March 14, 1994: Apple introduces the Energy Macintosh 7100, a midrange Mac that can grow to be memorable for 2 causes.
The primary is that it’s among the many first Macs to make use of new PowerPC processors. The second is that it leads to Apple getting taken to court docket by astronomer Carl Sagan — not as soon as however twice.
Energy Macintosh 7100: A strong Mac
The Energy Macintosh 7100 was one in all three Macs launched in March 1994, with the opposite two being the lower-end Energy Macintosh 6100 and the high-end 8100 mannequin.
The Energy Mac 7100’s PowerPC processor ran at 66 MHz (a spec that Apple upgraded to 80 MHz in January 1995). The pc’s laborious drive ranged between 250MB and 700MB in measurement. The Mac additionally sported Apple’s then-standard NuBus card slots and 72-pin paired RAM slots.
The Mac 7100 got here in a barely modified Macintosh IIvx case. (The IIvx was the primary Mac to return in a steel case and have an inside CD-ROM drive.)
Costing between $2,900 and $3,500, the Mac 7100 was a strong piece of {hardware} that bridged the hole properly between the low-end shopper 6100 and its higher-end 8100 sibling. It was, for instance, completely able to working two displays. Nevertheless, it may overheat when performing notably strenuous duties comparable to complicated rendering of pictures or movies.
Photograph: Apple
Carl Sagan sues Apple over Energy Mac 7100 code identify
As many Apple followers will know, the corporate’s engineers regularly give code names to tasks they’re engaged on, both to keep up secrecy or simply for enjoyable. They gave the Energy Mac 7100 the code identify “Carl Sagan” as a tribute to the well-known astronomer.
Sadly, the key in-joke spilled in a 1993 concern of MacWeek that ultimately discovered its means into Sagan’s fingers. In a letter to MacWeek, Sagan wrote:
“I’ve been approached many instances over the previous twenty years by people and firms searching for to make use of my identify and/or likeness for industrial functions. I’ve all the time declined, irrespective of how profitable the supply or how essential the company. My endorsement just isn’t on the market.
Because of this, I used to be profoundly distressed to see your lead front-page story ‘Trio of Energy PC Macs spring towards March launch date’ proclaiming Apple’s announcement of a brand new Mac bearing my identify. That this was finished with out my authorization or information is very disturbing. Via my attorneys, I’ve repeatedly requested Apple to make a public clarification that I knew nothing of its intention to capitalize on my popularity in introducing this product, that I derived no profit, monetary or in any other case, from its doing so. Apple has refused. I’d admire it for those who so apprise your readership.”
A brand new code identify: ‘Butt-Head Astronomer’
Photograph: Carl Sagan Planetary Society CC
Compelled to vary the code identify, Apple engineers started calling the undertaking “BHA,” which stood for “Butt-Head Astronomer.”
Sagan then sued Apple over the implication that he was a “butt-head.” The decide overseeing the matter made the next assertion:
“There will be no query that using the figurative time period ‘butt-head’ negates the impression that Defendant was severely implying an assertion of reality. It strains cause to conclude the Defendant was making an attempt to criticize Plaintiff’s popularity of competency as an astronomer. One doesn’t severely assault the experience of a scientist utilizing the undefined phrase ‘butt-head.’”
Nonetheless, Apple’s authorized staff requested the engineers to vary the code identify as soon as extra. They picked “LAW” — standing for “Legal professionals Are Wimps.”
Sagan appealed the decide’s determination. Ultimately, in late 1995, the well-known astronomer reached a settlement with Apple. From that time on, Cupertino seems to have used solely benign code names associated to actions like snowboarding.
Do you keep in mind the Energy Macintosh 7100? Go away your feedback beneath.
