Intelitec Systems
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Fate | Acquired by Axiotron Corp. in 2008; dissolved in 2010 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Modbook (first genuine Tablet Mac) |
| Parent | Axiotron Corp. |
There are two primary ways to create a personal computer that can operate a Mac OS without being sold by Apple: Macintosh conversions and Macintosh clones.
In contrast to Mac clones, which generally lack original Apple hardware, Mac conversions involve modification kits that depend on essential parts from an authentic Apple Mac previously owned—such as the ROM or motherboard—to function properly.
This method benefits from protections under the first-sale doctrine in the United States and comparable legislation worldwide.
Background
From the inception of Macintosh computers, manufacturers have aimed at customers desiring Mac OS capabilities alongside features not provided by Apple's official products. Companies specializing in Mac conversions begin with genuine Apple Macs and incorporate their own hardware to produce tailored solutions. These alterations can be as simple as adding touchscreen frames to iMacs for kiosk applications or as comprehensive as redesigning a MacBook’s casing to create a Tablet Mac.
This aftermarket modification concept, widely practiced in sectors like the automotive industry (for example, Shelby Mustang), has been effectively adapted within the Mac ecosystem.
While Mac clones often compete primarily on pricing against Apple’s offerings, professional Mac conversions emphasize delivering distinctive functionalities that Apple does not supply. This unique value justifies the total expense of both the original Mac and the conversion kit plus installation. However, commercial demand for these conversions diminished once Apple launched products with similar features.
Legality
A Macintosh conversion represents an aftermarket alteration of an authentic Apple Mac or laptop, preserving critical elements such as the original motherboard to maintain compatibility with the Mac operating system. These conversions fully support Macintosh software and circumvent the copyright, DMCA, and licensing challenges encountered by unauthorized Mac clone producers.
Apple’s 1986 arrangement to supply discounted Macs to Dynamac indicated some acceptance of conversions. Other firms reported discussions with Apple but proceeded to purchase Macs at retail prices for conversion without formal agreements. Although Apple declined to sell individual parts like motherboards, it did encourage conversion companies to become value-added resellers. In the United States, aftermarket modifications are safeguarded by the First-sale doctrine and equivalent international laws, as upheld in legal precedents such as British Leyland Motor Corp v Armstrong Patents Co. This legal protection has primarily been tested in the automotive field, where manufacturers have attempted to restrict aftermarket businesses through copyright or patent litigation.
This legal context distinguishes Macintosh conversions from Macintosh clones. Notably, none of the recognized Mac conversion firms faced legal proceedings, unlike Psystar, an unauthorized Mac clone manufacturer that was sued by Apple in federal court shortly after releasing their clones.
Companies
Several companies have created commercially available solutions for converting Macs into portable or tablet forms:
Axiotron, Inc.
Axiotron, Inc. was established in 2005 as a corporation incorporated in Delaware, with its main office located in Los Angeles, California. In 2008, it was acquired by Axiotron Corp., a publicly traded company based in Toronto (TSX Venture Exchange: AXO), and subsequently dissolved in 2010.
Axiotron pioneered the production of pen-enabled tablet Mac devices.
Key product:
- Modbook – recognized as the first genuine Tablet Mac, this device was derived from the polycarbonate white MacBook. It included a 13.3-inch wide-viewing-angle display with pen input capability but did not support finger touch. The display was encased in a chrome-plated cast-magnesium bezel. The Modbook preserved the lower half of the original MacBook chassis while replacing the keyboard and screen with a pen-sensitive display. Production ceased in 2010.
Colby Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1982 by Chuck Colby in Fresno, California, Colby Systems, Inc. introduced its initial Macintosh portable computer model in 1987 after securing rights to purchase Macintosh components from Apple. By 1991, after unveiling but not delivering its final portable Mac product, the company redirected its efforts toward video technology and was dissolved in 2016.
Highlighted products include:
- Lap-Mac – A portable conversion of the Macintosh Plus weighing 16 pounds, featuring a detachable gas plasma display, 1MB of RAM, an 800k floppy disk drive, optional external battery pack, and expansion slots for modem and inkjet printer. The starting price was $4,995 before being discontinued following the release of the WalkMac in 1987.
- WalkMac series – The original WalkMac utilized a Mac Plus logic board paired with an orange plasma screen and required external peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, and battery. It also provided ports for external floppy or hard drives. Subsequent models, WalkMac SE and SE-30, converted the Macintosh SE and Macintosh SE/30 desktops respectively into portables equipped with 9-inch backlit monochrome LCD Supertwist displays and integrated batteries. Prices began at $5,600 for the SE and $6,800 for the SE-30.
- Colby Classmate – Released in 1991 and based on the Macintosh Classic, this tablet-style device incorporated a built-in trackball and membrane keyboard beneath the screen but never reached production.
Dynamac Corporation
Dynamac Corporation, also known as Dynamac Computer Products Inc., was founded as a Delaware corporation in 1970 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Between 1986 and 1991, it offered portable Mac systems. In 1986, Dynamac distinguished itself as the first vendor to acquire Macintosh computers from Apple at a discounted rate for portable conversion.
Significant products include:
- Dynamac – A converted Macintosh Plus enclosed within a black metal case weighing 24 pounds. It featured a 9-inch backlit amber electroluminescent screen and an optional external battery pack. Powered by an 8 MHz 68000 processor, its starting price was $7,000. The release of the Apple Macintosh Portable in 1989 rendered this model obsolete. It was eventually discontinued.
- Dynamac EL – Similar to the original Dynamac but housed in black Cycolac plastic to reduce weight to 18 pounds and lower the base price to $6,000. This model was also discontinued following Apple's launch of their Macintosh Portable.
- Dynamac LC Display – This product transformed a Macintosh LC into a portable device weighing approximately 13¾ pounds by adding a 9.5-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 640x480 pixels supporting 16 shades of gray. An optional battery added around 2½ pounds. Pricing began at $1,299 for the display kit plus the cost of the Macintosh LC itself. This product is no longer available.
- Dynamac IIsf and IIsf/30 – These leather-cased portable units were based on the Macintosh LC platform and featured integrated 9.5-inch LCD screens (640x480 resolution with 16 shades of gray), touchpads, and built-in batteries. The IIsf model used a 68020 CPU with prices starting at $4,995; the IIsf/30 employed a 68030 CPU starting at $6,995. Both models weighed about 11 pounds and have been discontinued.
Intelitec Systems Corporation
Located in Fairfield, Iowa, Intelitec Systems Corporation manufactured portable Macintosh computers between 1987 and 1989. Their market presence ended when Apple's release of the Macintosh Portable made their offerings outdated.
Key product:
- MX Plus – a 15-pound portable computer modeled after the Macintosh Plus, encased in an aluminum attache-style case. It included a Supertwist LCD, 1MB of RAM, dual 800k floppy drives, an internal battery, a mouse, and expansion slots for modem and printer connectivity. The starting price was $5,000. Production ceased in 1989 following Apple's entry into the portable Mac market.
Modbook Inc.
Established in February 2012, Modbook Inc., a privately owned firm based in Los Angeles, California, focused on converting Macs into pen-enabled Tablet Mac devices designed primarily for creative users.
Key products:
- Modbook Pro – Released in 2012, this model involved replacing the casing of a non-Retina 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Pro with a CNC-machined aluminum body to create a pen-enabled tablet. Pricing started at $1,799 plus the expense of the base MacBook Pro. It was available through the company’s online store and Amazon.
- Modbook Pro X – Originally launched as a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, it evolved by late 2016 into the development of the flagship Modbook Pro X featuring a Touch Bar. The product was slated for release in late 2017 or early 2018 with prices beginning at $2,499 plus the cost of the donor 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro.
As of July 2025, no units have been delivered to supporters. The most recent company update dates back to August 3, 2018. A statement from WeFunder in July 2023 indicated continued unsuccessful attempts to reach Modbook Inc.
Outbound Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Outbound Systems Inc. specialized in Macintosh portable computing solutions from its inception until 1991 before pivoting in 1992 toward Windows-based PC products. Drawing on its expertise with Mac-compatible laptops, the company developed Intel-powered compact computers but ended production by late 1992.
Highlighted products:
- The Wallaby – Released in 1989, this laptop conversion closely resembled a full Mac clone but required the ROM from a donor Macintosh Plus or SE. It operated on a 15 MHz Motorola 68000 CPU and supported a “hive” mode enabling the donor Mac to run using the laptop’s ROM. Priced between $2,999 and $3,999 (excluding the donor machine), it weighed 9.2 pounds—lighter and more affordable than Apple’s Macintosh Portable. The Wallaby was discontinued in 1991 when the Outbound Notebook debuted.
- The Outbound Notebook – Introduced in 1991 as a clamshell notebook continuing to rely on external ROM, it featured a 10″ 640 x 400 black-and-white Supertwist LCD, modular daughtercard CPU/FPU upgrades, standard 30-pin SIMM memory slots, and SCSI support for an external Outrigger monitor. Starting at $3,500, production ended in 1992.
Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc.
Sixty-Eight Thousand, Inc. was a California-based corporation located in Scotts Valley that operated between 1987 and 1994. The company specialized in delivering high-performance tower workstation configurations tailored for the premium professional Mac segment.
Key offerings included:
- Dash 30 – This model was a modification of the Macintosh II, featuring a relocation of the original motherboard and components into a stainless steel tower chassis. It upgraded the CPU to a faster 32-MHz Motorola 68030 processor, incorporated a Pronto SCSI accelerator, a math coprocessor, and a high-speed RAM cache. These enhancements resulted in performance multiple times superior to the standard Mac II. Initial pricing started at $15,000, which included the donor Mac. The Dash 30 was succeeded by the Dash 30fx in 1990.
- Dash 30fx – Released in 1990 and based on the Macintosh IIfx, this model maintained the same tower enclosure and conversion concept as the Dash 30 but operated the Motorola 68030 CPU at an increased clock speed of 50-MHz, offering approximately a 25% performance boost over the original system. Pricing began at $11,500 for the enclosure plus donor Mac, with full performance upgrades (including overclocked CPU, RAM cache, SCSI accelerator) raising the price to $20,470. 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 unit was based on the Macintosh Quadra 950. It utilized the same tower conversion approach and featured a Motorola 68040 CPU accelerated beyond its standard 50 MHz. Available options included an upgrade to a 100 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, SCSI accelerator, RAM cache, and multiple storage bay configurations. Pricing aligned closely with that of the Dash 30fx: $12,000 for donor Mac plus enclosure and $22,000 including all enhancements. Production ceased in 1994.