• Updated 2023-07-12: Hello, Guest! Welcome back, and be sure to check out this follow-up post about our outage a week or so ago.

9" Compact Completists?

LaPorta

Well-known member
The dual-floppy modification was called the MacDouble D-D, it was two internal 400k floppy drives. According to this page (link), the company would either do the install work on your machine (I assume you would provide the 2nd 400k drive), or you could buy a machine with both 400k drives for $1,995. The second image below which was found in an old 68kMLA post specifies the $1,995 is for a 512k with dual drives.

All in all it's an odd modification. If it was shortly after the introduction of the original Mac it would make sense, but by July 1986 there were so many other options available. Including just an external drive.

Still, if anyone knows where one is, please PM me.

View attachment 65345
View attachment 65346
I fail to see the point of the modification. It says will take your external drive and make it internal. Unless you have the smallest desk in creation (or you couldn't be bothered to just put the disk drive on top of the machine by the carrying handle), why would you pay nearly 1980's $200 to place a drive you already own inside the machine instead?
 

imactheknife

Well-known member
I used to joke that I would collect every Mac that was for sale in 1989.

Don't think I want to buy a Portable though.

The other one was every variant in the Q800 style case, ignoring badge engineering the only one I don't have is the Q800 itself, which I'm reluctant to spend money on given I own a 650 (same board) and the Q800 is hard to post.
I love the portable. I thought the same as you, but now that i own one love it.
 

imactheknife

Well-known member
My compact collection consists of two original 128k’s. One in original box with accessories. Missing keyboard box and box foam. I just picked up a 512k that isn’t working. Logic board works, but not analog. Next is the platinum plus 1 meg, then se, se/30 x 3. Then color classic x2, classic, classic ii.
 

ymk

Well-known member
Among the 9" Macs, I have in working condition:

SE
SE FDHD
SE/30
Classic
Classic II

I grew up with the first three.

I haven't gone older than the SE since I have no experience with those machines and they don't offer much that the SE cannot.
 

68kPlus

Well-known member
I have a Plus, 512Ke and SE (the Plus and SE both have 4MB RAM). All three are working.
I also have a Classic that had its CRT shatter so it's in parts.
 

bigmessowires

Well-known member
Unless you have the smallest desk in creation (or you couldn't be bothered to just put the disk drive on top of the machine by the carrying handle), why would you pay nearly 1980's $200 to place a drive you already own inside the machine instead?
I'm scratching my head as well. Maybe if you travel with the Mac, you would value the compact size of this MacDouble D-D as compared to toting around an external floppy drive?
 

ClassicGuyPhilly

Well-known member
What does everyone think about adding a pictorial guide to the eventual "Definitive Guide to 68k Compact Models and Variations" Here's a POC for the 128k and the 512k:

Original Macintosh (AKA 128k)
Front
128k-front.jpg
Front with Drexel University branding
128k-front-drex.jpg
Rear - original version
128k-rear-original.jpg
Rear - after 512k launch
128-rear-post512k.jpg

Macintosh 512k
Front
512k-front.jpg
Front ED version
512k-front-ed.jpg
Rear M0001W
512k-rear-w.jpeg
Rear M0001E
512k-rear-E.jpg
Rear M0001D (note I couldn't find a picture of an M0001ED)
521k-rear-D.jpg
 
Last edited:

LaPorta

Well-known member
From my collection, here are some of the US (and perhaps elsewhere) equivalents on the back. All badged plain "Macintosh SE" on the front:

tempImageziEBLz.png


tempImage2mdG1c.png

For completeness, the SuperDrive back:

tempImagegyWi1e.png
 

ClassicGuyPhilly

Well-known member
Thanks @LaPorta. Can you check the serials on your 800ks for the date of manufacture please? My SE 800k from mid-May 89 is just an SE on the back plate. Guessing yours are earlier examples and the spec was phased out in later production?

20231118_103138~2.jpg
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
I will get them in a bit, yes. The stickers on the back are ©1986, so they must be earlier. They must have phased them out at some point. Sorry the images are poor; I just took them off the shelf and took the photos in the storage area.

Very nice example you have there, by the way.
 

defor

You can make up something and come back to it late
Staff member
I mean.. neither are color classics... (not 9")
 

ClassicGuyPhilly

Well-known member
I mean.. neither are color classics... (not 9")
Can a machine really be considered a Compact without a built-in handle?

IMO a Compact must have its case lineage based on the Original Mac.

All 9" B&W's = Compact
10" Color Classics - arguable, more in spirit than actual form

I'd classify the first gen iMacs as Neo-Compacts as they portray a more modern interpretation of the original Compacts.
 
Top