Apple Archive

The Friendly LC 500 Series

- 2001.05.18

When the Colour Classic was introduced in 1993, it became a success for users who needed a small computer for a small space. Color Classic The cute, compact design and 10" Trinitron colour screen capable of displaying "thousands of colours" now make it a collectable item for Macheads everywhere.

After the Colour Classic was released, its designers were asked to make something with a larger screen, CD-ROM, and stereo speakers. They came up with the Macintosh LC 520 (a.k.a. Performa 520), which was basically an LC III, 14" Apple Colour Display, Apple 300e CD-ROM, and a pair of stereo speakers - all in one case. The result was to be one of the most popular consumer and education models produced.

The LC 520 featured the same 25 MHz 68030 processor as the LC III, an 80 or 160 MB hard disk, and an optional 1x or 2x Apple 500 Series internal caddy-loading CD-ROM drive. A later version came with a tray loading CD-ROM and a manual-inject floppy drive. The LC 520 shipped with System 7.1.

After the LC 520 came the LC 550 (a.k.a. Performa 550). The 550 featured a 33 MHz 68030 processor, like the LC III+, 5 MB of RAM, a 160 MB hard drive, and a 2x tray loading CD-ROM drive. The LC 550 shipped with System 7.1; the Performa 550 shipped with System Software 7.1P6.

At the top of the line came the LC 575 (a.k.a. Performa 575). The Performa 575 featured a 33 MHz 68LC040 processor, 5 MB of RAM, a 2x CD-ROM drive, and a 250 MB hard drive. The 575 was also available to schools with no CD-ROM drive and 4 MB of RAM. Early versions of the LC 575 shipped with System 7.1, while later versions shipped with 7.5. Early versions of the Performa 575 shipped with System 7.1P6, later versions shipped with 7.5.

Later on, Apple used a similar case for the LC 580. The LC 580 was essentially a Quadra 630 in an all-in-one case. The 580 featured the Communications slot, video board slots, and two RAM slots instead of one (if you look at the 575 logic board, there is a place for a second RAM slot). The 580 used a less expensive, non-Trinitron screen, which was rounded and prone to glare. The 580 was offered with 8 MB of RAM, a 2x CD-ROM drive, and a 500 or 800 MB hard drive. There was also a version without the CD-ROM. The LC 580 shipped with System Software 7.5.

I first got into these 500 series Macs when I got an LC 520 from a thrift store a couple years ago. I consider the design of the 500 series Macs to be one of the best looking designs Apple has come up with, although I understand the original designers weren't real crazy about it.

After getting that LC 520 and upgrading it to 12 MB of RAM, installing a 160 MB hard disk, and upgrading to Mac OS 7.6.1, I got a Performa 550. Recently I ended up with a 575 as well.

When these 500 series models were introduced, they were meant to bring families into the Internet age, so they were fully Internet capable. The 575 still does a decent job on the Internet.

Load it up with Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Navigator 3.02 (4.08 if you have more than 20 MB of RAM), FreePPP, and you are ready to use the Internet. For a more detailed description, visit my other article "Getting on the Net with an older Mac".

500 series Macs make good machines for kids. They are all in one - they don't confuse kids by having many different parts to them. They have good colour screens, a CD-ROM drive, and, most importantly, they will run many kids games without a problem. For example, you can play Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (remember the TV show?), SimCity 2000, and Civilization (the last two I have and enjoy playing myself).

You can often find a 500 series Mac on eBay for less than $75, and occasionally one may turn up at your local thrift shop or garage sale (I got my 520 from a thrift shop, and the 575 from a garage sale). You can also check newspaper classified ads.

These Macs make great second or third computers for the family, as well as great computers for younger child to play games or do research and writing for school. They don't cost much, but give you a lot of computer for your money.

As a side note, you may have noticed my "Xcitement" (bad pun) about OS X, and I have been writing about that quite a bit recently. Since this is Apple Archive on Low End Mac, I thought that taking a break to write about an actual low end Mac was appropriate.

iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 2007.12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
Options for replacing your older iPod, 2007.11.19. Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 2007.11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
More in the Apple Archive index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
Support Low End Mac

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Fix Home Button Delay, Tablet the Ultimate Mobile PC, iPad Notebook a Possibility, and More, iOS News Review, 2012.02.10. Also using your iPad at work, two photo editors, a new iPad text editor, Macally's magnetic iPad 2 stand, and more.
White MacBook Goes End-of-Life, Logitech Touch Mouse Supports Gestures, Firmware Updates, and More, The 'Book Review, 2012.02.10. Also MacBook Air better than any Ultrabook, docks for MacBook Pro models, Intel offers improved SSDs, and more.
Mac and iOS Browsers: Options Galore, Freeware Forum, 2012.02.10. Safari is adequate on Mac and great on iOS, but the range of good alternatives is stunning. LEM writers share their favorites.
Apple's Support Lead Shipping, Smartphones Outsell PCs, OS X Ported to ARM by Intern, and More, Mac News Review, 2012.02.10. Also the power of Tex-Edit Plus, Google and Twitter are already censoring the Web, Snow Leopard Security Update, and more.
LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
15 Years Ago Motorola Unveiled the PowerPC G3, Low End Mac Round Table, 2012.02.06. The G3 processor was optimized for real world Mac software and made a big leap forward in efficiency.
Don't Kill Caps Lock, Learning to Love the iOS Keyboard, and an Adaptive iPad Keyboard, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2012.02.06. The Caps Lock key has a useful function, the iPad's keyboard really is useful, and checking out an adaptive keyboard for the iPad.
More links in our archive.

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay

Apple Archive

The Friendly LC 500 Series

Further Reading

Recent Apple Archive articles