Pico-Mac - Macintosh 128K Replica (RP2040)

What is it?

Pico-Mac is a plug-and-play, hand-soldered single-board computer that crams a complete 1984 Macintosh 128K environment into a matchbox-size PCB built around the Raspberry Pi RP2040. A 16 MB NOR flash holds the system ROM and a bootable disk image, while a micro-SD slot lets you swap additional classic Mac images at will.

The on-chip dual-core Cortex-M0+ emulates the 68k CPU, 208 KB of SRAM is reserved for Mac memory, and a tiny VGA DAC pumps out an authentic 640×480 black-and-white picture. Two full-size USB-A ports accept standard keyboards and mice — simply plug in, power over USB-C, and watch the smiling Mac greet you in under two seconds.

Why Was It Made?

Inspired by Matt Evans' open-source "pico-mac" emulator, Pico-Mac was designed to eliminate the tangle of jumper wires and bring everything onto a single, manufacturable PCB. Reliable flash storage, convenient USB host ports, and a cute 3D-printed 62mm "Classic Mac" shell make this a worry-free turnkey machine — small enough to carry in a pocket, yet capable of running System 1.1, MacPaint, and early HyperCard stacks.

What Makes It Special?

• Zero-compromise emulation: Cycle-accurate 68k core, original 128K ROM, 400 KB floppy images, and the legendary 1-bit "beep" recreated with a 600 Hz square-wave chirp on boot
• Ready to use: Every SMD part professionally soldered, RP2040 pre-flashed, USB-C cable included — no toolchain or firmware tinkering required
• Flexible storage: 16 MB on-board NOR flash holds a default boot disk; TF-card slot accepts additional *.dsk files for drag-and-drop software swapping
• Big-system feel: Native 640×480 VGA output drives any monitor or projector; full-speed USB HID support for modern keyboards, mice, and wireless combos
• Open heritage: Board files, Gerbers, and BOM released under MIT license — same as the upstream pico-mac project. Hack, extend, or remix freely

Key Specifications

• MCU: Raspberry Pi RP2040 (dual-core Cortex-M0+)
• Emulation: Macintosh 128K (68k cycle-accurate)
• RAM: 208 KB SRAM reserved for Mac memory
• Flash: 16 MB NOR flash (ROM + boot disk image)
• Storage: Micro-SD slot for additional .dsk disk images
• Video: VGA DAC — 640×480 black-and-white output
• USB: 2× USB-A host ports (keyboard, mouse)
• Power: USB-C
• Boot time: Under 2 seconds
• Case option: 3D-printed PETG 62mm Classic Mac shell (+$59)
• License: MIT (open source)

Options

• With 3D-printed PETG Classic Mac case — $299
• PCB only (no case) — $240