Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 6: Personal Computer Era (1980s)
1987
Apple Introduces the Mac II

With the introduction of the Mac II, Apple ushered in a new era of computing with the first 32-bit Mac. This desktop computer boasted groundbreaking features such as color graphics, expansion slots and enhanced processing power, making it the first Mac with color capabilities.
The Mac II became a powerhouse for creative professionals, offering unprecedented capabilities for graphic design, desktop publishing and multimedia production. For instance, with the right graphics card, the Mac II could handle up to 16.7 million colors. Its modular design and color capabilities transformed the Macintosh into a versatile platform, solidifying Apple’s impact on the PC market.
The machine was still quite expensive, selling at $3,898 for the most basic model, roughly $10,556 in 2023.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
Movements
computer art, digital art, graphic design
Filed under
- Ideas
- digital art, graphic design, market
- Technologies
- computer art, desktop publishing, Mac II, Macintosh, multimedia, personal computer, Processing
- Organisations
- Apple
Related moments
Echoes across time
- 1951 · Edmund C. Berkeley Begins Publishing Computers and Automation
- 1964 · US Army’s BRL Wins Computer Art Content Top Prize for Second Straight Year
- 1968 · Notable computer artworks
Le Random editorials
- Rhea Myers on Code as Cultural Material, Peter Bauman, September 26, 2023