Author: Matthew

Apple IIe

This exhibit displays the following items:

• Apple IIe computer
  • An

Noteworthy remarks:

• A

Working status:

In

Exploring the Apple IIe:

• As

The Macintosh Colour Classic

This exhibit displays the following items:

• Macintosh Colour Classic computer
  • An

Noteworthy remarks:

• A

Working status:

In

Exploring the Macintosh Colour Classic:

• As

The Macintosh SE/30 introduced a major performance upgrade to the “compact Mac” range with the 68030 processor, and upgrade from the 68000 processor in all earlier Macintosh models.

It could also support a massive 128MB RAM – a huge amount of memory back in 1989.

The Macintosh SE/30 carried forward a similar design to the Macintosh SE, however omitted the slot where a second floppy disk could be installed, as many SE/30s were equipped with internal hard disk drives.

An internal expansion slot on the board could support an additional piece of hardware to be installed inside the computer, such as a network card or graphics card to drive a second monitor.

This exhibit displays the following items:

• Macintosh SE/30 computer
  • An all-in-one “classic” Macintosh design with styling carried forward from the Macintosh SE.
• Apple Extended Keyboard II
  • The professional model keyboard featuring a full row of function keys, keypad, and number pad.
• Apple Desktop Bus Mouse
  • The first major revision to the original Macintosh mouse which connected using Apple’s new ADB port.
• Apple Hard Disk 40SC
  • An external SCSI hard disk drive with 40MB of storage.
• Apple Tape Backup Drive
  • An external SCSI tape backup drive which was compatible with 40MB tape cartridges.

Noteworthy remarks:

• Apple’s naming convention at the time was to use “x” to denote use of the 68030 processor, eg. Macintosh IIx and Macintosh IIcx. However, it was considered inappropriate for this model, the improvement on the Macintosh SE, therefore it was named the SE/30.
• The Macintosh SE/30 is a highly desirable computer among collectors.

Working status:

In good working order, and presents as a good example of the “Platinum” colour case with not too much discolouration, however the Hard Drive 40SC and Tape Backup Drive are currently non-functioning.

Exploring the Macintosh SE/30:

• As this Macintosh features an internal hard disk drive, many software programs and games are installed and ready to be used.

The Macintosh Plus built upon the original Macintosh further with some notable technical enhancements including an increase to 1MB RAM as standard (expandable to 4MB), 800k floppy disk drive, and an external SCSI port.

Physically, the Macintosh Plus featured some design refinements: a more tightly cropped Apple logo on the front with “Macintosh Plus” printed alongside.

Initially shipping in the same beige colour of the original Macintosh – retrospectively known as “putty” – the Macintosh Plus changed to the new grey colour called “Platinum” during its production.

This exhibit displays the following items:

• Macintosh Plus computer
  • An all-in-one “classic” Macintosh design very similar to the original Macintosh.
  • Featured here in “Platinum” grey.
• Macintosh Keyboard
  • Similar to the original Macintosh keyboard but extended to feature a number pad and arrow keys.
• Macintosh Mouse
  • A version of the original Macintosh mouse in “Platinum” to match the Plus.
• Macintosh 3.5″ Drive
  • A floppy disk drive capable of reading 3.5″ 800k floppy disks.

Noteworthy remarks:

• The Macintosh Plus was available for nearly 5 years – the longest of all “compact Mac” models – from January 1986 through to October 1990.
• The inclusion of the external SCSI port – something which stayed with all Macs up until the iMac in 1998 – meant the Plus could connect to faster and larger external hard disk drives.
• Apple released upgrade kits for earlier Macintosh models which included a replacement board and rear case – this meant some Macintosh Pluses may look like a Macintosh 128k or Macintosh 512k from the front.

Working status:

In good working order, and presents as a good example of the “Platinum” colour case with not too much discolouration.

Exploring the Macintosh Plus:

• This Macintosh Plus is set up to use its internal floppy drive to boot into the operating system, and then use the external floppy drive to load programs.
• Browse through the 3.5″ disks in the box alongside the Macintosh Plus and insert it into the external floppy drive.
• The disk will load onto the desktop of the Macintosh Plus.
• Double click the disk icon on the desktop to explore the disk and use the programs.

The Macintosh 512k was the second Mac to be released following the release of the original Macintosh. It was released in September 1984, 8 months after the original.

With the release of the Macintosh 512k, the original Macintosh was then known as the Macintosh 128k.

The 512k reference in the name refers to the increased amount of memory for this Macintosh revision – four times that of the original Macintosh which greatly improved its usability, as the original Macintosh was often criticised for lacking enough memory to make is usable in an efficient manner.

This exhibit displays the following items:

• Macintosh 512k computer
  • An all-in-one “classic” Macintosh design which is nearly identical to the original Macintosh.
• Macintosh Keyboard
  • This is an example of the keyboard that was packaged with the original Macintosh.
• Macintosh Mouse
  • This is an example of the mouse that was packaged with the original Macintosh.
• Macintosh 400k External Drive
  • A floppy disk drive capable of reading 3.5″ 400k floppy disks.
  • In the current setup, this drive is daisy-chained to the Hard Disk 20 – this drive is connected to the Hard Disk 20, which is then connected to the Macintosh.
• Macintosh Hard Disk 20
  • An external hard disk drive with 20MB storage. Designed to match the footprint of the Macintosh, it sat neatly underneath the Macintosh.
  • The drive connects to the Macintosh using the floppy disk drive port and is compatible only with the Macintosh 512k.

Noteworthy remarks:

• The Macintosh 512k features a badge on the rear which will distinguish it from the original Macintosh.
• The beige colour of the plastics is referred to as “Putty” and can be compared with later Macs which used a grey called “Platinum” eg. the Macintosh SE/30.

Working status:

Unfortunately this Mac is currently non-functioning. It requires repairs to the power supply board.