouse.
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Apple M0100 Mouse
The Apple M0100 Mouse is a design classic. This was the first mouse that many people ever used.
Photo: gdavis6610
Out of the box
And here it is, a 30-year-old Apple Macintosh computer.
The back
The Macintosh 128K had rear ports for a mouse and floppy drive, as well as two RS-422 serial ports.
Photo: gdavis6610
Numbers
This label has model number information, an FCC ID, and more.
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Turn it on
Here is the Macintosh powered up to prove that it’s still in working condition.
Photo: gdavis6610
Signed, sealed, delivered
On the inside of the Macintosh computer, you see the signatures of everybody who worked on it.
Photo: gdavis6610
Lower case letters
Here is Steve Jobs’s signature.
Photo: gdavis6610
Complete package
Here is the final look at the Macintosh 128K and all of the items that were included in the box.
Photo: gdavis6610
