The Mac LC was again another alternative to the super-expensive machines of the period. Unlike the Mac Classic released at the same time, the LC didn't sacrifice speed, quality, nor hardware expandability. The $2500 Mac LC was released in October of 1990. Though still quite expensive, the LC was surprisingly the only model (besides the Classic) under $5000 in that time period. Though Apple did backstep in hardwre features, it was not as dramatic as in the Classic. The LC still ran a 68020 at 16 MHz, about twice as fast as the Classic, and had one expansion slot. The expansion slot, a Processor Direct Slot, was made popular by the LC, and was a favorite among customers. It was also great because it could display color sporting its 256 of VRAM, something even some of the older much more expensive Macs could do. So here Apple had a dirt cheap, expandable, color Mac. No wonder it has become one of Apple's best selling machines ever, with half a million sales in just the first year of production. Sometimes I wonder if Apple ever should learn from their successes as well as their mistakes. The LC three was finally discontinued when the LC II and III were released a year and a half later.

Code Name: Elsie (pronounce the letters "L-C"), Prism Pinball (low-slung case design kinda looks like a pinball machine I guess)

Specifications:
Processor: Motorla 68020 running at 16 MHz.
Memory: came with 2 MB, expanadable to 10 MB, 100ns 30-pin DRAM.
Display: built-in 256k VRAM, expandable to 512k.
Drives: 1.44 MB floppy drive, 40-80 MB HD.
Expansion: 1 LC-style Processor Direct Slot.

Operating Systems:
Mac OS: requires System 6.06, can run up to System 7.55.

On the market for: 1 year, 5 months.

Interesting Facts:
You wonder why the Mac Classic barely sold any machines at all while the Mac LC became one of the best-selling in history, even though they were relased at the same time. The LC was twice as fast as the Classic, displayed color, was expandable, and was only $1000 more than the Classic. Which one would you have bought? Only now is Apple finding out this is the way to sell computers, as you can see in their G3 line.

Resources & Related Links:
David Pogue's and Joseph Schorr's Macworld Mac SECRETS.
Picture from A History of Apple Computers.