Macintosh Plus computer

item details

NameMacintosh Plus computer

ProductionApple Computer, Incorporated; manufacturer(s); 1986; United States

Classificationcomputers, monitors, keyboards, disk drives, mice

Materialsplastic, metal, glass

DimensionsOverall: 245mm (width), 345mm (height), 275mm (depth)

Registration NumberGH021018/1-5

Credit lineGift of Don Long, 2011

Overview

The Department of Education in New Zealand bought Apple Macintosh computers for its School Publications Branch in the late 1980s. This particular computer was used by Don Long, who was the Maori and Pacific Editor for the School Publications Branch. The Branch published the renowned School Journal, which is believed to be the longest-running serial publication for children in the world (beginning in 1907).

Apple Macintosh computers
The first Apple Macintosh computer was released in January 1984, and transformed personal computing around the world. The next model, Macintosh Plus, was released in January 1986. It contained one megabyte of RAM and had a keyboard with arrows and numbers. It cost US$2,600, and one million units had been sold by March 1987.

Computerisation
This Macintosh Plus computer represents a huge change in publishing. When Don Long started working for the Department of Education in 1986, he relied on a typing pool to transfer words into accurate type. The arrival of this personal desktop computer revolutionised his work, enabling him to produce accurate, typed text independently. However, the computer's small capacity of one megabyte meant that every piece of work had to be saved to a floppy disc.

The Macintosh Plus was discontinued in October 1990, and has become Apple's longest serving Macintosh computer.