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SE/30 8/159 - $100 on eBay

Macsimus

Member
I picked up this one over the weekend:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222486106965

It just arrived today, and it's as advertised: nice bright screen, clear sound, very few blemishes with mild yellowing, booted right up.

The only drawback I found is apparently the floppy drive was replaced at some point with an 800K drive. At least, the Finder gives me no option to format a high-density disk as 1.4MB. I'm not terribly bothered by that, though. I can get a replacement drive later.

I find it odd that I was the only bid. No one else was even watching it. Was $100 + $75 shipping enough to scare away people? Seemed like a decent deal to me.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
If you're happy, it was a great deal, don't second guess yourself and certainly don't open the discussion up to the nay-saying bottom feeders in the peanut gallery. Congrats and enjoy!

 

Themk

Well-known member
Nice! I don't think it is a bad deal at all. Shipping the compacts is notoriously difficult, so $75 is okay there. $100 bought you Apple Extended Keyboard, Programmers Switch, and a SE/30 with okay caps (sound works). Sorry to tell you, but if its never been re-capped, you should think about re-capping. Bottom feeders of course always want everything as cheap as possible, but it looks like you are happy, and even to a bottom-feeder that would be a pretty good deal.

 
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Macsimus

Member
For the overall condition of the unit, I do think I got a good deal. Compare with:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-APPLE-MACINTOSH-SE-30-COMPUTER-M5119-WORKS-/292095695658

I wouldn't pay $230 + $110 shipping, yet 15 people are watching that one and none tracked mine despite being essentially the same bundle. Maybe it's out of morbid curiosity...  ;D

I totally expected a re-capping will be needed for mine. I went through that with my Quadra 840av, but it's totally worth it. That machine runs like a champ.

 

Unknown_K

Well-known member
People watch some auctions with no intent to buy at that price just to see if it sells, or if it gets lowered in price the next go around.

There is no set pricelist on 68K gear, they sell for whatever somebody wants to pay the day the auction ends. Prices do seem to be going up.

 

Johnnya101

Well-known member
Same. Thats a deal. Not a steal or anything, but I mean... a WORKING se/30 for that??!?!?! Thats crazy! GREAT JOB

 

EvieSigma

Young ThinkPad Apprentice
I probably have that much into mine after a recap and the Ethernet card (if it works) is probably worth what I paid for the whole unit...

 

Themk

Well-known member
It looks to be a SE upgraded to SE/30. The label has a copyright date of 1990 on it, the socketed version had been discontinued by then. Still could have a socketed board, but I'm not thinking its very likely.

 
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Macsimus

Member
It looks to be a SE upgraded to SE/30. The label has a copyright date of 1990 on it, the socketed version had been discontinued by then. Still could have a socketed board, but I'm not thinking its very likely.
Huh. That could explain the 800K drive, then...

 

Themk

Well-known member
That would indeed explain the 800K drive. AFAIK, the official SE/30 upgrade kit didn't come with a new 1.44MB floppy drive.

 

BadGoldEagle

Well-known member
It was an optional extra I think... This Mac started out in life as a Dual Floppy SE in 1988 and was built in Fremont, CA. So yeah 800k drive.

The rear sticker came with the upgrade and what's particularly interesting to note is that apparently, all SE/30 upgrade stickers are the same and they all say 'assembled in Ireland' although it's completely untrue in this case...

The bezel is not as discoloured as the bucket, that would suggest a rather late upgrade, so I think it has a soldered CPU... but you can never be sure until you pop it open!  ;)

Nice find! 

 

Themk

Well-known member
The rear sticker came with the upgrade and what's particularly interesting to note is that apparently, all SE/30 upgrade stickers are the same and they all say 'assembled in Ireland' although it's completely untrue in this case...
Yeah, assuming the computer has never left the U.S. since the day it rolled off the assembly line, it is entirely incorrect. (Should say Made in or Assembled in U.S.A.) I don't fully understand why that is, perhaps some parts came from Cork, Ireland, but considering that Apple was making tons of mac parts over here, I am a little surprised as to why they would do that. Idk.

 

BadGoldEagle

Well-known member
It seems a little odd that the previous owner went on vacation in Europe and had the SE upgraded while he or she was there... 

Maybe all upgrade kits came from Cork? Who knows. I have never seen that sticker with "Made in the USA" printed on it yet.

 

Themk

Well-known member
Maybe they all did, that would be interesting though. I see no reason why they wouldn't have been sourced from Fremont, CA as well, all of the parts that make up the upgrade kit were also manufactured there. Perhaps there is a SE/30 upgrade kit out of Fremont, in that case it probably ships with the label used for the original manufacture of SE/30s there, but who knows.

P.S. How many compacts (percentage idea?) in Europe are from Fremont, CA. I know the majority are probably from Cork, Ireland.

 
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