Orange Micro
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Anaheim, California , United States |
| Products | Apple peripherals, PC compatibility cards, FireWire controllers, webcams, digital cameras |
Orange Micro Inc. was a United States-based computer hardware manufacturer that concentrated on creating accessories for Apple systems, ranging from the Apple II to the Macintosh series. Established in 1984 and located in Anaheim, California, the company discontinued its operations in 2004.
Apple II
At its inception, Orange Micro concentrated on producing third-party peripherals for Apple devices, notably introducing the Grappler+ expansion card, which allowed graphic printing via dot matrix printers. Their offerings also included parallel port adapters and memory enhancement modules designed specifically for the Apple II lineup.
IBM PC compatibility
In the early 1990s, Orange Micro broadened its product scope by developing PC compatibility cards tailored for Macintosh computers. They obtained rights to technology originally launched by AST Research's Mac286. These expansion cards incorporated complete PC hardware components—such as Intel-compatible processors, memory, audio cards, and video chipsets—on NuBus or PCI interfaces, enabling Macintosh users to run MS-DOS and Windows applications at native speeds. Functions like disk drives and network interfaces were simulated through software.
The company’s PC compatibility devices progressed from the initial Mac286 series to models powered by Intel’s 80386, 80486, and Pentium CPUs, as well as processors from AMD, Cyrix, and IDT, providing budget-conscious alternatives. For example, the OrangePC Model 220 was equipped with a 66 MHz 486DX2 processor and 8MB of RAM, retailing at $1,127 in 1995. Later introductions included the OrangePC 620 line featuring 200 or 233 MHz CPUs starting at $399 in 1998; these supported Intel, AMD, and IDT processors. Higher-end variants incorporated Sound Blaster audio chips, while entry-level versions relied on software-driven sound emulation with limited capabilities.
Released in late 1998, the OrangePC 660 supported Socket 7 processors ranging from a 100 MHz Pentium up to a 400 MHz K6-III. It also featured NVIDIA RIVA 128 graphics hardware and up to 256MB of SDRAM. The PCfx! model was a simplified version of the OrangePC 660 with a soldered-in 200 MHz Pentium CPU and up to 128MB RAM, aimed at Mac users interested in running PC games.
These hardware-based compatibility products became redundant after Apple’s switch to Intel processors and the emergence of Boot Camp along with virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion.
Competition
During its prime years, Orange Micro’s hardware solutions competed against software emulators like SoftPC and SoftWindows. Unlike these slower emulation programs, Orange Micro’s approach employed genuine PC components, offering superior performance.
FireWire
In its later phase, the company redirected efforts towards the OrangeLink FireWire series, which included FireWire controllers, hubs, webcams, and digital cameras like the iBot. This shift aimed to capitalize on the growing demand for high-speed connectivity options and multimedia peripheral devices.
External links
- 1984 establishments in California
- 2004 disestablishments in California
- American companies established in 1984
- American companies disestablished in 2004
- Computer companies established in 1984
- Computer companies disestablished in 2004
- Defunct computer hardware companies
- Defunct computer companies of the United States
- Defunct computer companies based in California
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment