Complete Collection of Every Compact Mac?

[The Macster]

1). Beige Mac512ke

2). Platinum Mac512ke

3). Beige MacPlus

4). Platinum MacPlus

I always assumed that the old (beige) Plus was the one that had the 128/512-style front ie the logo in a square and no writing, and the Platinum the newer one that had the text? Did they also make some that had the text but the old colour then? I had assumed mine was just a little yellow, but actually it looks hard to tell the difference between a yellowed Platinum Plus and a Beige Plus.

Although maybe mine is more like the one you have one the far right in your picture, I think it's probably not as yellow as the Beige one. Presumably the one second-from-left is that machine's original colour, as that looks roughly the same colour as my G3, which is unyellowed. That Platinum 512ke is amazing, it looks brand new!

 

[Patrickool93]

I was on Apples support page and found this It sure looks like a platinum 128/512, because that is clearly not a Plus Keyboard.

 

[Quadraman]

I was on Apples support page and found this It sure looks like a platinum 128/512, because that is clearly not a Plus Keyboard.

The colors have to be way off in that picture. Anything in platinum came with an extended keyboard. I don't think the old style keyboards even exist in platinum.

 

[equill]

... Hopefully this, along with Kallikak's photos, will settle the discussion on whether a 512 was manufactured in platinum.

Your excellent pics vindicate my suggestion above, based on release and lifetime dates. They also support EveryMac's assertion that the 512Ke's prolongation of life after the release of the Plus was as a low-end version of the Plus. It makes sense, in that what could the Plus be more than if there was no low-end model? So it is also no surprise that its codename was Mac Minus.

Do you know whether your 512Kes were ever associated with the Apple/University Consortium program? My beige 512Ke has the model designation M0001ED, as yours do. The same LowEndMac piece above decodes the 'E' in 'ED' as 'extended' (the 'e' in 512Ke), and the 'D' as 'education'.

de

 

[macdownunder]

Do you know whether your 512Kes were ever associated with the Apple/University Consortium program?

It's quite possible. The source I got them from did receive a lot of equipment from Melbourne University which had a Mac Consortium. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to be able to confirm it absolutely.

Kind regards,

Macdownunder

 

[~llama]

FWIW, I have a beige Plus with the text on the front, as well.

 

[Mac128]

Do you know whether your 512Kes were ever associated with the Apple/University Consortium program?

It's quite possible. The source I got them from did receive a lot of equipment from Melbourne University which had a Mac Consortium. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to be able to confirm it absolutely.

Kind regards,

Macdownunder

Macdownunder ... I can't remember if you posted the serial numbers for these Macs and your site is down. If you did not, would you please post the serial numbers at your convenience so they can be dated? In particular the Platinum 512Ke Thanks ...

 

[macman142]

I'd like to add to the confusion here with some of what i've picked up over the years of collecting the compacts... Hopefully I can convey this in a way that makes sense without pictures...

The Mac Plus with the 512k style front was (as far as i can find out) an upgraded Mac 512k.

Apple released an upgrade kit consisting of a Mac Plus logic board and a BEIGE Mac Plus 1MB rear 'bucket' - which replaced the old 512k parts to make a - Beige Mac Plus 1MB but with keeping the original old style beige 512k front bezel.

Also, an easy way to differentiate between a Beige Mac and a yellowed Platinum Mac is look at the rear power switch. The Beige style power switch is two tone (dark rocker switch with lighter outer surround). The Platinum's switch is one colour. Also, the keyboard connector 'hole' at the front can give away the difference. Beige Mac's have the connector set back in a rectangle, Platinum Mac's connector is not set back.

Lastly, there are 29 variations or different models of the compact range that i hope to accumulate, 25 if you aren't counting Colour display models... I can post up my list if anyones interested? I am seven short of what i consider a 'full collection.'

 

[Mac128]

there are 29 variations or different models of the compact range that i hope to accumulate, 25 if you aren't counting Colour display models... I can post up my list if anyones interested? I am seven short of what i consider a 'full collection.'

OK, I'll bite then: please post your list, I'd love to know what you consider the 29 variants of the Compact Mac (including the colour models).

 

[Ryoohki]

And how about 'official' upgrades, from 128K to 'Fat Mac' or Plus, 512K and 512Ke to Plus, SE to SE FDHD, Classic to Classic II, &c., &c. At the original prices of the compact AIOs, board-swap upgrade kits (often with a bucket-swap too) made good sense.

Well thats what I have it was either a 128K or 512K but one of the previous owners got the official upgrade kit to a Mac Plus

But the real question is what category does this fit into? Is t a Mac Plus or is it a 512K? You could look at it as a modded 512K or you could look at it as having the parts that made it a 512K removed. Either way it has a bad solder joint on the analogue board(most likely) and the monitor only comes on if pressure is applied to the side of the case :-/ but thats a topic for another post some other time :lol:

The Mac Plus with the 512k style front was (as far as i can find out) an upgraded Mac 512k.
Apple released an upgrade kit consisting of a Mac Plus logic board and a BEIGE Mac Plus 1MB rear 'bucket' - which replaced the old 512k parts to make a - Beige Mac Plus 1MB but with keeping the original old style beige 512k front bezel.

Also, an easy way to differentiate between a Beige Mac and a yellowed Platinum Mac is look at the rear power switch. The Beige style power switch is two tone (dark rocker switch with lighter outer surround). The Platinum's switch is one colour. Also, the keyboard connector 'hole' at the front can give away the difference. Beige Mac's have the connector set back in a rectangle, Platinum Mac's connector is not set back.

In addition to the logic board and the bucket i also believe it came with a new keyboard, however the rocker is part of the analogue board my rocker switch is a lighter color than the rest of the computer and is one color. Everything else you said is absolutely true about that kit.

 

[slomacuser]

ok, lets count;

1. Macintosh

2. Macintosh 128k

3. Macintosh 512k

4. Macintosh 512ke

5. Macintosh 512ke (Platinum)

6. Macintosh ED

7. Macintosh Plus

8. Macintosh Plus (Platinum)

9. Macintosh SE 1/20

10. Macintosh SE 800/800

11. Macintosh SE FDHD

12. Macintosh SE/30

13. Macintosh Classic

14. Macintosh Classic II

15. Macintosh Colour Classic

16. Macintosh Colour Classic II

17. Macintosh Performa 200

18. Macintosh Performa 250

19. Macintosh Performa 275

... ??

 

[macdownunder]

..snip..

If you did not, would you please post the serial numbers at your convenience so they can be dated? In particular the Platinum 512Ke Thanks ...

Hi all,

The site is back up now (I was interstate for a while). The S/N of the Platinum 512Ke is F7353V7M0001ED

So where does that put it in the time line?

Regards,

Macdownunder

 

[mactarkus]

I'd like to see the that comprehensive list of compact Macs though I'm sure it will send me off on another old Mac scavenger hunt. Here's what I have in Macca:

128k

512k

Plus (beige, platinum)

SE (dual floppy, FDHD, SuperDrive, 800k w/HD)

SE/30

Classic

Classic II

Performa 200

Color Classic

Color Classic II

 

[Morrick]

The S/N of the Platinum 512Ke is F7353V7M0001ED

So where does that put it in the time line?

It should be at the beginning of September, 1987.

Cheers

Rick

 

[Bunsen]

Goodness, macdownunder, I never knew what a fine collection you had. If only mine were so well organised.

What part of town are you in?

 

[applefreak]

ok, lets count;
1. Macintosh

2. Macintosh 128k

3. Macintosh 512k

4. Macintosh 512ke

5. Macintosh 512ke (Platinum)

6. Macintosh ED

7. Macintosh Plus

8. Macintosh Plus (Platinum)

9. Macintosh SE 1/20

10. Macintosh SE 800/800

11. Macintosh SE FDHD

12. Macintosh SE/30

13. Macintosh Classic

14. Macintosh Classic II

15. Macintosh Colour Classic

16. Macintosh Colour Classic II

17. Macintosh Performa 200

18. Macintosh Performa 250

19. Macintosh Performa 275

... ??

Macintosh Plus ED ??

Macintosh SE 1/40 ??

.

 

[macman142]

Here's the main variations i've compiled as a complete collection. I really think 'complete collection' is open to interpretation though.

For example - there are three Classic II's I would consider... The only variations being small, visual differences. However, they're still effectively the same 'model' so having just one of these in your collection can make it 'complete.'

I've put the models I'm missing in bold incase anyone would like to offer? :lol:

To start with...

( B) - beige

(P) - platinum

(ED) - Educational or European (whatever your opinion may be).

1. Original "Macintosh" ( B)

2. 128k ( B)

3. 512k ( B)

4. 512k (ED), ( B)

5. 512ke ( B)

6. 512ke (ED), (P)

7. Plus 1MB ( B)

8. Plus 1MB (512k with Apple upgrade kit), ( B)

9. Plus 1MB (P)

10. Plus (ED), (P)

11. Plus (P)

12. SE ('86 model)

13. SE ('86) - dual FDD

14. SE ('88 model)

15. SE FDHD

16. SE 'SuperDrive'

17. SE 1/20

18. SE 1/40

19. SE/30

20. Classic

21. Classic (with side speaker holes)

22. Classic (C Serial number) - (ED)??

23. Classic II

24. Classic II (with side speaker holes)

25. Performa 200

26. Colour Classic

27. Performa 250

28. Colour Classic II

29. Performa 275

 

[Mac128]

The S/N of the Platinum 512Ke is F7353V7M0001ED

So where does that put it in the time line?

It should be at the beginning of September, 1987.

Cheers

Rick

Ah yes ... but it also tells us this:

Manufactured in: F => Fremont, California, USA

Year of production: 1987

Week of production: 35

Production number: 3V7 => 4461

Modell ID: M0001ED => Macintosh 512Ke

Your Macintosh 512Ke was the 4461th Mac manufactured during the 35th week of 1987 in Fremont, California, USA.

SInce the 512Ke is popularly indicated as having been discontinued in September 1987, this is one of the last if so. Further it was manufactured in Freemont, which is interesting in that it means the last of the Domestic 512Ke's were Platinum as well as the European & Pacific ones.

 

[Mac128]

But the real question is what category does this fit into? Is t a Mac Plus or is it a 512K?

In addition to the logic board and the bucket i also believe it came with a new keyboard, however the rocker is part of the analogue board my rocker switch is a lighter color than the rest of the computer and is one color. Everything else you said is absolutely true about that kit.

They are all M0001 models, so I think they become their own category.

They keyboard was optional, at least initially. It is certainly possible Apple tried to sweeten the deal to clear out the last of the kits later on.

After the switch to Platinum, Apple quickly discontinued any beige parts. The final replacement analogue board for all M0001s was Platinum only. There's a thread started by JDW about the analogue board comparisons. I would imagine your board was replaced at some point.

 

[Mac128]

Here's the main variations i've compiled as a complete collection. I really think 'complete collection' is open to interpretation though.

Not so much interpretation but degrees. You can't argue that a minor difference despite being the exact same machine is not a different model. Whether a particular collection includes or excludes it depends on the parameters. There's the form factor collection, basically one representative of each model. There's the badge collection, which includes every specific badge differentiation within each form factor and then there's the ultimate collection which addresses the minute details of every esoteric variation. In between the badge and the ultimate collection are various degrees of specificity which define the limits of one's collection.

I basically agree with your list on that basis and as surprised as I am that you were able to come up with 29, I am even more surprised that I'm actually going to add a few. In particular the international variations. Stay tuned ...

*512K/800 M0001D (a 512Ke with the extended Plus keyboard)

*All variants of M0001P, WP & AP (European 240V switchable Power supplies)

*"Colour Classic" as well as "Color Classic" variants.

To be clear, when you say "ED (Educational or European)", do you mean they are interchangeable, or to include the badged 512Kes & Pluses with the words Macintosh ED or Macintosh Plus ED stenciled across the front? If the former then the stenciled varieties need to be added as well as the European variants.