Those more rare compact variants

[macman142]

Does anyone have one of those more "rare' compact variants?

Is anyone willing to put up a picture or two of theirs?

Specifically I'm thinking along the lines of these modes:

Macintosh 512ke platinum

Macintosh ED

Macintosh ED platinum

Macintosh Plus ED

Macintosh Plus ED platinum

Macintosh SE 1/20

Macintosh SE 1/40

Personally, I've never seen one of any of these variants first hand.

 

[Scott Baret]

The SE 1/20 is very common. These were typically marked "1MB RAM, 20MB hard drive" or something of the like on the back. I would put up a picture for you, but I no longer have any with these words on them--all three SEs I have feature the 1988 copyright label, which eliminated those words (the same year the Macintosh Plus label dropped the "1MB").

I'm going to add the Performa 200, 250, and 275 to the list (Classic II, Color Classic, and CC2).

 

[Mac128]

Honest, to god, doesn't anybody search any more? There are several links to pictures of these within the Compact Mac forum.

Also, I don't believe there is any evidence of a 512Ke Platinum. I believe by the time it went Platinum, it was only being offered as an ED.

 

[Concorde1993]

I've never seen a Mac Plus, or 512 "ED" version, but from the pictures I've seen on Google, there is no technical differentiation between the "ED," and a standard 512/Plus, with the exception of the badge alteration. I have heard of a 128 ED, but I'm not sure if that would constitute as rare, either.

Rarity, in regards to the compacts, would be identified more with add-on features. For instance, one of my Pluses (which was either a 128, or 512- I can't tell because the original serial number was removed), has a BNC adapter at the back. I thought this was rare, but according to Mac128, these BNC adapters were pretty much commonplace with the early compacts. Unique, nevertheless.

The Radius video card for the original SE is seen as rare (and, of course, the transparent case SE). I would need confirmation, however, from the 68k forum to see if this is in fact true.

Other than that, I would say that the 512ke is probably the "rarest" of the compact series, as it had the shortest product lifespan, in addition to the original Macintosh (before it was re-badged as the 128k).

 

[Scott Baret]

The 512Ke was offered in platinum from March 1987 - September 1987 if memory serves me right. The entire product line had gone to platinum except the Apple IIc (the Plus, IIe, and ImageWriter II all lost their beige or white cases in early 1987).

A platinum 512Ke basically looks like a platinum Plus but has no words on its front bezel. The back has the familiar "Macintosh 512K" badge used on other 512Ks and 512Kes since 1984.

Apple kept this model around as the low-end back when the Plus was still rather new and the SE and II had displaced it as the best Mac in the stable. Remember, the 512Ke was around as a cheaper alternative to the Plus in 1986 (I believe it was code-named the "Mac Minus"). I wouldn't call all 512Kes rare, just the platinum ones. It's relatively easy to find a beige one--pretty much any 512K made from mid-1986 onward will be a 512Ke. (You'll also find a lot of upgraded 512Ks that didn't start their lives as 512Kes, but a quick check of the serial number can verify things--if it's F612... or thereabouts it's probably always been a 512Ke).

 

[macman142]

Seems I may have confused some, or perhaps my thread has been misunderstood.

There are reference to a few of these less common models scattered about the place here. I know they all exist. Nowhere else though have I seen any photographs or anyone specifically acknowledging their existence.

Considering the amount of 'collectors' of compact Macs in this community I'm surprised at the lack of 'evidence' of them. Yes they're mentioned and we all understand they exist, but that's it. I know there was little difference (and in some cases no difference) in actual specifications, but simply a different model number and different badging.

What my thread was asking for was photos and to speak with owners in an attempt to document the existence in a real form. I don't want to know about what anyone "believes" or what they "thought" or if they "think they saw one once" - I'm wondering if anyone here owns one and would be interested in sharing some photographs or first-hand info

Sorry to confuse!

 

[Mac128]

Please, anyone, show any proof of a reference to a 128K ED. It dont believe it exists, and have never seen it referenced anywhere. Lots of speculating going on here. This is how some of these Macs come into existence, because people see idle speculation in forums such as this. A lot of it is being passed of with an air of authority as well.

Also, there is no proof of a platinum 512Ke badged as such. I don't believe one ever was. But I am eager for someone to prove me wrong. Either way the Platinum variant would be the rarest of all. Few have been spotted in the wild. The 512Ke itself was one of the most popular Macs, so even though it sold for a brief time, eBay is populated with them, suggesting a significant volume of sales. So, no, not rare. Its European counterpart, the 512K/800 is also somewhat rare.

And yes, it may just be badging, or case variation, but that is what makes them rare. Just like a Star Wars action figure still in its original packaging ... Nothing special about the box, but it can mean the difference of hundreds of dollars in the price.

Again, macman142, if you want pictures and info from owners of some of these things, then DO A SEARCH. Most, if not all of these Macs have been posted by their owners in these Compact Mac forums. Those that aren't are from links that will lead you back to their owners. Also, you might try the M0001 Registry http://mac128.com/m0001 to see if anyone has posted a rare ED and their contact info. And Scott offered to tell you about his SE 1/20, but you didn't ask any follow ups.

 

[macman142]

Thanks for the reply Mac128.

I've never seen a 128k based Mac ED mentioned before either, whereas I have seen mention of a Mac ED based on 512ke specs (as well as Mac Plus ED based on the the regular Mac Plus).

You're right when you mention these illusive Macs coming into existence, hence me starting my thread to question the models I've come to believe exist but have never spoken to anyone who owns one or has seen one with their own eyes (on screen or in person).

Google brings up some SE's badged as 1/20 and 1/40's, so cancel those two. I'm not talking about Mac SE's that have 1MB RAM and a 20/40MB HDD, I'm talking about Mac SE's BADGED this way.

I hate people asking the same questions over and over on forums, it's common. I've done a search but searching terms such as "1/20" and "Plus ED" are just coming up with errors as the query is too short or 10,000 pages of "plus" results.

Ideally I was hoping someone may chime in saying "yes I've got a platinum 512ke, I'll upload some pictures" or maybe "here's a picture of my Mac Plus ED" as I've heard of them but are we all looking for something that never really existed?

Last of all, thanks Scott for your info too.

 

[Mac128]

Use Google like this:

Site:68kmla.org "SE 1/20"

 

[Charlieman]

The Mac 512Ke shipped in platinum with the full size Plus keyboard according to my notes. Now I may be confusing it with the 512K/800 (another name for the 512Ke in Europe) but Eric Rasmussen agrees: http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/earlymacs/#Plus_hardware

As for other rare compacts, try the Japanese versions. From my notes:

The Canon DynaMac

The first Japanese language Macintosh was marketed by Canon, Apple's distributors in Japan at the time. It was based on the Mac 512K and was fitted with a Japanese language board which stored special fonts in ROM. No hard disk was required. Custom software called EgBridge allowed Japanese language to be used in standard Mac applications such as Multiplan and MacPaint. A dedicated word processor called Advanced EgWord was also produced. The entire bundle was sold as the DynaMac (not to be confused with the US Dynamac portable Macs) and upgrades for the Mac 128K were available via Canon and Apple Japan.

The language adapter board was manufactured by Abit, now a popular manufacturer of PC products. The custom software was produced by a company called ErgoSoft. DynaMacs sold by Canon had a badge on the front case, but this may not be true for 128K and 512K Macs fitted with an upgrade.

 

[Mac128]

The Mac 512Ke shipped in platinum with the full size Plus keyboard according to my notes. Now I may be confusing it with the 512K/800 (another name for the 512Ke in Europe) but Eric Rasmussen agrees: http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/earlymacs/#Plus_hardware

No you are correct as to your recollection. Thanks for reminding me of Eric's site reference.

This is exactly why I like people to post links or basis to their assertions. Most often it is the stuff of urban legend, and vague recollection gathered from the Internet, construed as facts. For instance, there are a number of folks convinced an HD20 can be used with a 128K based on an incorrect claim on a reputable used Mac site.

In this case, Eric's claim is based on a single odd example taken from eBay in 2004. He sent me the picture of the listing a fe years ago, which shows the back of the M0001E with a 1987 copyright date, the front clealy that of the Mac Plus without the label. What's odd about it, is that the box shows a beige 512Ke with the small keyboard. So if this is an original Platinum 512Ke, and not an upgrade of some kind, then Apple did not update their marketing materials to reflect the updated appearance. And most assuredly it was very short-lived, and therefore quite rare (if not the rarest), which explains the paucity of sightings. So until this is confirmed by evidence of an additional Platinum 512ke, I would take it with a grain of salt, but it is certainly a reasonable base upon which to expect this model may exist.

 

[applefreak]

i have

Macintosh 512k, Macintosh 512ke, Macintosh ED

Macintosh Plus (in original box), Macintosh Plus platinum, Macintosh Plus ED (in original box)

Macintosh SE, Macintosh SE 1/40

never heard of a

- Macintosh Plus ED platinum

______________________________________________________________________________

my apple collection

.

 

[Mac128]

never heard of a - Macintosh Plus ED platinum

This is a perfect example of the Internet at work. I do not recall if I've ever seen a beige Mac Plus ED, but I do know I have seen pictures of a Platinum Mac Plus ED. In fact I'm pretty sure this is one:

That said, the popular theory is that the Mac Plus was Apple's most powerful Mac and as such commanded the highest price. Though there were educational discounts they did not approach the reduced cost of the ED which was an institutional buy only for which the Mac Plus was thought not initially available. The 512Ke therefore served as the only ED model when the Mac Plus was introduced. Now it's certainly possible at some point in 1986 the beige Mac Plus became the ED, but it has been traditionally speculated that the Mac Plus did not become an ED until after it turned Platinum and the SE and Mac II were introduced as Apple's most powerful MacS, which of course began the decline of the 512Ke except on the educational market, and then mostly outside the US.

So are you saying you actually have a beige Mac Plus ED, and not just a yellowed Platinum one? Is the copyright date on the back 1986 or 1987?

 

[Scott Baret]

Another factor that seems to play into this is where these Macs were sold. The Mac ED, in any form, seems far more common in western Europe than anywhere else. European Macs often had different nomenclature in the early days (such as the 512K/800 and SE 1/20, the latter of which was just one of three SE configurations badged as such). Could it be Apple simply branded all Pluses sold to the education market as "Plus ED", similar to how all Performa 550s sold to schools were marked as an LC 550?

It seems many of the specification databases out there focus exclusively on the North American models. You won't find anything about the 512K/800 on most of the major sites even though the 512Ke went by that name in Europe. Also, I seem to remember the LCII being available longer in another country (I think it may have been Australia, but I'm not positive--if anyone could confirm this it would be great).

A good project for our wiki would be to list all regional variants and differences in configuration, date, and price.

A theory on the platinum 512Ke--with the Plus becoming the new low end, there probably wasn't a ton of demand for this entry level product, but there was enough to keep the computer around. Apple was moving towards high-priced Macs when the SE and II came out and wouldn't focus on the budget segment again until 1990. The boxes may not have been changed since Apple probably wasn't going to keep the 512K around for much longer after the new Macs came out. I'd be interested to see if any early 1987 Pluses, IIes, or ImageWriter IIs (all three of which changed color and, in the case of the IIe, keyboard design) came in old-style boxes designed for the beige versions.

Apple packaging can be very inconsistent. My Mac LC came in a brown cardboard box, while its monitor, an Apple 12" RGB, came in the older white box. The LC box must have just changed over, but the LC itself was discontinued a few months after mine was produced (mine was made in late November 1991; my monitor's date was October 1991).

In any case, I doubt Apple sold many platinum 512Kes. They didn't advertise it, as we've pointed out, but Apple sometimes doesn't emphasize an older product. The IIe and ImageWriter II were around until 1993 and 1996, respectively, but a lot of people probably had no idea they were still being produced at the end of their life cycles. More recently, the iMac G3 was produced through March 2003 but again was de-emphasized in all Apple marketing by then. There are probably few of these machines still around, and were never many to begin with in all likelihood. Some may have even sat in inventory for a long time--remember that IIe that showed up on eBay a few years ago that had been sitting at a dealer since 1993?

 

[Mac128]

Scott, the Apple IIe Platinum had a revised box. I believe the ImageWriter II had a similar box. It's entirely possible if there was a Platinum Macintosh 512Ke, that Apple eventually updated the box as well once existing stock was exhausted, assuming the only known box I've seen was even original to the so-called Platinum 512Ke in question. But it does put into perspective the power the Apple II division still had in 1987, before the Mac II shifted the playing field in it's favor. Essentially the 512Ke was a burn-off product which didn't even warrant updating the box pic with the full keyboard which would have presumably been a selling point as much as it was for the IIe. If I'm not mistaken the 512K/800 sold in Europe already had the full-keyboard artwork ready to use, so it would have been nothing to print new boxes.

 

[mactjaap]

I made some pictures of my Macintosh Plus-ses and ED.

My ED has serial number C8071DWM0001WP and on the back the model is called m0001D.It is Platinum.

I found on this site that there are 5 models:

Macintosh ED

The Macintosh ED [M0001ED] was a 512K/800 [M0001D] packaged for sale through educational institutions. There appear to be four editions of these machines:

- Beige with M0001ED model number. [serial numbers begin with F, for Fremont, California]

- Platinum with M0001ED model number. [F]

- Beige with "Macintosh ED" printed on the front and M0001D model number on the back. [serial numbers begin with C, for Cork, Ireland.]

- Platinum with "Macintosh ED" printed on the front and M0001D model number on the back. [C]

Note: I have never seen a M0001ED with a 110-120V power supply.

Macintosh Plus ED

The Macintosh Plus ED was a platinum Macintosh Plus with "Macintosh Plus ED" printed on the

front and a standard 220-240V M0001AP model number on the back.

http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/earlymacs/#ED

So mine is mentioned. But what I don't understand is that the serial has a M0001WP in it...

Normaly that would mean that is was a 512K. But the back says that it is a M0001D.

My Plus-ses are two in beige and one in platinum. The same site tells us:

All original Macintosh Plus [M0001A and M0001AP] machines had the words "Macintosh Plus" on

the front and came with the M0110A extended keyboard. There were three generations:

"Beige" Macintosh Plus machines read "Macintosh Plus 1 Mb" on the back, with no copyright

date. Beige was also the color of the Macintosh 128K and 512K, as well as the 512Ke.

In 1987, Apple changed the label on the back to read "Macintosh Plus 1 Mb" with a 1987

copyright date. The case color was changed to "platinum" to match the color of the new

Macintosh II and SE machines. The owner's guide was redesigned and revised (see below).

In 1988, Apple changed the label on the back to read "Macintosh Plus" with a 1988 copyright

date. The owner's guide was redesigned and revised again (see below).

http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/earlymacs/#Plus_hardware

One of the Plus-ses is very old. Made in 1985!

Your European Macintosh Plus (M0001AP), with serial number C55135EM0001AP, was the
3652d manufactured during the 51st week of 1985 in ....

The pictures:

The Macintosh ED

The sticker on the back of the ED

4 computers

Left upper: Plus Platinum

Left under ED Platinum

Right upper: Beige Plus from 1985

Right under: 512K (upgraded...)

 

[applefreak]

my macintosh plus's, made in

1985, 1986,1987,1988,1989,.... the macintosh plus ED in 1990

by Mac128 » 22 Jan 2011 0:23
Scott, the Apple IIe Platinum had a revised box

ah, picture of my Apple IIe Platinum

excellent condition, working fine

______________________________________________________________________________

my apple collection

.

 

[Mac128]

But what I don't understand is that the serial has a M0001WP in it...Normaly that would mean that is was a 512K. But the back says that it is a M0001D.

The serial number and Model number are completely different animals. The model number is essentially badging, but the serial number indicates the actual configuration of the unit. Think of it this way, as the 512Ks rolled off the assembly line, they weren't allocated specifically as an ED, they were all 512Ks ... So the serial numbers were slapped on the case fronts which were attached to the actual computer chassis and assembly, and only the rear cases specified how that Mac would be sold. So all 512Ks that rolled off the assembly line were identical, and only a specific set of buckets badged for educational sales changed the designation of the rest of the Mac, which was otherwise no different than any other 512K. Much more efficient than trying to match front halves and back halves in the assembly room as they came off the line in a different order from each other.

 

[Rasmus]

In this case, Eric's claim is based on a single odd example taken from eBay in 2004. He sent me the picture of the listing a few years ago, which shows the back of the M0001E with a 1987 copyright date, the front clealy that of the Mac Plus without the label. What's odd about it, is that the box shows a beige 512Ke with the small keyboard. So if this is an original Platinum 512Ke, and not an upgrade of some kind, then Apple did not update their marketing materials to reflect the updated appearance. And most assuredly it was very short-lived, and therefore quite rare (if not the rarest), which explains the paucity of sightings. So until this is confirmed by evidence of an additional Platinum 512ke, I would take it with a grain of salt, but it is certainly a reasonable base upon which to expect this model may exist.

Hi, Eric Rasmussen here. I can't recall why I decided to say the 1987 512Ke was platinum. I'm usually careful about these things, and try not to make assertions for which I have no proof, but sometimes the temptation is too great. Anyhow, here's what I found in my archives.

There is the famous label, which appears to be platinum, but it is a photograph so not reliable [Note: I have not adjusted the color in any of these photos, which are mostly from eBay]:

On the boxes, the 512Ke got a new box in 1987 like every other machine in the line (i.e., the Plus and the 512K/800 in Europe). Here is a photo (from the same auction as the label):

I don't know what to make of the image. I agree with Mac128 that it looks somewhat beige (compare to the 1987 Plus box, below), but it is not conclusive by any means.

Here is the 1986 512Ke box. Notice the photo is different, from an angle:

The same change occurred in the Plus boxes. 1987 Plus box:

1986 Plus box:

I wish now I had just bought that damned 1987 512Ke...