History
In the 1980s, Apple introduced several Macintosh computers, beginning with the original Macintosh in 1984 (later referred to as the Macintosh 128K to distinguish it from the 512K model). The Macintosh was the first mass-market personal computer to feature a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse, setting a new standard for user-friendly computing. It had 128 kilobytes of RAM, which was quite limited even for its time, but it included a 9-inch black-and-white display and a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, both of which were innovative features. The 128K was followed by the Macintosh 512K, which offered four times the memory and improved performance, making it more suitable for complex applications and larger documents.
As the decade progressed, Apple continued to enhance the Macintosh line. The Macintosh Plus, released in 1986, introduced several significant upgrades, including 1 MB of RAM (expandable to 4 MB), a SCSI port for connecting external devices, and an 800 KB floppy drive. This model was particularly popular in the desktop publishing market due to its increased storage capacity and expandability. In 1987, Apple released the Macintosh SE, which included an internal hard drive option and an expansion slot for additional hardware, further enhancing its functionality and appeal to professional users.
The pinnacle of Apple's 1980s Macintosh computers was the Macintosh SE/30, introduced in 1989. This model featured a 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, making it the fastest Macintosh of the era. It also supported up to 128 MB of RAM, a significant leap from its predecessors. The SE/30 retained the compact, all-in-one design of earlier models but offered dramatically improved performance and expandability, making it a favorite among power users and businesses. Overall, these models collectively showcased Apple's commitment to innovation and user experience, cementing the Macintosh's place in computing history.
The different Models
Below is a list of all the Macintosh computers that retain the original compact form factor, often referred to as the "Wurfel Mac" in German, which translates to "Cube Mac." This list excludes models like the Macintosh II, as they deviate from the classic design and form factor that defined the early Macintosh lineup. You can use the list below to compare the pros and cons of the various models, guiding your search for a Macintosh or simply serving as a reference to learn more about the lineup.
Macintosh 128K - 1984
The Macintosh 128K was the first model and, aside from its collectability, is not highly recommended for purchase. Often jokingly referred to as 'the computer that couldn't run any software,' this is due to its very limited and non-expandable RAM of 128KB. Despite its groundbreaking introduction of the graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse, the 128K's memory constraints severely limited its functionality and software compatibility.
Pros: The original Macintosh with a beautiful design.
Cons: Not really usable. 400K floppy support only.
Macintosh 512K/512Ke - 1984
The Macintosh 512K series, introduced in 1984, significantly improved upon the original 128K by increasing RAM to 512KB, enabling more complex applications and larger documents. The 512K also featured a slightly larger ROM, improving overall performance and usability. In 1986, the 512Ke model was released, maintaining the same 512KB of RAM but featuring an upgraded 128K ROM for better software compatibility. The 512Ke also introduced support for the Hierarchical File System (HFS) and 800KB double-sided floppy disks, significantly enhancing storage capacity and disk management compared to the original 128K and 512K models.
Pros: The original Macintosh with a beautiful design with a bit more memory.
Cons: Not really usable either. 800K floppy support only.
Macintosh Plus - 1986
The Mac Plus was the answer to complaints that the original Mac was not expandable. It doubled the ROM of the 512k from 64k to 128k, and increased the RAM to 1 MB (expandable to 4 MB). It was the first Mac to include a SCSI port, allowing for a variety of external peripherals, and was the first Mac to use the now familiar platinum case color (although it initially shipped in beige).
Pros: Beautiful design. Passively cooled. Expandable with BlueSCSI. Supports 4MB RAM. Easy to find. Has robust capacitors that do not leak.
Cons: No ADB. No internal SCSI. No SCSI Termination (easy upgrade possible). 800K floppy support only.
Macintosh SE/SE FDHD - 1987
Released at the same time as the Mac II, (March, 1987) the Mac SE further addressed the issue of expansion. It came in a new platinum case, had an expansion slot, and included a bay for either a second internal floppy drive, or an internal hard drive. The Mac SE was also one of the first Macs to include an Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), which allowed for up to 16 input devices.
Pros: Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. Expandable with BlueSCSI internal, external or both. Supports 4MB RAM. Relatively easy to find. Has robust capacitors that do not leak. SCSI Termination. 1.44MB floppy support (SE FDHD).
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. 800K floppy support only (SE).
Macintosh SE/30 - 1989
Released in January 1989, the SE/30 came with a powerful 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor. It supported up to 128 MB of RAM, far surpassing earlier models, and included a math co-processor for improved computing tasks. This model also featured advanced graphics capabilities, making it a favorite among professionals needing high-performance computing in a compact design. The SE/30 maintained the SE's expandability while offering substantial improvements in speed and capacity, solidifying its place as a standout model in the Macintosh lineup.
Pros: Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. Expandable with BlueSCSI internal, external or both. Supports 128MB RAM in 32bit mode. SCSI Termination. Motorola 68030 CPU. Motorola 68882 FPU. 1.44MB floppy support.
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. Capacitors on the logicboard leak. Hard to find for a reasonable price. Often requires considerable work to get working.
Macintosh Classic - 1990
The Macintosh Classic, introduced in 1990, was designed to be a cost-effective alternative to the SE. It featured a 9-inch monochrome display, similar to the original Mac, and came with 1 MB of RAM, expandable to 4 MB. It also included an internal SCSI hard drive and a 3.5-inch floppy drive.
Pros: Affordable. Familiar design. Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. 1.44MB floppy support.
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. Motorola 68000 CPU. Capacitors on the logic board may leak. Limited expandability compared to the SE or SE/30. Soldered CRT cable.
Macintosh Classic II - 1991
The Macintosh Classic II, released in 1991, was an upgrade over the original Classic. It came with a faster 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor and 2 MB of RAM, expandable to 10 MB. The Classic II also included an internal SCSI hard drive and a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and it supported System 7, providing a more modern user experience.
Pros: Motorola 68030 CPU. Supports 10MB RAM. Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. Better performance with System 7.
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. Limited expandability. Motorola 68882 FPU optional. Capacitors on the logic board may leak.
Macintosh Color Classic - 1993
The Macintosh Color Classic, introduced in 1993, was the first compact Mac to feature a color display. It had a 10-inch color CRT display, a 16 MHz Motorola 68030 processor, and came with 4 MB of RAM, expandable to 10 MB. It also included an internal SCSI hard drive and a 1.44 MB floppy drive.
Pros: First compact Mac with color display. Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. Expandable with BlueSCSI internal, external or both. Supports up to 10MB RAM. 1.44MB floppy support.
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. Capacitors on the logic board may leak. Limited performance. Can be expensive and hard to find in good condition.
Macintosh Color Classic II - 1993
The Macintosh Color Classic II, also released in 1993, was an improved version of the Color Classic. It featured a faster 33 MHz Motorola 68030 processor and came with 4 MB of RAM, expandable to 36 MB. The Color Classic II also included a 10-inch color CRT display, an internal SCSI hard drive, and a 1.44 MB floppy drive.
Pros: Faster processor. Supports up to 36MB RAM. First compact Mac with a color display. Internal SCSI. ADB keyboard and mouse. Expandable with BlueSCSI internal, external or both.
Cons: Actively cooled, fan often needs replacement. Motorola 68882 FPU optional. Capacitors on the logic board may leak. Can be expensive and hard to find in good condition.
My models and their journey
I currently own four classic Macintosh computers, each with various modifications and upgrades and different history. Below, I’ve detailed the work I’ve done on them. And some background information when available.
Macintosh SE/30
The Macintosh SE/30 is my main and most used classic Macintosh. It has an internal BlueSCSI with a 2GB SLC SD card. It runs System 7.5.5, features 128MB of memory, and has a 50MHz CPU/FPU booster PDS card. The fan has been replaced with a Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX 60x25mm fan. The Noctua fan runs more quietly and pushes more air. Internally, I have a QuokkADB connected to a simple USB 2.0 hub. I've plugged in my Vortex M0110 2.4GHz keyboard receiver, and a cable that goes to a USB-C port on the back of the SE/30 case. This setup allows me to use USB keyboards and mice with the SE/30, and even use the M0110-inspired mechanical keyboard with Gateron Jupiter Banana switches by Vortex cordlessly with the SE/30.
The QuokkADB is not meant for internal placement in a Macintosh, but I placed it inside, routing the ADB cable out the back and into one of the ADB ports on the back of the SE/30. I could have soldered the leads directly onto the logic board, but so far, I've only made reversible modifications to the Macintosh, as I believe it's important to keep the devices in their original condition.
Because of the internal BlueSCSI adapter, I have fast, quiet storage in the SE/30, and it also provides Wi-Fi. I use this with MacTCP under System 6 and OpenTransport under System 7, giving the SE/30 full TCP/IP capabilities. I can email, use FTP clients, browse the web with Gopher or standard web browsers, and even SSH or Telnet into other computers, making it a versatile terminal.
When I got the SE/30, it had several issues, like broken solder joints and capacitors on the logic board that needed replacing. Once I had fixed these issues, the machine worked like a charm, and judging by how crisp the CRT still is, I think it hasn’t seen much use throughout its life.
While opening up the SE/30 to do the necessary work, I also cleaned and used protective contact spray on the components. I thoroughly cleaned the Sony MP-F75W-01G diskette drive and replaced the fragile and often broken cogwheel responsible for the self-ejecting functionality of the diskette drive. A seller named ‘bettetbit’ on eBay provides replacement gears for the diskette drive.
Macintosh SE
The Macintosh SE came in fully working condition, running System 6.0.8 with a very loud internal hard drive. I acquired the SE from a private individual who had bought it second-hand when the Macintosh was already several years old. The original owner was the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV), the public transportation company in Zürich, Switzerland. The Microsoft Word license was still registered to them, and the Word installation included template texts related to subscription sign-ups, offering an interesting glimpse into the device's history. Unfortunately, it seems that while at ZVV, the Macintosh never had a screensaver, leading to noticeable blooming and burn-in of the menu bar on the screen.
The power supply still delivers good voltages on all lines and appears to be in fine working order. However, the fan was loud and rattled, so I replaced it with the same Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX 60x25mm fan as in the SE/30. The original hard drive has been retired after I made a backup of it, and it has been replaced with an internal BlueSCSI adapter. Instead of using an internal QuokkADB like in the SE/30, I opted for an external USB to ADB converter called Wombat.
I also found a replacement CRT, which was said to be new old stock, and installed it in the SE. I have kept the original CRT, which is labeled as matching this Macintosh, for potential future use. While working on the SE, I also cleaned the Sony MP-F51W-23 800k floppy drive and replaced the ejecting cogwheel. I also installed a new Tadiran 1/2AA 3.6V battery so the system clock can remember the time after being shut down and the PRAM keeps it's values stored.
The SE runs System 6.0.8 smoothly and handles System 7.0.1 as well, albeit a little slower.
I’ve upgraded its memory to the maximum of 4MB, which is honestly the biggest limiting factor for the 8MHz 68k Macintosh computers. While the slower 8MHz processor may require some patience as it slowly but surely processes tasks, the real bottleneck is the memory. Anything that doesn’t fit within the 4MB limit simply won’t run. If these 8MHz 68k Macintosh computers could utilize 8MB or 16MB of memory, they would likely be much more usable, even by today’s standards.
Macintosh Plus ED
The Macintosh Plus ED came in very good condition. I found it online for a nice price and went to pick it up from the original owner, a retired teacher. His wife has an art gallery, and they have a few kids now fully grown in their early 40s. This was evident as the Apple Hard Disk 20SC that came with it still had homework and marketing brochures from the kids and the art gallery. There were application letters and other documents as well, and it also came with about 50 or so 800k diskettes.
Sadly, although the Macintosh Plus ED is in great optical condition, after running it for about 45 minutes, it suddenly popped and smoke came out the top. Surprisingly, the Macintosh didn’t even shut down and kept running just fine. I immediately shut it down and removed the power cord since the power switch does not actually remove current from all components. The issue was that one of the RIFA capacitors cracked and caught fire.
After inspection, I discovered that capacitor C37 (Location marker J13) had cracked and caught fire, spewing electrolytic fluid around. I checked the board for more components of the same type that seemed prone to fail, like C33 (location marker J10) and C36 (Location marker J12). I then desoldered the parts, cleaned up the board by removing the electrolytic fluid with vinegar, followed by alcohol to clean the board further, and used a protective contact cleaner spray that leaves a tiny layer of an oily substance. I ordered replacement RIFA capacitors and waited for them to arrive. After they arrived, I installed them and checked all solder joints for cracks.
While I was in there, I cleaned the logic board and adjusted the CRT voltages. After cleaning, I installed a diode 1N4001 50V/1amp in the unpopulated CR1 location on the logic board, which enables SCSI termination power via the SCSI DB-25 connector. This is very helpful when using an external BlueSCSI on the DB-25 port. I also installed Tadiran 1/2AA 3.6V battery this battery is meant for the SE, SE/30 etc. not the Plus, the Plus came with a special 4.5V Alkaline battery that is hard to source, or expensive. The 3.6V is enough to maintain the PRAM, and the clock only runs 2 minutes behind per week or so at this voltage. The clock deviation is easily rectified with a control panel called Network Time which sets the date and time over TCP/IP.
While working on the Plus ED, I also cleaned the Sony MP-F51W-03 800k floppy drive and replaced the ejecting cogwheel.
Macintosh Plus (with 128K front panel)
This Macintosh is mine but is not yet in my possession, it's a funky Macintosh with a mysterious video out connector sticking out the back.
