Computer History Museum unveils comically large-scale rendition of the 1986 Apple Macintosh Plus — 'Big Mac' celebrates 50th Apple anniversary towering all-in-one's keyboard looks disproportionately huge today
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Overview
The Computer History Museum is teasing the “Big Mac,” an almost comically large‑scale rendition of the circa 1986 Macintosh Plus. In 2026 design terms, the keyboard is the only part that looks particularly oversized; modern all‑in‑one screens dominate the design, making the original‑size monitor appear small beside the enlarged keyboard.
A recent museum post highlighted the “astonishingly large Macintosh Plus computer” acquired for exhibition and demo purposes. The tease focuses on the keyboard ASMR crowd, showcasing a scaled‑up replica of the Apple Keyboard (M0110A). The original keyboard had 58 keys and included arrow keys, which were absent from its predecessor, the M0110.
The Original Macintosh Plus
Apple’s Macintosh Plus launched with the same Motorola 68000 CPU as the original Mac. Key specifications:
- Memory: 1 MB RAM (expandable to 4 MB via four 30‑pin SIMM slots)
- Storage: 800 KB 3.5‑inch floppy drive
- Ports: SCSI port for external HDDs and printers
- Display: 9‑inch monochrome CRT, 512 × 342 pixels
The machine appealed to graphic artists because of its pioneering GUI and software library. Despite its modest screen size, the Macintosh Plus was a workhorse, supported by Apple System releases for a decade. macOS 7.5.5 still ran on the model when released in September 1996.
“Big Mac” Details
The museum’s replica emphasizes the keyboard, which appears comically large compared with modern all‑in‑one designs. The scaled‑up keyboard retains the original layout (58 keys, including arrow keys) but at a size that makes the accompanying 9‑inch CRT look tiny by today’s standards.
Image credit: The Computer History Museum. The normal Mac Plus can be seen on the desk to the lower right.
Pricing and Legacy
When launched in 1986, the Macintosh Plus cost $2,599 (approximately $7,500 in 2026 dollars). It remained a reliable platform throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, benefitting from Apple’s continued software support.
Future Plans
The Computer History Museum indicates that more information about the “Big Mac” will be released next week. The exhibit is part of the museum’s Apple at 50 celebrations, which kick off in March.