The Umax SuperMac J710/200 was a compact Macintosh clone built on the Alchemy architecture, intended for consumers seeking PowerPC performance in a small form factor. Based on the same slim SuperMac C500 desktop case, it packed a 200 MHz PowerPC 604e processor, 32 MB of RAM, a 3.0 GB IDE hard drive, and a 4 MB Matrox Mystique 2D/3D graphics card.
Despite being announced at MacWorld Expo 1998, this model was never released commercially. Umax scrapped the J710/200 shortly after its announcement, and it was never added to their pricing list.
Umax SuperMac J710/200 – Full Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Umax SuperMac J710/200 |
| Processor | PowerPC 604e, 200 MHz |
| System Bus Speed | 50 MHz |
| Lookaside Bus Speed | 50 MHz |
| Processor Upgrade | Daughtercard |
| Architecture | Alchemy |
| Level 1 Cache | 64 KB |
| Level 2 Cache | 512 KB |
| Data Path | 64-bit |
| RAM Type | 70 ns 168-pin DIMM |
| Standard RAM | 32 MB |
| Maximum RAM | 144 MB |
| Motherboard RAM | 16 MB |
| RAM Slots | 2 |
| Interleaving | Not supported |
| Graphics Card | Matrox Mystique 2D/3D, 4 MB VRAM |
| Max Video RAM | 6 MB |
| Hard Drive | 3.0 GB IDE |
| CD-ROM | 24X |
| Floppy Drive | 1.44 MB (manual eject) |
| Modem | External 36.6K |
| Ethernet | AAUI, 10/100Base-T |
| Expansion Slots | 2 PCI (1 occupied by video) |
| Expansion Bays | None |
| Battery Type | 4.5V Alkaline |
| Case Type | Desktop |
| Form Factor | SuperMac C500 slim case |
| Supported Mac OS | 7.5.3–7.6.1, 8.0–9.0 (officially supported to 8.1) |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 4.0 x 13.75 x 16.0 inches |
| Weight | 16 lbs |
| Announced | January 6, 1998 |
| Canceled | February 1, 1998 |
| Original Price (Planned) | $1600 USD |
A MacWorld Ghost – The Clone That Never Launched
Although the Umax SuperMac J710/200 never made it to shelves, its specs reflect Umax’s goal of offering a consumer-friendly Macintosh clone with PowerPC performance in a space-saving chassis. Its compact design limited expandability, but its inclusion of a high-performance graphics card and decent RAM made it competitive.
Its quick cancellation just weeks after announcement underscores the fading era of Mac clones in 1998, especially as Apple began shutting down clone licensing under Steve Jobs’ return.
