While it is true the:
Mac II
IIx
IIcx
IIfx
. . . do not have built in video, they are true Color QuickDraw Machines. The IIfx came AFTER the IIci and even has the IIci's incredibly crappy main system RAM/non-VRAM based Video SubSystem listed in a Pseudo-Slot Address when you look at a TechTool or SlotInfo report on the cards installed in it.
The IIci's ONLY real saving grace was that its Cache Slot was the main point of entry for all kinds of Accelerator Cards for the many thousands of them bought as DTP workstations before the intro of the IIfx. The total cost of a IIci, the tiny color monitor that ran off its Video Port, a TPD Display Card/Monitor (for doing real work) and an '030 accelerator for it. cost far less than the finicky insanely (expensive) fast10k$ IIfx! With the advent of '040 and then PPC upgrades for the IIci, it outstripped the performance of the IIfx and probably had the longest productive lifetime of any Mac ever introduced.
The IIci was also the very first 32bit "clean" Mac. Apple made the folks at Connectix insanely rich by buying their (software patented, ONLY possible software fix for 32 bit addressing) Mode32 product. This was done in order to release it as a freebie for all those who'd bought "dirty ROM" equipped, 24 bit limited, "32 bit" machines from Apple: Mac II, Mac IIx, Mac IIcx & SE/30! Avoiding THAT massive class action suit by a hair's breadth taught Apple to put ROM upgrade slots and, later on, the unimplemented Pads for them into MoBo designs during ROM development and testing for quite a few years.
When the first gen PowerMacs were released they sure had ROM (upgrade?) slots in them! :lol:
Mac II
IIx
IIcx
IIfx
. . . do not have built in video, they are true Color QuickDraw Machines. The IIfx came AFTER the IIci and even has the IIci's incredibly crappy main system RAM/non-VRAM based Video SubSystem listed in a Pseudo-Slot Address when you look at a TechTool or SlotInfo report on the cards installed in it.
The IIci's ONLY real saving grace was that its Cache Slot was the main point of entry for all kinds of Accelerator Cards for the many thousands of them bought as DTP workstations before the intro of the IIfx. The total cost of a IIci, the tiny color monitor that ran off its Video Port, a TPD Display Card/Monitor (for doing real work) and an '030 accelerator for it. cost far less than the finicky insanely (expensive) fast10k$ IIfx! With the advent of '040 and then PPC upgrades for the IIci, it outstripped the performance of the IIfx and probably had the longest productive lifetime of any Mac ever introduced.
The IIci was also the very first 32bit "clean" Mac. Apple made the folks at Connectix insanely rich by buying their (software patented, ONLY possible software fix for 32 bit addressing) Mode32 product. This was done in order to release it as a freebie for all those who'd bought "dirty ROM" equipped, 24 bit limited, "32 bit" machines from Apple: Mac II, Mac IIx, Mac IIcx & SE/30! Avoiding THAT massive class action suit by a hair's breadth taught Apple to put ROM upgrade slots and, later on, the unimplemented Pads for them into MoBo designs during ROM development and testing for quite a few years.
When the first gen PowerMacs were released they sure had ROM (upgrade?) slots in them! :lol: