Photo: Wojciech Pędzich / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
Macintosh SE
A compact Mac with an internal drive bay and its first expansion slot.
Overview
The Macintosh SE, whose name stood for System Expansion, answered years of requests for room to grow. Inside the same-sized case was a bay for a second floppy drive or a 20 MB SCSI hard disk, and a Processor Direct Slot on the logic board that accepted accelerator and network cards.
It also introduced the Apple Desktop Bus, replacing the old keyboard and mouse connectors, and it was the first Mac to flash a drive activity light. Memory started at 1 MB and could reach 4 MB.
In 1989 a SuperDrive version arrived that read and wrote 1.4 MB floppies, including PC disks through utility software. The SE sold steadily until the Classic replaced it.
Why it mattered
It turned the compact Mac into an expandable machine and introduced the ADB connector used for years afterwards.
At a glance
- Announced
- March 2, 1987
- Released
- March 2, 1987
- Discontinued
- October 15, 1990
- Launch price
- $2,900
- Chip / processor
- Motorola 68000, 8 MHz
- Display
- 9"
- Storage
- 800 KB floppy, optional 20 or 40 MB hard disk
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- First compact Mac with an expansion slot
- Internal bay for a SCSI hard disk
- Introduced the Apple Desktop Bus
- 1989 SuperDrive model read 1.4 MB disks
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 9-inch
- Type
- Monochrome CRT
- Resolution
- 512 x 342
Chip
- Chip
- Motorola 68000, 8 MHz
Memory
- RAM
- 1 MB, expandable to 4 MB (SIMM)
- Storage options
- One or two 800 KB floppy drives, or floppy plus 20/40 MB SCSI hard disk
Ports
- Ports
- ADB, 2 serial, SCSI, external floppy, headphone jack
Design
- Dimensions
- 35 x 24.6 x 28 cm (13.6 x 9.7 x 10.9 in)
- Weight
- 7.7 kg (17 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- System 4.0
- Latest supported OS
- System 7.5.5
Expansion
- Slots
- One Processor Direct Slot
Availability
- Announced
- March 2, 1987
- Released
- March 2, 1987
- Discontinued
- October 15, 1990
- Launch price
- $2,900
Colors
- Finishes
- Platinum
How it compares
More in the Macintosh family
Macintosh 128K
The beige box that put a mouse and icons on millions of desks.
Macintosh 512K
The "Fat Mac" quadrupled memory to make the Mac usable.
Macintosh Plus
SCSI, SIMM sockets and an 800 KB drive in the long-lived compact Mac.
Macintosh 512Ke
The budget Mac that borrowed the Plus floppy drive and ROMs.
Macintosh SE/30
The fast, hackable compact Mac that collectors still adore.
Macintosh Classic
The first Mac under a thousand dollars.
Macintosh Classic II
A 68030 Classic: faster, but still a black-and-white compact.
Macintosh Color Classic
The last compact Mac, now with a color Trinitron screen.