Dynamac
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware / portable Macintosh computers and later Windows PCs |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Boulder, Colorado , United States |
| Products | The Wallaby, Outbound Notebook (portable Mac conversions) |
Two approaches allow non-Apple computers to operate a Mac operating system: either by performing a Macintosh conversion or by creating a Macintosh clone.
In contrast to Mac clones, which typically lack original Apple hardware components, Mac conversions involve modification kits that depend on essential parts from an authentic Apple Mac computer, such as the Macintosh ROM or the motherboard, to function properly.
This reliance on original Apple hardware places the commercial manufacture of Mac conversions under the protection of the first-sale doctrine in the United States and comparable legislation worldwide.
Background
From the early days of the Macintosh computer, various manufacturers have aimed at customers desiring Mac OS devices offering capabilities beyond Apple's standard product range. Producers of Mac conversions begin with a legitimate Apple Mac computer and integrate it with their proprietary components to deliver tailored solutions. These modifications vary widely—from adding a touch-sensitive bezel to an iMac for kiosk applications, to completely replacing a MacBook's laptop case to create a Tablet Mac.
This model of aftermarket customization, familiar in sectors like automotive (for example, the Shelby Mustang), has similarly thrived within the Mac ecosystem.
While Mac clones mainly compete on cost against Apple's offerings, commercial Mac conversions emphasize unique features not available directly from Apple. The value of these specialized solutions justifies the combined expense of purchasing a full-price donor Mac plus the conversion kit and associated labor. The commercial viability of Mac conversions declined once Apple launched products incorporating similar functionalities.
Legality
A Macintosh conversion constitutes an aftermarket alteration of an original Apple Mac or laptop, preserving key components such as the original motherboard to maintain full compatibility with Mac software. This method circumvents copyright, DMCA, and licensing complications that unlicensed Mac clone manufacturers often encounter.
Apple's 1986 deal to supply Macs at discounted rates to Dynamac demonstrated some level of acceptance toward conversions. Other firms engaged in negotiations with Apple but frequently acquired Macs at retail prices for conversion without formal agreements. Apple declined to sell standalone parts like motherboards, instead promoting vendors to operate as value-added resellers. In the U.S., aftermarket modifications benefit from protection under the First-sale doctrine and analogous laws internationally. Legal challenges related to this protection have mostly arisen in the automotive field, where manufacturers have sought to restrict aftermarket enterprises through copyright and patent litigation.
This legal framework clearly differentiates Macintosh conversions from unauthorized Macintosh clones. Although no conversion companies have faced lawsuits, unlicensed clone producer Psystar was sued by Apple in federal court soon after introducing its Mac clones.
Companies
The companies listed below have produced commercially accessible Mac conversion products:
Axiotron, Inc.
Axiotron, Inc. was established in 2005 as a corporation registered in Delaware, with its main office located in Los Angeles, California. In 2008, it was acquired by Axiotron Corp., a publicly listed company based in Toronto (traded on the TSX-V under the symbol AXO). The company ceased operations in 2010 following asset foreclosure and shareholder consent.
Axiotron pioneered the development of a pen-enabled tablet version of the Mac computer.
Key products produced by the company include:
- Modbook – recognized as the first genuine Tablet Mac, derived from the polycarbonate white MacBook. This device featured a pen-input-enabled 13.3-inch wide-viewing-angle display, though it did not support finger touch input. The screen was encased within a chrome-plated cast-magnesium bezel. The Modbook preserved the entire lower half of the original MacBook chassis, replacing only the display and keyboard components. Production ended in 2010.
Colby Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1982 by Chuck Colby in Fresno, California, Colby Systems, Inc. introduced its initial Macintosh portable computer in 1987 after securing an agreement to purchase Macintosh parts from Apple. By 1991, after unveiling but never shipping its last portable Mac design, the firm exited the Mac conversion market to concentrate on video technology and was eventually dissolved in 2016.
Significant products include:
- Lap-Mac – A converted portable version of the Macintosh Plus weighing 16 pounds, featuring a detachable gas plasma display, 1MB RAM, a single 800k floppy disk drive, an optional external battery pack, and compartments for modem and inkjet printer integration. Initially priced at $4,995; discontinued following the release of WalkMac in 1987.
- The original WalkMac – Built around a Mac Plus logic board paired with an orange plasma screen; it required external peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, and battery. Special connectors enabled attachment of external floppy or hard drives. Its successors, the WalkMac SE and SE-30, were based on the Macintosh SE and Macintosh SE/30, converting desktop models into portables equipped with 9-inch monochrome backlit LCD Supertwist displays and internal batteries. Prices began at $5,600 for the SE model and $6,800 for the SE-30.
- Colby Classmate – Launched in 1991 based on a Macintosh Classic, this was intended to be the first Mac device resembling a tablet with an integrated trackball and membrane keyboard beneath the display; however, it never reached production.
Dynamac Corporation
Dynamac Corporation, also known as Dynamac Computer Products Inc., was incorporated under Delaware law in 1970 and operated out of Denver, Colorado. Between 1986 and 1991, it offered portable Mac computer systems. Notably, in 1986 it became the first vendor of portable Macs to acquire Macintosh units from Apple at discounted rates.
Highlighted products include:
- Dynamac – a converted Macintosh Plus enclosed within a black metal case weighing 24 pounds, featuring a 9-inch backlit amber electroluminescent display and an optional external battery pack. Equipped with an 8 MHz 68000 processor; pricing started at $7,000. This model became outdated following Apple's release of the Apple Macintosh Portable in 1989 and was subsequently discontinued.
- Dynamac EL – also based on the Macintosh Plus, this variant featured a black Cycolac plastic enclosure reducing weight to 18 pounds and lowering starting price to $6,000. It was discontinued after Apple launched its Macintosh Portable in 1989.
- Dynamac LC Display – transformed a Macintosh LC into a portable by adding a 9.5-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 640x480 pixels displaying 16 shades of gray; total weight was approximately 13.75 pounds with an optional battery adding another 2.5 pounds. Pricing began at $1,299 for the display kit plus the cost of the Macintosh LC itself. This product line was discontinued.
- Dynamac IIsf and IIsf/30 – leather-cased portable machines weighing around 11 pounds based on modified Macintosh LC units featuring built-in 9.5-inch LCDs (640x480 resolution with 16 gray levels), integrated touchpads, and internal batteries. The IIsf included an 68020 CPU starting at $4,995; while the IIsf/30 incorporated an 68030 CPU with prices beginning at $6,995. Both were discontinued later on.
Intelitec Systems Corporation
Located in Fairfield, Iowa, Intelitec Systems Corporation manufactured portable Macintosh computers from 1987 until 1989. Their product line became obsolete following the introduction of Apple's own Macintosh Portable.
Distinguished product:
- MX Plus – a portable device weighing 15 pounds, built around a Macintosh Plus and encased in an aluminum attache case. It included a Supertwist LCD, 1MB of RAM, dual 800k floppy drives, an internal battery, mouse, and expansion slots for modem and printer connectivity. The starting price was $5,000; production ceased in 1989 after Apple entered the market.
Modbook Inc.
Established in February 2012 and privately owned, Modbook Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles, California, focused on converting Macs into pen-enabled tablet devices aimed at creative professionals.
Highlighted products:
- Modbook Pro – Released in 2012, this device transformed a non-Retina 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Pro by replacing its casing with a CNC-machined aluminum body to create a pen-enabled tablet. The base price was $1,799 plus the expense of the donor MacBook Pro; available through the company’s online store and Amazon.
- Modbook Pro X – Initially launched as a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, it evolved into the flagship Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar by late 2016. Announced for release in late 2017 or early 2018, pricing started at $2,499 plus the cost of a donor 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro.
By July 2025, no units had been delivered to supporters. The latest communication from CEO Andreas Haas dates back to August 2018; attempts to reach the company have been unsuccessful according to WeFunder representatives as of mid-2023.
Outbound Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1989 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Outbound Systems Inc. specialized in portable Macintosh computers from 1989 through 1991 before pivoting in 1992 toward Windows-based PC products.
Noteworthy offerings:
- The Wallaby – Introduced in 1989, this Mac laptop conversion closely resembled an authentic Mac clone by manufacturing all components except for the ROM, which users had to source from a donor Macintosh Plus or SE. It featured a “hive” mode allowing the donor Mac to boot using the Wallaby’s faster 15 MHz Motorola 68000 processor. Pricing ranged from $2,999 to $3,999 (excluding the donor Mac), and it weighed 9.2 pounds—lighter and more affordable than Apple’s Macintosh Portable. The Wallaby was discontinued when the Outbound Notebook debuted in 1991.
- The Outbound Notebook – Launched in 1991 as a genuine clamshell notebook design, it maintained the ROM-from-donor requirement but offered a 10″ 640 x 400 black-and-white Supertwist display, replaceable daughtercards for CPU and FPU upgrades, standard 30-pin SIMM RAM modules, and SCSI support for connecting an external full-page monochrome monitor. It started at $3,500 before being discontinued in 1992.
After ending its Macintosh portable product lines, Outbound applied its expertise to develop Intel-based compact computers.
Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc.
Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc. was a corporation incorporated in California and headquartered in Scotts Valley. Operating between 1987 and 1994, the company specialized in delivering high-performance tower workstation systems tailored for the premium professional Mac segment.
Key offerings included:
- Dash 30 – This model, derived from the Macintosh II, transformed the Mac’s internal motherboard and components into a stainless steel tower chassis featuring multiple storage compartments. It enhanced the CPU by upgrading to a faster 32-MHz Motorola 68030 processor, incorporated a Pronto SCSI accelerator, a math coprocessor, and a high-speed RAM cache, resulting in substantial performance gains. Initial pricing started at $15,000 including the original Mac unit. The Dash 30 was succeeded by the Dash 30fx in 1990.
- Dash 30fx – Released in 1990 and built upon the Macintosh IIfx, this model retained the same tower design but increased CPU frequency to 50-MHz, representing a 25% speed boost compared to the previous version. Prices began at $11,500 for the enclosure plus donor Mac or approximately $20,470 when equipped with performance upgrades such as an overclocked CPU, RAM cache, and SCSI accelerator. The Dash 30fx was replaced by the Dash 40q in 1993.
- Dash 40Q – Introduced in 1993 with a focus on the publishing sector’s prepress and color separation workflows, this system was based on the Macintosh Quadra 950. It featured an accelerated Motorola 68040 processor running above 50 MHz, with optional upgrades including a 100 MHz PowerPC 601 CPU, SCSI accelerator, RAM cache, and multiple drive bays. Pricing was roughly $12,000 for the enclosure plus donor Mac or about $22,000 when outfitted with basic performance enhancements. The product line was discontinued in 1994.