MacCharlie

rdf:langString MacCharlie

rdf:langString MacCharlie

rdf:langString MacCharlie ' running on a Macintosh 512K '

rdf:langString DE-9 connector

rdf:langString Clockwise from upper left: Keyboard extension attached to the original Macintosh keyboard; underside of both keyboards; MacCharlie's terminal program booting MS-DOS version 3.10.

rdf:langString MacCharlie - DOS prompt.JPG

rdf:langString MacCharlie keyboard complete.jpg

rdf:langString MacCharlie keyboard extention over Apple M0110 keyboard bottom.jpg

rdf:langString The MacCharlie is a hardware add-on for the Apple Macintosh that was made by Dayna Communications. The name refers to an IBM PC advertising campaign of the time featuring Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" character. It allows users to run DOS software for the IBM PC by clipping a unit onto the chassis of the 128K Macintosh, as well as a keyboard extender to provide the function keys and numeric keypad that are absent from Apple's original keyboard. The clip-on unit sits to the side of the Mac and, like the contemporary Amiga Sidecar, contains essentially a complete IBM PC compatible with an 8088 processor, 256K RAM (expandable to 640k) and a single 5.25" floppy drive that stores 360K. A second floppy drive can be added. While running DOS software, users can still access the Macintosh menu bar and desk accessories. However, the DOS environment, which runs in a window, is text-only and does not permit Macintosh applications to run concurrently while in use. MacCharlie uses the Mac as a terminal, performing all DOS processing itself, and sends video data over a relatively slow serial link to the Mac for display. This slowness, coupled with the declining prices of real IBM PC compatibles, contributed to the short market life of the MacCharlie.

rdf:langString Macintosh 128K, Macintosh 512K