Although the Macintosh II is rarely mentioned in retro computing circles, it introduced monumental changes, bringing colour graphics, a shift towards a 32-bit architecture, and multi-monitor support. For the retro enthusiast, the Macintosh II line has a sizeable library of excellent applications and multimedia, industry-leading desktop publishing software, as well as cult favourites in gaming and “edutainment”.
Development
When the original Macintosh launched in 1984, despite its elegant styling and interface, the computing world was disappointed to find few opportunities for hardware expansion, and graphics only in black and white.
In 1985, engineers Michael Dhuey and Brian Berkeley began work on a sequel, without the permission or knowledge of Steve Jobs, who led the Macintosh division at the time. Against Jobs’ wishes, this new machine would feature colour graphics, and in a move back towards the openness
