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9" Compact Completists?
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-25 04:40:05
So something interesting with this very nice 512ke ED:

www.ebay.com

Apple Macintosh ED 512K Computer -TESTED- Complete -VERY NICE!- "FAT MAC" M0001D | eBay

Item: Apple Macintosh ED 512K Computer -TESTED- Complete -VERY NICE! - "FAT MAC". Condition: Super nice Apple Macintosh ED 512K, I tested it with a boot-disk (included) and it works just fine. Starts with the well known "boing" and loads into OS just fine.
www.ebay.com

Seller is friendly and provided me the serial:

Screenshot_20231125-073305_eBay~2.jpg

So that's Week of Nov 9th to Nov 15th 1987

BUT

Both everymac and lowendmac list the discontinued date for the 512ke as Sept 1 1987.

So did Apple keep producing these models a month and a half beyond their discontinued date?
Are everymac and lowendmac wrong?

All thoughts on this new little Compact mystery appreciated!
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-25 05:08:27
Ok more strangeness with this 512ke ED. Seller posted some more pictures, machine has 1MB of RAM! It is not a Plus board upgrade, the port layout and bucket are still 512k form.

Lowendmac says "some companies did make memory upgrade kits for the 512Ke" so guess this is one example?

Screenshot_20231125_080331.jpg
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-11-25 05:20:27
Could just be an upgrade board inside I assume.
Posted by: JC8080 on 2023-11-25 05:37:10
There were a ton of after market RAM upgrades for the 512k/ke, I'm not sure if any went over 2mb, but 1mb was very common. If you're ever bored, browse through the early issues of Macuser and Mac World that are archived online, it's cool to see all the different upgrade products that were available. Lots of upgrades to add RAM and SCSI to the early machines.
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-25 05:43:26
@JC8080 thanks for the great info! I came into the Mac world later, so had no clue there was a substantial upgrade market for the 512k's.
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-11-25 06:23:38
Another route was taking a 128k and making it into a 512ke, like happened to the one my friend gave me. Still had the original logic board, but 512k RAM, new ROMs, and 800k drive were all installed.
Posted by: rollmastr on 2023-11-26 01:40:07
@LaPorta SE - 1/40 badge @rollmastr (maybe new pic? Need back pix)

IMG_8073.jpeg
IMG_5608.jpeg
Posted by: volvo242gt on 2023-11-26 03:19:52
Another route was taking a 128k and making it into a 512ke, like happened to the one my friend gave me. Still had the original logic board, but 512k RAM, new ROMs, and 800k drive were all installed.
Same thing happened with the one that I got in the September 2012 conquest. I think I was the first person to fire it up since before the previous owner added it to his collection. He thought it was still a 128k.
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-26 04:03:47
@rollmastr awesome thanks and great choice with the Arkanoid splash screen 👍
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-26 04:07:48
So while we are on the topic, what are the official Apple upgrade paths for the Compacts? I think something like this but please verify.

128k->512k->512ke->Plus
512k->512ke->Plus
512ke->Plus
SE ->SE FDHD
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-11-26 04:55:24
Was one able to purchase an actual upgrade from 128k straight to Plus?
Posted by: joshc on 2023-11-26 11:44:44
So while we are on the topic, what are the official Apple upgrade paths for the Compacts? I think something like this but please verify.

128k->512k->512ke->Plus
512k->512ke->Plus
512ke->Plus
SE ->SE FDHD
You could go straight from a 128k or 512k to a Plus
Also SE -> SE/30
Posted by: volvo242gt on 2023-11-26 14:27:51
Was one able to purchase an actual upgrade from 128k straight to Plus?
Yes. Only the front bezel, CRT, chassis, and analog board are reused. The board and bucket are replaced with Plus parts.
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-11-30 03:54:47
Thanks for the upgrade path reviews everyone

@joshc Was the SE->SE/30 simply a LB swap and floppy upgrade if needed?

And I think we missed one guys. This is a very rare one shared by @ArmorAlley known as the SE/Tuxie upgrade 🤣

I see now what the problem is 1.jpg

I see now what the problem is 2.jpg
(Still my favorites from the Pets thread!)
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-11-30 05:07:47
One cat power! Better than an 030!
Posted by: JC8080 on 2023-11-30 05:36:49
One cat power! Better than an 030!
Depends on whether it is running a 16 or 32 kible-bit bus.
Posted by: ArmorAlley on 2023-11-30 06:09:31
(Still my favorites from the Pets thread!)
Her name is Lila and I thought about ideally cat-shaped compact Macs are.
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-12-03 04:19:42
Her name is Lila and I thought about ideally cat-shaped compact Macs are.
As far as I'm concerned, Lila is the Official Poster-kitty for the Compacts!
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-12-03 04:23:44
One cat power! Better than an 030!
Yes, a 68-0-CAT is more powerful than an 030, but way more erratic and prone to extended periods of absolutely no activity at all. But boy can they purr 🤣

And 32 kible-bit bus was brilliant @JC8080
Posted by: ClassicGuyPhilly on 2023-12-03 05:45:39
Bringing the thread back from a minor cat pix and puns tangent, here's the latest 9" Compact Matrix. There were a ton of updates since last publishing, thanks to all for your contributions. Please do let me know if I missed anything:

compacts-matrix.jpg
Notes/Questions
  • Does anyone know if there is a badge of "SE SuperDrive" for the Dual 1.44 floppy model?
  • Reports of an M0001P model designation here, pix requested from OP
    • @cheesestraws shared: "the "P" suffix is "international analogue board", so ~230V not 120. You can tell it's an international AB just from the photos (aside from the fact that OP's profile says they're in Australia!) - the cluster of four purple capacitors rather than two is a giveaway here. Yes, I've spent too long swearing at 128/512/Plus ABs, why do you ask?"
    • Can you please elaborate on which Compacts had the "P" suffix appended? Obviously the 128k but what about the 512k, Plus or any others?
    • I caught Cheesey's post after I exported the matrix, will update with the M0001P for the 128k next round

68k Member Community Compact Example Pictures Submissions
Thanks to @rollmastr @LaPorta @sstaylor for their picture contributions. I've marked all the received submissions as Green Bold in the Case Variations column.

This means all the other Compact examples are fair game for submissions from everyone else.
So if you want to show off your system, please post pictures of front and back of the case to this thread! 😉 ​

Thanks all, have a good Sunday, Go Eagles!
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