You can now build Raspberry Pi Pico-powered Macintosh 128K with this $10 VGA kit

Originally published on tomshardware.com by Ash Hill on 30 February 2099

This DIY Macintosh 128K replica by Action Retro brings the 1984 experience to life with a Raspberry Pi Pico, all for under $20. The project emulates the Macintosh 128K operating system with surprising fidelity, allowing users to relive the original Mac OS environment on a pocket-sized board. Though the Pico’s emulation isn’t a perfect replica, it provides a solid approximation of the original, especially when paired with the right peripherals.

The magic of this build centers on the “Pico Micro Mac” board, designed by Ron from RonsCompVids and available at Joe’s Computer Museum for just $10. This custom board adds VGA support, enabling a 640 x 480px output from the Pico, as compared to the original Mac 128K’s 512 x 342px. Though the resolution differs, it captures much of the original’s essence, and with some creativity, builders can even design retro-inspired housings.

Options are available for purchasing the board preassembled with a Pico for $25 or assembling it yourself by buying a $10 board and sourcing your own Pico. One limitation to note is that this setup lacks audio support, so the experience is visual-only. For software, it relies on Pico Mac, an open-source emulator available on GitHub that enables VGA output and USB device compatibility.

For a demo and deeper dive, Action Retro’s YouTube channel shows the project in action, offering an impressive glimpse into how the Pico can recreate a classic computing experience in an affordable, compact form.

Read more: You can now build Raspberry Pi Pico-powered Macintosh 128K with this $10 VGA kit

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