Here is a video on the history of the MPC ( Music Production Center).

History

The original MPC60 was designed by Roger Linn, who was hired as a design consultant by Akai. He developed the functional design, including the panel layout and software/hardware specifications.

Shortly after the MPC60’s release, the MPC60-II was designed. Released in 1991, the MPC60-II offered most of the same features as the MPC60, with an added headphone output and a plastic housing replacing the original metal one. In 1994, Akai released the MPC3000, which boasted 16-bit, 44 kHz sampling, 32-voice polyphony, and SCSI data transfer. Akai developed and released the MPC2000 without Linn in 1997. It came with 2 MB of RAM, an optional effects board, and a 100,000 note 64-track sequencer. The MPC2000 was replaced by the MPC2000XL in 2000. The MPC2000XL added an improved 300,000 note sequencer, a 64-track mixer and time-stretch and resample features. Four limited edition models of the MPC2000XL were released.

In 2002 Akai unveiled the MPC4000, the most powerful MPC at the time. The MPC4000 featured 8 assignable outputs, a hard drive and CD-ROM drive. The MPC4000’s memory could be expanded to up to 512 MB of RAM, the largest amount on an MPC to date. Only two years after the release of the MPC4000, Akai released the MPC1000, which was the smallest in the MPC product line at the time of its release. It was also the first MPC to utilize Compact Flash memory. Both the MPC2500 and the MPC500 were added to the Akai MPC series in 2006. The MPC2500 is a mid-range MPC with 8 assignable outputs and CompactFlash storage. Designed for portability, the MPC500 features 1 MIDI In/Out and CompactFlash storage, and can be powered by 6 AA batteries.
Source: Wikipedia