Seen on a website, a prototype of a rather unique Apple computer: an Apple Network Server. Even though it is technically quite similar to a Mac, it does not run Mac OS (or rather System, as the OS was not yet called Mac OS) but instead runs AIX, IBM’s UNIX for PowerPC.
The prototype is a Shiner HE, which means it is an Apple Network Server 700. The codename Shiner comes from an American beer that Apple’s Texas teams enjoyed. The machine is indeed a prototype, missing several markings, featuring untextured plastic (a common trait of prototypes), and having an exploded battery (also common). You can find plenty of details on the components in the dedicated post. However, there are some differences compared to the commercial version. The author also explains that a hard drive is missing, which contained essential data, unfortunately, stored in what appears to have been a RAID volume.
A massive beast
ESB for Extra Special Bitter?
Missing an HDD
Apple Network Servers remain a curiosity in Apple’s lineup at the time—large, unusual machines that ran UNIX… but not the ones we are familiar with today. It is also worth noting that there was supposedly a ROM that allowed these machines to boot Mac OS, but nothing has ever surfaced on the subject (prototypes were seen over 25 years ago…).
