Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!dimacs.rutgers.edu!rutgers!rochester!cornell!uw-beaver!ubc-cs!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!cunews!mitel!testeng1!stanfiel
From: stanfiel@testeng1.misemi (Chris Stanfield)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Info on Mac lineage wanted
Message-ID: <5179@testeng1.misemi>
Date: 5 Nov 90 20:17:52 GMT
References: <13362@crdgw1.crd.ge.com>
Reply-To: stanfiel@testeng1.UUCP ()
Organization: Mitel CAE Services
Lines: 46

In article <13362@crdgw1.crd.ge.com> rankins@argentina.crd.ge.com (raymond r rankins) writes:
As far as we understand it, the lineage
>is as follows:
>
Mac - 128k mem, can be upgraded to 512 or 512E (probably not worth it) 2
serial ports, 1 400k internal floppy, 1 400k external floppy port.
Price <$200
Mac 512 - 512k, otherwise as 128, can be upgraded to E (~$300) Price <$250
Mac 512E - 512k, 128k ROM set. As 128 and 512, except that there are
upgrades available which allow the addition of a SCSI port and more.
RAM (up to 4Mb - cost approx. $300 plus RAM) Price <$300
Mac Plus - 1Mb, SCSI port, can be upgraded to 4Mb by changint the
supplied 256k simms for 1Mb simms. Price $<500
Mac SE - like the Plus, but comes with two internal floppies or 1
floppy and 1 hard drive (usually 20M, occasionaly 40M) Same memory,
and also has one expansion slot. Price <$1500
Mac SE/30 - All the above use the 68000 processor, but this baby uses
the 68030. Usually supplied with one floppy and a hard drive (40M),
and has one expansion slot. I believe this one will take up tp 5M of
memory, not just 4M (?) Price $2000 to $3000, maybe more.
Mac II - You can get anything you want, depending on which model you
choose, but the prices start a LOT higher. In particular, these
machines have multiple expansion slots (number depends on machine)
Price $4000 and up.

Depending on your budget, the cheapest solution might be to get a
used Plus with 2.5 or 4M of memory, unless you can get a very cheap 512E
and can do the upgrade yourself. (The latter is fairly easy). If you
have the money, the MacII is the best machine, as it supports colour,
has expansion slots and is fast. If you want the small Mac but need
the speed, then get a MacSE30, or get a 68030 upgrade board for a 512E
($1500) if you can get a chep enough 512E. One final thing - the
keyboards are better with the later machines, with the SE and up
coming with ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) keyboards and mice. This bus
allows the addiotion of certain peripherals, such as trackballs and
scanners. 

I'm sure some others will correct any errors in the above, and add
their 2 cents worth, especially on my pricing, at least I hope so!

Good luck, and remember - there are plenty of bargains out there if
you look around.

Chris Stanfield, Mitel Corporation: E-mail to:- uunet!mitel!testeng1!stanfiel
(613) 592 2122 Ext.4960
We do not inherit the world from our parents - we borrow it from our children.