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In the early days of personal computing, Apple was at the forefront of innovation with the introduction of the Apple ProFile hard disk drive. First released on September 1, 1981, the ProFile was a part of Apple’s hard disk drive series and was designed, manufactured, and sold by the company until 1986.
The ProFile was a cutting-edge piece of technology at the time, featuring a Seagate ST-506 stepper motor drive and mechanism, as well as 5 MB or 10 MB of hard drive storage. It also featured a DB-25 connection port and was compatible with a range of Apple computers, including the Apple IIe (with ProFile interface card), Apple III, Apple III Plus, Apple Lisa, Apple Lisa 2, and Macintosh XL.
Despite its impressive capabilities, the Apple ProFile was only sold for a total of five years before being discontinued on September 1, 1986. Today, the ProFile is a nostalgic piece of tech history and 42 years old since its initial release.
While the ProFile may no longer be on the market, it played a significant role in the evolution of personal computing and solidified Apple’s place as a leader in the industry. Its legacy lives on in the continued advancements and innovations in hard drive technology that we see today.
Apple ProFile Details
| Introduced | September 1, 1981 |
| Discontinued | September 1, 1986 |
| Order Number | A9M0005 (5 MB) A9M0100 (10 MB) |
| Original Price | $3,499 (5 MB) Unknown (10 MB) |
| Colors | Beige |
| Weight | 11 Ibs. 4.989 KG |
| Dimensions | 4.39” H x 17.28” W x 8.8” D 11.15 cm H x 43.89 cm W x 22.35 cm D |
System Requirements
- Apple IIe with ProFile interface card
- Apple III or Apple III Plus
- Apple Lisa
- Apple Lisa 2
- Macintosh XL
Disk Specs
| Capacity | 5 or 10 MB at 3600-rpm |
| Data Transfer Rate | Up to 62.5 KB per second |
Connections
| Connection | DB-25 |
| Ports | 1- DB-25 |
Power
| Maximum Continuous Power | 35 W |
Further Reading and References
- Apple ProFile – Wikipedia
- Apple 5MB ‘Profile’ hard disk drive – MAAS Collection
- Chapter 10 Apple Computer in the 1980’s (PDF) – MirrorsApple2
- Apple III Chaos: Apple’s First Failure – Low End Mac
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Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
Last updated: March 7, 2023